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Conference Schedule

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

Welcome to our 5th Anniversary conference! The conference will be held at Westminster Chapel in Bellevue9 (13646 NE 24th Street, Bellevue, WA 98005). Below you will find promo materials available for your church and the schedule for the conference.

MAIN SCHEDULE – FRIDAY OCTOBER 8

4:00 pm: Exhibit Hall Open
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: 1 hour Seminars
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm: 1 hour Seminars
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Visit Exhibits
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm: PLENARY — Pastor Gary Gulbranson
10:00 pm: Exhibit Hall closed

MAIN SCHEDULE – SATURDAY OCTOBER 9

8:30 am – 7:00 pm: Prayer Room & Exhibit Hall Open
9:30 am – 10:40 am: PLENARY — Dr. Emerson Falls
11:00 am – 1:30 pm: 1 hour Seminars
12:15 pm – 2:00 pm: 2 hour Seminar
11:00 am – 2:00 pm: Visit Exhibits
2:15 pm – 3:30 pm: PLENARY — Kumar Swamy
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm: 1 hour Seminars
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Visit Exhibits
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm: 2 hour Seminar
7:00 pm: Exhibit Hall closed
7:00 pm – 8:45 pm: PLENARY — Gracia Burnham

YOUTH SCHEDULE – FRIDAY OCTOBER 8

5:00 pm: Exhibits Open
6:00 pm: Check In Begins
7:00 pm: Opening and Worship
7:45 pm: City Serve Rally with Gerald Robinson
8:30 pm: Worship
9:00 pm: Prayer Groups
10:00 pm: Close (for those going home)
10:30 pm: Evening Activity
11:30 pm: Story time with Uncle Ernie
12:00 am: Lights out

YOUTH SCHEDULE – SATURDAY OCTOBER 9

9:00 am: City Serve Projects (times vary)
4:00 pm: Closing Youth Session – Brian Peterson
6:00 pm: Free time and exhibits
7:00 pm: Join the adults for final plenary
9:00 pm: Close

Friday Field Trip – OCTOBER 8, grades 4-12

PRE-REGISTRATION required for this event ONLY (check online)
10-2 at Westminster Chapel

Children’s Program – OCTOBER 8 & 9, K-Grade 6

Friday 6:30-9:00 pm | Saturday 9:00-10:45 am; 2:00-3:45 pm; 6:45-9:00 pm
Preschool (ages 3-5) provided if we have a volunteer

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Dr. Emerson E. Falls Speaker

Saturday, August 14th, 2010

Dr. Emerson E. Falls – Pastor, Glorieta Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, OK, and President of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.

Dr. Emerson Falls is a second generation Christian. Although raised in a Christian home, he did not become a Christian until his late teens. Dr. Falls is of Sac, Fox, and Choctaw Native heritage. When he left home, he met other Native people who believed that to accept Christ was to reject their Native ways.

He struggled with this, and after a period of rebellion, he realized he was much happier when attending the small Native Church and serving Christ. His life verse is John 15:16. This is what he says about that verse:

“It says to me that I have been chosen by God’s grace to bear fruit for Him. I don’t know why God would choose me, but I’m glad He did. Out of my gratitude for all that the Lord has done in my life, I want to keep my life focused upon those things that will bear fruit.”

Emerson Falls has served as Pastor of Glorieta Baptist Church, a predominantly Native American church, Oklahoma City, OK, since June, 2003. Previously he has served as pastor of churches in California, Arizona, and Colorado. Dr. Falls was the Director of the Rocky Mountain Campus of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Denver, CO, and President of Cook College and Theological School before coming to Glorieta. He earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from Golden Gate in May, 1995.

Dr. Falls was elected as President of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma in 2008, becoming the first Native American to hold this position. He is also the President of the Fellowship of Native American Christians.
He and his wife Shirley have one son, Rendon, and one daughter, Shera. They are both involved in ministry.

Dr. Henry Blackaby told him that he had been praying for a spiritual awakening in our nation and that he believes God will bring such an awakening beginning with Native Americans. Dr. Emerson’s ministry has been re-directed towards this vision, as he has a passion to experience spiritual awakening.

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Kumar Swamy Speaker

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Kumar Swamy, who followed Christ out of a Hindu background, joined OM India for a three-month project in 1973, and re-joined long term in 1977. Today he is based in Bangalore, Karnataka, and is the South India Field Leader overseeing the ministry of more than nearly 1,000 OM India workers based in the South Region.

