Conference

The 2013 MinistryLift Conference on October 4 is a ministry equipping event designed to help you strengthen your ministry. This year's conference features 28 workshops corresponding to seven equipping tracks: adult ministry, apologetics/evangelism, Bible/theology, children’s ministry, leadership, marriage and family/helping skills, and multicultural ministry (you can sign up for four workshops in one or more tracks). You can participate onsite at ACTS Seminaries at Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia, Canada (registration is $99) or over the internet via a live streaming platform (registration is $49 per computer). There is also a group rate (5+ people) of $89/person. Registration for students and TWU/ACTS alumni, and staff/faculty (and immediate family members) is $79. You can pay with a major credit card, through a PayPal account, or by cheque. All conference participants will have access to recorded versions of all of the workshops after the conference. Lunch is provided for the onsite participants.

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Conference Schedule

Please note that you can see descriptions of the workshops and presenters below the schedule.

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Adult Ministry

The track coordinator for the Adult Ministry Track is Dr. Daryl Busby.

9:00 – 10:15 am - Six Questions to Ask before Teaching Adults

Description - Do you want to help the adults in your group to both learn and live well? Then, here are six questions that all good teachers of adults need to answer to enhance effective learning. In your class, Bible study or field trip, these questions will help you to discern what to discuss and how to impact the participants. As well, the presentation will include summaries of numerous teaching methods suitable for adults. Remember, our biblical mandate remains: “Teach them to Obey!”

Presenter – Dr. Daryl Busby has been teaching adults of all ages for his entire ministry. Ten years of teaching emerging adults in a college, fifteen years of local church pastoral ministry and now over sixteen years of teaching graduate students have enabled him to spend time with adults of all ages and discern how best they learn. Daryl’s own doctoral program (PhD in Educational Studies) at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School focused upon young adults. His current research interest explores teaching in a multicultural setting.

10:45 am – 12:00 noon - Ministry to “Over 55 Adults“

Description – The senior years are either coming, or are already here, for everyone – including you! How will we, or are we, to face them? The presenters will give an overview of the felt needs of seniors with a view to how church ministry can address this season of life. Dimensions of the ‘Baby Boomer’ phenomena will be surveyed and projections outlined on how this is changing the future of seniorhood and 55+ ministry. Practical senior ministry realities in one local church will be shared for illustrative purposes.

Presenters – Dr. Ross Johnston, D.Min., has 35 years experience in pastoral and para-church ministry. He is currently Generational and Connections Ministries Pastor at Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Surrey, BC. Ron Bradshaw serves on the Cedar Grove GenMin Leadership Team, co-directs the Drop In and Single Life programs and edits the monthly “Generations Together” newsletter at Cedar Grove. He is also the compiler of the resource, “A Leader’s Guide to Older Adult Ministry in Canada,” which will be available at the workshop.

1:30 – 2:45 pm – Ministry to Emerging Adults

Description – Emerging adulthood is being suggested as a new developmental stage following adolescence and before adulthood. If this is true, what are the developmental cultural influences that make this group unique? Are there unique spiritual issues that emerging adults face? Are these people leaving the church in record numbers? This session will provide an overview of the current research and attempt to make connections with ministry to this important group.

Presenter - Dr. Rob Rhea has served as the Chaplain and Director of the Student Ministries department at TWU for 18 years. He just completed his PhD at Talbot School of Theology. His research is on Christian emerging adults and their acceptance and use of pornography. He is married to Sue and has two teenage children.

3:15 – 4:30 pm - Second Career Pastors (Richard Ang)

Description – This workshop focuses on how mid-career adults can successfully transition from their current careers into pastoral ministry. The presenter, Pastor Richard Ang, was a lawyer who left his practice to become a pastor.

Presenter – Pastor Richard Ang

Apologetics/Evangelism Track

The track coordinator for the Apologetics/Evangelism Track is Dr. Paul Chamberlain.

9:00 – 10:15 am - Dealing With Suffering People in my Ministry (Chris Price)

Description - Does evil and suffering make belief in God incredible? Does it impugne the character of God?  How do we as ministers of Jesus Christ address this difficult topic? How do we prepare people for suffering as well as minister to them when they do?  In this seminar, we will delve into these perplexing questions.

