Conference Overview

The famed “men of Issachar” were heralded in Scripture for two things: understanding the times, and knowing how then to live. Inherent within the Great Commission is a cultural commission – to be salt and light, to transform the world.

As the hope of the world, the church and her leaders must be students of the day in which we live - able to lead purposefully, minister effectively, evangelize insightfully, and disciple knowingly. It has been said that the most effective communicators are those who have the morning paper in one hand, and the Bible in the other.

Many conferences offer insights into church leadership, church growth, and the practice of ministry. The 2006 Serious Times Church and Culture conference is uniquely designed to bring the latest and best analysis of our culture, coupled with strategies and insights from seasoned cultural engagers that will help the church become a change-agent; a true “maker” of culture. It is designed to serve churches willing to both think and act on the cutting edge of the world’s great need.

We hope that you will join us in March for this inaugural event – along with others from your team. Consider bringing individuals from your leadership team, both staff and volunteers; the key influences and innovators, thinkers and artists, from your community; emerging leaders and students, both high school and college. The line-up of speakers, musical guests, unique dialogue sessions, review of films, times of worship, drama and media will make this one of the more important and valuable investments of your time.

This conference is being co-sponsored by Intervarsity Press, Serious Times, and Mecklenburg Community Church.

	At InterVarsity Press, we are passionate about books that change the way people think and act. For more than fifty years we have published in the spirit of discussions from our college years when we talked deep into the night about life, the world, ideas, culture, God and our future. Our aim is to foster a desire for lifelong learning that will help readers to understand our changing world and to infuse Christian thinking into the society around them. Our mission and the mission of the Serious Times Church and Culture Conference flow out of the same stream – to encourage people to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord in all of life.
	Serious Times seeks to serve the mission and vision expressed in the book Serious Times, authored by James Emery White (InterVarsity Press), which is to understand our day and then live high-impact lives for Christ in light of its challenges. This involves understanding the flow of history to this point along with our current cultural context, and then investing in the development of our souls, the deepening of our minds, answering God’s vocational call on our lives, and aligning with the church. We aim to serve this mission through a wide range of products, programs and publications.
	Mecklenburg Community Church is deeply committed to the eternal truths of the Christian faith. Our vision is simple: to become a biblically functioning community of believers so that Christ’s purposes can be accomplished in this world. Our mission is equally clear: to help spiritual seekers become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.