Our hope in Christ is greater than our human fears. Join us as we are challenged to share this great hope in a world filled with uncertainty, instability, and fear.
Saturday, May 15
9:30am-1:00pm
Doors Open at 8:30am
First Christian Church, Florissant
2890 Patterson Rd., Florissant 63031
The conference will also be streamed live online at Facebook/Missouri District Values Conference
The Values Conference is a Missouri District Church of the Nazarene event that aims to “Partner with local churches in Eastern Missouri in fulfilling their Kingdom mission, both locally and globally,” through Equipping, Educating, Empowering, and Encouraging.
Follow the Conference at Facebook/Missouri District Values Conference
Click here for Conference Book
Registration
Register online through May 10
The conference is FREE this year! But we do encourage everyone to register online to help us be prepared and ready for you.
Due to the abbreviated schedule, lunch is not provided.
Conference Schedule
8:30am Doors Open
9:30-10:30am Opening Combined Session with Dr. Mike Palmer
10:40am-12:40pm Four Workshops Sessions
(All workshops will be 25 minutes each and held in the Worship Center, with brief breaks in-between)
11am-12:30pm Separate Youth Sessions
12:40-1:00pm Closing Combined Session
8:30am – 1:00pm Exhibit & Ministry Booths Open
Opening Challenge
Dr. Mike Palmer
Dr. Michael Palmer, or Pastor Mike as he is known on the district, has served as the district superintendent of the Missouri District since 2006. Prior to his election he served as a lead pastor for nearly 20 years and a full-time evangelist for seven years.
He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion from MidAmerica Nazarene University, a Master of Ministry degree from Indiana Wesleyan University, and he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from MNU.
Pastor Mike serves on the District Superintendent’s Advisory Council for USA/Canada, and on the MidAmerica Nazarene University Board of Trustees where he also serves on the Executive Committee.
Pastor Mike enjoys partnering with pastors and laypersons on the Missouri District in fulfilling our mission of making Christlike disciples. He enjoys supporting the local church and pastor as they pursue the unique vision God has given them.
Pastor Mike and his wife, Mary, have two adult children, Mandi (Jason) Denbow and Michael (Elizabeth), and five grandchildren.
Pastor Mike enjoys golfing, fishing, woodworking, hiking, and spending time with family.
Workshops
Session One
Intergenerational Ministry for Today’s Church | Rev. Jana Burnham
For the last several years, the phrase “intergenerational ministry” has been popular in many churches. While technically it is not a new idea in the life of the Church, fleshing it out for today’s context and culture might be new for many of us. Leaning into the core strategies of NYI – evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development – can help us implement intergenerational ministry in our local churches and our lives.
Rev. Jana Burnham currently serves on the USA/Canada NYI team at the Global Ministry Center where she connects with youth leaders all across the United States and Canada, as well as plans events like NYC. Prior to this role, she was a youth pastor in Colorado Springs. She is an ordained Elder in the Church of the Nazarene and a graduate of MidAmerica Nazarene University. Jana is married to Jason, and they have two daughters, Mackenzie and Madelyn. She enjoys reading, baking, and playing games with her family (and friends when not in the midst of a pandemic).
Session Two
You Are Exactly What God is Looking For! | Rev. Jason Lipscomb
The talents and interests you already have are what God wants to build his kingdom.
Rev. Jason Lipscomb currently pastors the St. Louis South County Church of the Nazarene and is a former missionary to Italy, Croatia, and Haiti. Jason and his family will soon be moving to Florida as they are starting a new organization focusing on clean water and nutrition providing projects in Haiti. In addition to this they are being called to work as co-vocational ministers, working as “regular people” in the marketplace in order to reach the unchurched and make the presence of Jesus known where people are already gathering. Through this they hope to see the divide between clergy and laity broken down so that all believers can realize their call to ministry in their daily lives.
Session Three
Mental Health in a Pandemic | Dr. Todd Frye
This seminar session looks at the mental health impact of COVID on individuals, family, and the church. We’ll have conversations about some of the most pressing mental health concerns, barriers and opportunities that churches have to respond, and how to promote overall mental health and well-being in your church. The focus of this session is applicable to both pastors and laypeople.