Presenter - Chris Price is the lead pastor at Calvary Baptist church in Coquitlam, B.C. and is studying Christian Apologetics at ACTS seminaries.  Chris engages the culture through a series of YouTube clips on key social issues.

10:45 am – 12:00 noon - When You're Challenged, What Then: Seven Steps for Responding Effectively to Objections to the Faith (Dr. Paul Chamberlain)

Description - Do you ever freeze up when someone challenges or questions your faith?  Do you wish you were better equipped?  Have you wondered how anyone can be prepared for so many objections?  In this session, we will set out seven principles and strategies anyone can learn to help us all respond more confidently to questions and challenges we face.

Presenter – Dr. Paul Chamberlain, Ph.D., is the director of the Institute for Christian Apologetics at ACTS Seminaries and has taught ethics, philosophy of religion, and Christian Apologetics at TWU since 1990. He has also worked with Ravi Zacharias during part of that time. He is the author of four books.

1:30 – 2:45 pm - Integrity, Hope, Lordship, and Legacy in Pastoral Apologetics (Mark McEwan)

Description - Science, homosexuality, biblical authority, and a plethora of other high-stakes issues fuel today’s culture wars - inside and outside the church. Christian leaders need to address them, but how? Can we be too open to questions? Are we at risk of putting our Lord ‘on trial?’ This session examines the intersection between apologetics and Christian character, unearthing biblical treasures to aid us in our handling of sensitive issues.

Presenter - Mark McEwan is currently studying Apologetics at ACTS Seminaries. He has a B.Ed. in Mathematics and Physical Sciences and is also a Journeyman Electrician. He has worked in youth ministry for eight years and has served as a deacon at his home church in Edmonton.

3:15 – 4:30 pm - How to Effectively Engage Today’s Cultural Influences (Andrew Evans)

Description - Culture is becoming more antagonistic towards Christianity. Movies, songs, and TV shows may seem like harmless entertainment but they are cultural products which often preach a worldview different from the bible. This seminar will give ministry leaders tools to identify these messages of popular culture and to help our people evaluate them.

Presenter - Andrew Evans is the director of the Youth Leadership degree program at Summit Pacific College. He served as a youth pastor for thirteen years and is enrolled in a D.Min. program at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Bible/Theology Track

The track coordinator for the Bible/Theology Track is Dr. Larry Perkins.

9:00 – 10:15 am - From Text to Sermon – the Importance of Context (Dr. Brian Rapske)

Description – Your move from text to sermon is invariably threaded through a busy ministry schedule. You probably wonder at times, “Will my words be close to the intention of the text and will they be heard as such by my hearers? How can I make the connection sure?” Attention to context—historical, literary, and personal—will help to make that transformational connection between an ancient world, a divinely given text, and your hearers. This workshop will be framed around Luke 23:26-43.

Presenter – Dr. Brian Rapske, Ph.D., has taught at ACTS Seminaries since 1997 and pastored several churches for a decade. He preaches regularly on invitation and serves actively in his home church. Brian belongs to several learned societies and is a published author.

10:45 am – 12:00 noon - Theology and Preaching: Making the Connection Well (Dr. Archie Spencer)

Description – This workshop will demonstrate that there is not only a necessary connection between preaching and systematic theology but that, given the right approach, this connection can actually enhance the learning experience for both the listener and the preacher. The presenter will show this connection through a de-construction and re-construction of a sermon based on Romans 5:1-11, with special reference to the doctrines of justification and sanctification.

Presenter – Dr. Archie Spencer, Th.D.

1:30 – 2:45 pm - “Take Up and Read”—What was Good for Augustine is Good for Us (Dr. Larry Perkins)

Description – This workshop will focus on the importance of catalysing lay Bible study as a fundamental strategy for faith formation. It will explore the relationship between biblical literacy and discipleship. There will also be an emphasis on re-valuing biblical teaching as wisdom for life and essential for spiritual discipline.

