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Kingdom Conference 2007: Short-Term Missions, Long-Term Results (Ky.)

The 2007 Kingdom Conference theme is: "Short-Term Missions, Long-Term Results." During this year's conference we will look at the effects when ordinary Christians go on short-term mission trips. The phenomenon is occurring not just in North America, but also around the globe. It has been discovered that the bulk of people doing ministry internationally from North America are short-termers, many returning time after time. This trend has been on the radar screen of denominational mission boards and agencies as churches continue to send thousands of lay people on short-term missions each year.

Download Conference Schedule (PDF)

Guest Lecturers

Dr. Miriam Adeney, Associate Professor of Global and Urban Ministries, Seattle Pacific University (Seattle, WA) holds a MA in journalism from Syracuse University and a PhD in anthropology from Washington State University. Dr. Adeney is an international lecturer and widely published author on the topic of crosscultural mission. She has written articles on world mission and global Christianity which have appeared in numerous journals and magazines. Her unique style of writing transcends cultural and religious barriers. In "When Elephants Dance: Thoughts on Short Term Mission" she raises questions of relationship and partnering in this new venture of the church. She is incoming President of the American Society of Missiology. Dr. Adeney joins us for the second time as a Kingdom Conference speaker.

Dr. Robert Priest, Professor of Mission and Intercultural Studies, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, IL) has distinguished himself as a major researcher on the short term mission movement. He holds a MA from the Univ. of Chicago, MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a PhD in anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley. Born to career missionaries, he was raised in Bolivia and eventually returned to South America to conduct anthropological field research among the Aguaruna of Peru, focusing on traditional religion and conversion to Christianity. His most recent research documents the rapid rise of the short-term missions movement, with commentary on its implications for church and society.

Special Guests

• John Hull, DMiss. Intercultural Studies, Missions Pastor (Houston), will discuss using short-term missions as discipleship tool for church members.
• Julie Broderson, Missions Pastor at Centenary UMC (Lexington), will discuss offering short-term mission training for teams.
• Eric Iverson, staff of Youthworks (Minneapolis), leads short-term missions to inner cities within the US to engage issues of justice.
• Kerry Dorrell, Music and Missions Pastor at First Alliance Church (Lexington), will discuss leading a worship team and his personal mission experience.

Rice & Beans Solidarity Meal

Thursday, October 25 at noon in Stevens-Pike Dining Room

Come enjoy rice and beans dishes from around the world. The lunch is FREE, but we are taking donations to provide student scholarships to SIFAT (Servants in Faith and Technology). These scholarships support ATS students headed to regions of the world where people's well being can be significantly improved by small-scale innovations. Scholarships will allow students to gain additional skills in community development and appropriate technology through the
SIFAT program.

International Potluck Dinner

Thursday, October 25 at 6 p.m. in Stevens-Pike Dining Room

Bring the whole family for a wonderful evening of food, international music and "humorous stories from the journals of short term missionaries." Please bring a local or international dish of food that you can share with 8-10 other people. During the program, childcare and youth activities will be provided.