COMING: THE NEXT LEVEL


Another opportunity for leadership development at FPCA will take place starting in March, with the Next Level 2016, an annual seminar that provides knowledge and skills for current and emerging leaders. Look for signups in January.


The seminar is open to anyone interested in exploring leadership and team development skills that they can apply to our church’s theology, mission, organization, ministries, and long-term vision. The Next Level is mandatory for new elders or deacons, and recommended for those currently serving in those roles, as well as staff, team leaders, and team members.


The Next Level will meet in Fellowship Hall every other Monday night from 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. from March 7 to May 16, 2016. For more information, contact office@fpcallentown.org.


Te day’s program, which ran from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., had several key segments:


• A review of challenging changes facing churches in general and FPCA in particular. Tese include people


drifting from church as a traditional focus in society, different generational needs, and an increasing need to talk about basic Christian concepts in language that more people can understand.


• Te importance of people and experiences in forming our faith. At tables, participants shared stories of


individuals who had a profound effect on their faith development, along with events that attendees felt changed them.


• What it means to be a disciple of Christ. In a discussion led by director of adult spiritual formation


Pam Weiss, participants focused on this definition of Christian discipleship: A willingness to die to what has been, believing God’s promise that we will be transformed and become new. Tis transformation is only possible in community, through relationships and experiences— and it often isn’t comfortable.


• Te equipping model of church leadership. Phil Henderson, elder for Nominating and Equipping,


spoke on how equipping shifts the focus from a ministry position and who can fill it to the minister, what that person’s gifts and needs are, and how the church can support him or her. A new online tool for assessing your spiritual gifts is in the final stages of development.


• Reports from Pete Dent, co-chair of the Pastor Nominating Committee, and Bob Martin, elder for


Finances and Assurance.


In a big-picture road map presented at the start of the event, the overall vision for our future begins with a changing church, drawing on Christian principles to develop disciples who are then equipped to use their spiritual gifts so they are empowered to go into the world to further God’s work and will.


For more information about our church’s ministries and how you can be a servant leader, contact office@fpcallentown.org.


Left: Bill Townsend, elder for Leadership and Team Development, facilitates the day’s presentations and discussions. He is now planning and organizing the Next Level training, which begins in January.


“The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry.”


—Ephesians 4:11


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