Dr. Todd Frye is the Chair of the Counselor Education Department at MidAmerica Nazarene University. Todd has been chairing the department since 2007. Dr. Frye has been practicing professional counseling since 1996. Dr. Frye received his masters in counseling from Northwest Nazarene University in 1996 and doctorate in Counselor Education and Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Counseling from Idaho State University in 2002.
Dr. Frye’s area of specialty and interest is in working with individuals and couples who struggle with trauma and other relational losses. He has also recently committed much of his practice toward providing counseling to other therapists and to pastors and missionaries. Dr. Frye and his wife are the designated psychological support persons for missionaries around the world through the Nazarene Global Ministries Center.
Dr. Frye is an experienced speaker and trainer for fellow counselors and lay people on topics related to suffering, loneliness, intimacy, emotion, and more. His office is located on the MidAmerica Nazarene University campus in Olathe, KS.
Session Four
Hope for the Journey | Dr. Scott Rainey
The new framework for Nazarene Discipleship was launched during the General Board meetings on February 27, 2021. Nazarene Discipleship as “A Journey of Grace” will bring unity to our disciple-making efforts around the world as we reach lost people, establish new believers, and bring every believer toward a fully surrendered life in the Spirit. Dr. Rainey will bring a message of “Hope for the Journey” as we share hope in a world full of fear.
Dr. Scott R. Rainey was elected as global director of Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International (SDMI) effective August 1, 2018.
Prior to this assignment, he served as the field strategy coordinator for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Field on the Eurasia Region. Under Scott’s leadership, the CIS Field entered three new countries (Georgia, Belarus, and Latvia) and started 24 new missional communities with hopes that each of these house churches would develop into healthy, multiplying churches.
An ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene, he served as the Lead Pastor of Living Word Church of the Nazarene in Houston, Texas. During Scott’s pastoral ministry in Houston, Living Word grew from 450 to 750 in regular attendance, relocated, and planted Celebrate Life Nazarene in Katy, Texas.
Scott has also served in staff positions in Fort Wayne, Indiana (Minister of Evangelism and Discipleship at Grace point and Lake Avenue Church of the Nazarene), and Kansas City, Missouri (Assistant Minister of Outreach and Evangelism at KC First Church of the Nazarene).
Dr. Rainey is a graduate of Olivet Nazarene University, Nazarene Theological Seminary, and Houston Graduate School of Theology, where he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree with an emphasis in church dynamics.
He and his wife, Jenni, and their two daughters, Bekah and Sarah, currently reside in the Kansas City area.
Separate Youth Sessions
BE DO GO For Today’s Youth Groups & Students | Rev. Jana Burnham
Did you know there are Nazarene teens all over the world who are trying to figure life out just like you are? Together we are NYI – Nazarene Youth International! While NYI looks different all over the world, we all share a focus to BE, DO, GO. But who are we to BE? What are we to DO? And where are we to GO? We’ll explore how YOU can be a part of evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development right where you are.
Rev. Jana Burnham currently serves on the USA/Canada NYI team at the Global Ministry Center where she connects with youth leaders all across the United States and Canada, as well as plans events like NYC. Prior to this role, she was a youth pastor in Colorado Springs. She is an ordained Elder in the Church of the Nazarene and a graduate of MidAmerica Nazarene University. Jana is married to Jason, and they have two daughters, Mackenzie and Madelyn. She enjoys reading, baking, and playing games with her family (and friends when not in the midst of a pandemic).
Kids’ Program
NURSERY AGE CHILDREN will be cared for by the loving and qualified First Christian Church Florissant nursery staff.
PRESCHOOL CHILDREN, ages 2-5, will enjoy a fun day of activities, snacks, Bible activities, and games just for them! They will discover how to trust what they can’t see because of what they can see by putting their focus on God. Kids should wear comfortable clothes and shoes appropriate for outdoor activities and crafts. The preschool kids will be led once again by the amazing preschool staff at First Christian Church Florissant.
ELEMENTARY KIDS, first through sixth grades, will enjoy a day packed with learning and fun activities! Kids should wear comfortable clothes and shoes appropriate for outdoor activities and crafts. They will be led by Pastor Randy Calhoun. Pastor Randy served as Children’s Pastor at Harvester Church of the Nazarene for close to 20 years. He currently serves as Lead Pastor at Faith Journey Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas.