Pastors Gather in Minnesota

The 2007 biennial SDB Pastors' Conference was held April 18-21, and hosted by the Dodge Center, MN, SDB Church. Twenty-one pastors and spouses gathered to study, fellowship and learn from each other. The theme of "God's Treasure in Us" was based on 2 Corinthians 4:7--"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (NIV) (Picture: Somber and serious pastors gather to pray before a meal)

The eight-hour Crown Financial Ministries seminar, "Journey to True Financial Freedom" was the program on Thursday the 19th, with Stu Walker of Crown Financial presenting. For some it was a reminder; for others it was new information. Crown Financial Ministries is the result of the merging of Christian Financial Concepts (started by Larry Burkett), and Crown Ministries, which was started by Howard Dayton. The first three of the eight sessions were heavy with scripture. Pastor Dale Rood, of the host church, was interested to encounter the material in this seminar as the church in Dodge Center has been working through a 10-week small group study from Crown. He noted that the material is similar, but that the small group setting and 10-week timeframe allow for more learning and application than the one-day seminar.

(Picture: Ken Burdick, Paul Green and Bob Babcock confer)

On Wednesday and Friday, there were Bible Studies in the first five chapters of 2nd Corinthians, as well as discussion times. Sabbath the 21st, we gathered with the Dodge Center SDB Church for worship and Pastor Andy Samuels from Miami, FL, brought the morning message. (There were times of worship Wednesday and Friday nights led by Pastor Dale Rood, host pastor, and Pastor Robert Babcock, Marlboro, NJ).

I am so thankful to the folk in Dodge Center for their gracious and skilled hosting. Thank you friends!