Jonathan Dodson » Mission Church Wisdom Church Planting Conferences

LEAD 09 recently finished up at East Auburn Baptist Church in Auburn, Maine. The conference theme, “Gospel, Community, and Mission”, was designed to challenge our beliefs about what the church is and what it means to be called a follower of Jesus. Here are some reflections and resources from the conference. Josh Cousineau – Conference Director Can you share a bit about the vision of LEAD 09? It is shocking when you hear that churches and mission agencies are sending missionaries into your region.  When this happens you begin to wonder about how effectively you’re doing ministry, how you’re living on mission, how the gospel is shaping the way you live, and how well the gospel is being proclaimed.  In New England, gospel-centered ministry must look different from a lot of typical church models. The LEAD conference was birthed out of a passion for advancing the gospel in a post-Christian context.    What’s next for the LEAD conference in New England? Plans are well underway for LEAD 2010, with the hope that LEAD will be an annual event that brings the gospel to the forefront of ministries and encourages the faithful in New England and beyond. Tim Chester – Conference Speaker and co-author of Total Church Why is this conference so important? Many people feel alone, surrounded by legalism and liberalism within their churches, and by secularism and apathy outside their churches. To come together with like-minded gospel people, to be part of a wider movement, to share a common vision; it's hard to under-estimate the importance of these things. I hope and pray that LEAD 09 will be the start of something significant, a movement of gospel-centered churches throughout New England.  Jonathan Dodson - Conference Speaker and author of Fight Clubs What was unique about this conference? LEAD 09 struck a unique balance between theology and practice for mission in 21st century America. It’s rare to find a conference that integrates biblical theology, cultural reflection, and best community and missional practices. Interestingly, the combination of British and American speakers offered a unique perspective on present and future challenges for the western church.

Resources

All LEAD 09 audio and video can be found here. Main sessions include:

• Making God’s people the heart of God’s mission – Tim Chester
• Community as lifestyle – Tim Chester
• The Gospel: Conversion to Christ – Jonathan Dodson
• Making God’s mission the heart of God’s people – Tim Chester
• The Gospel: Conversion to Community – Jonathan Dodson
• The Gospel: Conversion to Mission – Jonathan Dodson
• Mission as a lifestyle – Tim Chester