2008 Breakout Sessions
Friday, June 20
What Jesus Demands of the World
Rob Sturdy
11.15am – 12.15pm: Ministry Center
At the age of 30, a Judean Jew, Jesus of Nazareth, boldly and unexpectedly proclaimed that “the time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1.15). In saying this, Jesus announced that over 1000 years of waiting for this Kingdom to be established had come to an end. There would be no more waiting for this Kingdom, for it was at hand.Establishing this claim through miraculous signs and wonders, a grievous death and glorious resurrection, Jesus proved his authority both to herald and establish the Kingdom of God. He demands from the world but two responses to the coming of this Kingdom: “Repent and believe”. This seminar will aim to equip those “with an ear to hear” not only to respond to the coming of this Kingdom in their own lives, but herald it in the lives of others as well.
Rob was raised in Daphne, Alabama in a nominally Christian household and after the death of his father he became ambivalent about matters of faith. He matriculated into the Citadel in Aug of 1999 where, in quiet of his room late in the evening, the Gospel came forcefully upon me and he has not been the same since. Rob graduated from the Citadel in 2003 and received his theological training at Oxford University and entered the ordained ministry in January 2007. He is now the Rector (senior pastor) of Trinity Church, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He married his high school sweetheart, Stephanie, shortly after he graduated from the Citadel. They are the proud parents of eight-month-old David.
Kingdom Living in a Common World
David Bateman
11.15am – 12.15pm: Chapel
Monday traffic, Wednesday coffee, Saturday soccer- they all seem so random. We believe in being Christians, but how do we live the kingdom in the everyday? Learning to be kingdom people moves us beyond the “I’m nice during rush hour” and “I pray before I eat” to being naturally supernatural- seeing God show up in ways and places that surprise us. Come discover ways to seek the kingdom and see the kingdom.
David was born in Columbia, SC and has lived all over the USA. He graduated from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and received his M.Div from Denver Seminary. After a pastorate in rural Missouri, David and his wife Laurie moved to Isle of Palms to serve the Baptist Church. David, Laurie and their four kids started the Charleston Vineyard in the fall of 2006 and are excited about seeing the Kingdom of God expressed through emotional and physical healings.
Film and Theology: Finding God in the Movies
Elizabeth Bumpas
2.15pm – 3.15pm: Ministry Center
Ever had a “holy moment” watching a movie? Ever heard God speaking to you through the dialogue of characters on the big screen? Is it possible that the Lord could use the modern art of storytelling, that of filmmaking, to cause us to reflect on our culture, values, beliefs and what’s going on in our private “inner world”? By its portrayal of life, film naturally invites theological reflection, even R-rated, controversial and sometimes seemingly offensive ones. Join us as we consider finding God at the movies, speaking through both Christian and non-Christian screenwriters, directors and producers.
Elizabeth served at Holy Cross, Sullivan’s Island, as Spiritual Formation Director from 1996-2001 and from 2006-2008. She spent a year in England in 2001-02 at St. Thomas’s Church in Sheffield before going to Fuller Theological Seminary, where she received her Master of Divinity in 2006. While in California she was Asst. Pastor to Young Adults at Christian Assembly in Los Angeles. Most recently she joined the staff of St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center as Conference Coordinator and looks forward to assisting St. Christopher’s transition into a ministry resource center. She is passionate about seeing people being transformed into the image of Christ from the inside out.
Translating Our Faith
Al Zadig
2.15pm – 3.15pm: Chapel
You must translate every bit of your theology into the vernacular. I have come to the conviction that if you cannot translate your thoughts into uneducated language, then your thoughts were confused. Power to translate is the test of having really understood one’s own meaning.
Compelling Reason by C-S Lewis
Do we know how to communicate the Gospel with our lips? Can we translate it into the vernacular of today? Let’s look in depth at translating our faith so that others might hear, understand, and believe.
Born in Connecticut, Al attended the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and received his seminary training at the University of the South. Prior to seminary, he was employed in the broadcasting industry both on air and behind the scenes. Al was ordained to the Priesthood at St. Michael’s Church, Charleston South Carolina. In 2002, he accepted the call to become Rector of All Saints Church in Chevy Chase, an Anglican Communion Network Church in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, DC. During Al’s tenure, the attendance and budget of All Saints’ doubled and new vitality and life spread through the church. In 2007, Al was called as the 21 st Rector of St. Michael’s Church. Outside the church, he is an avid runner and skier.
