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Click here to pre-register for the conference! Registrations will be accepted onsite, beginning at 8:30am. Click here to view the conference schedule. $12 delicious and freshly-prepared box lunches will be available for purchase through Sacred Grounds coffee shop. Orders must be placed and paid for at the registration table by 9:00am.

People often think of caring for the poor in terms of giving them fish to eat, or better, teaching them to fish. Neither approach moves us beyond charity which keeps the poor dependant on us and is demeaning to their humanity. Community development involves partnering with the poor to own the pond. How do we sustain such community development? In our day, it involves thinking very creatively, including fostering micro-enterprise. It is crucially important that we move beyond charity toward cultivating community development, and strengthen and sustain community development through effective business practices. Only in this way can we own the pond together, and protect our community from being sold out to the highest bidder. Dr. John M. Perkins, Dr. Paul Louis Metzger, Pastor Eric Bahme, and Tony Kriz will assist us in understanding the importance of this approach, and how to move forward with putting these principles into practice. Following their lead, churches can help form local enterprises that meet local needs and employ indigenous people. This will involve partnering with the poor, sharing skills and economic resources and investing capital in order that the poor will have ownership in the community. Churches can also become partners together to foster ownership of businesses among the local people. Such actions will mean giving wealthy individuals the opportunity to invest in something of greater value than the stock market. For as Jesus said, whatever you do for the least of his brothers, you do it for him (Matt. 25:40).

New Wine’s annual spring conference will be held Saturday, April 10th from 9:00am – 4:00pm at Eastside Foursquare Church (9727 NE Sandy Blvd.). The day will feature sessions with Dr. John M. Perkins, Dr. Paul Louis Metzger, Pastor Eric Bahme, and Tony Kriz.

Want to join us for the day? Click here to register for the conference.