Report on “Equipping the Saints for God’s Mission” Conference

April, 26-28 at Bethel Lutheran Church, Sherwood Park, Alberta

The "Equipping the Saints for God's Mission" conference was a wonderfully uplifting and successful event. One participant described the event as “the ‘best’ Christian gathering I can remember ever attending!”. A little over 300 had registered with every ELCIC synod represented. Our keynote speakers, Dr. Jim Nestingen and Pastor Jaynan Clark Egland (President of the WordAlone Network), treated us to thought-provoking presentations. Their presentations were supplemented by others speakers from “Solid Ground".

The concluding worship service was truly Spirit-filled and $7200 was collected in donations to Solid Ground.

The venue was excellent. The pastor and members of Bethel Lutheran Church (Lutheran Church-Canada) were very hospitable. Rev. Dr. Lothar Schwabe is commended for his great organizational skills locally.

The following presentations are available to be downloaded in text (PDF) format:

“Standing on Solid Ground” by Rosalynn Tubbe, member of St. John’s, Waterloo and Vice-Chair of Solid Ground. Click here to download as PDF document.

“Who or What is Here We Stand?" by Dr. Ron Voss”, member of St. Peter’s, Cochrane and one of the original 18 subscribers to the Here We Stand confessional declaration. Click here to download as PDF document.

“The Ministry of Solid Ground” by Rev. Dr. Peeter Vanker, chair of Solid Ground. Click here to download as PDF document.
"Greetings from the Bishop of Alberta". Click here to download the PDF document.

Audio files (mp3) for the following presentations are now available:

"The Lutheran Confessions on Human Sexuality", Dr. Jim Nestingen (11.3 Mb, 1 hour)
"Shedding Light - Not Generating Heat", Dr. Jim Nestingen (9.7 Mb, 55 min)
"A House Divided? Can a Church Survive with Mutually Exclusive Theologies?", Dr. Jim Nestingen (9.5 Mb, 54 min)
"Equipping the Saints", Dr. Jim Nestingen (4.3 Mb, 24 min)

"Equipping the Saints", Rev. Jaynan Clark Egland (10 Mb, 57 min)
"WordAlone", Rev. Jaynan Clark Egland (6.8 Mb, 38 min)

 

"Heart of the Matter, Faith in God's Word", Rev. Ed Skutshek (10.3 Mb, 58 min)
Sermon by Pastor Ed Skutshek at the concluding worship service based upon the Gospel reading from John 2: 1-11 (4.2 Mb, 24 min):

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

DVDs of highlights of the conference, including highlights from the plenary presentations by Dr. James Nestingen and Pastor Jaynan Clark Egland, are currently being prepared.