*** SEMINARY EXTENSION/THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION     Options: Seminary Extension - Contact jhagwood1@aol.com    Chowan Univ. has an excellent tuition rate for full-time pastors.  Contact Dr.  J. Brabban at brabbj@chowan.edu

***  VBS/LIFEWAY EARLY BIRD CLINIC. Saturday, March 1, 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the North Roanoke Baptist Association office, 3856 N. Halifax Rd.  Rocky Mount, NC 252-443-3883, e-mail to www.northroanokebaptistassociation.org 

*** DEVELOPING YOUR LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL - DOUG MURREN.   Tuesday, March 11, 7 - 8:30 p.m. at Lee Memorial Baptist, 2430 Gum Rd. in Chesapeake (just off 664 and Chesapeake Square Mall).  No fee, but make reservations with the Norfolk Area Baptist Association at 757-938-9793 or e-mail to admin@norbaptist.com     Doug Murren has been involved in over 90 church plants, author of 14 books, and has trained leaders all over the world.

 *** COACHING: LEARNING COACHING SKILLS.   Thursday, March 20, 12:30-3:00 p.m. at the Center for Christian Growth training room, Jenkins Hall, Chowan University.  Leader, David Moore, certified coach trainer with the NC Baptist State Convention.  Purpose: Train pastors and other church leaders in how to help churches/groups get from one stage to another by asking good questions, listening, guiding, and visioning.  There will be a minimal cost to cover food.  Register with Wayne Proctor, twp7nba@yahoo.com or 252-312-9910.  Complete listing of dates and topics: March 20, Introduction, May 15 - Basic Skills, Aug. 21 - Usable Methods, Oct. 16 - Getting Started

 *** MINISTRY ASSISTANTS CERTIFICATION/SKILLS WORKSHOP.  April 1-4 at Quality Inn & Suites Oceanfront, Virginia Beach.  Cost: $175 members, $210 non.  Registration deadline is March 1.  Reservations: 757-428-8935.  20 hour seminar focusing on 6 ministry issues: call, character, leadership, communication, administration, and ministry.

*** USING DIGITAL MEDIA TO CAPTURE YOUNGER GENERATIONS  - Rex Miller.   Thursday, April 3, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lee Memorial Baptist, 2430 Gum Rd. In Chesapeake (Portsmouth Blvd. Exit by Chesapeake Square Mall).  Confirm your reservation by sending a check, $20, payable to NABA.  Mail to the Norfolk Association at 1407 Stephanie Way, Suite F, Chesapeake, VA 23320.  Lunch is provided by RASNET.  Rex is the author of the book Millennium Matrix.

*** REGIONAL TRAINING EXTRAVAGANZA.  Friday, April 4, 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 5, 8 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. at Temple Baptist Church in New Bern (1500 Kingdom Way, New Bern) There will be over 40 different learning options/every church program area).  Cost: $15   Deadline: March 28.  Register with the Atlantic Baptist Association, 1-800-676-0270.  A complete schedule of class offerings can be found on the S. Roanoke Assoc. website, www.sroanoke.org

 *** UNDERSTANDING YOUR TEENAGER - DUFFY ROBBINS.   Sunday, April 20, 3-6 p.m. at the Nags Head Church, mp 13 (at the south end of Jockey’s Ridge).  Speaker: Duffy Robbins, national youth conference leader.  Cost: $10 (includes notebook).  Register by going to www.obxymn.com     Or by calling Andy Lawrenson at 252-441-7548 (church) or e-mail to andy@nagsheadchurch.org    This is a conference for parents of teens and youth workers.  Registration A.S.A.P.

 *** “TURNAROUND CONFERENCE:” - KEYS TO REVITALIZING CHURCH.   Monday, May 12, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the West Chowan Missions Resource Center in Ahoskie, NC.  Lunch provided.   4 pastors will be sharing their stories, including dialog, Q & A, and identifying keys to moving from stagnation/decline to growth and vitality.  Register with Wayne Proctor at twp7nba@yahoo.com or 252-312-9910

 *** COACHING: LEARNING COACHING SKILLS.   Thursday, May 15, 12:30 - 3:00 p.m. at the Center for Christian Growth training room, Jenkins Hall, Chowan University.  Leader: David Moore, certified coach training with the NC Baptist State Convention.  Purpose: Train pastors and other church leaders in how to help churches/groups get from one stage to another by asking good questions, listening, guiding, and visioning.  Lunch will be provided.  Register with Wayne Proctor, 252-312-9910 or twp7nba@yahoo.com     Sessions 2-3 will be August 21 and October 16.  Session topics are Introduction/Basic Skills, Usable Methods, and Getting Started.

