| From Crime to Christ: Richard's Story
Life is about choices, and those choices have the potential to catupult toward to success or derail us at the worst possible moment. Richard was a young man who I met on the rebound from a life that had brought him down the path of gang warfare and drug distribution. Having renounced his lifestyle, Richard had returned his life to God, relocated to a new community, and found gainful employment. Unfortunately, his life ended tragically one holiday weekend while visiting his old territory. This story is shared as a means of helping youth consider and take responsibility for the choices of their lives.
Free to Forgive: When Forgiveness Doesn't Make Sense
The purpose of forgiveness is to free yourself from the entanglements of the past, to reestablish control over your life by letting go of unpleasant events and people and reconnect with a healthy, positive direction. It does not mean you agree with what the other person did to you. Forgiveness is a gift to your peace of mind, your self esteem, your relationships with others, and your future. Forgiveness and healing is possible even when forgiveness doesn’t make sense.
Grief Relief: Recovering from the Losses of Life
An estimated 8 million Americans suffer through the death of someone in their immediate family each year. The grief toll is much higher when one considers the physical and emotional impact that the process takes on countless others. This seminar describes a holistic approach to facing grief and offers proven guidelines for navigating these treacherous waters.
Romancing the Home: A Prescription for Cultivating Spiritual Relationships
There are only two commandments: love God and love one another. God established the basis for intimacy and personal interaction by creating Adam and Eve and establishing the first home. The home was to be a place where the love of God is modeled before the world. The body of Christ serves as the expanded home of God's love, and this love should be practiced within the body and shared with those outside of it. This seminar discusses a prescription for cultivating healthy, spiritual relationships with God and with others.
Transitioning: Moving the Church from Program to Purpose
Many churches measure the effectiveness of their ministry departments/auxilliaries by the success of annual programs. Whereas these activities offer a valid way of highlighting the many offices of the church, they tend to do little to bring about real transformation in the experience of church members and visitors. God has equipped the body for many purposes the least of which is to minister to others in relevant ways that relieve human suffering and encourage hope and optimism through such efforts. This seminar addresses the call of ministry that has been placed on all believers to move beyond program-orientation to purpose-orientation.
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