“Cleared for Launch”
Saturday, March 18 | 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Our Missions Conference this year will to cast vision and equip the GRC congregation to be a faithful and effective sending church. For the first time in our congregation’s history, we are sending our own members to the mission field as full-time workers! This is a significant milestone that we want to celebrate. But we don’t want to simply “launch them into orbit” to the mission field without adequate support. No, like any good space flight, we want a robust “mission control” on the ground to actively monitor, resource, and work with them from “back home” to help ensure their mission is a success.
Come join us for a half-day conference on Saturday, March 18, 2023 to learn how we, the members of GRC, can be an effective and helpful “mission control” for our dear friends as they launch into the mission field.
A robust children’s program (see below) will take place all morning, helping our children explore the same theme as their older family members.
Youth and adults are invited to attend the main sessions in the sanctuary together.
Schedule
Missionaries & Speakers
Scott Brady
Scott was born and raised just outside of Philadelphia in Drexel Hill, PA, and graduated with a B.S. in Bible from Philadelphia College of Bible (Cairn University) in 1978. He then completed a ThM in New Testament from Grace Theological Seminary in 1983.
Scott had the privilege of pastoring in two churches in Downingtown and Mt. Aetna, PA from 1983 to 2014. It was at that point that God led him to serve with TEAM in Mobilization and Church Engagement. This year Scott will be married to Lisa 40 years and continue to enjoy God’s blessing of three married children and six grandchildren. Several of these grandchildren are looking forward to learning Scott’s favorite hobby, golf. His grandsons also enjoy helping him roast coffee and brew it in a Chemex. If you ask Scott about his deepest passion, it would be to see churches multiply exponentially by making disciples who make disciples, and out of these, disciple-makers will be sent out and serve in the places in this world which have the least access to the Gospel.
Barry Winchell
Barry was born in South Africa, the son of missionary parents, who returned to the States when he was eight years old. He spent the rest of his school years in Wheaton, Illinois. Barry graduated from Columbia International University with a B.A. in 1982 where he met his wife Dawn, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School with and M.A. in 1995. Barry is ordained with The Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA). Barry and Dawn joined TEAM in 1987, recruited for TEAM and then served as church planters in Italy until 2003. Then they returned to the United States where Barry has pastored two Evangelical Free Churches in New Jersey. In 2017 they re-joined TEAM and Barry currently serves as the Regional Executive Director of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Barry and Dawn have two children. If you ask him his passion he’ll probably say making disciples, preaching and spreading the passion of what God is doing in the world, peddling his road bike pursuing his annual mileage goal, and paddling his sea kayak.
Session Description
“Cleared for Launch: Sending Workers Well” by Scott Brady. God has called GRC members to be sent, and He has called GRC to send them well and be involved in the work of the ministry in the Middle East. From the Antioch Church to church planting throughout the New Testament we see how God uses the members of His Body to use their gifts and abilities in the work of reaching the nations with the Gospel. The launch sequence is in place for all to be a part of the mission.
“A Theology of Risk” by Barry Winchell. A theology of risk is not a theology of suffering; all of us must be willing to suffer for Christ. Rather, a theology of risk is about stewardship. How do we wisely steward the reputation of the gospel, our resources, and our relationships when ministering in challenging places?
“Mission Control: Serving the Team & Serving With the Team” by Scott Brady. We never want those we send to seem as if they’re “lost in space,” but even amidst the challenges that certainly will be faced they will always know that their Mission Control team is right there with them. In fact, it will be impossible for them to accomplish God’s work there without the ongoing vital work of each member of their team back in Houston; excuse me, Glen Rock. We will learn about each of our roles and responsibilities as the Mission Control Team back home.
“What Do We Really Need? Nothing Less than a Complete Gospel” by Barry Winchell. Knowing four simple and indispensable aspects of the Gospel equips us to share the Gospel most effectively and simply in any country, language, and culture. We will explore the theology of the Gospel, the history of the Gospel, the conversation of the Gospel, and our response to the Gospel.
Children’s Program: “Let’s All Be One Cent!”
An engaging children’s program will help our kids learn how a penny can teach us about what it means to be sent by God in his mission.
- Nursery: ages 0-2
- Toddlers program
- Preschooler program
- Kindergarten through 5th grade program
You must register your children when you register to attend the conference (March 12th deadline).
You will check them in at the check-in desk in the Fellowship Hall upon arrival. Please arrive by 8:45 to ensure they are checked in before the program begins.