Presenter – Dr Larry Perkins, Ph.D. (Professor of Biblical Studies/ACTS/NBS), directs the Northwest Centre for Biblical and Theological Literacy. He has taught at ACTS since its inception and is President Emeritus of Northwest Baptist Seminary. His publications include the Translation of Exodus in A New English Translation of the Septuagint and numerous articles related to Septuagint and Mark’s Gospel. He supports two websites: Internet Moments with God's Word (concerning Greek terms in the New Testament) and churchboardchairs.ca (providing resources for Church Board Chairs).

3:15 – 4:30 pm - Preaching the Gospel: Integrating the Elements that Form Us (Dr. Kent Anderson)

Description - The preaching of the gospel is neither a fad nor key to membership in a particular movement. When we communicate the Bible, according to its intent, we are serving the purposes of a God who is actively reconciling his creation to himself by the gospel. When we serve the gospel according to its elemental interests, we will engage people, instruct people, convict people, and inspire people. Biblical preaching is gospel preaching. Gospel preaching is integrative preaching.

Dr. Kent Anderson, PhD, is President of Northwest Baptist Seminary and Professor of Homiletics at ACTS Seminaries of Trinity Western University. A founding member and past president of the Evangelical Homiletics Society, he has written several books on preaching including "Choosing to Preach." Kent has served several churches as pastor in Western Canada and continues to champion his love for the church and those who lead it.

Children’s Ministry Track

The track coordinator for the Children's Ministry Track is Nikki Lanigan.

9:00 – 10:15 am - Soul Care for Children’s Pastors (Gabrielle Wiebe)

Description - This workshop recognizes the stresses and pressures children’s pastors’ face - missing ‘adult’ service, a lack of volunteers, an administrative workload, children’s special needs - that lead to discouragement, disillusion, and burnout. We will examine ways to refresh our souls as we serve in the ministry to which God has called us.

Presenter - For 15 years, Gabrielle has been the children’s pastor at North Langley Community Church. She is passionate about encouraging children’s ministry leaders and inspiring families to pass their faith on to the next generation. 

10:45 am – 12:00 noon - The Hurting Child: Divorce, Abandonment, Bullying and Abuse (Marlayne Penner)

Description - This workshop focuses on supporting children who have experienced hurtful experiences and loss. Topics include helping the troubled child cope with emotional distress, facilitating healthy attachments, offering a safe supportive environment for the child, suicide prevention and the importance of self-care, and burnout prevention for caregivers.

Presenter - Marlayne Penner (M.C., CCC) has been supporting families and children as a Counsellor at Abbotsford Community Services and CARES Counselling and Restoration Services for the past fifteen years. Marlayne loves spending time outside with her husband and their two boys.

1:30 – 2:45 pm - Mobilizing and Serving Volunteers (Dr. Randy Wollf)

Description - The Mobilizing and Serving Volunteers workshop will help you sharpen skills related to recruiting and serving volunteers in ways that help volunteers live out their calling with excellence and a deep sense of fulfillment while making an important contribution to the ministry or program in which they volunteer.

Presenter – Randy Wollf, Ph.D., is the Assistant Professor of Practical Theology and Leadership Studies at ACTS Seminaries.  Randy served as a pastor (including several years as a children’s pastor) and missionary for 20 years before taking up his current position.

3:15 – 4:30 pm - Teaching Children Well: Training Them Up without Dumbing Things Down (Dr. Brian Cooper)

Description - Children’s ministries are far more than sanctified day care, right?  So why don’t we aim higher with what we teach? Good teaching imparts a robust Christian world view and fosters good family conversations without being simplistic or moralistic. Come find out how to teach good theology to kids, not just platitudes.

Presenter - In addition to being a dad, Dr. Brian Cooper, Ph.D., has worked as a youth pastor, Teamster chaplain, family ministries pastor, and seminary faculty member, but two things remain constant: He loves theology and he has always been a kid at heart.

Leadership Track

The track coordinator for the Leadership Track is Dr. Randy Wollf.

9:00 – 10:15 am - Stewarding Church/Ministry Finances (John Webber)

Description - This seminar covers the practical issues of creating and managing a budget and helps people understand how to read and interpret their organization’s (e.g. church, corporation, etc.) financial statements.

