Dr. Wes Morgan to Keynote 153^rd Regional Assembly

We live in a world that is constantly being re-created! The church is being called on to minister to this ever-changing world. Unfortunately, most churches are still attempting to function in ways that were designed for another time and place. People today live very busy lives and have no desire to attend endless meetings that accomplish little and provide almost no sense of accomplishment or fulfillment. There is a spiritual hunger in today's world, and people are ready to give themselves to God and to a mission that offers them with an opportunity to serve God and others - they are ready to make a difference.

The Holy Spirit has been the nurturing and driving force of the church from the beginning. The Spirit calls the church together and blesses its members with gifts for praise and worship. All across our land, congregations are being transformed into ministry-based communities of faith. In the process, they are discovering that the old ways of functioning no longer work. Instead, congregations are re-inventing themselves and streamlining administrative tasks so people can be freed up to do ministry. In Matthew 9:17, Jesus reminded us that the old wine skins could not contain the new wine.

The NEW WINE event will model church ministry that is based on the abilities, gifts, talents and resources provided by the work of God's Spirit in our lives. This will be a learning and practice experience that can move churches from being administratively driven toward becoming a ministry-based community of believers.

NEW WINE will address the problem of many congregations of attracting and retaining new members. Today's World calls for new approaches for attracting and nurturing people into a spiritual life that gives rise to ministry based on the gifts given by God.

NEW WINE is a practical approach that will move us from trying to "pour new wine into old wineskins." The church is called to let go its past forms and move boldly and faithfully into the future that God is already preparing for those who will love and serve both God and others. This is a move from an administrative church to a ministry church.

Dr. Wes Morgan is a local pastor and church consultant who has helped churches envision their future and then find ways to bring that vision to life. He says, "Long range planning that attempted to look seven and more years into the future no longer works anywhere. Even in the business world three years is way out there. Instead every effective organization is working with "task groups" that are highly focused and time limited. In this way, the whole process is streamlined and people are set free to use all of their abilities and energies in relevant ways." Dr Morgan continues, "This is even more important in the church because everyone has such a limited amount and time that they are not willing to waste it in meetings that accomplish very little. In today's world, people come to church looking for a place where they can belong and where their lives can have meaning and purpose. Our task in the church is to help people discover, develop and use their gifts, abilities, resources and energies to serve God and people."