NTC Lay Speakers attend SCJ conference at Mount Sequoyah

BY PATTI R. MARTIN
Dallas-Denton Lay Speaking Chair

Nine NTC Lay Speakers attended the fourth annual South Central Jurisdiction (SCJ) Lay Speaking Ministries Conference July 11-13 at Mount Sequoyah Retreat Center in Fayetteville, AR.

Lay Speakers from annual conferences across the SCJ heard featured speakers Dr. James B. Scott and Dr. Molly Davis Scott present sessions on restoring Wesleyan practices, especially class meetings and
Communion, in the UMC.

Dr. James Scott is a former associate pastor of Plymouth Park UMC, Irving. Lay speaker John Bodnar, Krum UMC, noted, “The Scotts’ discussion on the nature of early Methodism emphasized the need for churches to offer an environment that encourages caring and warm personal relationships.”

Another conference session highlighted a 2007 Volunteer in Mission trip to provide Lay Speaker training in Liberia. Patti R. Martin, Plymouth Park UMC, Irving, was impressed with the hunger for training within the Liberian church even in the midst of a war-torn country.

The NTC participants particularly enjoyed the shared learning and fellowship with Lay Speakers from other conferences in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nebraska, and Missouri.

For more information, please visit website: www.ntcumc.org and type “Lay Speaking” in the search engine on the home page for a menu of resources.

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NTC Lay Speakers attending the 2008 South Central Jurisdiction Lay Speaking Ministries at Mount Sequoyah, from left, Joe Canafax, Kirkwood UMC, Irving; Blake King, Wesley UMC, Wichita Falls; Barbara Canafax, Kirkwood UMC, Irving; Patrick Coyle, Wesley UMC, Wichita Falls; Dan Conaster, Wesley UMC, Wichita Falls; Lori Massey, First UMC, Bonham; Cliff Harp, Wesley UMC, Wichita Falls; Patti R. Martin, Plymouth Park UMC, Irving; and John Bodnar, Krum UMC.