Al’s wife Elizabeth (Libby) is a South Carolina native from St. Matthews, and is a specialist in the field of Hearing-Impaired Education. Al and Libby have three children (Wimberly who is nine years old, Christian who is seven and Hudson who is two).
A Life Transformed through Prayer
John Burley
Part 1 – 11.15am – 12.15pm: Historic Church
Part 2 – 2.15pm – 3.15pm: Historic Church
Becoming a Christian is just the beginning of God’s plan. The Holy Spirit ever calls us to so much more in Christ. This two-part session will focus on transformation through spiritual and emotional cleansing and healing prayer. Both sessions include teaching and `doing the stuff.’
John is an Associate Rector at St. Andrew’s ~ Mt. Pleasant where he oversees intercessors, prophetic ministry, healing prayer teams, and cleansing prayer.
A New Look at the Biblical ‘F Word’: Understanding Forgiveness
Tom and Helen Wheeler
3.30pm – 4.30pm: Ministry Center
There are clear admonitions and commands in scripture requiring us to forgive others, as we have been forgiven. Unfortunately, many people have an incomplete understanding of what forgiveness really is and how to do it. Very often we get caught in the trap of waiting for others to come ask for our forgiveness. Likewise we often fall short in forgiving ourselves. Come hear what scripture says forgiveness really is and how to claim the promise of freedom through forgiveness in your life.
Tom and Helen Wheeler began a ministry to single parents in their living room soon after a late night discussion following a family crisis. They are both members of St. Andrew’s and are trained as Guardians ad Litem. Tom worked with youth for 29 years. Helen was a single Mom for 9 years, a school teacher for twenty years, and is now a Licensed Professional Counselor, Family Court Mediator and Parent Coordinator. Tom and Helen are currently lead the Single Parent Family leadership team and are members of the Stepfamily leadership team of the Assn. of Marriage and Family Ministries (AMFM) and are frequent speakers at a variety of national ministry conferences. Both have had articles published in a variety of national publications including Focus On The Family, SAM Journal and Living Solo magazines. Helen is the Founder of the Center for Families in Charleston, SC. Tom is Executive Director of Changing Families Ministries.
Supernatural Passion
Mike Clarkson
3.30pm – 4.30pm: Chapel
How do we cooperate with the Holy Spirit and become a vessel of His ministry? We’ll look at many areas as we explore our God-given passions and how they relate to the people and circumstances that are part of our lives every day.
Mike was born in Bremerhaven, Germany, the son of a career military officer. He has been married to Linda for 39 years and they have two adult sons. After working for the Fluor Daniel Corporation, Mike entered the ordained ministry in 1989, after receiving his theological training at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University. He has served in various ministries in the U.K., Oman, and the U.S. and most recently was the Associate Rector at Church of the Cross in Blufton, SC. Today, he is the rector of Church of Our Saviour on Johns Island, South Carolina.
Bringing it Home
Peter Rothermel
3.30pm – 4.30pm: Historic Church
What happens when we live out our faith at home? Well, it’s messy, powerful, painful, transforming, and a definite adventure. In this workshop we will see how the Lord is inviting his people to come close to Him and to each other by inviting Christ into the center of the home. God is moving and challenging families, grandparents, and singles - all of us to see that we are a part of His plan for reaching out to the world around us. Come join us as we look at the Word, the world, and the movement of God.
Peter is the Coordinator for the Department of Christian Faith Formation for the Diocese of South Carolina. For the past year the department has been encouraging churches and families to implement Visionary Parenting, a program which helps parents become more actively involved in the spiritual growth of their children. Peter also has 11 years of youth ministry experience. Peter lives in Charleston with his wife, Jackie, and their two children, Peter and Breezy.
Saturday, June 21
Cooperating with God: Hearing and Obeying His Voice
Chris Warner
11.15am – 12.15pm: Ministry Center
Every believer can have an intimate relationship with and personally communicate with the Creator of the Universe because hearing the Heavenly Father’s voice is intended to be the Christian way of life. Learning to discern His voice is the key to obeying Him, thoroughly knowing Him, and accurately making Him known to others. Come find out how to hear His voice, discern between God’s voice and others, and know why He delays in answers.
Chris is the Rector at St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center located on Seabrook Island since February 2007. Previous to accepting the call to St. Christopher, he was the Associate Rector at The Church of the Holy Cross on Sullivan’s Island for approximately five years. Chris has a passionate heart for men’s ministry and also has an incredible gift of identifying, relating and ministering to the struggles that men encounter in their daily lives. He has been instrumental in the development of the men’s hiking ministry at many lowcountry Episcopal churches. He and his wife, Catherine, have three children, Anna, Carolina and Nathan, and reside at St. Christopher.
