1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

2nd Annual Church Planters’
Forum and Retreat
Tuesday, June 30
9:00-12:00
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1:30
A.
Find a room/campsite
Get to know other church planters
Relax by the creek, playground, or
woods
12:00
Lunch
1:00
Welcome, Prayer, and Announcements
Introduction of churches represented
B.
C.
Workshops:
Downtown or Suburbs? What factors to
Consider. | Reuben Petersheim
Foundational Principles for Church
Planting | Chuck Pike- Boston, MA
Bible Studies with the Unchurched- TBA
3:00
Break
3:30
General Assembly
Lessons Learned from the ICoC
Experience of Planting Churches.
– Chuck Pike
1:30
American Church Planting Demographics
Ernest Eby, State College, PA
2:45
Break
5:00
Supper
3:15
Why Some Church Plants Falter
Allen Roth- New York City
7:00
5:00
Supper
General Assembly
Church Planting – Calling and Rewards
– Allen Roth
7:00
General Assembly
Relating to Individuals & Churches Who
Do Not Have the Two Kingdom Concept
Finny Kuruvilla- Boston, MA
Thursday, July 2
7:30
8:30
Breakfast
Prayer Meeting: Prayer for more churches
9:00
General Assembly
Worship and Song
Announcements
Wednesday, July 1
7:30
8:30
Breakfast
Prayer Meeting: Prayer for more Laborers
9:15
Panel Discussion with Experienced
Church Planters
9:00
General Assembly
Worship and Song
Announcements
10:45
Going the Distance in Church Planting
– Allen Roth
9:30
June 30 – July 2, 2015
A.
Penn Valley Christian Retreat
B.
McVeytown, PA
C.
11:30
Workshops:
Starting and operating a Christian Day
School in the City
Reuben Petersheim- Baltimore, MD
Apprenticing Men for Leadership in the
Church. | Allen Roth
The Church Planting Wife – Carolyn Roth
Lunch
11:45
Dismissal
12:00
Lunch
Feel free to relax and visit on the property
until 4:00 P.M.
Purpose and Goals
General Assembly Descriptions
Workshop Descriptions
Church Planters’ Forum and Retreat
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To provide a forum for Kingdom Christians to
strengthen a vision for indigenous church planting
that includes planting churches in or near North
American cities.
To provide a setting for church planters to learn
from each other and avoid pitfalls common to this
work in God’s Kingdom.
To provide an atmosphere that will support church
planters who are experiencing burnout or
disappointment.
To develop relationships among church planters
that will discourage suspicion and competition.
To provide a non-urban retreat for urban workers
and families.
What kind of church planting is in focus?
“Establishing churches with the intention that numerical
growth will come from evangelizing and discipling
local people, particularly the unchurched.”
Who is invited?
Those actively involved in church planting and those
preparing their hearts and minds for long-term church
planting work are welcome to attend.
Request from the Planning Committee:
Those planning this Church Planters’ Forum and
Retreat intend to promote an atmosphere that respects
the roles of church authority, practical applications to
scripture, disciplined church life, and brotherhood
accountability. Anyone whose concept of church does
not include these ingredients is asked to defer to those
who do hold these convictions.
Fees/Costs
Meals average $7 per adult per meal.
Motel style lodging is $22.50/adult/night if there are at
least two people per room. Linens and towels provided.
Children, 4-10 are half price – Children, 1-3 are free.
Campsites (tent or RV): $15/site/night
Offerings will be taken for speaker reimbursement.
For questions about food & lodging or to register
for this event, contact:
Penn Valley Christian Retreat
7980 Ferguson Valley Road
McVeytown, PA 17051
717-899-5000 | pennvalleycr@gmail.com
Church Planting Demographics
What types of people could or should attend your
church? Are you prepared for them?
Why Some Church Plants Falter
What are some common hurdles/misconceptions
inherent to church planting? What are some common
reasons why indigenous church plant efforts flounder
or even die out?
Relating to Individuals & Churches Who
Do Not Have the Two Kingdom Concept
It is arrogant to assume we are the only Christians in
the region and to only interact with Christians from
our own church. So how do we constructively
interact with those who share our faith, but not our
core values?
Lessons Learned from the ICoC
Experience of Planting Churches.
Within a 20 year period, the International Churches
of Christ (ICoC) grew from a handful of disciples in
the US to over 100,000 members in over 150
countries around the world. The group is noted for
ambitious urban church planting, ethnic diversity,
radical discipleship, campus outreach and
relationship evangelism. Chuck will share from his
own experiences in ICoC churches and plantings:
what was effective, what was not, as well as lessons
for kingdom Christians.
Church Planting – Calling and Rewards
Who should plant churches? When should a person
plant a church? What rewards can a church planter
anticipate?
Panel Discussion with Veteran Church Planters
Someone has said, “Get experience as cheap as you
can.” At this session, panel members will give a
public response to your questions. You are also
welcome to ask questions and get advice from panel
members at any time during the retreat.
Starting and Operating a
Christian Day School in the City
Should unchurched and church families start out the
first year together? How is starting an urban school
different from a rural Christian Day School? How
can a Christian school assist a church plant?
Apprenticing Men for Leadership in the Church
Indigenous church planting includes ordaining local
men to shepherd the church. How can a church
planter help prepare men in the congregation for
leadership roles?
The Church Planting Wife
Wives of church planters not only need to survive
but thrive. Learn from a sister who has navigated a
wide variety of experiences.
Downtown or Suburbs?
What Factors to Consider
Cities are where the people are. Yet many families
from rural areas face challenges living in the city
that they were not prepared for. What can be learned
in advance?
Foundational Principles for Church Planting
This workshop will focus on practical, foundational
principles for starting new churches. Topics will
include knowing and using the Bible, staying
unified, confessing/addressing sin among mission
team members and new disciples, preaching a
kingdom message and having close discipling
relationships.
Bible Studies with the Unchurched
What methods of studying the Bible work better than
others when Christians attempt to disciple the
unchurched and the partially churched? How does a
church planter conduct a Bible study so that the most
sincere are able to benefit from the study? How does
a church planter keep the most talkative from
domineering the discussion? And more…
Going the Distance in Church Planting
How long will it take? Do I have what it takes?
Planting churches requires persevering till the church
is established. This session will attempt to
encourage church planters to endure till the goal is
reached: a new church being planted.
For questions about the program or about who is
invited, contact:
Coordinator: Ernest Eby | 814-325-7898
ernest.eby@gmail.com
Asst. Coordinator: Gary Kauffman | 478-235-5615
glkauffman@gmail.com