Welcome to Engage for God

Take a look at the Great Workshops
that can help you Grow.

 

Workshop I / Track Speaker Saturday  10:30 - 11:30 AM   Title/Topic
Kingdom Advancement Rob Carter Preparing People for Short-Term and Career Missions More
Church Growth Todd Ahernd Being Relevant in Your Changing Community More
Church Growth Frank Meitz Redefining Discipleship More
Missional Movements Port Wilburn Creative, Unique Ways Churches are Planted More
Worldviews & Cultures Dr. Viji Cammauf Asian American Christianity More
Young Adults Dr. Glen Gibson Living Out God's Justice in the City More

Young Adults - (Ages 18-29). Youth - Jr. High and High School. Children - Grades 1 through 6.

Lunch is split into 2 groups RED and GREEN
Youth will have worship during the second
The same Worshops for adults will be offered during both lunch periods


Lunch #1 and ENGAGE #1

Workshop II / Track Speaker Saturday  11:40 - 12:40 AM   Title/Topic
Kingdom Advancement Rob Carter Preparing People for Short-Term and Career Missions More
Kingdom Advancement Jason Mandryk The Great Commission : Coming Challenges and Opportunities More
Young Adults Renee Burkhalter Child Sex Trafficking (Cambodia case study) More
Church Growth Dr. Ken Silva Making Disciples who Make Disciples More

 

Lunch #2 and ENGAGE #2

Workshop III / Track Speaker Saturday  12:50 - 1:50 PM   Title/Topic  
Kingdom Advancement Jason Mandryk The Great Commission : Coming Challenges and Opportunities More
Young Adults Renee Burkhalter Child Sex Trafficking (Cambodia case study) More
Church Growth Dr. Ken Silva Making Disciples who Make Disciples More

 

Workshop IV / Track Speaker Saturday  2 - 3 PM   Title/Topic  
Kingdom Advancement Dr. Kim Coutts The Role of the Global Outreach Team in Our Church More
Church Growth Pastor Larry  Adams Pastor's Role in Global Missions More
Worldviews & Cultures Wilson Koppula An introduction to Indian culture, faiths and worldview More
Worldviews & Cultures Earl Gregory Bridges, Sharing Hope with Muslims More
Missional Movements Jeff Pishney Loving Our Community  (A Case Study) More
Young Adults Todd Ahernd Unveiling Christ Through The Ages, Especially NOW More
Young Adults Bryce Naylor
& Paul Varela 		The Gospel overcoming Guns and Gangs More
Children Lori Aubuchon Children Leading Children to the Lord More

 

Bridges, Sharing Hope with Muslims

James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says"
"Frontier missions" is no longer meant for a "special few". God, in His sovereignty, has opened the door for many unengaged Muslim people groups to come to North America. Within the borders of our free country, we have the unique opportunity and great privilege to share Christ with those who have never heard the Gospel! Come learn about how to personally implement a Biblical response to the challenge Islam presents to the "90 million evangelicals" in the North American Church.
Crescent Project:
Vision: We see a day when fear is replaced with love and millions of Christians are actively sharing the truth of Christ with millions of Muslims.
Mission: Crescent Project exists to INSPIRE, EQUIP and SERVE the Church to reach Muslims with the Gospel of Christ for the Glory of God.

The Gospel overcoming Guns and Gangs

In an age where minimizing and watering down the Gospel is becoming more and more popular and acceptable among “Mainstream Christianity,” it is easy to get sidetracked from the fact that we are in a battle. According to the Bible, your life is lived in the midst of an invisible spiritual war (Eph. 6:12). One of the most dangerous things you can do is simply ignore this reality. This workshop investigates from scripture, some practical steps to being committed to and winning the battle. Also, hear firsthand from an ex-gang member, drug dealer and addict as he shares his testimony of how by the power of Christ and the Gospel he has been transformed from an angry bitter street thug to a mighty spiritual warrior enlisted in God’s warfare (II Cor. 5:17).
Pastor Larry Adams

Larry Adams

serves as Senior Pastor of Golden Hills Community Church in Brentwood, California. Beginning as a church plant in1984 the church has grown to become a multi-site, multi-ethnic congregation engaged in ministry and missions around the world. He and his wife, Karla have been married since 1980 and enjoy their three grown children and their families very much.

