I’m in New Orleans at the Gathering of Innovators conference. 35 of us were invited to take part in this 4-day conference. The first day was very full. It is going on in conjunction with the Union of Black Episcopalians confernece. I got to spend some time with Judy Conley who was on the same flight as I was from Phoenix. She had been to New Orleans before. She know of Mama’s Restaruant just a few blocks from the conference sight. The seafood gumbo was great! It was good to spend some time with Judy also. She has been around the Anglican Communion for a long time, and was honored by our bishop just this past Saturday at the convention of the diocese of Arizona by being appointed an honorary canon.
I also got to see Wayne Schwab once again. It is his birthday today. Wayne served for many years as the evangelism officer for the Episcopal Church. He now leads a ministry call Member Mission. It deals with the issue of how Christians pursue the Mission of God from Monday through Saturday. It is a very helpful and insightful ministry. I caught up with Wayne over dinner, which he invited me to share with him in his room so that we could have a chance to visit. He is a very encouraging man. He is well into retirement and recently widowed. Through it all the fire of gospel still burns brightly in him. HIs book, When the Members Are the Missionaries, is very worthwhile.
In our sessions I have been very impressed with the desire of the other participants to reach new people with new esxpressions of the faith. It is very encouraging to hear the stories of visionaries who are following the prompting of God into places no one else is going. It will a great four days.
