News
Companions in Christ® Training Event Promotes Spiritual Growth for Adults

(June 12, 2007, GBOD/UR) — Upper Room Ministries and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will co-host a "Companions in Christ" leader training event Wednesday, June 27 from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1000 H Street NW, Washington, DC.

"Companions in Christ" is a series of small-group experiences in spiritual formation that powerfully transform congregations.

More than 10,000 small groups from a variety of denominations and locales have experienced "Companions in Christ." The trainer for the event is Devita Parnell of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

In addition to receiving "Companions in Christ" resources essential for starting Companions groups in their church, participants also receive an in-depth introduction to spiritual formation resources and learn the leadership skills needed when leading groups.

For information, and to register, call Sharon Conley at 1-877-899-2780, ext. 7525, or visit www.upperroom.org/companions.

The "Companions in Christ" family of resources from Upper Room Ministries has expanded to include The Way of the Child: Helping Children Experience God, a 39-session resource, and Compañerismo en Cristo, a Spanish-language version of "Companions in Christ."

Wynn McGregor, certified Christian educator in the Presbyterian Church, USA, is the author of The Way of the Child.

Authors of the Companions series include: Stephen D. Bryant, editor/publisher of Upper Room Ministries; Gerrit Scott Dawson, senior minister First Presbyterian Church, Lenoir, N.C.; Adele J. Gonzalez, assistant director, Office of Lay Ministry, Roman Catholic Archdiocese, Miami, Fla.; E. Glenn Hinson, author and retired professor of spirituality, Baptist Theological Seminary, Richmond, Va.; Rueben P. Job, retired United Methodist bishop and former editor/publisher of The Upper Room; Marjorie J. Thompson, author and spiritual director of the "Companions in Christ" initiative, Nashville, Tenn.; and Wendy M. Wright, professor of theology, Creighton University, Omaha, Neb.

Upper Room Ministries is an ecumenical organization that produces resources for encouraging deeper spiritual formation, including The Upper Room daily devotional guide, distributed to over two million people in 44 languages, five other magazines, a line of books and programs for youth and adults.

GBOD’s mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, call the Media Relations Office toll free at (877) 899-2780, ext. 7017.