SPRING GATHERING 2019
Turning Point at Mabel White Baptist Church, Macon
Refugee Loss Simulation
Spiritual Growth, Leadership & Wellness Conferences
Missions Inspiration & Challenge
On-Site Lifeway Store
Special Guests
Grace Thornton
Author & Speaker
Grace Thornton is the author of “Unshakable Pursuit: Chasing the God Who Chases Us” and “I Don’t Wait Anymore.” She has served as an International Mission Board missionary in England and the Middle East and has worked as a journalist and writer for the past 15 years for WMU and other Baptist entities and publications.
Dr. Pam Smith
Storyteller & Author
Dr. Smith loves Jesus, and she loves to tell His story. She served overseas with the International Mission Board and commissioned by the North American Mission Board as a missionary in Montana and Pennsylvania. Pam has also served the local church, state convention and national SBC agencies in Alabama and Virginia.
Cherie
IMB Worker
Cherie and her family have served with the IMB for over 25 years. She is currently working in the the refugee space to equip, train, and resource personnel working among refugees around the globe.
Will Whittaker
Worship Leader
Will serves as the minister of music at Ivy Creek Baptist Church. He is involved in Georgia Baptist Worship and Music Ministries and participates in the Sons of Jubal (Georgia Baptist Men’s Chorus). He is a member of the Grammy-award nominated Baptist professional male chorus, the CenturyMen. In recent years, he has sung on choral demo recordings for Celebrating Grace and One Voice Publishers.
Beverly Skinner
Conference Leader
Beverly Skinner is the Young Women, Women’s Ministry, Missions Mobilization Consultant for Georgia Baptist Women. She is committed to helping all women discover and live out the purpose for which God has created them. Her two favorite pairs of shoes are her cowboy boots, always true to her Texas roots, and her Keen’s, which she loves to wear while exploring the North Georgia mountains with her husband Warren.
Tanaya Meaders
Conference Leader
Tanaya is an Atlanta native who has worked in the healthcare space for the past 17 years. She is a registered nurse and Wellness Consultant. Her career path includes cardiovascular surgical focus with holistic modalities. She has served as the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s Wellness Consultant for the past year and a half. Tanaya is married to Jamie Meaders and resides with their two children (Merrit Joy and Jax) in Monroe, GA.
Susie Helton
Conference Leader
Susie is the Director of the Refugee Sewing Society (RSS) in Clarkston, GA. The RSS provides a safe place for refugee women to build relationships and create handmade items to earn a supplemental income. Susie has taught with artisans in Jaipur, India, where she discovered her gift of teaching. As a friend, teacher and ambassador for Christ, Susie weaves the hope of the Gospel into her ministry. Susie is married to Mike and they have 8 children and 5 grandchildren.
Conferences
Enjoy two of the following conferences, each offered at 10:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.
WELLNESS WARRIOR
TANAYA MEADERS
In this session we will explore physical, mental, and spiritual wholeness and identify how to be your best advocate on your wellness journey.
FEAR FACTOR
BEVERLY SKINNER
Learn how fear keeps us from pursuing God and His good purposes for our lives. Discover a practical, Biblical formula that will help you overcome fear and move forward in faith.
REFUGEE LOSS SIMULATION
SUSIE HELTON
There are multiple forms of loss that refugees go through during their journey to safety. This simulation will help you gain a better understanding of refugee lives and how you can serve them.
GOD’S FAITHFULNESS AROUND THE GLOBE
CHERIE
Journey through the 25-year calling of our international worker as she shares the highs and lows of life on the field. Hear how Cherie is now equipping workers across the world to love and serve refugees and how God is moving in tremendous ways among refugee populations.
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, EXPANDING THE MOVEMENT
PAM SMITH
We’ve all heard that we need invest in the next generation. We may have even grappled with the question: “How can I influence and inspire the women who are coming along behind me?” Come, get in on the discussion as, together, we identify the key and outline some best practices to try back home.
UNSHAKABLE PURSUIT
GRACE THORNTON
Let’s face it – it’s easy to get stuck in the mundane. How do we keep God’s eternal momentum in mind as we go through our normal, day-to-day life? How do we take every moment captive to know Him better and to make Him known? In this breakout session, we’ll look at some of the ways God’s pursuit of us invites us to do just that.
Schedule
APRIL 26
4:30-5:30 p.m. – Check-In
APRIL 27
7:30 a.m. – Check-In
9:00 a.m. – Worship
10:15 a.m. – Conference 1
11:30 a.m. – Lunch
12:45 p.m. – Conference 2
2:00 p.m. – Worship
Mission Project
Support the ministries of Christian Women’s and Christian Men’s Job Corps
There are currently eight CWJC and one CMJC sites in Georgia. CWJC and CMJC sites serve those living in poverty with a holistic approach, addressing spiritual, physical, and relational needs. Participants are equipped for life and employment through education, job skill training, Bible study and mentoring.
All Spring Gathering attendees are encouraged to support the life-changing ministry of CWJC & CMJC by bringing gift cards to be shared with the sites. The gift cards will enable each site to buy much needed supplies, meals for participants, and/or offer reward incentives to participants.
We ask participants to bring at least one WalMart gift card in the amount of $10.
Please do not bring gift cards from any store other than WalMart.
Bring cards in $10 increments only, for easier division among the Job Corps sites.
Location
Turning Point at Mabel White Baptist Church, Macon
1415 Bass Road, Macon, GA 31210
From I-75, take exit 172 to Bass Rd. Continue west on Bass Rd. for half a mile until you arrive at the church.
Hotels
If you decide to include an overnight in your experience, below is a list of hotels in the Macon area.
Baymont Inn & Suites Macon / Plantation Dr
150 Plantation Inn Dr I-475 E9 At Zebulon Road, Macon, Georgia 31210
(866) 238-4218
Country Inn & Suites By Radisson Macon North GA
3915 Arkwright Road, Macon, Georgia 31210
(478) 803-8300
Courtyard Macon
3990 Sheraton Drive, Macon, Georgia 31210
(478) 477-8899
Fairfield Inn & Suites Macon
4035 Sheraton Drive, Macon, Georgia 31210
(478) 738-9007
Fairfield Inn Macon West
110 Plantation Inn Drive, Macon, Georgia 31210
(478) 474-9922
Hampton Inn & Suites Macon I-475
5010 Eisenhower Parkway, Macon, Georgia 31206
(478) 803-4900
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
240 N Macon St. Macon, Georgia
(478) 812-8989
Homewood Suites by Hilton
1514 Bass Rd. Macon, Georgia 31210
(478) 477-9776
La Quinta Inn & Suites Macon West
4615 Chambers Road, Macon, Georgia 31206
(478) 788-6226
Macon Marriott City Center
240 Coliseum Drive, Macon, Georgia 31217
(478) 621-5300