The Pastor's Role in Global Missions.

The pastor of any church is called to be a leader in developing the vision and strategy for a congregation's global mission. This workshop will relate the story of Golden Hills and the transferrable concepts that can help any pastor be a global mission leader for their congregation.

Preparing People for Short-Term and Career Missions

Consider the men Jesus called to follow Him and what kind of training He gave them to start the New Testament Church of the first century. How should we do things the same or differently for what many believe to be the "last generation of disciples" that will finish the task of the Great Commission? Who can serve on short-term ministries and who should be sent as vocational Ambassadors of Christ? As a responsibility of the Church, how do we prepare them for such a high calling?

Creative, Unique Ways Churches are Planted

In this class you will understand how God uses Missional Church Planting to transform our culture and impact our world for Christ.
Missional Movements are Catalyst for Kingdom Growth.
Port Wilburn

Port Wilburn

is an indigenous leader, born and raised in the East Bay. He is a Church Planter, Church consultant and a Strategist for the Southern Baptist Convention. He is a First generation believer with fresh eyes assessing today's church and Missional movements and what is. In 2006 He restarted a dead church in the city of San Pablo. Today that Church Rock Harbor Christian Fellowship is a multi ethnic congregation of 150 people. Port works with the SBC to Plant Urban Churches throughout the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. Words that he lives by are Purpose, Passion and Permission to accomplish all that God has set for him to do. He is a true equipper of Gods People with a Barnabas heart.
Bryce Naylor

Bryce Naylor

and wife Kara reside in Fresno CA, where for the last five years they have been involved in Hope Now For Youth (www.hopenow.org), a full time ministry to gang members and street youth. Before this Bryce and Kara ministered together at Forest Home Christian Conference Center. A graduate of Simpson University in Redding CA, Bryce has been involved in short term missions trips ranging from orphanages in Ukraine to theological training centers in India, as well as to the lost in Salt Lake City, UT, and Nauvoo, IL. Bryce's involvement at Hope Now For Youth has also led him to be a part of a church plant in Fresno, where as a co-pastor, Bryce leads worship for Hope Now Bible Church. Bryce's passion and gift for the dramatic presentation of scripture was birthed in him at the Urbana missions conference in 2000, when at the time he was studying scripture at Ashland Theological Seminary in Ohio.

Paul VarelaPaul Varela

Growing up under the roof of a violent step father, and a mother addicted to selling and using drugs, Paul at a young age had given himself over to the street life of gangs and violence.  Frequenting Juvenile Hall as an early teen, incarceration became a familiar and comfortable way of life.  Having joined the largest gang in California’s central valley, Paul saw no way out.  That is until Christ invaded his life and radically changed him. In a short time Paul made the transition from thinking only about himself and survival, to being the sole provider of a family of seven. Paul is married to his wife Yvette, and together they are raising their two children, Paul’s daughter and Yvette’s younger sister and brother.  Paul also serves on the Hope Now For Youth staff as he recruits and ministers to gang members.
Rob Carter

Rob Carter

has served as Director of Missions with JARON Ministries International for the past twenty years. Rob grew up in a large Southern California Bible church that had exceptional youth and missions ministries. He's been involved in church leadership since Jr. High and spent 17 years in High School and young adults ministries before going into missions full-time. With a lifetime of Short-Term Missions experience he has been active in team leadership training and conference speaking. He has served as Chairman for the Fresno/Clovis Missions Network for the past ten years.

