Alan is the founding Director of Forge Mission Training Network. He is the co-founder of shapevine.com, and currently he leads an innovative learning program called Future Travelers helping numerous mega-churches become missional movements. Known for his innovative approach to mission, Alan is a teacher and key mission strategist for churches across the western world. His popular book The Shaping of Things to Come (with Michael Frost) is widely considered to be a seminal text on mission. Alan’s book The Forgotten Ways, has quickly become a key reference for missional thinking, particularly as it relates to missional movements. His book ReJesus (again with Michael) is a radical restatement about the role that Jesus plays in defining Christian movements.  Untamed is about missional discipleship for a missional church and was co-authored with his wife Deb who will present with Alan at the conference.   Deb is a conference speaker, church leader, and writer. While co-leading a church in Melbourne, Australia she also pioneered a ministry to the GLBTQ community.  She currently serves as a minister of Tribe of LA, a group of missional artists and vagabonds. She is also on the leadership team of Christian Associates (a church planting movement in Europe, North & South America). Deb has a heart for the poor and for those on the margins of both the church and broader society.

Friday Daytime Schedule for Pastoral Leadership

9:30 am       Worship
10:00           Keynote #1
11:00           Conversation Groups followed by break
11:45           Keynote #2
12:45 pm      Lunch
1:30             Seminars
3:15             Break
3:30             Questions and Answer Leadership Forum
4:15 pm        Break for Dinner

Preaching for Discipleship - Rev. Dr. Leanne Van Dyk and Rev. Scott Hoezee

This seminar joins theologian and preacher to discuss the use of the spoken word in preaching to grow faithful disciples of Christ.  Leanne Van Dyk is the Dean and VP of Academic Affairs and Professor of Reformed Theology at Western Theological Seminary.  Scott  Hoezee is an ordained pastor in the Christian Reformed Church in North America and has served two congregations. Scott became Calvin Seminary's first Director of the Center for Excellence in Preaching in 2005.

Worship for Discipleship - Rev. Gregg DeMey and Rev. Doug Kamstra

Gregg  DeMey  and Doug Kamsta will be our worship leaders for the conference and will also lead a seminar on Worship for Discipleship.  Gregg’s heart’s desire is to lead people into an encounter with God through experiences in the Word and the art of music – preferably in combination. To that end, he serves his congregation in the role of Teaching Pastor.  Doug is the CRC Home Mission Prayer and Discipleship Team Leader.

Implementing a Discipleship Strategy - Rev. Kirsty DePree and Sam Huizenga

This workshop will explore how to Implement a discipelship strategy based on the principles and practices from Untamed. You will be given tools, and resources to strategixe how your church can be a place where misional disciplship is lived out among its members and is felt by the people in the community.  Kirsty DePree is the Coordinator for Discipleship at the Reformed Church in America and  Sam Huizenga is a Ministry Developer at Christian Reformed Home Missions.

Untamed God  Rev. Lisa Hoogenboom is Assistant Professor of Biblical Greek and Biblical Studies and the Chair of Bible & Theology Department at Kuyper College.

Untamed Church  Rev. Meg Jenista is Minister of Community Life and Witness for Third Christian Reformed Church in Kalamazoo, MI.

Untamed Mission  Rev. Tim Vink is the Coordinator of Church Multiplication for the Reformed Church in America.

Untamed Culture  Rev. Tom Elenbaas is the minister at South Harbor Church (RCA) where the conference will take place.

Untamed Self  Rev. Dr. Ronald Nydam is the Professor of Pastoral
Care at Calvin Theological Seminary

Friday Night Only - Discipleship Discussion for Seminarians  
Seminarians from both Calvin and Western are invited to Friday evening worship, keynote and breakout at no cost.  Dr. Darwin Glassford and Dr. George Brown- Please register online.