Plans for National Older Adult Conference 2006 are announced.

The next National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) will be held Sept. 4-8, 2006, at Lake Junaluska (N.C.) Assembly. Sponsored by the Older Adult Ministry of the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC), the conference will provide more than 1,100 adults age 50 and older with a time to be nurtured, inspired, and connected in community.

The theme--"Walking in the Light"--"encourages people of faith to respond to the insecurities of the world and our own physical realities with the assurance of God's love and to be beacons of God's light," said a release from ABC. "The theme seeks to remind and inspire older adults that they can and do make a powerful and positive difference when they walk daily in the conviction that God's light in the world is what will make for true and meaningful security in the world."

Keynote presenters will include Roland Martinson, professor of Children Youth and Family Ministry and past professor of pastoral theology and ministry at Luther Seminary of St. Paul, Minn.; Ken Haugk, founder and executive director of Stephen Ministries of St. Louis, Mo., and author of "Journeying through Grief" and "Don't Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart: How to Relate to Those Who Are Suffering"; Myron Augsburger, retired pastor and instructor for Eastern Mennonite Seminary of Harrisonburg, Va., who also has served as president of Eastern Mennonite University and Seminary and as moderator of the General Assembly of the Mennonite Church USA; Richard Gentzler, director of the Center on Aging and Older Adult Ministires for the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church.

Church of the Brethren members will bring worship messages. Sandy Bosserman, district executive for Missouri/Arkansas District, will preach at the opening worship celebration. During the closing worship celebration, Mary Cline Detrick, pastor of Daleville (Va.) Church of the Brethren, will address the conference.

Bible study each morning will be led by Dena Pence Frantz, professor of Theological Studies at Bethany Theological Seminary. Evening entertainment will feature Shawn Kirchner and Ryan Harrison, who have been performing as a vocal/piano duo since 2000 and performed together at the Church of the Brethren Christmas Eve Service on CBS-TV last year; and Christian comedians Ted and Lee (Ted Swartz and Lee Eshleman), who have provided their unique understandings of the scriptures at many Brethren events including the 2000 NOAC, National Youth Conference, and Annual Conference.

Registration materials will be mailed to district offices, pastors, and past attendees in February. For more information or to add your name to the mailing list, contact ABC at 800-323-8039 or abc@brethren.org.

Source: 12/21/2005 Newsline
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