November 7, 2009

In these two addresses, "Christ the True Word", Joe Boot unpacks the prologue of John's Gospel to show that Christ is indeed The Truth and that all competing "words" lead to intellectual bankruptcy, moral degeneracy, and death. There is only one infallible Word and it is from the Triune God of Scripture, revealed in Jesus Christ.

Rev. Joe Boot is an apologist, educator, and author, and is the senior pastor of Westminster Chapel in Toronto ON. He served with Ravi Zacharias for seven years as an apologist in the U.K. and Canada, working for five years as Canadian director of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Prior to this, he served as an associate pastor with Christ Church Fulham, heading up their evangelism work in central London, England. In his first ministry role, he travelled as national evangelist for Saltmine Trust in the U.K.

Joe Boot has spoken all over the world in over 25 countries, in numerous universities, seminaries, churches, colleges, and conferences, and he has publicly debated leading atheists in North American universities.

A theology graduate of Birmingham Christian College, England, Joe's post-graduate research Masters with Cliff College and the University of Manchester focuses on the field of missiology. His apologetic works have been published in Europe and in North America. They include Searching for Truth, Why I Still Believe, and his latest volume, How Then Shall We Answer. He is regularly seen on the Michael Coren show and addresses apologetic questions for ListenUp TV. He is currently in the process of launching the Ezra Institute for Contemporary Christianity.

Joe lives near Toronto with his wife Jenny and three children Naomi, Hannah, and Isaac.

#1 Open Door Evangelism
Rev. Chuck Congram

Chuck served for 35 years as Senior Minister of Lakeshore St. Andrew's Church (Presbyterian), first as a student and then full-time, prior to his retirement in 2006. Throughout his ministry years, Chuck was passionate about the development of leadership within the church, and he became a student of leadership principles. He continues to pursue that goal vigorously, as it is through his singular vision that the ministry of The Leadership Roundtable was born.

Chuck was one of the first Canadian pastors to be invited into the select Pastors of Excellence program, based at the Ashland Theological Seminary in Ohio. Within that context, he has been intimately involved in mentoring other pastors from coast to coast. For over twenty years Chuck has served as chaplain for the Windsor Police Service. He and his wife, Jan, have three adult children and six grandchildren.

#2 Experiencing the Spirit of Truth
Rev. Andy Leroux

In John 16:13, it says emphatically, "but when He the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth". This means that the Spirit of truth is proactive, and the truth is not just Scripture and theology, although that is very important. Truth here is related to transformation in the believer's life; it is about how the Spirit will lead us from lies and confusion into what is right and good. In order to do this, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit. Andy's workshop will deal with Scripture and allow the Spirit to fill/refill each person in the workshop. Expect signs of His presence as we meet together.

Andy is the incumbent at St. Ninian's in Scarborough ON. He is married to Brenda (38 years) and has 5 children and 2 grandchildren.

#3 Responses to Christ-denying Theologies
Rev. Dr. Frank Lockhart

The Christian Church is in a struggle from its beginning until eternity, to preserve and deepen the truth given in Israel and Jesus Christ. The people of the Church bring to this process a potent mix of language, values and ideas which contribute both positively and negatively. We will reflect on this, drawing on both past and present -- even in ourselves.

Frank is a United Church minister in Bowmanville ON, who is also a director for the Association for Church Renewal which meets in Washington, D.C.

#4 The New Age Versus the Truth of Jesus Christ - (morning only)
Carol Ward

"Let no-one deceive you in any way ..." - 2 Thessalonians 2:3. Do we really know the truth, or are we being seduced into walking down side alleys instead of walking the main route? Come, let us discover together where we may have taken a detour off the main path and learn how to discern the seductive lies that mislead us. (See Carol's description below).

#5 Encountering Jesus Christ the Truth in Meditation - (afternoon only)
Ted and Carol Ward

As told in John 16:13, our Lord promises that He will send us the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. Join us to listen to Him as we meditate in the presence of the Living God, understanding more of the Father, His love for us, His children, and hear His word of direction, hope, and assurance for us today.

Ted co-directs, with Carol, the School of Healing Prayer in Toronto and is leading development of the Centre for Christian Healing.

#6 How to Know the Truth according to John Calvin - (morning only)
Rev. Calvin Brown

John Calvin was perhaps the greatest theologian of the Reformation, whose works continue to be published and used today. This workshop will look at the ways Calvin understood how we come to know Christ as the truth.

