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2019 National Gathering

The Redemptive Power of Genuine Love

August 30 – September 1
Chattanooga, TN

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A ministry of African American Ministries

About

Being an African American member of a majority culture church comes with a unique set of challenges. It can be hard to be the only representative voice for diversity. We need to be honest about our reality and seek solutions that help us bear fruit where God has placed us. Yet God's solutions tend to be radically different from our own.

The Apostle Paul’s exhortation in Romans 12:9-21, although counterintuitive, is the excellent way of love. This year’s theme “The Redemptive Power of Genuine Love” aims to show how these verses apply to our experience.

Join us to grasp a Biblical perspective of genuine love for your neighbor while embracing God’s design as a Black person uniquely made in His image. Come for a time of sound teaching, vibrant worship and rich fellowship and return home overflowing with hope and confidence rooted in Jesus Christ.

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Sponsors

Reformed Theological Seminary logo
MTW logo
The PCA Unity Fund logo
Korean American Leadership Initiative logo
Covenant College logo
Serge logo

Schedule

Friday, August 30 - New City Fellowship

Registration - starts at 4pm
5:00pm Dinner
6:30pm Worship Service (open to the public)

Plenary Session #1
--Genuine Love: Charting a Third Way (Pastor Mika Edmondson)

Saturday, August 31

Morning + Afternoon at Covenant College

8:00am Coffee & Refreshments
8:15am Worship Service
Plenary Session #2
--Genuine Love: Rejoicing in the Imago Dei (Rev. Dr. Irwyn Ince)

10:00am Morning Breakouts
11:30am Lunch
12:30pm Meetups (Networking)
1:30pm Afternoon Breakouts

3:00pm Plenary Session #3
--Genuine Love: It’s Okay to Love The Church (K.A. Ellis)

Youth Track: 10am - 3pm

Evening at New City Fellowship

5:00pm Dinner
6:30pm Worship Service (open to the public)

Sunday, September 1

Attendees are encouraged to worship at local churches where LDR-affiliated pastors will be preaching.

New City Fellowship Glenwood
2424 East Third Street
Thurman Williams - 8:30am and 11:00am

First Presbyterian Church
554 McCallie Avenue
Sanctuary:  8:30am and 10:55am (Tony Myles)
Fellowship Hall:  8:30am and 10:55am (Howard Brown)

North Shore Fellowship
118 Woodland Avenue
Carl Ellis - 9:00am,  10:15am, 11:30am

Breakout Sessions

Morning

Why Common Grace Isn't So Common
Engaging God's World with Truth and Grace in a Polarized Context
Presenter: Dr. Christina Edmondson
Topic: Sociology

When Tamar (and Tyrone) Speak
Acknowledging, Addressing, and Lamenting Abuse in the Church
Presenter: Suzanne Bates
Topic: Sexual Abuse

Black Images Matter
Visual Representations of Race
Presenter: Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt
Topic: Visual Arts

Privilege and Partnership
The Journey Toward Becoming Better Allies
Presenters: Lance Lewis and Amy Bagby
Topic: Advocacy

Rediscovering Discipleship
Ordinary Means for an Extraordinary Call
Presenters: Charles and Charlotte McKnight
Topic: Discipleship

Ready to Go
Mobilizing Missionaries of Color
Presenter: Barbara Jones
Topic: Global Missions

Afternoon

Nothing New Under the Sun
Contemporary Lessons from the Historic Black Church
Presenters: Alicia Jackson and Carl Ellis
Topic: Church History

Suffering in Silence
How to Raise Awareness About Mental Wellness in the Black Community
Presenter: MyChelle Pinkerton
Topic: Mental Health

A Family Affair
Serving Others as Fellow Image Bearers
Presenters: Tony and Tanya Myles
Topic: Mercy Ministries

A Place at the Table
Affirming the Leadership of Sistahs
Presenters: Kellie and Howard Brown
Topic: Leadership

Never Would’ve Made It!
Dealing with Cultural Fatigue
Presenter: Omari Hill
Topic: Spiritual Renewal

Meetups

African American Networking Sessions

Academics
Church Planters
Church Planter & Pastor Wives
Denominational Leadership
Global Missionaries
Internships
Seminary Students
Single Women
Worship Leaders

Testimonials

LDR, yet again, has been incredibly restorative and affirming. I made tons of connections with older black women and excitingly black peers that are sadly in limited supply in (my city)..Many thanks to the entire LDR team that creates this space for people like me, struggling to find my own identity in this world.

THANK YOU for LDR. I was so bolstered by the conference. I think it would be hard to find a person of color who would not be deeply encouraged and renewed by attending.

LDR fed in me ways that I didn't know I was hungry for. It was a truly blessed time.

It was great to hear the speakers journey. You know that they don't become who they are overnight - but when you are persevering, it is nice to hear how others have done so successfully in the midst of the struggle.

I appreciated the opportunity to hear the stories of how other black people ended up in the PCA in the context of our own safe space. This was special.

WOW....pretty powerful to hear testimonies about being a minority in all white spaces. I really enjoyed all of the Plenary sessions. Each spoke to different aspects of my struggle and beautifully affirmed and encouraged me.

The Weekend is full.

We have reached capacity. Registration is now closed.

Location

New City Fellowship-Chattanooga

2424 E 3rd St
Chattanooga, TN 37404

Covenant College

14049 Scenic Hwy
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750

Accommodations

Hotel

Many of our conference guests are staying at the Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton Inn and Suites in Downtown Chattanooga. (The discount rate is no longer available.) Feel free to explore other options, as well. We encourage you to book soon in light of the holiday weekend.

Meals

Meals are provided on Friday (dinner) and Saturday (lunch and dinner). Local attendees are encouraged to bring a side dish for the Saturday meal.

FAQs

LDR Social