... the hill country of Texas ... fog setting low in the pasture below ... longhorn steer ... great food with great friends ... awesome singing in a little country chapel ... elk locking horns ... a "dreaded" small group session that turned into one of the most cherished periods together ... a "Big Bird" ... unbelievable weather for the middle of January ... several "old-timers" and a number of "newbies" ... the Spirit moving among God's servants ...

When we first started talking about Connections, we wanted to try a fresh approach to the Christian Education Conference.  The conference has always been a great place to be each January, but we felt like it was time to build on the success of the past and make something new for the future.  The conference is over, but in many ways we are just beginning. 

Connections brought us together as never before.  Steven Yeakley did an outstanding job selecting just the right setting for the conference when he found Summers Mill.  Quiet and serene, the retreat was a great place to slow down and listen to God.  It also provided the perfect opportunity to meet with old friends and form new friendships.  I think everyone agreed that they had the chance to make connections with others in new and meaningful ways.

The decision was made early on to slow down the pace of the sessions offered at the conference.  Rather than having multiple topics over 2 or 3 days, we wanted to focus on one theme for each track -- Children's Ministry, Adult Ministry, and Leadership -- over a couple of days to allow for more discussion, application, and processing of the material.  Of course, providing just one presenter for each track was risky because we were not sure everyone would benefit equally.  Ryan Maloney, Joe Essner, and John Laster (the 2012 Program Chairs) each hit homeruns finding a presenter for their respective tracks.  We could not have asked for better resource people to guide us through material that not only challenged our thinking but provided doable solutions for ministry.

I am truly thankful for what God accomplished through Connections at Summers Mill.  If you attended the conference, share what you experienced with someone.  Post your own reflections of the conference.  If you had to miss it this year, call someone who was there and hear about the incredible experience we had.

Over the next few weeks, listen as details for CEC 2013 come together.  Reserve the dates now: January 20-23, 2013!

Coming soon:

• Evaluation form for the conference.
• A way to order and/or download recordings of the conference sessions.
• A fresh CEA website to serve those working in teaching ministries.
• And more.

CEC 2012 Checklist

• The earliest Summers Mill will allow us in is around 3:00 Sunday afternoon.  Feel free to show up after that time and start settling in.  A registration table will be set up for you to check in and get the keys to your room.
• Please remember to bring $282 for each person attending the conference to cover lodging and meals.  Make checks payable to "Christian Education Association."
• Each of the lodges we are staying in is equipped with a kitchen.  Feel free to bring snacks, bottled water and soft drinks with you.  You can even keep some items in the refrigerator provided.  You may even want to bring a little extra to share when we are together during free time.
• Remember to bring an idea you have used in your ministry to share during our Resource Connections time.  I cannot wait to hear about all of the creative ways people have shared themselves in ministry.

See you on Sunday!  May God bless the conference richly as we seek to expand our service in His kingdom.

What should I wear for the conference?

CEC 2012 is meeting at a retreat site this year, so the attire is what you would expect if you were heading off to a retreat with your local congregation.  Dress comfortably.  Jeans will be great, and comfortable shoes are a must.

This includes the Tuesday night banquet.  Normally the banquet is a dressier occasion, but this year it will follow right along with the rest of our time together at Summers Mill.

By the way, it looks like God is going to bless us with beautiful weather while we are at the conference.  Let's enjoy it together as we make greater connections!

Resource Connections:
One of the most anticipated additions to the 2012 Conference

The Christian Education Conference has always been a place to hear what others are doing elsewhere in the country that is proving to be helpful in their ministries.  This year, we have devoted a time for everyone to be together and share those ideas in a way that everyone can benefit from.  We have already asked that you bring at least one ministry idea with you that you can provide to others at the conference. 

Having handouts explaining your ministry resource will be very helpful.  But you may want to bring a USB flash drive with you also.  If your resource is on the flash drive, it can be easily transferred to someone's laptop.  You can also pull a digital copy of someone else's resource onto your flash drive.  So many of us are trying to go paperless these days.  This will be just another way to easily share our resources with one another.

Free Time at Summers Mill

Unlike previous conferences where there have been a number of sightseeing opportunities nearby, this conference will be more of a retreat where most of the activity will take place at Summers Mill.  One of the benefits of Summers Mill is that it will provide a place for us to renew already established relationships and to build friendships we have yet to make.  Check out www.summersmill.com, if you have not already, to discover the activities they have onsite.  We are also encouraging each of you to bring cards, dominoes, or a favorite board game to enjoy with others at the conference during periods of free time.  Of course, if spending some time alone with the Lord is something you need during the week, there is plenty of space to do that as well.  Use this time to recharge and refocus.

The Summers Mill Retreat and Conference Center is going to be a great place to spend the week.  It will be an ideal setting for Renewal, Relationships and Resources.  Check out their website if you have not already done so and check out the features this site has to offer.

Lodging, meals and snacks will cost $282 per person for the duration of the conference.  I've seen the menu for the meals and it looks wonderful.  I look even more to being able to eat together as a conference at each of the meals.  If you have put pencil to paper, you will find that $282 a person is less that the average cost for staying at a hotel and being on your own for meals.  I think you are going to enjoy what you get.

Bring a check with you made out to the Christian Education Association in the amount of $282 for each person you are bringing.  The CEA will then write checks to Summers Mill and our caterer.

I hope you are getting excited about our week together.  If you haven't registered for the conference, I hope you will find a way to join us.  This is one you will definitely want to be a part of.

Monday Afternoon – Resource Connections

On Monday afternoon, we will spend some time in each track sharing ideas for ministry.  Each person attending the conference is asked to bring something to share with the others.  It may be an event you have held, a teaching technique or visual aid you have found helpful, an effective way you have reached out to people, a way you have used technology in a useful way, an insightful book you have read, and so on.  Please bring handouts giving details about your ministry idea so each of us can have something to take home.  About 40 copies would be great.

See you at Summers Mill!

We are coming down to the last few days to the Christian Education Conference at Summers Mill.  Can you help in one of these two ways?

• If you have not registered for "Connections", wait no longer and do so today.  We really need a few more persons to register for the conference in order to meet the numbers that we have reserved with Summers Mill.  Mail in your registration or sign up online using the links on the website.
• If you have already registered, you can help us out with our lodging plans.  Most of the rooms at Summers Mill have two queen beds in them.  They are intended for double occupancy.  Several of our conference attenders have requested a single room.  If you are coming to the conference alone and would be willing to share a room with someone else, please let me know by emailing me at dhoward@greenlawn.org.

I am looking forward to a great week.  It will be a different kind of conference for us ... one that will help us make greater Connections.  Hope to see you there.

It's beginning to look a lot like ...

The 2012 Conference!

Registration is still open for the conference in January.  The Early Bird deadline has passed, but the regular registration fee is still a bargain.  If you have been wondering if the conference will be worth you time and money, wonder no more.  It will be a great time for retooling for your ministry.

Confirmation emails have gone out to everyone who has registered so far.  If you have registered but have not received one of these emails, please let me know (dhoward@greenlawn.org).

See you in a few weeks!

There are just a few days left to get the Early Bird discount for the conference in January. 

Remember to get your registration form postmarked by Monday, December 19, or stop by

http://cea.ticketleap.com/connections-cec2012/

and get signed up for the conference.

Plans are still coming together and it will be a great time of RENEWAL, RELATIONSHIPS and RESOURCES.  I hope to see you there.