The Role of the Global Outreach Team in Our Church

Come hear our story: Successes and pitfalls of a mid-sized missional church.
Dr Coutts will share with you a 15 year history of a middle class church in Silicon Valley as they endeavored to make missions relevant to our body. Sharing the amazing things the LORD has done through humble efforts of their people and the struggles of a strategic partnership, Dr Coutts will show how one church can make a tremendous difference in growing the Kingdom.
Dr Kim Coutts

Dr Kim Coutts

serves as the Global Outreach Team leader at Hillside Church in San Jose, Ca. He is a former missionary with SIM to Liberia and Ethiopia. Kim's passion is to facilitate a mindset for reaching the world for Christ, both locally and abroad. He leads a volunteer team which makes global outreach relevant to a wide spectrum of people in his church. He is the proud grandfather of 3 adopted Tanzanian orphans, who live with their missionary mom and dad serving in East Africa. .
FranK Meitz

Frank Meitz

is a full-time volunteer, spearheading the Train The Trainer division of Discipler Training International (DTI), a non-denominational discipleship ministry providing free discipleship lessons for spiritual growth, discipling believers and training disciplers.
While working as a technology trainer for a major insurance company, Frank and his wife Jeannette, found their lives dramatically changed because of being discipled in a weekly class taught by Art Barkley, the author of the DTI materials. Learning to trust in God's Character, to listen and obey the Holy Spirit, and abide daily has led them on an amazing journey that has included leading Train The Trainer workshops not only in the US, but also in Fiji, Costa Rica, Mexico, Chile, and most recently the fourth conference on the island of Cuba. In addition to "Train The Trainers", Frank personally follows the biblical model taught by the apostle Paul in I Thessalonians 2:3-16, as a spiritual parent, or mentor, to new believers, and currently meets weekly with several men in committed discipleship relationships, and leads two small groups.

Redefining Discipleship

In this workshop session we will explore whether the concept of discipleship should be redefined to incorporate a more effective "balanced" model that delivers superior results - i.e. exponential individual spiritual maturity leading to spiritual reproduction. We will look at obstacles that often prevent an effective discipleship ministry from flourishing, and delve into Paul's spiritual parenting model, drawing parallels between physical and spiritual principles. We will also discuss the responsibility of pastors and leaders to equip the members of the church body to come alongside newer believers and disciple them, enabling them to live the victorious Christian life, with a desire to disciple others.
Todd Ahrend

Todd Ahrend

is a graduate of Northeastern State University and a former campus minister at Tulsa University. He has a master's degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Doctorate from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Todd and his wife Jessica have been married for 12 years. Todd is the founder of The Traveling Team, a collegiate mobilization ministry and for seven years, Todd and Jessica traveled the United States speaking to college students about missions with this ministry. They have been on over 450 college campuses and have spoken to thousands of students trying to help them understand their role in world evangelization. For one year, they lived and traveled in the Arab World gaining insight into the status of Christian witness there. Todd has recently transitioned to the International Director of The Traveling Team which seeks to use The Traveling Team's resources in countries outside of the U.S. They have three children, Camden, Brody, and Axel. Todd is the author of In This Generation: Looking to the Past to Reach the Present and The Abrahamic Revolution: God's Mission in Motion.

Making Disciples who Make Disciples

Why is it so hard for us to share the gospel, especially with friends and relatives?  Love compels us, but then fear prevents us.  This session will add simple, transferable tools to your witnessing belt, things you can do, be and say to become the witness we all desire to be. What you will learn: To use stories to heighten interest and communicate the gift of salvation; To cultivate relationships and discern when a friend’s heart is open to hear the gospel; To use a gospel tool that is easy to learn, fun to share and nearly impossible to forget!

