OBU, church team up to host event
St. John Missionary Baptist Church is partnering with Oklahoma Baptist University to host the 2018 Institute on Church Excellence Conference on Oct. 26-27 at the church, 5700 N Kelley.
The conference theme is “Building better bridges: Moving Ministry from Maintenance to Excellence.”
Today’s churches are facing fierce challenges, including financial crises, social and cultural shifts and demographic changes. With limited resources, small churches need assistance. The coming conference addresses these needs.
Designed to help small churches grow in the areas of leadership development, administration, millennial issues and technology, the event will feature workshops, keynote speakers and practical discussion on various relevant topics. In addition, the conference is designed to provide practical tools and skill development opportunities for participants while sharing with and learning from others who are doing similar things successfully.
“The Institute on Church Excellence provides small churches and remote located churches with the necessary tools to be successful in a changing world,” said the Rev. Major Jemison, who is the conference founder and St. John’s senior pastor.
The conference will feature Joel C. Gregory as keynote speaker. He is the George W. Truett endowed chair in preaching and evangelism at the George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University.
Jemison will be among the workshop leaders. Others include: Heath Thomas, dean of the Herschel H. Hobbs College of Theology and Ministry at OBU; Daryl Green, assistant professor of business and Dickinson Chair of Business at OBU; and Ray Owens, pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Tulsa. Others are: Lawrence Kirk, director of education at St. John; Sandra Thompson, professor of music and undergraduate coordinator at the University of Central Oklahoma; and Terry Buxton Sr., senior pastor of Agape Bible Fellowship in Tulsa.
Cost for the conference is $75 per person. To register, go to http:// www.stjohnokc.org/iceconference.