Authentic Spirituality: Following the Way of Jesus in the Details of our Lives with Kent Carlson

2023 All Church Conference

Authentic Spirituality: Following the Way of Jesus in the Details of our Lives

With Kent Carlson

Breakout sessions by Kerri Ankers, Len Thompson, Witty Sandle, and more.

What does it mean to be authentic? Particularly as a Christ follower? In our time together, Kent Carlson will explore how we are formed as individuals and how we often live out of a false self rather than an authentic true self. This false self is cultivated as a defense mechanism in response to unmet needs and pivotal life events, and it erects a barrier to genuine intimacy with both God and others. Driven by unfulfilled needs for security, affection, and power, individuals craft coping strategies that mold their false programs for happiness. Kent will speak to the significance of recognizing and dismantling the false self, and authentically following the way of Jesus in all the details of our lives.

Additional Info: This conference will include snacks and beverages on Friday night as well as lunch on the Saturday. Childcare on Saturday (Kindergarten through grade six) is available.

Kent Carlson, NorCal Regional Minister, former VP of Spiritual Formation for NAB
As NorCal Regional Minister Kent works with association leaders to plant churches, develop leaders and resource existing congregations. Kent is the founding pastor of Oak Hills Church where he served from 1984 to 2016 and is currently Pastor Emeritus. He joined the NAB staff in January of 2016 in a new role, pioneering Leadership Formation. Kent is also the co-author (with Mike Lueken) of Renovation of the Church: What Happens When a Seeker Church Discovers Spiritual Formation. He is a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and is pursuing his Doctor of Ministry program at Sioux Falls Seminary. Kent, a native of Chicago and a rabid Cubs fan, has been married to his wife, Diane, since 1982. They have three daughters, two granddaughters, and far too many animals.

Tentative Schedule 

Friday Evening (7:00-8:30 pm)

Worship, Plenary #1: What is Spiritual Formation & Authentic Spirituality?

Saturday (9:00am-3:30pm)

Worship, Plenary #2: Understanding our True & False Self

Morning Breakout Sessions:

Developing a Rule of Life – Len Thompson, Urban Sanctuary. A Rule of Life is a set of guidelines that support or enable us to live our life intentionally. Like a trellis that offers support and guidance for a plant, helping it grow in a certain direction, a Rule of Life helps you grow in a certain direction (e.g., love for God and others). In this session we will take some first steps towards crafting a personal Rule of Life. Len Thompson is the founding director of Urban Sanctuary, Edmonton, AB, and is currently the director of spiritual direction at Vanguard College. He lives on a hobby farm and has sheep.

“Ears to hear” – Kerri Ankers, Desert Streams. What if praying is not just about talking to God but actually taking the time to LISTEN? How would that change the way we pray for others? How would that change the way we make decisions? We’ll spend some time understanding and building a case for listening prayer but also have the chance to actually do it!  Kerri Ankers has been serving and teaching with Desert Streams Healing Ministries for nearly 20 years. Through this ministry she is able to pursue her passion of praying for people and listening to God with, and for them. She loves people, a good book, good coffee and worshipping Jesus.

Lunch

Afternoon Breakout Sessions:

The Enneagram – Why am I the way I am and why are you like that? – Witty Sandle, The King’s University. The enneagram provides a personality map that can not only help us understand our own behavioural patterns, but also how others are wired. If we are courageous enough to look in the mirror and beyond our false self surface, we can use this tool to set us on a pathway towards wholeness and a life infused with love for self and others. This is a primer serving as an introduction to those unfamiliar with the enneagram or who want a refresher of the basics. Witty Sandle works as the Career and Vocational Counsellor at The King’s University in Edmonton, AB, where she also directs the work of the Centre for Career and Calling. She combines her professional career development background with her spiritual direction skillset, offering spiritual direction, retreat and workshop facilitation. She is a certified MBTI practitioner and an enneagram enthusiast. She graduated from Portland Seminary in 2019 with a Masters in Spiritual Formation and Certificate in Spiritual Direction. Find out more about Witty’s work at: www.everydaypilgrimages.org

The Bible Isn’t Just Another Book: Reading like a Christian – Dr. Jo-Ann Badley, former Dean of Theology, Ambrose Seminary, Calgary. We read a poem from Mary Oliver differently than we read the Cheerios box. We make the distinction without thinking. So what skills make us particularly Christian readers of the Bible? In this session, we will identify and practice skills to be better readers of Scripture. Jo-Ann Badley retired in 2022 from Ambrose University. She taught New Testament and interpretation of the Bible for over forty years. She now enjoys a slower pace of life and more time with her children and grandson. She is also a Fringe enthusiast–she saw 35 plays in 2023!

Plenary Session #3: Discernment, Engagement, & Attachment