Making Disciples who Make Disciples

Why is it so hard for us to share the gospel, especially with friends and relatives? Love compels us, but then fear prevents us. This session will add simple, transferable tools to your witnessing belt, things you can do, be and say to become the witness we all desire to be. What you will learn: To use stories to heighten interest and communicate the gift of salvation; To cultivate relationships and discern when a friend’s heart is open to hear the gospel; To use a gospel tool that is easy to learn, fun to share and nearly impossible to forget!
Ken Silva

Ken Silva

is the founding pastor of River Oak Grace Community Church in Oakdale, CA, and leads a dynamic evangelistic ministry for 19 years. As a Lead Teacher for Evangelism Explosion (EE) International, Ken has trained thousands of believers in evangelism world-wide over the past 30 years. Ken earned his M.Div. from Talbot Theological Seminary and his D.Min. from Regent University and has authored training materials for EE International including the one-day Share Your Faith Workshop. He is presently Vice President of EE International overseeing Canada, the U.S.A. and 26 nations of the Caribbean.
Renee Burkhalter

Renee Burkhalter

has a deep love and passion for people that led her to joining the battle against the injustice of child sex trafficking in 2005. Renee served as an Executive Pastor at a large church for 13 years and was serving as the Connections Pastor of a mega church leading a ministry of 500 people when she followed God’s call to join Agape International Missions and dedicate her life to fighting the injustice of child sex trafficking. She volunteered for three years with Agape starting in 2005, during which time she provided administrative support to the ministry and spent the summer of 2006 in Cambodia assisting with program development for Agape Restoration Center, a long term aftercare center for girls rescued from sex trafficking. In August 2007 she returned to Cambodia to assist with the opening of a church sponsored community center in the heart of a village renown for trafficking little girls. In 2008, Renee resigned her position at the mega church and has served with Agape International Missions full time as the Director of Development for the past three years.

Child Sex Trafficking (Cambodia case study)

Child sex trafficking is a horrific evil that has gripped our world.  Learn how one organization is combating this evil with the most powerful weapon available, the unconditional love of Jesus Christ, and how you can combat this evil in your neighborhood and our world.

Child Sex Trafficking (Cambodia case study)

Child sex trafficking is a horrific evil that has gripped our world.  Learn how one organization is combating this evil with the most powerful weapon available, the unconditional love of Jesus Christ, and how you can combat this evil in your neighborhood and our world.
Lori Aubuchon

Lori Aubuchon

is married to her husband Russ Aubuchon of 25 years this year and lives in Fresno with their 4 children 23, 21,20 and 11. Three girls and then the little prince! She came to faith in Jesus Christ in her troubled high school years as a result of a teacher in school. She has been involved in children's ministry for 25 years in areas from Sunday School Teacher, Secretary, Director of Upper Elementary / Outreach at Peoples Church, Director of Evangelism to Children at Peoples Church, sat on the Advisory Council for Kids' Evangelism Explosion International and is currently the Director of Kids' EE at Peoples Church in Fresno and is a Missionary with Evangelism Explosion as the Kids' Specialist for the U.S. Western Region (the thirteen western states).

Children Leading Children to the Lord

In North America alone there are 40 million children that have not heard the Gospel message of Jesus Christ in a way in which they can respond. The importance of reaching kids for Christ has not been a priority of the church and as a result so many kids have grown up not having an understanding of their role in the body of Christ. Kids' EE is a wonderful tool that reveals to us that KIDS CAN receive the gospel message as their own, effectively SHARE it with others, teach others to share the GOSPEL and have an eternal impact on our world! It is our responsibility to disciple and equip them. Join us as we learn together, laugh together and determine together to fulfill this awesome responsibility to this and future generations! Romans 10:14-15 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Wilson Koppula

Rev. Wilson Koppula

was born in Shamshabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. He accepted Christ as his personal savior while he was in his college. He taught Biology in India and five years in Nigeria (West Africa). After he resigned his job, he attended Bible College in Winnipeg, Canada, and then moved to the USA. He graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1990 from Western Baptist Seminary (San Jose branch), Portland. Oregon. He spent five years ministering full time to Sikhs and Hindus in the San Jose and Santa Clara area. In 1995 he moved with his family to the Central Valley and Established "India Friendship Center" in Turlock, and planted "Hindi, Fiji and Pakistani Church" in Modesto, California. With over 19 years of experience in evangelizing Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims in the USA. Koppula is well qualified and often invited to equip Christians with evangelism techniques.

An introduction to Indian culture, faiths and worldview

This seminar aims to help Church leaders and Christians become aware of the basic Indian culture and beliefs, and the philosophies of Hinduism and Sikhism. The seminar will cover topics like who God is, what a man is, and what is a man's hope, according to Sikhism and Hinduism. Knowing these facts, there will be ways to be prepared to witness to these groups who migrated to the USA. Furthermore, in this seminar we will discuss issues of cross – cultural evangelism, and understanding the Sikh and Hindu mindset. Hopefully this seminar will be of help to you in communicating the gospel of Christ to Sikhs and Hindus.
Glen Gibson

Glen Gibson

Through his young adult years God developed within Glen a passion for the lost and a love for other cultures that eventually led to him serving in cross-cultural ministry for most of his adult life. His desire, as a faculty member at William Jessup University, is to inspire and equip others to give their life to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the unreached people of the world. He is excited about how the liberal arts educational focus at WJU enables him to integrate the preparation for cross-cultural life and ministry with equipping for a wide variety of professions available through the degree offerings at the university.
Before coming to WJU, Glen served for four years as the youth minister at his home church in the Los Angeles area, lived and ministered for seventeen years as a missionary in the Philippines, and led the Training Department at Team Expansion, a mission agency with a world-wide focus, for five years. During his time at Team Expansion, Glen also served as a Vice-President of the organization and as a Field Coordinator encouraging and overseeing several teams of field missionaries In addition, he is an adjunct faculty member in the Graduate School at Hope International University, husband of Wendy, and a father of three wonderful daughters.
Viji Cammauf

Viji Nakka Cammauf

is the President of Little Flock Childen's Homes a ministry to orphans and widows around the world.
She has served as an adjunct professor for The American Baptist Seminary of the West, Fuller Northern California, and Logos Evangelical Seminary in El Monte California. (Evangelism 2009) She is a lecturer and Professor of record for the Perspectives Study Program in Northern California. She co-led and taught the 2008 India May-term Program for Westmont College. She co-edited the Asian American Christianity - A Reader .2009.
Born in Madras, India, to Hindu parents, she came to Christ as a student at Mills College in California. In the past Viji Cammauf has served in the college ministry and as Minister of missions, adult education. and prayer ministries at First Covenant Church in Oakland, California. She earned a master's of divinity degree from The American Baptist Seminary of the West, and holds a doctorate in Theology and the Arts, from The Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.
Viji Cammauf serves on the board of The William Carey Heritage Foundation, The Institute for the Study of Asian American Christianity, World Christian Fellowship, and Perspectives Northern California (dba The Harvest Group)
Jason Mandryk

Jason Mandryk

is the author of Operation World and has served with WEC in the Operation World team since 1995. He has a passion for sharing how God is at work around the world and the challenges that confront the Church. These issues are communicated in fascinating ways using Operation World's formidable collection data and statistics. Jason leads the multi-national, multi-generational Operation World team from WEC's headquarters in the leafy outskirts of London, England. He finds that his love for music, soccer and ethnic cuisine are all great cross-cultural door openers and interests that are wonderfully served by a close proximity to the global crossroads that is London.

The Great Commission : Coming Challenges and Opportunities

Jesus' final commands to his disciples has not changed, but the world certainly has! Join us for a panoramic look at these sweeping global changes and their implications for the Church and its mission. Material derived from the newest edition of Operation World as well as subsequent, even newer material.

The Great Commission : Coming Challenges and Opportunities

Jesus' final commands to his disciples has not changed, but the world certainly has! Join us for a panoramic look at these sweeping global changes and their implications for the Church and its mission. Material derived from the newest edition of Operation World as well as subsequent, even newer material.

