Every congregation in the Alabama-Northwest Florida Region is strongly encouraged to have a large number of its members and leaders present for the congregational transformation event that will be held at First Christian Church, Birmingham, on Friday and Saturday, February 12-13, 2010. (Please see a separate article in this newsletter regarding this event.). For the third consecutive year this Region, through the Program Committee on Church Development, has planned a stimulating opportunity for the Region to come together in pursuit of being transformed in all of the ways God wants to transform us.

This year we will gather around the theme, "Being Well: Congregational Health, Vitality, and YOU." This theme will allow us to focus upon many areas of individual practice and congregational life where we could be healthier instruments of God’s grace.

As we all know, congregations can quickly become unhealthy communities in which God’s purposes are not lived out effectively. I am convinced that no congregation ever means to become unhealthy. And yet it happens, tragically and far too often, because congregations lose their focus and slip into patterns of living that allow them to forget who they are, who they are called to serve, and for what purpose they exist. Just as an automobile needs to have its hoses flushed out occasionally to deal with negative build-up that keeps its engine from optimal performance, individuals and congregations often need to be renewed by replacing what is unhealthy with the healthy. In fact, this is the essence of transformation – replacing whatever keeps us from our mission with practices and attitudes that move us more closely into God’s will for us.

The workshops that will be offered at this church transformation event will deal with a variety of issues that impact congregational and personal life. Each person will be able to attend three workshops. Resources will be able through the workshops and also through the Cokesbury book display. Worship, both on Friday night and at the conclusion of the event, will draw us into God’s presence, which is necessary for any real transformation to occur.

All clergy and their spouses are invited to attend a breakfast session with Rev. Bill Lee on Saturday morning at the Drury Hotel, where we have a block of rooms reserved for our group. There is a meeting room just down the hall from the breakfast area where a free, hot breakfast is available daily. Hopefully you were able to make your reservations by the January 12, 2010, deadline. If not, you may want to call 1-800-325-0720 and mention the group name "Disciples of Christ" to see if rooms are still available at the $69 rate we had negotiated.

I look forward to seeing a great crowd on February 12-13. This event will help our Region, as well as our congregations, be a more healthy and effective instrument for God’s mission in the world.

Your partner in ministry,

John P. Mobley