Matt Heard to speak at USMB National Convention
By Don Morris, Interim Executive Director
This Conference Call is just that, a call to a conference! The USMB National Pastors’ Conference and National Convention will take place July 27-30 in Denver, Colo. With the theme “Press On,” this gathering of Mennonite Brethren from all over America will focus on what it means to live life abundantly as we press on toward our ultimate goal of heaven.
Matt Heard will be the guest speaker for the Pastors’ Conference and the National Convention. Heard and his wife, Arlene, live in Colorado Springs, Colo., and are the parents of three adult sons. A speaker and writer, he was the senior pastor at Woodmen Valley Chapel, Colorado Springs, for 12 years. Whether standing in front of people with a microphone or in a trout stream with a fly rod, whether sitting around a dinner table with friends or serving a need in his city, Heard loves exploring and experiencing “Life with a Capital L,” the title of his recent book.
Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, writes of Heard’s book: “I know Matt Heard to be a thoughtful, humble follower of Christ. Those qualities are evident in Life with a Capital L. This book is a clear and powerful call to rediscover the depth and breadth of life as God intended—to embrace the longing we all have to really live as humans made in God’s image.”
During the Pastors’ Conference, Heard will help our pastors and spouses gain more understanding about how pastors can enjoy lives that are alive, exciting and fulfilling. Many pastors’ lives are filled with stress and busyness. Heard wants to help them see that “the pastoral life can be one that is empowered, equipped and inspired by the One who created us to live abundantly.”
Along with input from Heard, National Convention goers will learn from multiple workshops, be inspired by lively worship led by The Rock of Southwest, a USMB church in Denver, and cheer over stories from existing churches and church plants. Plus, we’ll reveal a brand new USMB vision and Future Story for all of us to rejoice about. Over the past two years, leaders and church representatives have been working hard at discovering this new godly vision and putting flesh on the new bones. We’ll celebrate together as we envision the future God is calling us to. I personally think this will be one of the most remembered conventions in our history as we discover more about this new path forward.
At conventions, I also enjoy being around people that I don’t regularly see and visit with. We’re part of a great collection of churches, and there has consistently been a “family atmosphere” at our gatherings.
All of this takes place at The Westin Westminster hotel in Westminster, Colo., a suburb of Denver. You’ll want to register now and also reserve your hotel room. Pastors: Come to the Pastors’ Conference that begins Wednesday, July 27, with dinner and concludes Friday with lunch. For everyone: The National Convention begins July 29 with a reception at 4:30 p.m. Of course, there are all kinds of things for kids to do, and families can extend their vacation in this beautiful part of God’s creation. Please join us, and we’ll press on together! You can find all the information you need on the USMB website: www.usmb.org.
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