theme
The 21st-century American church is navigating difficult waters: civil unrest, political upheaval, and social division continue to rise, all on the heels of a global pandemic. How should pastors advise their congregation to minister in these tumultuous times? What should the church think about the broad spectrum of current social agendas? Practically, what must believers know to be sensitive to public concerns and express love to everyone in their communities, while still holding forth the truth?
Our 2020 theme, “Community in Crisis: Ministering in the Midst of Social Turmoil,” will seek to address all of these issues and more from a biblical perspective.
speakers
Lee Ormiston
Lee Ormiston is the founding pastor of Family Baptist Church in downtown Minneapolis, where he has served over 25 years. He has a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Central Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Sacred Ministries from Northland Baptist Bible College.
Lee was saved at 27 as a result of the faithful witness of his sister-in-law. At age 40, he left an executive management position to pursue seminary training. He served as Pastor of Evangelism at Fourth Baptist Church while attending Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Minneapolis, MN. When Fourth Baptist Church relocated to Plymouth in 1997, Family Baptist Church was planted to continue a witness in the inter-city Minneapolis neighborhood.
Ervin McNeill
Ervin McNeill served at the Pacific Garden Mission (PGM) in the heart of downtown Chicago for over 30 years.
Ervin was saved out of a life of drugs and alcohol in 1979 through the ministry of PGM. In August of 1988, God led Ervin to Cross Roads Bible College in Indianapolis, Indiana to study for a degree in Pastoral studies.
Ervin was ordained as a pastor in July of 1995. One month later, he was hired as Chaplain of PGM. His wife, Flossie, was hired to serve with Unshackled!—a radio ministry of PGM—where she served as director until 2016. In his role as chaplain, Ervin taught Bible classes, counseled staff and program personnel, was readily available for those in need from the community. Ervin served at PGM as chaplain for 23 years and retired August 2018.
Sessions
Sessions 1 & 2
Thursday, November 12
- 7:00-8:15 p.m. Ministering to God’s People in a Time of Cultural Upheaval (Lee Ormiston)
- 8:30-9:30 p.m. Rightly Responding to Cultural Upheaval (Ervin McNeill)
Session 3
Friday, November 13
- 7:00-8:00 p.m. A panel discussion with Lee and Pam Ormiston & Ervin and Flossie McNeill providing a transparent view of how the cultural upheaval has affected their family and personal life.