Mid Year Conference

This year's conference was hosted by the Western North Carolina Conference by host pastor, Rev. Dr. Ronald Owens who served as conference coordinator. It convened November 5th and 6th with the Lay Convention featuring component meetings. Highlights included presentations by Rev. Lee P. Washington (Reid Temple-Glendale, MD) and Starr Battle on the topic: Clarity, Competence & Character.

Presiding Elder Evelyn Gail Dunn (North Carolina-Southern District) was the closing service preacher on the subject-Take Up the Cross, taken from Luke 5:4 & 5. Cast out your nets and do what The Word of The Lord tells you to do. Don't worry about failed labor.  Leadership is given those who try again. The evening concluded with the 15th Lay Convention Awards Gala honoring our Lay servants such as Alfreda Dennis Bowyer-Baltimore Conference; Melvin Clay-Washington Conference; Marcie W. White-Virginia Conference; Edna Wilson- North Carolina Conference; and Myrtle Mayo- Western North Carolina Conference. Maria A. Wallace, Director of Lay Activities and Patricia D. Matthews, 1st Vice-President were also honored for completing their maximum 8 years of service.



The Midyear Conference opening worship service featured a riveting sermon by Rev. Dr. Lee P. Washington, Senior Pastor-Reid Temple-Glendale, MD preaching on the subject-Vision Sickness taken from Daniel 8.  He mentioned that there are people who don't want your situation to change but they don't know you have a revelation.  God anoints you not just for services but for your situation. Your integrity nullifies your misery but your enemy cannot eliminate what God initiates.

 

The opening plenary session was based on how the AME Church provides a model or economic development through the black church. Reverend Dr. Jonathan Weaver, Mt. Nebo- Bowie, MD and Nation President of the Collective Empowerment Group served as moderator.  Dr. Michael A. Grant, President of the National Bankers Association served as the keynote speaker.  The panel of experts were Ron Busby, President- U.S. Black Chamber, Inc., Marie Johns- Founder/President- L&L Consulting LLC, former Deputy Administrator-U.S. Small Business Administration and Donnell Thompson-Co-Founder/Co-Owner, RWDT Foods, Inc.

 

Friday night's session concluded with the WMS Dorcas Extravaganza- Symphony of Praise-A Celebration of Missions. Featuring the District's kings, queens, princes and princesses. Also featured were soul stirring testimonies from residents and staff of the AME Incentive Shelter-Raleigh.



The closing worship service featured a sermon by Rev. Mary Williams Faircloth-Anderson Chapel- Greenville, NC.  Her topic was- Can Anything Good Come Out of Nazareth, taken from John 1:43-51.  God does His good work on the left side and back door of society not caring about who you are or from where you have come. AMEN!!!

THANKS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED!!!!