While our Foursquare family prepares to gather in Washington, D.C., for a historic convention this May, our leaders, district teams and convention team have taken steps to make sure the event is relevant to today’s shifting culture and political realities.
Foursquare Connection 2017, which will kick off on May 29, won’t be shying away from practical topics our Foursquare pastors engage with in today’s world. This year’s event promises to equip local leaders on the issues that matter most, while giving everyone the chance to experience the unique makeup of the Foursquare family.
Now, through its special features, Connection 2017 will focus on celebrating unity with diversity, training ministry leaders to engage today’s cultural landscape, and praying for our nation and our world.
Celebrating Diversity
We live in a multiethnic nation, so it’s no surprise that our churches are also made up of people from many cultures and many ethnicities. That’s why we’re hosting Multiethnic Connections at Connection 2017. These connections include gatherings for African pastors, black pastors and Brazilian, Chinese, Indonesian, Korean and Native American pastors. Here, we empower pastors of varied cultures, people groups and languages to connect, worship and become better equipped to reach the harvest in their unique communities.
In addition to Multiethnic Connections, this year’s convention will host, once again, Conexión Hispana, our annual gathering for Hispanic Foursquare pastors in the U.S. and for anyone who loves to worship the Lord en español. But for the first time ever, Conexión Hispana will be held over two days, complete with worship, a keynote speaker and panels to hear stories of Foursquare’s Missional Objectives in action. The event will be held in Spanish, but English translation is available.
Everyone will have the opportunity to meet, greet and mingle with Foursquare leaders, workers and missionaries from all over the world at the International Reception, hosted by Foursquare Missions International. All are welcome, whether you are passionate about missions or just curious who represents our church worldwide.
New to convention, this year’s Young Leaders Mixer provides a casual hangout opportunity for any ministry leaders under age 35. No structured program here—come enjoy live music at an outdoor venue that’s set up for connections with people in your age range.
Connection 2017 is for anyone who desires to celebrate who God has created them to be, to get trained for ministry in today’s culture, and to pray with thousands of fellow Christ-followers.
Training Ministry Leaders
While Foursquare Connection always offers opportunities to connect, this event is also poised to tackle tough topics with in-depth ministry training.
At Training Sessions, available to all attendees, ministry leaders can expect to get equipped by expert practitioners in their fields and take advantage of Q + A opportunities with presenters. Topics to be covered include: Church and Culture, Creativity and Core Convictions, Evangelism and the Holy Spirit, NextGen Ministry, and Reconciliation and Lament. Attendees can modify their Connection 2017 registration now to ensure their spots in specific Training Sessions, four of which are available during two time slots.
For those looking to hear from our Foursquare family and meet likeminded ministers, this year’s Affinity Network Workshops introduce attendees to ministry leaders reaching the world in creative ways. With eight workshops (led by each of Foursquare’s Affinity Networks), the topics include refugee care in the U.S., equipping church families for foster care, reaching international students, abolishing human trafficking, commissioning members for marketplace ministry and more.
Praying for Our World
As Foursquare Connection delivers practical tips for ministers, this event’s schedule also recognizes that without God’s power and presence, no real change can be effected. That’s why prayer is a key focal point for this year’s convention.
To set this tone, Elevation Worship will lead attendees on Monday night, following the evening session, with a Prayer + Worship Concert. Together, pastors and leaders can start the week off right, welcoming and soaking in the Lord’s presence in our midst.
Then, to kickstart every day of Connection 2017, attendees are invited to join for an Open Prayer session every morning from 7:30 to 9 a.m. In the main ballroom, pray as the Spirit leads, and come together to take hold of Matt. 18:20’s promise.
Prayer walks are also encouraged, either in groups led by FMI leaders or self-guided with a Prayer Passport. The Prayer Passport is a new addition to convention, and will be distributed onsite to attendees. It will offer three recommended routes and specific prayer points that guide people to pray for the nations on Embassy Row and to pray for our nation along pit stops of U.S. historical, cultural and political significance.
Whether solo, with a couple friends or an FMI-led group, these prayer walks are designed to help leaders pray informed, to release the prophetic and remind us all who really is Lord amid dire situations our nation and world are facing. Each prayer walk participant will even have the option to share their experiences and what the Lord revealed online, to encourage all of us.
The best part: All Foursquare pastors and ministry leaders are invited! If you want to come be part of what God is doing through our movement, make time to be at Foursquare Connection 2017 in Washington, D.C., May 29–June 1. And bring a friend! Invite your church staff or ministry friends.
Connection 2017 is for anyone who desires to celebrate who God has created them to be, to get trained for ministry in today’s culture, and to pray with thousands of fellow Christ-followers.