  *** DISCIPLE-MAKING PASTOR/CHURCH (AWARENESS) TRAINING.   Tuesday, Sept. 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (lunch provided) at Memorial Baptist Church in Williamston and Tuesday, Sept. 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (lunch provided) at Corinth Baptist Church in Elizabeth City.  Topic: Rethinking Discipleship.   Leaders are Allen Schuyler and Rick Hughes.  This will be a free conference for pastors, staff, and lay leaders.  The focus is growing believers through a process that is biblical and practical.  Registration information TBA.   To pre-register for either location, call Wayne Proctor at 252-312-9910 or e-mail to twp7nba@yahoo.com or register on-line with Sheryl Shankles at shankles@ncbaptist.org

 *** OVERCOMING GROWTH BARRIERS: Focus on churches with 100 AND 200 attending.  Monday, September 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Murfreesboro Baptist Church in Murfreesboro.  Leader: John Chandler, RASNET.   Helping churches understand the 100 and 200 growth barriers, and to learn ways to grow beyond current limitations.  Lunch will be provided.  This training is for any pastor, plus staff.  Principles would also apply for Sunday School directors and other key church leaders.  Register with Tommy Kiker at pastorkiker@hotmail.com, 209-7883 (cell)  Or the West Chowan office at wcba@net-change.net  Or call 252-332-3235.

*** STUDENT EVANGELISM CONFERENCE.  Tuesday, Sept. 9 and Wednesday, Sept. 10 at the Martin County Auditorium (Williamston High School).  Speaker: Evangelist Clayton King.  6:30 p.m. each night.  Music groups include the Building 429 and the Matt Blair Band.  No admission charge, but a love offering will be taken.  Register with Dean Harrell at 252-792-2865.

  *** ESTATE PLANNING.  Thursday, September 18, 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. at the West Chowan Mission Resource Center on Hwy. 42W in Ahoskie.   Leader is Tom Denton, NC Baptist Foundation.  No cost.  A light lunch is provided.  You may register with John Pond at 332-3235 or the WCBA at wcba@net-change.net

*** CHURCH GROWTH - REACHING THE UNREACHED.  Monday, September 15 in Murfreesboro (details TBA) Projected: Welcome to the Family and Tuesday, September 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Jackson Memorial Baptist Church in Chesapeake, VA (4316 Bruce Rd, minutes off 664 near Chesapeake Square).  Leader: Dr. Charles Arn from Church Growth, Inc.  Cost: $25.  Topic: How to Reach the Unreached in Your Community.

*** REGIONAL PRAYER CONFERENCE.   Friday evening and Saturday, Sept. 19-20 at the Nags Head Church in Nags Head.  Speakers will be Richard Blackaby, John Franklin, Mike Cummings, and Chris Schofield.   There will be a pastor/staff session Friday at 6:30 p.m. prior to the first learning session.  Further details TBA.

 *** SUNDAY SCHOOL AGE-GRADED TRAINING.  Sunday, September 28, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m., Courtland Baptist, Courtland, VA.  Full age-graded Sunday School training let by Virginia state leaders.  For registration or more information contact Pastor Tommy Speight at trspeight@verizon.net   

 *** NORTHEAST - SUNDAY SCHOOL GROWTH CONFERENCE.   Saturday, October 4, 9:30 a.m to 3 p.m. at The Memorial Baptist Church, 1510 Greenville Blvd SE, Greenville, NC.  Conferences and speakers are provided by the Baptist State Convention, NC.  This is fully age-graded training.  Training for directors and pastors as well.  Cost is $20 per person.  Registration can be made with pcardwell@ncbaptist.org    Or, call the Baptist State Convention at 1-800-395-5102, ext. 5635

 *** TURNAROUND CONFERENCE - ROCKY MOUNT.   Monday, October 6, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the North Roanoke Association office, 3856 N. Halifax Rd, Rocky Mount (Dortches).  Leaders James Gailliard, Rick Lawrenson, and Tommy Speight will share their story of leading a church through change and growth.  A time for pastors and church leaders to dialog and learn.  Cost is $5 per person for lunch.  Register with Debbie Williams at 252-443-3883.

 *** COACHING: LEARNING COACHING SKILLS.   Thursday, October 16, 12:30 - 3:00 p.m. at the Center for Christian Growth training room, Jenkins Hall, Chowan University.  Leader: David Moore, certified coach training with the NC Baptist State Convention.  Since this is a class that has already stated, new members cannot be added now, however, if you are interested in future coaching training, contact Wayne Proctor at twp7nba@yahoo.com or 252-312-9910.

*** DOUBLE YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL CONFERENCE.   Sunday, October 26, 4:45 - 7 p.m. at Corinth Baptist Church in Elizabeth City.  Leader: Tommy Speight, pastor of Courtland Baptist Church, Courtland, VA.  Principles of Sunday School growth, reaching people, will be taught.  Very practical.  No charge for the training.  Recommended for pastors, staff, Sunday School directors, and Sunday School teachers.  Please register with Corinth Baptist at 252-335-7287.

 *** JANUARY BIBLE STUDY PREVIEW/2009.   Tuesday, November 4, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Chowan Room, Chowan University. Leader: Dr. Tony Cartledge, retired editor of Biblical Recorder and adjunct Professor of Bible at Campbell University Divinity School.