May 7 Double Billing

The advertising poster for the Rev Up! on May 7 can be enlarged by clicking on the image. Book early. This promises to be a thoughtful and challenging event. Note that this Rev Up runs from 9.30 am to 2:30 pm. More detail on each presentation is contained in the two posts below.

May 7 - Alan Niven

Alan Niven will lead the morning session on May 7, commencing at 9.30 am and leading us through to lunch at 12.15. The following summary explains what Alan is hoping to achieve in the session:


Title: "How Are You Going? Who Knows?"
Intro:
Alan will explore the theological and pastoral background of ministry appraisals or reviews. In the complex mix of faith, personality, ministry and culture it is often extremely difficult to develop a "sober estimate" of our ability or to come up with a reasonable response to the question "How are you going?". Our spiritual health and wellbeing are strongly linked to these two issues but how can we undertake appraisals that are helpful, accurate, empowering and safe for all concerned? This approach is not really interested in a 'quick fix' or developing 'ten steps to a good appraisal'. It is affirming of the integrity, theology, context and reflective skills of the minister and assumes an environment of collaborative ministry. Your feedback and questions on the day will be very helpful.


1. How am I going?
2. Who knows?
3. How will I find out?
4. What will I do with what I find out?
5. Where is God in all of this and what might I hear?

BIO
Alan Niven is Vice-Principal and lecturer in Pastoral Studies at the Churches of Christ Theological College. In addition to his normal teaching interests Alan has road-tested a number of pilot appraisals within other traditions and aspects of the outcomes are being explored amongst South Australian Churches of Christ. He went through his own first appraisal in his first post-college ministry in 1983 and survived to tell the tale.

May 7 - Charlie Costa

Rev Charlie Costa will be speaking at the afternoon session of the May 7 Rev Up, following lunch. He will present from about 1 pm to 2.30 pm

Rev Charlie Costa is Senior Pastor of Ras Beirut Baptist Church, Beirut, Lebanon. In May he is visiting Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to speak about what God is doing in the Middle East.

Charlie grew up and ministered in Beirut during the Civil War (1975-91). He has been Pastor of the Ras Beirut Baptist Church since 1993. This church is the largest Baptist Church in Lebanon.

Charlie has an extensive ministry round the Middle East. He broadcasts via radio, and television. He is currently engaged in planting three churches in other ME countries.

He has been President of the Lebanese Baptist Convention; an Executive Committee Member of European Baptist Federation. He is currently Vice-Chairman of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary. He serves as a Magistrate for the Family Court in Beirut.

Charlie has known what it is to pastor through a Civil War and the recent war between Israel and Lebanon (2006). He ministers within a community and its tensions with Islam.

Charlie is 54 years of age and married to Mona with two children.

He has been brought to Australia and New Zealand by MECO Australia to communicate the challenge of ministering in the midst of the Islamic world.

He will also be speaking at New Hope Baptist Church, Blackburn North on Sunday May 3 at 9:00 and 11:00am and St Marks Anglican, Camberwell at 7:00pm.

In Sydney he speaks at Parkside Baptist Church at 10:30 am on Sunday May 17. In Brisbane he speaks at Kenmore Baptist Church on Sunday May 24 at 8:30 and 10:30am and at Ashgrove Baptist Church at 6:30pm.

Further information and details can be obtained from MECO’s National Office on (03) 9898 0077.

April 22 Rev Up Postponed

The April Rev Up "Are Pastors Worth Their Keep" has been postponed to a date (yet to be arranged) in the middle of the year. The next Rev Up will be held on May 9 - a double billing featuring Alan Niven of CCTC addressing how we evaluate ministry, and Rev Charles Costa speaking on his experience as pastor of Beirut Baptist Church. An advertising brochure will be available by the end of the week.