Kumar holds a degree in Psychology, and his main job involves leading all the ministries of OM in South India, including the Good Shepherd Community Church pastors and church planters, the Dalit Education Centers, the Good Shepherd Urban slum ministries, as well as work among the Muslims of South India and the women’s work called the Arpana Women’s Prayer Network.

Kumar is the Karnataka State Convener of the All India Christian Council, as well as the State President of the Communal Harmony Committee. He also serves with the Karnataka state Human Rights Commission. Kumar is involved in the Dalit empowerment movement across India working for the betterment of the Dalit Community. He is on the Board of Directors of the Dalit Freedom Network, USA.

Kumar has traveled extensively around the world and has spoken to audiences in universities, government bodies, churches and professional organizations. In addition, he has been featured at summer music festivals and major missions conferences, especially in the United States.

Kumar is married to Jeeva who was born in Malaysia but grew up in India. At present, she is involved with OM India’s emerging work in anti-human trafficking among women and children. Kumar and Jeeva were married in December 1987. They have two children – son Abishek (age 20), and daughter Arpana Ruth (14).

Biography taken from: Dalit Freedom Network

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Gracia Burnham Speaker

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Gracia Burnham is the widow of Martin Burnham and the mother of Jeff, Mindy and Zach.

For 17 years she and Martin served with New Tribes Mission in the Philippines where Martin was a jungle pilot delivering mail, supplies and encouragement to other missionaries and transporting sick and injured patients to medical facilities. Gracia served in various roles supporting the aviation program and also home-schooled their children–all of which were born in the Philippines.

While celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary at Dos Palmas Resort off Palawan Island, the Burnhams were kidnapped on May 27, 2001, by the Abu Sayyaf Group, a militant group of Muslims. They seized several more guests and took them to Basilan Island, an ASG stronghold.

In the ensuing months some of the hostages were killed, but most were set free. From November 2001, only the Burnhams and one other hostage remained in captivity.

During their 376 days of captivity, they faced near starvation, constant exhaustion, frequent gun battles, coldhearted murder-and intense soul-searching about a God who sometimes seemed to have forgotten them.

On June 7, 2002, in a firefight between the Philippine military and the Abu Sayyaf Group, Martin was killed. Gracia was wounded, but was freed.

Since that time Gracia has authored two books, In The Presence Of My Enemies, and To Fly Again. Her oldest son, Jeff, is now married and living in Lynchburg, VA where he is completing his studies in missionary aviation at Liberty University. Mindy has graduated from high school and is attending New Tribes Bible Institute in Wisconsin. Zach will graduate from Rose Hill High in May 2009 and is looking forward to what God has in his future. Gracia resides in Rose Hill, Kansas. Because of her unique story, Gracia is a popular speaker for churches, conferences and schools.

Biography taken from: Gracia Burnham’s website

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Gary Gulbranson Speaker

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

Pastor Gary has been at Westminster since 1993, previously serving as Senior Pator of Glen Ellyn Bible Church in Suburban Chicago. Over the years he has ministered on radio and television and has been a speaker for many international conferences. Pastor Gary and his wife, Jorie, have brought to Westminster a deep sense of commitment to embracing the fullness of a relationship with God, while addressing the needs of our community and world. Jorie is active in the music ministry at the Chapel as well as Women’s ministry. She is also a retreat and conference speaker. Gary and Jorie have been married 35 years and have two daughters.

Their oldest daughter, Marci, passed away suddenly from unknown causes in 1998. God has given Pastor and Jorie a platform to help many others through their own experience of grief and loss. Their youngest daughter, Marisa, is married to Scott Gronholz and they have two children.

Gary is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute; Trinity College, Deerfield, IL; Denver Seminary, (M.Div); and Loyola University (D Ed).  He has served on the boards of Greater Europe Mission, Youth for Christ, Leadership Design Group, Seattle Association of Theological Education, and Denver Seminary. Pastor Gary has a heart and a passion for mentoring others, be they adults, grandchildren, or emerging young leaders. He is a firm believer in being a Godly role model and desires the same for everyone in the congregation.

Bio, Pastor Gary Gulbranson, Westminster Chapel, Bellevue

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