One of our new endeavors as a staff is striving to make the most of two conferences every year for pastoral development and fellowship. First, we aim to take advantage of the annual Bethlehem Conference for Pastors + Church Leaders. This conference is a great opportunity to be challenged and stirred up to think and pray together about important theological topics. This past January’s conference was on the Holy Spirit. I am looking forward to debriefing as a pastoral staff in our February 6 all-pastor meeting.

Second, we also plan to travel to a conference together. Ideally, the conference theme will become a strategic initiative churchwide. This year, we will be attending MLK50: Gospel Reflections From the Mountaintop, April 3-4, in Memphis, Tennessee, on the theme of ethnic harmony.

I’m writing to the whole church, because last year several church members attended the Convergence Conference, and it was a great experience to be there together. I would love to see the same dynamic again this year.

To that end, I wanted to let you know of a few options for participation.

First, if you want to attend the conference, anyone from Bethlehem Baptist Church can use promo code “BBC” and receive an extra $20 off registration.

Second, the conference offers a couple of volunteer opportunities:

1. Regular Volunteer (15 hours)

Includes ...

• complimentary registration
  
• a conference t-shirt to wear during your shifts
  
• access to the volunteer lounge with complimentary snacks and drinks
  
• reimbursement for up to $12 for meals that occur during your shift
  
• reimbursement for parking (one time each day you are scheduled)
  

Register here if you are interested.

2. Key Volunteer (more than 15 hours)

Includes …

• free hotel
  
• per diem
  

If you’re interested, contact Alen Andrews or Ryan Griffith.

Please be in prayer for us that this event would truly be a pivotal time in the life of our church. May the Lord shine new gospel light into our minds and hearts for this issue and give us a renewed passion for what obedience to the lordship of Christ will look like in this area. To flourish, ethnic harmony cannot merely be one of our 14 priorities; it must be the gospel air that we breathe.