Unveiling Christ Through The Ages, Especially NOW

Be inspired by how God has used young adults in the past. Unlock the historical treasure of what God has done through the Student Volunteer Movement and see the incredible worldwide missional influence of young adults. Understand the primary principles necessary for you to be a history maker!
Jeff PishneyJeff Pishney grew up in Iowa, went to college in Virginia and has been in Modesto, California serving at Big Valley Grace Community Church since 1995. I've served as an intern for two years, college pastor for 9 years and the reach pastor for the last 5 years. 3 years ago, he also became the Love Modesto coordinator. " I love my wife, my kids, Iowa Hawkeyes and Macs. I hate injustice and indifference. I'm imperfect, but striving to live in the way of Jesus."
Love Modesto started with two questions back in 2007 - Why is our city on some of the "worst cities in America" lists? What if our churches were to suddenly disappear from the Modesto area, would anyone even care or notice? With a lot of dreaming and planning came March 7, 2009. Over 1,200 people showed up to love our city in practical ways. We've done this 6 more times with a total of over 11,000 people who have been a part ... young, old, abled, disabled, people from a church or no church at all. Over 38,500 volunteer hours have been donated - at minimum wage, this is over $308,000! At these community wide service days, volunteers engage in a variety of projects such as offering food to the hungry, visiting convalescent homes, donating blood, building a house with Habitat for Humanity and working with the City of Modesto, among other opportunities.
So many amazing stories have come out of these days, but perhaps the greatest stories are hundreds and hundreds of people who now continue to regularly volunteer with the organizations and areas they served. This is our hope and prayer ...renewed pride in Modesto, on-going volunteerism would increase and our community transformed. Loving Modesto would be just a part of who we are, preferring others as Jesus does.
As we dream for 2012, our vision is expanding. In 2011, we added Love Ceres, Love Escalon and Love Riverbank. Next year, we hope to add up to 15 more surrounding cities.
Todd Ahrend

Todd Ahrend

is a graduate of Northeastern State University and a former campus minister at Tulsa University. He has a master's degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Doctorate from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Todd and his wife Jessica have been married for 12 years. Todd is the founder of The Traveling Team, a collegiate mobilization ministry and for seven years, Todd and Jessica traveled the United States speaking to college students about missions with this ministry. They have been on over 450 college campuses and have spoken to thousands of students trying to help them understand their role in world evangelization. For one year, they lived and traveled in the Arab World gaining insight into the status of Christian witness there. Todd has recently transitioned to the International Director of The Traveling Team which seeks to use The Traveling Team's resources in countries outside of the U.S. They have three children, Camden, Brody, and Axel. Todd is the author of In This Generation: Looking to the Past to Reach the Present and The Abrahamic Revolution: God's Mission in Motion.

Living Out God's Justice in the City

Cities are exploding all over the world. If we are going to see God's kingdom lived out in all corners of the earth we must have a dynamic impact on the urban areas which contain more than half of the world's population and drive the culture of its societies. As the hands and feet of Jesus our impact on these cities will come not only through our words, but also our actions. In this workshop we will explore ways we can living out the gospel in such a way that the love and message of Christ is integrated into the lives of the billions who need him and entire societies are transformed.

Asian American Christianity

This workshop will provide an accessible introduction to Asian and Asian American Christianity . It will enhance knowledge about Asian and Asian American Christianity, and lift up the voices of Asian and Asian American Christians , and equip leaders to serve the emerging community both here in the United States and in Asia.

Being Relevant in Your Changing Community

Hear the key reasons for the shift from Jesus as the only way to the misconception of Jesus as just a way. Understand key thoughts in Pluralism and Inclusivism to strengthen being exclusive in your faith. Walk away with principles for strategic interaction with other world religions while staying grounded in the truth of God's Word.