Presenter - John Webber joined the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in 2012 as Director of Administration and Finance after 39 years in business and consulting. He has also served in leadership and consulting roles in various churches.

10:45 am – 12:00 noon - Best Practices for Church Boards (Dr. Lyle Schrag)

Description - A healthy board is vital to the ministry of your church. The majority of church board members say they lack the training necessary to succeed at this important spiritual ministry. Church boards often find themselves spending so much time on problem solving that they don’t address proper functioning. It doesn’t have to be this way. The Best Practices Workshop will present the fundamentals of board governance.

Presenter – Dr. Lyle Schrag, D.Min., is an Adjunct Professor of Church Leadership at ACTS. He brings the experience of 25 years as Lead Pastor, and 10 years of research and consultancy in Church Leadership Systems, specifically related to Church Boards.

1:30 – 2:45 pm – Making Conflict Productive (Dr. Ron Toews)

Description - Churches sometimes make a mess out of non-sin conflict! They turn differences of opinion into a tug-o-war, totally missing the opportunities for growth and change that the conflict offers. This seminar will achieve the following outcomes:

• Reveal results of a survey on causes of, and response to, local church conflict
• Understand differences between positions and interests
• Learn productive intervention methods for managing non-sin conflict
• Nudge local churches to develop home-grown patterns for responding to conflict

Presenter – Dr. Ron Toews, D.Min., is the Director of Leadership Development for the Canadian Mennonite Brethren Conference. He was a leadership professor at MBBS-ACTS for seven years (including two years as ACTS Principal). Ron was a pastor and police chaplain for 15 years and frequently finds himself mediating in conflict situations.

3:15 – 4:30 pm – A Model for Developing Leaders (Dr. Randy Wollf)

Description - This workshop will provide practical tools and tips for helping people take their leadership to the next level. Those who attend the workshop can apply the principles and ideas to their own leadership development, but they can also use them to develop leaders in their ministries, families, places of work and other areas of service.

Presenter – Dr. Randy Wollf, Ph.D., is the Assistant Professor of Practical Theology and Leadership Studies at ACTS Seminaries.  Randy served as a pastor and missionary for 20 years before taking up his current position. He loves building capacity in others.

Marriage and Family/Helping Skills Track

The track coordinator for the Marriage and Family/Helping Skills Track is Dr. John Auxier.

9:00 – 10:15 am - Healthy Marriages, Healthy Leaders (Don and Deb Shuiling)

Description - The intentional development of a healthy marriage is critical for effective ministry building. This seminar will consider the theology of marriage, explore the intersection of marriage and ministry systems in an effort to raise awareness and normalize the unique challenges, and offer encouragement, strategies and supports for clergy couples through prevention, protection, and repair.

Presenters - Don and Deb Shuiling have served in ministry together since their marriage in 1982. Don has been a camp director, associate and senior pastor, and for the past twelve years, has focused his energies on family and marriage ministries. Deb has her Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from ACTS Seminaries and practices under her maiden name in the Lower Mainland. As part of her couple specialization, she has completed Level II Training in Gottman Method Couple Therapy and an Externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy. She is a Gottman Seven Principles Program Educator.

10:45 am – 12:00 noon - Rest, Relationship and Room: An Exploration of Parent Education in the Church (Tamara Strijack)

Description - In a world of confusing messages and the breakdown of culture, how do we support parents in providing what their children truly need? What does it look like to raise a child to their full potential? In this workshop, we will look at these and other questions through the lens of a relational and grace-based approach to raising children.

Presenter - Tamara Strijack, MC, is a Registered Clinical Counsellor working on Vancouver Island. She has worked with children and adolescents in various roles over the last 20 years, including 15 years in youth ministry. Tamara presently works as a counsellor and as a parent and teacher consultant, helping adults make sense of the children in their care; she also provides training for parents, teachers and helping professionals. Connection, relationship and attachment continue to be central themes in all of her roles, both personally and professionally.

