THIS IS A DRAFT PROGRAM SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Thursday 6 September

4.30pm: Registration Opens

5.30pm: Opening Dinner (included in the conference cost)

6.30pm- 8.00pm:  Opening Session

Mark DeYmaz, Rodney Woo, Mike Frost, Ray Galea, Mathew Kuruvilla

Friday 7 September

9.00am: Registration

9.30am: Morning Tea

10.00am – 11:15am: (Session 1)

Mark DeYmaz  

Topic: Biblical Mandate of the Multi-Ethnic Church

Increasingly our diverse population, and the diverse families it’s producing, is reshaping the face of the local church as people are beginning to recognize the power and beauty of walking, working and worshipping God together with others of different background. But more than a good idea, the multi-ethnic church is a biblical, first-century, standard with far-reaching evangelistic potential. In this session, Mark DeYmaz explains three foundational passages upon which the multi-ethnic church can be established.

Rodney Woo

Topic: Revitalizing a Declining Church

11.30am – 12:30pm: (Session 2)

Mike Frost

Ray Galea

12.30pm:  Break for Lunch

1.30pm – 2:30pm: Workshops

Workshop 1

Leadership in a Multi-Ethnic Church (Rodney Woo)

The 2 most visible areas of expressing and celebrating multiethnic ministry is worship and leadership.  How a body of believers connect with the Lord in worship and who makes the decisions are critical in communicating the multi-ethnic vision.  In this workshop, we will examine the nine non-negotiable character traits of a multiethnic leader.  As the early church placed leaders with a Greek background to minister to the Greek widows in Acts 6, it is critical that the leadership reflect not only the diverse body of believers, but the vision as well.  The traits will also help you identify potential leaders as God grows your church in this Rev. 7 direction as every nation, tribe, tongue, and people gather to worship the Lamb of God.

Workshop 2

Nurturing and Sustaining a Multi-Ethnic Church (Mathew Kuruvilla)

The potential clashing of different ethnic worldviews make leadership in a multi-ethnic church different from other contexts. Come hear the story of Parkside church and uncover the Biblical strategies that helped the church to develop strong intercultural relationships among its members and to become a greater reflection of its community.

Workshop 3

Turning a Mono-ethnic church to a Multi-ethnic church (Ray Galea)

We all long to see the faces of our community represented in our churches.

So often we have one or two dominant ethnic groups in our church (usually Aussie) and we battle to know even where to begin how to move from a mono-ethnic church to a multi-ethnic church. This workshop wants empower the leaders of such churches to know what practical and achievable steps to make this happen. You don’t have to be a non-Anglo- Saxon to run a Multi-ethnic church.

2.30pm: Afternoon Tea

3:00pm – 4:00pm: Q&A Session with the speakers (Mark, Rodney, Mike, Ray, David, Mathew)

7.30pm – 9:00pm: Multi-ethnic Youth Celebration

Saturday 8 September

9.30am: Morning Tea

10.00am – 11:15am: (Session 3)

Mark DeYmaz

Topic: Seven Core Commitments of a Multi-Ethnic Church

Early research by Dr. George Yancey, and published in his book One Body, One Spirit, identified general “principles of successful multi-racial churches.” Subsequent interaction with practitioners through the Mosaix Global Network led to the further examination of these principles, and to their refinement. From this process emerged the Seven Core Commitments of a Multi-Ethnic Church. Through personal stories and experiential insight, Mark DeYmaz will share these commitments and how to apply them in building a healthy multi-ethnic church for the sake of the Gospel.

Rodney Woo

Topic: Mission and Multi-Ethnic Church

11.30am- 12:30pm: Workshops

Workshop 1

Topic: Homogeneous Unit Principle and Multi-Ethnic Church( Mark DeYmaz)

Mark DeYmaz challenges long-held, erroneous, assumptions concerning the Homogeneous Unit Principle. For decades, this principle has been promoted as the modus operandi for those who would plant, grow, or develop successful churches around the world, typically measured by numbers, dollars and buildings. But, we should ask, Is the Homogeneous Unit Principle biblical? … and if so, How Is It Best Applied Today?

Workshop 2

Topic: The Joys and Challenges of Working with Different Cultures Together (David Boyd)

Building across the ethnic divide brings both challenges and great satisfaction. The joy of working with people from different ethnic background is finding that when we keep to the biblical pattern we find it works. The dynamics of a multi-ethnic church where each ethnic group is contributing is extremely satisfying, and when we reach these people we have the pleasure of helping them plant churches in their country of origin.

Workshop 3

Topic: Resources and Ideas for Effective Multi-Ethnic Ministry (Mike Wilson)

There are churches that are endeavouring to embrace greater ethnic and cultural diversity. This workshop will look at some churches that in different ways are seriously trying to become churches for people from all nations. With reference to the experience of such churches we will consider some of the challenges encountered and look at viable resources and strategies for helping churches to meet such challenges.

 12.30pm: Break for lunch

1.30pm- 2:00: (Session 4)

       Tim Costello

2:00pm – 2.30pm: Conference Concludes

5.30pm: International Celebration

(A spectacular night of International food, music, dance and cultural performances)

Speaker: Tim Costello