Dr. Jonathan Bonk, an expert in missions and evangelism, will appear at the conference as the keynote speaker. Bonk is Executive Director Emeritus of the Overseas Ministry Study Centre in New Haven, CT, a research professor of mission at Boston University, and author of Missions and Money: Affluence as a Western Missionary Problem<\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n The Christian Church is the body of Christ worldwide.\u00a0It transcends geographical and denominational boundaries.\u00a0Despite this conviction, and despite technology that makes the world smaller, it is easy for congregations to succumb to localism.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This year\u2019s ReNew conference, titled, \u201cOpening Our Maps: Becoming Global Congregations\u201d will explore questions such as: How might congregations become more global in their worldview, practices, and endeavours?\u00a0What might it mean to be a globally minded congregation, in relationship with the church in other lands, the church of other denominations, and the ethnically diverse church at home?<\/span><\/p>\n Representatives from a handful of churches in Alberta and Manitoba will share stories about what their congregations are doing. The churches range from a congregation doing evangelism in inner city Winnipeg, to a rural church where three different denominations gather together for worship services.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve worked really hard to include church leaders from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, including newcomers to Canada, so that we can learn from their experiences,\u201d Dyck says. \u201cI\u2019m excited to hear what they have got to teach all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n CMU faculty will lead workshops exploring the theological foundations of the Church as the body of Christ; innovative congregational partnerships; indigenous peoples as part of the global church; and more.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cChrist calls us to take the extra mile of welcoming people that we haven\u2019t welcomed before,\u201d Dyck says. \u201cI hope this conference helps all of us reach just a little further and take a little more initiative to extend grace and welcome to people that we haven\u2019t welcomed before.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n ReNew is intended for all who are involved in ministry. For more information and to register, visit cmu.ca\/renew<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n About CMU![\"Renew\"](\"http:\/\/www.cmu.ca\/media_archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Renew-300x105.jpg\")
<\/a>\u201cCMU and its predecessor colleges have a long history of holding conferences meant to resource pastors,\u201d says Andrew Dyck, Assistant Professor of Ministry Studies and one of the conference\u2019s organizers. \u201cWe are committed to helping support, encourage, and resource church leaders.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>A Christian university in the Anabaptist tradition, CMU\u2019s Shaftesbury campus offers undergraduate degrees in arts, business, humanities, music, sciences, and social sciences, as well as\u00a0graduate degrees in theology,\u00a0ministry, peacebuilding and collaborative development, and an MBA. CMU has over 800 full-time equivalent\u00a0students, including those enrolled in degree programs at the Shaftesbury and Menno Simons College campuses and in its Outtatown certificate program.<\/p>\n