1:30 – 2:45 pm – Healing Discipleship and Starting a Freedom Session Ministry (Jeff Chan)

Description - In the world in which we live, even in our churches, our society is full of broken people. People hunger for freedom and healing from pain and despair, whether it be addictions, abuse victimization, abortion, perfectionism, frozen emotions, anger and bitterness, or broken relationships. Christ promised healing and life to the fullest, and yet the mantra of ‘read your Bible’ and ‘pray’ just doesn’t seem to be working. Healing discipleship ministries focus on bringing God’s truth and Christ’s love into the pain of our lives in practical and effective ways that help participants experience God’s healing and life to the fullest.

Presenter – Jeff Chan has been involved with Freedom Session ministries for the past four years as a participant, a facilitator, and a director. It is his desire to see people come to a more holistic understanding of how God desires to be Lord and Leader of every part of our lives, including our pain, in order to bring us healing and freedom. Jeff currently serves as the Director for Student Life and Academic Advising at ACTS Seminaries.

3:15 – 4:30 pm - Technology, Pornography and Sanctification (Dr. John Auxier)

Description - The problem of pornography in the Christian home is widely recognized. This seminar will: 1) build a theological and Biblical framework for understanding pornography's impact as it relates to the imago Dei and the process of sanctification, 2) explain how addictive processes hi-jack basic God-given drives for attachment, and 3) offer practical recommendations for families in handling technology and suggested steps/resources for recovery from pornography addiction.

Presenter – Dr. John Auxier, Ph.D., is the Dean of Trinity Western Seminary and Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy. John has 12 years experience as a pastor and worked as a psychiatric social worker, addictions counsellor and marriage and family therapist. He is a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Multicultural Ministry

The track coordinator for the Multicultural Ministry Track is Dr. Joanne Pepper.

9:00 – 10:15 am – Connecting with Local Aboriginal Communities (Patti Victor)

10:45 am – 12:00 noon - Resolving Conflicts Across Cultures (Mark Naylor)

Description – The biblical mandate of becoming ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:16-19) is examined within the complications of cross-cultural relationships.  Following Patterson et al (Crucial Conversations), it is proposed that dialogue is the primary skill that leverages conflict towards healthy relationships.  While cultural orientations are acknowledged as a source of conflict, the primary concern is to suggest effective approaches that can deal with any conflict within an intercultural setting. The importance of cultural sensitivity in stimulating constructive dialogue is emphasized as it relates to proven conflict resolution tools.

Presenter – Mark Naylor, M.Th., is the Coordinator of International Leadership Development for Northwest Baptist Seminary and Fellowship International. He spent 14 years living in Pakistan among the Sindhi people and continues to visit Pakistan twice a year for Bible translation.  Incompetence and insensitivity in conflict resolution drove Mark to develop skills in this area.  Colleagues have noted some improvement.

1:30 – 2:45 pm - Gospel Intersections in Witness to Muslims (Jeremy Favreau)

Description - How can I best communicate the gospel to those of a worldview different than my own? This question lies at the heart of cross-cultural ministry. Taking the communication of the gospel to Muslims as an example, this workshop will examine how contextualization helps to isolate intersections where the good news can speak most convincingly in a given context. The merits of reasoning, spiritual experience, and practical evidence in sharing the gospel with Muslims will be examined to determine the potential within each of these approaches.

Presenter - Jeremy Favreau, MACM, is French Language Coordinator for Focus on the Family Canada where he is charged with expanding the reach of the ministry in the French-speaking world. He loves seeing how God is at work in the uniqueness of people’s lives, and discovering how he can join Him in his work.

3:15 – 4:30 pm - ESL Ministry in the Local Church (Dr. Carolyn Kristjansson)

Description - Church-sponsored ESL outreach began in British Columbia over 150 years ago with English classes for Chinese newcomers. Is there a role for it today?  The answer is yes!  In this workshop, we will consider key aspects of ESL ministry, including why it matters, who can do it, what forms it might take, and how to get started.  The session includes insights from administrators, teachers, and students in 34 church ESL programs in the Lower Mainland.   

Presenter - Dr. Carolyn Kristjánsson, Ph.D., teaches in the MA TESOL program at TWU.  Her interest in ESL ministry is linked to her overseas experience as a missionary kid and pastor‘s wife, and her family‘s experience as immigrants to Canada.  She has served as an ESL ministry consultant and done workshops for volunteer teachers.

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