In January, the Lake Region Conference held its annual Leadership Convention. More than 1,500 church officers and members attended the weekend at the Century Center convention facility in South Bend, Ind. For the first time, promotion and registration information was available on the Lake Region Conference website. This resulted in the largest attendance in the event’s history.

The main sessions offered a time for spiritual reflection with thought-provoking messages, special insights on leadership, and ideas for the regeneration of Sabbath school. The slate of keynote presenters included Alfred Johnson, church ministries director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America; Timothy Nixon, inreach chaplain at Andrews University and a member of the Pioneer Memorial Church pastoral staff; Kenneth Mulzac, associate professor of Christian ministry at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University; and Faith J. Crumbly, editor of Sabbath School Leadership magazine.

More than 20 seminars provided instruction and insight on how to be more effective in church offices, stimulate member involvement, facilitate outreach and evangelism, and foster improvement in church life. Seminar presenters from the Lake Region Conference, Lake Union Conference, and the North American Division shared their expertise. A youth track offered opportunities for development of youth leaders and young people alike, focusing on equipping and motivating youth for service. Table displays included tools and ideas for evangelism and outreach.

Referring to the communication seminar conducted by Gary Burns, Lake Union Conference communication director, and Pathway to Peace radio broadcast founders, Cary and Elene Rodgers, one pastor said, “This seminar alone was well worth my time coming here.” This comment seemed to characterize the experience of all the attendees.

Ray Young, Lake Region Conference communication director