Small Town Summit: New England: Gospel-Shaped Ministry to Small Places

Small Town Summit: "Gospel-Shaped Ministry to Small Places"

Small Town Summits, in partnership with The Gospel Coalition New England, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Small Town Jesus, invites small-town/rural pastors, ministry leaders, and laypeople from around New England to join us for a one-day Summit. What does it looks like for small-place ministries to be distinctively gospel-shaped and have a vision for the excitement, challenges, and importance of rural ministry?

Our main speakers are Richard Lints (Vice President for Academic Affairs, Andrew Mutch Distinguished Professor of Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary), Brad Roth (a pastor in rural Kansas and author of the award-winning God’s Country), and Donnie Griggs (a pastor in small-town North Carolina and author of the popular book Small Town Jesus). In addition there will be practically-oriented breakout sessions led by small-town/rural pastors and laypeople from around New England.

This Small Town Summit will take place on the campus of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA.

For more information on this Small Town Summit, including photos and bios of plenary and breakout speakers, and descriptions of all the breakout sessions, please go to: https://www.smalltownsummits.com/sts-new-england

For more information on The Gospel Coalition New England:https://newengland.thegospelcoalition.org

Contact the Shoemaker Center for Church Renewal for more information at Shoemaker@gordonconwell.edu.

Schedule
8.30 – 9:00am - Arrival and Registration
9:00 – 10:00am - Welcome and Introduction to the Theme of the Summit (Stephen Witmer)
10:00 – 10.30am - Session 1: ‘What theological vision is, and why it matters for small-place ministry’ (Richard Lints)
10.30 – 11:00am - Coffee Break
11:00am – 12:00pm - Session 2: ‘How the doctrine of God sends us to the small places’ (Brad Roth)
12:00 – 1:00pm - Lunch
1:00 – 2:00pm - Session 3: Breakout Sessions

• Discipling women in small places (Gloria Grell)
• Sustaining a healthy marriage while ministering in small places (Ian and Marci Shearer)
• Church revitalization in small places (Jim Harrell)
• Soul care in small places (Alasdair Groves)
• The pastor as public theologian in small places (Ben Ruhl)
• Church planting in small places (David Pinckney)
• Community ministry in small places (Jason McConnell)

2.15 – 3.15pm - Session 4: ‘What gospel-shaped small-town ministry looks like in practice’ (Donnie Griggs)
3.30 – 4:00pm - Closing Panel Discussion with Plenary Speakers

FAQs

Accomadations

We have reserved a room block at TownePlace Suites Boston North Shore/Danvers, located at 238 Andover Street, Danvers, MA, (978) 777-6222, for $94/night. Please make your reservations before Feb 25 and mention that you are part of the GCTS Small Town Summit group.

Other suggested hotels in the area are:

SpringHill Suites, 43 Newbury Street, Peabody, MA, 978-535-5000
Courtyard Marriott, 275 Independence Way, Danvers, MA 978-777-8630

Parking is available in the Academic Center parking lot. Follow the event parking signs.

Photography and Audio Recording:

Most of our events are recorded (with speakers permission) and photographs may be taken for publicity purposes and promotion on social media.

For more information regarding this or to request that your image not be used for this purpose, please contact the Shoemaker Center at shoemaker@gordonconwell.edu.