REACH Conference Blends Evangelism with the Environment
 Lutheran Hour Ministries addresses the unique outreach challenges of young adults in their 20s and 30s through its two-day REACH Conference (July 17-18), held in conjunction with the international convention of the Int'l LLL. REACH gives young adults the ability to effectively engage their community for Christ and teaches them how to share the life-saving message of Jesus' love in a way that is natural and informed.
This year's conference blends the environmental focus of going green with the outreach mission of evangelism by showing how a concern for the physical world around us can translate into a keener awareness of God's creatures within it—and with their eternal welfare.
Dr. Charles Arand, chairman of the department of systematic theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, will lead the REACH Bible studies. Part one explores the relationship between God's purpose for creating us and redeeming us. Part two addresses the urbanization of our culture, challenging participants to consider how, in an age where people experience nature most often through digital media, our limited relationship with creation might impact our relationships with the Creator Himself. Finally, Dr. Arand will encourage attendees to enjoy creation as a gift from God, showing them how delighting in creation can help them be better stewards of God's gifts and better witnesses of Christ.
Sarah Guldalian, coordinator of LHM's Equipping to Share program, will speak on making the conversational bridge between people's concern for environmental issues and sharing the Gospel. Her presentation, "Environmental Evangelism: Sharing Christ While Going Green," will highlight how "we can make cultural connections with the unchurched by our common goal of going green."
Rev. Steve Misch, author of the LHM Men's NetWork Bible study—Out of Nothing: The Word, Creation and Faith—will give attendees pointers on how to answer questions sparked by the creation versus evolution debate. "This sectional will address not only the certainty with which we can embrace the biblical account of creation and the fall, but it will also strengthen the witness of the Gospel," says Rev. Misch.
In addition to the Bible studies and workshops, REACH attendees will also have fellowship events to mingle with other attendees in their 20s and 30s and an opportunity to attend the "LHM Celebrates the Savior" worship event led by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour. The two-day registration for REACH costs $65 per person. For more information about REACH, or to register, visit www.lhm.org/reach.
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