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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (January 6, 2010) — An event designed to equip and encourage church missions teams throughout the Tri-Cities will be held Saturday, Jan. 23, from 10 a.m. until noon at First Christian Church in Johnson City, Tenn. The seminar is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is required. Online registration is available atwww.milligan.edu/missionteamevent.
“This event, called ‘Best Practices for Mission Teams,’ is a chance for missions leaders from churches throughout the region to get together and share what they’ve been doing and what works for them,” said Phyllis Fox, director of church relations at Milligan College. “We hope that through the discussions, people will learn from each other and come away with new ideas and enthusiasm for the important work they are doing.”
Participants will also learn how colleges and seminaries are preparing missionaries and church leaders. The event is sponsored by Milligan College, Emmanuel School of Religion and Johnson Bible College.
One of the organizers, Ken Underwood, director of church and donor relations at Johnson Bible College, hopes area churches will gain information and experience from the collaborative event.
“I served on the Mission Committee at Central Christian Church in Bristol for about 12 years, and now I see how events like this could help the local committees to be better stewards of their time and resources,” Underwood said. “Local committees are trying as hard as they can to fulfill their visions, but sometimes they have questions with no answers, or experience, related to those questions. The hope is that someone from another church may be able to help with those questions. Also, there may be opportunities to come together to seize opportunities.”
Professor John E. Wasem will serve as the discussion facilitator at Best Practices. Wasem is the founding director of Emmanuel Institutes and is professor of Christian ministries at Emmanuel School of Religion. He is also the director of planter care for Stadia East, a regional team of the church-plant organization Stadia.
“As the name of the event implies, we will be sharing best practices and exploring ways to make a greater impact in missions,” Wasem said.
For more information about the Best Practices for Mission Teams event, visitwww.milligan.edu/missionteamevent or call Brent Nipper at 423.461.8708.