30 Oct UVF Community Involved in PennDel’s THRIVE Conference
During the week of October 4-7, 2020, distinguished faculty and staff members of the UVF community partnered with the PennDel Ministry Network and shared their knowledge, experience, and wisdom during workshop sessions of the THRIVE Conference in Carlisle, PA. This conference was designed for pastors and missionaries in the PennDel network as a way to refresh, strengthen, and support them in their ministries, as well as their personal lives.
PennDel Network Superintendent and UVF alumnus Dr. Don Immel (’82) shared the vision behind this year’s THRIVE Conference –
“Our world has absolutely been rocked this year. ‘2020 Vision’ is a phrase that many of us used as we approached this new decade. Who could have seen a pandemic coming, much less have a vision for how to respond to one? Regardless of pandemics and social upheaval, the church’s mission remains the same: walk out the Great Command and fulfill the Great Commission, that His glory may be declared among the nations (Psalm 96:3). This year’s THRIVE Conference will concentrate on missional focus. Throughout the centuries, there have been numerous renewals, revivals, and reformations. However, as time passes, the missional focus generated by these movements often wanes as matters of secondary priority or complimentary function take over the agenda. Our prayer during this season has been, ‘Lord, send a great awakening to our nation, and a great revival to our churches!’ I pray that this year’s THRIVE Conference will contribute to the answer of that prayer!”
Those from UVF who spoke during the conference’s workshops were Dr. David Dippold, Professor in the Ministry Leadership & Theology Department who shared on “Life After Tongues;” Rev. Melissa Falk, Department Chair of the Behavioral Science Department who shared on “Compassionate Leadership in a Cynical World;” Dr. Jerry Ireland, Department Chair of both the Ministry Leadership & Theology and Intercultural Studies Departments who shared on “Missional Community;” Rev. Jennifer Gale, Vice President of Student Life who shared on “Abiding in Fruitfulness;” and Dr. Jerome Douglas, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Rev. David J. Kim, UVF President, who shared together on the topic of Diversity, with President Kim also speaking during the session on “Missional Distraction.”
UVF’s Media Production Team (MPT), made up of students from the Digital Media Department, was also present behind the scenes at the THRIVE Conference, producing and streaming the free conference sessions for those watching online.
UVF is honored to be able to build relationships with and pour into the pastors and missionaries in the PennDel network, and looks forward to continue to work together with PennDel and its pastors in the future.