Parenting Principles
Joe and Imogene ‘Gene’ Smith
11.15am – 12.15pm: Chapel
Discussion of tried and true principles of parenting for Christians. Time for questions and sharing.
Joe and Imogene (Gene) have three adult twenty-something children who grew up at St. Andrew’s. They have served the church by teaching Sunday school, hosting Cove Creek Camping, serving on prayer team and teaching an adult parenting series on Boundaries with Kids by Cloud and Townsend.
Supernatural Passion
Mike Clarkson
11.15am – 12.15pm: Historic Church
How do we cooperate with the Holy Spirit and become a vessel of His ministry? We’ll look at many areas as we explore our God-given passions and how they relate to the people and circumstances that are part of our lives every day.
Following the Spirit’s Leading in Worship
Eoghan Heaslip
2.15pm – 3.15pm: Ministry Center
Join New Wine’s worship leader, Eoghan Heaslip, in exploring some of the simple ways we can learn to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading as we lead worship.
Eoghan and his wife Becky live in London, England with their three daughters, where they have been a part of the staff team at St Paul’s church in Ealing since January 2007 overseeing worship & prayer. Eoghan has recently been appointed as the New Wine (UK) Worship Coordinator, with a particular focus on the summer conferences and resources, and the training and networking of worship leaders. As a couple they have a deep desire to see everyone grow in their relationship with God.
Growing the Garden of Your Marriage
John and Patti Sosnowski
2.15pm – 3.15pm: Chapel
Growing a good marriage is much like growing a garden. Preparing the soil, tending and weeding, and harvesting choice fruit in all seasons, are all a part of life in the garden. This workshop will highlight the scriptural truth of God’s intention for the fullness of marriage in every season.
John and Patti Sosnowski have been married for 27 years and have 2 grown daughters, ages 24 and 22. Over the years, John and Patti have facilitated marriage and family Sunday school classes at St. Michael’s Church in Charleston, where they have been members for 17 years. They have been instrumental in helping to develop the South Carolina Diocesan Couples Conference, and have served three years on the board as chairs for the conference. Together they are coordinating The Marriage Conference to be held June 27, 2008 at St. Michael’s Church that will feature guest speakers Nicky and Sila Lee, developers of the Marriage Course at Holy Trinity Church, Brompton in London.
A Prepared Spontaneity: Spiritual Disciplines for a Hectic Age
Mark Cooke
2.15pm – 3.15pm: Church
Busy? Is your life hectic? Let’s explore some of the ideas, materials, and approaches to consistently feeding our souls and nurturing our love relationship with our heavenly Father. Live out the Kingdom principles from the unseen, eternal realm in today’s hectic society. Leave your PDA at home.
Mark was raised in a Christian home in Charleston, came to Christ in a local Baptist church, and following college and seminary, served as an ordained Baptist minister in Texas, SC, NC, Portugal and Spain. Upon returning from Spain, 2001, Mark, his wife, Jane, and their five kids joined St. Andrew’s ~ Mt. Pleasant, while Mark continued to minister across denominational lines locally and internationally. Now an ordained Episcopal priest serving on staff at the Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul, Mark is basically a pastor, teacher and mentor with a hunger for Encounter and Evangelism based on Healing Grace, Prophetic Hope, and the Ministry of Encouragement.
Vive le Difference: The Difference between Men and Women
Tom and Helen Wheeler
3.30pm – 4.30pm: Chapel
Here’s a news flash: ‘Men and Women Are Different!’ Despite Feminism, Equal Rights, even metro sexual men, God created men and women to behave and think differently and therefore to serve different, complementary roles in relationships. Come hear, in a humorous yet significant way, how important the differences between men and women are and how vital that uniqueness is to marriages, families and relationships.
Simple Church
Elizabeth “Boo” Pennewell
3.30pm – 4.30pm: Church
A cluttered calendar does not make a church effective. Join us in looking at four concepts - Clarity. Movement. Alignment. Focus – that can help bring structure and process to that which makes an effective church – the growth of disciples of Jesus Christ.
Boo is a consultant to the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina for congregational leadership. A past senior warden in her church, Boo currently serves on the Diocese’s Congregational Development and Christian Faith Formation teams. She is passionate about connecting the church to its mission by working through its leaders. Boo lives in Mt. Pleasant with her husband and teenage daughter.