Pastor James Emery White told InterVarsity staff members gathered for our triennial staff conference, “If you ever wondered whether what you do matters, it mattered to me.”
White is senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC, and the author of ten books. Converted at an InterVarsity chapter meeting, discipled by patient staff members, and nurtured by InterVarsity Press books, White says he “drank deep” from those wells. Now he’s come full circle. He writes books for InterVarsity Press and speaks at InterVarsity events, in addition to his preaching and teaching responsibilities.
White’s latest book is Serious Times, which is about “Making Your Life Matter in an Urgent Day.” The title is taken from a phrase in a letter written by John Adams to Thomas Jefferson. White believes the issues we face today are just as challenging as those faced by our founding fathers.
“It is a serious time, it is also a momentous time,” White said. “It is a time of opportunity because the world is feeling the sickness of its disease.” He challenged his listeners to resist the natural flow towards complacency and away from the Great Commission and evangelism. “Be a blessing, be innovative, and most of all be passionate,” he said.
The challenging messages from James Emery White and the other plenary speakers at InterVarsity’s Staff Conference in St. Louis can be heard in their entirety, from this web page. Click on their highlighted name to listen now. Or right click and choose “Save target as…” to download the mp3 file to your computer so you can listen later or transfer to your mp3 player.
STAFF CONFERENCE 2005 AUDIO
Focusing on Church and Society: James Emery White, senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church and an adjunct professor of Christian theology, culture and apologetics at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, both in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Global View: Femi Adeleye, International Fellowship of Evangelical Students Regional Secretary for English and Portuguese-speaking Africa. He is a native of Nigeria who now lives in Zimbabwe. “The way we get involved with other people must be radically influenced by the Gospel of Christ.”
The President’s Plenary: Alec Hill, president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, speaking on InterVarsity’s Main Thing: “Love God, Reach the University, Develop World Changers.”
Keynote Address: Paula Fuller, former chair of InterVarsity’s Board of Trustees, and recently appointed interim Vice President and Director of Multiethnic Ministries. “God can disappoint you and still fulfill His purpose.”
Opening morning Bible Teaching: Mary Anne Voelkel is Prayer Coordinator for Staff Development & Training. Before working with InterVarsity, she and her husband Jack were missionaries in Colombia for many years. “Drugs is not the basic problem in Colombia, it’s injustice.”
Evening Plenary: Marilyn Stewart, and her husband Doug, served for 25 years in Latin America with IFES, primarily in Argentina and Mexico. Marilyn is the Chaplain to the Collegiate Ministries Leadership Team. “Your pain either transforms you or you transmit it.”
Friday Bible Teaching: Brian Sanders has served on InterVarsity staff for nine years as Campus Staff Member, Area Director, and now is Divisional Director for Florida. “Stop coming to the altar to be saved. Start coming to the altar to appropriate the power of God.”
Saturday Bible Teaching: Myron Crockett has been a Campus Staff Member in the Southeast Region for six years, serving at Tulane University and the University of New Orleans. “You have to have character because you don’t know how deep the rabbit hole is going to go.”
Focusing on the University Campus: Elizabeth Topp, the Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, and the faculty advisor to the KU Graduate Fellowship for many years. “One of the great mistakes we can make is to think we know the university.”
Concluding Address: Jim Lundgren, InterVarsity’s Vice President for Campus Ministries, has served with InterVarsity for over 30 years in a number of roles. “The Mission of God is complex and simple at the same time.”
