North America

In between votes, what else to do at General Conference Session

Attendees can join in a 5K run, catch lunchtime seminars

Silver Spring, Maryland, United States | ANN staff

Delegates and guests attending the Seventh-day Adventist Church's World Session next month can expect more than business meetings during the 11-day event.

Downtown Atlanta is expected to bustle with concerts, training seminars, a film festival and myriad other events held in tandem with the June 23 to July 3 Session.

Attendees not worn out from walking from their hotel to the Georgia Dome several times a day are invited to join the Adventist Race for Health 5/10K on June 27. Sponsored in part by InStep for Life, the race is expected to raise awareness of healthy living within the community of Atlanta. To register, visit adventistraceforhealth.com.

InStep for Life will also host morning walks in Atlanta's Centennial Park followed by brief talks by exercise specialists. Participants can meet at 7 a.m. on June 25 at the park's fountain for the first walk.

Two sports tournaments sponsored by Atlanta-based Berean Adventist Church also join the health-oriented events available at Session. A basketball tournament will be held at the Berean Christian Junior Academy and Greater Atlanta Adventist Academy gyms from June 30 to July 3, while those interested in a golf tournament can meet at the local Stone Mountain Golf Club on July 1.

For delegates with little downtime, meal breaks are expected to be primetime for squeezing in extracurricular events, and there are plenty of "lunch and learn" options to choose from.

The church's Health Ministries department plans to present daily lunchtime health seminars beginning June 27. During both noon and evening meal breaks, the Sabbath School and Personal Ministries department in North America will present "Tool Time" workshops.

Attendees interested in faith-affirming yet scientific lectures on Creation can also meet during meal breaks for presentations by theologians and scientists. For a schedule of lecture topics, visit fscsda.org.

Other seminars running during or just before Session include Innovative Impact 2010, a pastor's leadership conference held at the Berean Adventist Church from June 20 to 23. Visit innovativeimpact.org to learn more. Professional fundraisers attending Session might consider arriving a few days early to attend the June 22 and 23 training seminar by the North American region's Philanthropic Service for Institutions at Atlanta's Omni Hotel. Chaplains attending Session are invited to chaplaincy training seminars sponsored by Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries from June 22 to 29.

The 8th annual SONscreen film festival, "Changing the World 24 Frames Per Second," is scheduled to run Jun 26 and 27 at the Rialto Center for the Arts on the campus of Georgia State University. In addition to nightly film screenings, the festival will offer workshops, panel discussions and presentations.

Session attendees can also catch one of two screenings of filmmaker Martin Doblmeier's recent documentary on the Adventist Church's history and impact on health in North America. The first showing of The Adventists is scheduled for noon on June 25. Stop by the Adventist Mission Stage in the Exhibit Hall to watch.

While Session will feature regular music, at least one concert is aimed specifically at community members. Session musicians from around the world are expected to headline at a June 29 free concert in Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park.

A number of other Session events also target specific audiences. Impact Atlanta, held throughout Session at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, aims to encourage a culture of involvement in young adults, Youth Ministries church leaders said. The leadership and discipleship opportunity is slated to involve training and community service events in Atlanta neighborhoods. To register, visit impactatlanta.info.

Young people are also invited to Play Night at the Renaissance Atlanta Hotel on June 26 for an evening of safe, fun activities including music, comedy and games. Learn more and purchase tickets at playnightatlanta.com.

The world church's Women's Ministries department is hosting several events during Session. Women are invited to attend morning seminars from Jun 28 to July 1 on topics of spiritual and personal growth, service and daily living. Two afternoon seminars will focus on women's health. All of the Women's Ministries events will include music and reports from department-sponsored projects worldwide. The North American region's Women's Ministries department is hosting a tea on the first day of Session for Women's Ministries directors worldwide.

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) will encourage Session attendees to show their support for ending violence against women and children by signing the End It Now banner while they're in Atlanta, an ADRA spokesperson said. ADRA aims to collect one million signatures before sending the banner to the United Nations at the end of the year.

arrow-bracket-rightCommentscontact