Calvin is the Executive Director of the Renewal Fellowship Within the Presbyterian Church in Canada and chair of the Renewal Network.

#7 Christ the Truth and Positive Feminism
Rev. Dr. Diane Walker

In this workshop Diane will explain that for several generations of believers, feminism has had a profound impact on Christian faith and practice. Come and participate in a look at how what we believe and who we are has been shaped by this powerful force.

Diane has been in ordained ministry in the United Church of Canada since 1981 and currently serves at Pelham Community Church in the Niagara Region. She is also the Senior Editor of Fellowship Publications. Diane and her husband, the Rev. Dr. Paul Miller, have four young adult children and 1.7 grandchildren.

#8 Living Christ's Truth in Community - (afternoon only)
Rev. Dr. Connie denBok

Each local church communicates some kind of religion every time it interacts with the community. How do we communicate Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh? In this workshop we will examine the practical implications for the Church's profile in the community through the physical building, ministry activities beyond the building, and church members who are known to be practicing Christians by their neighbours and coworkers.

Connie is the minister of Alderwood United Church in Etobicoke ON, a church consultant, and columnist. She has taught at Tyndale College and Seminary and Wycliffe College as an adjunct professor with a special interest in new church communities.

8:00 - 9:00 - Registration, refreshments, displays
8:45 - 9:00 - Gathering Music by "Praise In Grace"
9:00 - 9:30 - Welcome, Praise and Worship, Invitation to Prayer Ministry
9:30 - 10:15 - Rev. Joe Boot Address: Christ the True Word - Part I
10:15 - 10:45 - Break and refreshments
10:45 - 12:00 - Morning Workshops
12:00 - 12:45 - Lunch, Prayer Ministry
12:45 - 1:45 - Afternoon Workshops
1:45 - 2:00 - Break
2:00 - 2:45 - Rev. Joe Boot Address: Christ the True Word - Part II
2:45 - 4:00 - Praise and Worship, Offering, Communion Service, Prayer Ministry

Lunch and refreshments included in registration.
Book table by Good Books Christian Bookstore.

Compass Point Bible Church,
Eaglesfield Drive Campus,
2501 Eaglesfield Drive at Dundas Street,
Burlington, Ontario
905-335-2501

407 from Toronto: Exit at Dundas St westbound. Two blocks west of Guelph Line turn onto Eaglesfield Dr. opposite Terra Nurseries.
QEW from Toronto: Exit on Brant St. travelling north to Dundas St. Turn right (east) on Dundas and then turn right on Eaglesfield Dr.
403 from Hamilton: Exit on Brant St. travelling north to Dundas St. Turn right (east) on Dundas and then turn right on Eaglesfield Dr.
QEW from Niagara: Exit at Fairview St. turning right (east). At Brant St. turn left and travel north to Dundas St. Turn right and then right on Eaglesfield Dr.

$35 if registered by October 26, 2009 -- $45 after.
Online payment is by credit card only.
Payment at conference is by cheque or cash only.
Includes lunch, snacks, and refreshments.

Conference Registrar -- The Renewal Network,
3819 Bloor St. W.,
Etobicoke ON M9B 1K7
Phone 416-233-6581
Fax: 416-233-1743

Please register each individual separately. Click here to register securely online using
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By coming together with strength in unity, the Renewal Network has been able since 2000 to accomplish more together than we could separately in regards to plenary speakers and quality of workshops. Of great significance has been the experience of networking with one another, not only of the sponsoring renewal groups, but also of the participants over the years from many varied communities of faith.

Year 2000 - Christ Our Hope - with Dale Lang and Gary Walsh.
Year 2001 - Christ Our Light - with Michael Ward and Patricia Dutcher-Walls.
Year 2002 - Christ Our Life - with Tony Campolo and George Sumner.
Year 2003 - Christ Our Word - with John Vissers.
Year 2004 - Christ Our Prophet - with Michael Coren and Charles Masters.
Year 2005 - Christ Our Healer - with Don Williams.
Year 2006 - Christ The Messiah - with Glen Taylor.
Year 2007 - Christ The King - with Andrew Stirling.
Year 2008 - Christ Our Indwelling Spirit - with Malcolm Harding.
Year 2009 - Christ The Truth - with Joe Boot.
Year 2010 - Christ The Way - with Bruxy Cavey.