2023 New Geneva Academy Shepherds Conference
Hope in God: Bearing the Burden of Ministry
Indianapolis, IN
Clearnote Church
October 4-5, 2023
Hope in God: Bearing the Burden of Ministry
Indianapolis, IN
Clearnote Church
October 4-5, 2023
Make no bones about it, ministry is difficult work. Undoubtedly, it is a joy to preach Christ and see Him work faith into the sheep of the flock. Even still, it is grueling spiritual work that can lead to loneliness and spiritual depression. We've seen the ministry strip a man down to almost nothing, especially recently. Our hope is that this year's conference will help you lift your head in faith. We know you need some reminder of the purpose of the burden and some encouragement to find your rest in Christ. Join us for a restorative time of sound Bible teaching, warm fellowship, good food, and sweet worship.
Registration is now OPEN!
October 4-5 at Clearnote Church, Indianapolis, IN, presented by New Geneva Academy. All attendees are warmly invited to Evangel Presbytery's Fall Stated Meeting on Friday, October 6.
In addition to the plenary sessions, we'll have a breakout seminar for wives on Thursday afternoon.
The annual New Geneva Academy Shepherds Conference exists to strengthen church officers and their wives, NGA's students, as well as other lay leaders, both men and women, with a heart for Christ's sheep.
Registration is now OPEN!
October 4-5 at Clearnote Church, Indianapolis, IN, presented by New Geneva Academy. All attendees are warmly invited to Evangel Presbytery's Fall Stated Meeting on Friday, October 6.
In addition to the plenary sessions, we'll have a breakout seminar for wives on Thursday afternoon.
The annual New Geneva Academy Shepherds Conference exists to strengthen church officers and their wives, NGA's students, as well as other lay leaders, both men and women, with a heart for Christ's sheep.
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
SESSION 1 | "Scum of the World" (1 Cor. 4:9-13 & 2 Cor. 11:28-29)
Rev. Tim Bayly
When a pastor feels like the scum of the world and the lowest of the low, he shouldn't be surprised. He's walking in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul and the Lord Jesus Christ. God designs the burden of ministry to discipline His men.
SESSION 2 | "I alone am left" (1 Kings 19:1-18)
Rev. Joseph Bayly
Sometimes a pastor comes to believe he's alone in his faithfulness, and his work seems futile. The prophet Elijah got to this point, but God corrected and strengthened Him. The pastor receives the same loving correction from God.
SESSION 3 | "Conflict without, fears within" (2 Cor. 7:5-6)
Rev. David Abu-Sara
In ministry, a pastor is afflicted within and without for the sake of the Gospel. What are the causes of that affliction? How does a pastor persevere? He looks to God, Who comforts the depressed.
SESSION 4 | "I will boast about my weaknesses" (2 Cor. 12:7-10)
Rev. Tim Bayly
The Apostle Paul felt his weaknesses keenly. But he boasted in them, understanding they would only serve to display God's power all the more. This paradoxical truth is good news for the pastor who knows his sins and frailties.
SESSION 5 | "I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28-30)
Rev. Max Curell
Jesus gives rest to the weary soul and the guilty conscience. The pastor's work is to lead others to this rest, but he must remember Christ died for his sins, too.
Women's Breakout | Helpmate to a Dispirited Husband
MaryLee Bayly & Sarah Dionne
The pastor has barely enough to give the church and comes home depressed most days. His children and wife only receive the leftover fumes, if any. Sometimes the deteriorating state of her husband’s heart, mind, and faith concerns her. What is the wife to do when the burden of ministry is crushing her husband?
SESSION 1 | "Scum of the World" (1 Cor. 4:9-13 & 2 Cor. 11:28-29)
Rev. Tim Bayly
When a pastor feels like the scum of the world and the lowest of the low, he shouldn't be surprised. He's walking in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul and the Lord Jesus Christ. God designs the burden of ministry to discipline His men.
SESSION 2 | "I alone am left" (1 Kings 19:1-18)
Rev. Joseph Bayly
Sometimes a pastor comes to believe he's alone in his faithfulness, and his work seems futile. The prophet Elijah got to this point, but God corrected and strengthened Him. The pastor receives the same loving correction from God.
SESSION 3 | "Conflict without, fears within" (2 Cor. 7:5-6)
Rev. David Abu-Sara
In ministry, a pastor is afflicted within and without for the sake of the Gospel. What are the causes of that affliction? How does a pastor persevere? He looks to God, Who comforts the depressed.
SESSION 4 | "I will boast about my weaknesses" (2 Cor. 12:7-10)
Rev. Tim Bayly
The Apostle Paul felt his weaknesses keenly. But he boasted in them, understanding they would only serve to display God's power all the more. This paradoxical truth is good news for the pastor who knows his sins and frailties.
SESSION 5 | "I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28-30)
Rev. Max Curell
Jesus gives rest to the weary soul and the guilty conscience. The pastor's work is to lead others to this rest, but he must remember Christ died for his sins, too.
Women's Breakout | Helpmate to a Dispirited Husband
MaryLee Bayly & Sarah Dionne
The pastor has barely enough to give the church and comes home depressed most days. His children and wife only receive the leftover fumes, if any. Sometimes the deteriorating state of her husband’s heart, mind, and faith concerns her. What is the wife to do when the burden of ministry is crushing her husband?
SPEAKER BIOS
Rev. Tim Bayly
Tim is a member of Evangel Presbytery and formerly served as the senior pastor of Trinity Reformed Church in Bloomington, IN. He is the vice president of New Geneva Academy and the author of Daddy Tried, The Grace of Shame, Church Reformed, Elders Reformed, and The Helpful Marriage Book. He has the MDiv from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and in 1983 was ordained by John Knox Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to serve First and Rosedale Presbyterian Churches in Wisconsin. In 1991, along with his congregation, Tim transferred into the Presbyterian Church in America, where he served on his presbytery’s Shepherding Committee and the General Assembly’s Ad Interim Study Committee on Women in the Military. Tim is married to his childhood sweetheart, Mary Lee; they have five children and twenty-nine grandchildren.
Tim is a member of Evangel Presbytery and formerly served as the senior pastor of Trinity Reformed Church in Bloomington, IN. He is the vice president of New Geneva Academy and the author of Daddy Tried, The Grace of Shame, Church Reformed, Elders Reformed, and The Helpful Marriage Book. He has the MDiv from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and in 1983 was ordained by John Knox Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to serve First and Rosedale Presbyterian Churches in Wisconsin. In 1991, along with his congregation, Tim transferred into the Presbyterian Church in America, where he served on his presbytery’s Shepherding Committee and the General Assembly’s Ad Interim Study Committee on Women in the Military. Tim is married to his childhood sweetheart, Mary Lee; they have five children and twenty-nine grandchildren.
Rev. Joseph Bayly
Joseph and his wife, Heidi, have six children: Tate, Eliza Jane, Moses, Fiona, Annabel, and Peter. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in computer science and Ancient Mediterranean studies. He then studied at New Geneva Academy, graduating in 2008. In 2009 he moved with his family to Indianapolis and planted Clearnote Church, Indianapolis with David Abu-Sara. In 2015 he moved his family to Cincinnati, together with several others, to plant Christ Church.
Joseph and his wife, Heidi, have six children: Tate, Eliza Jane, Moses, Fiona, Annabel, and Peter. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in computer science and Ancient Mediterranean studies. He then studied at New Geneva Academy, graduating in 2008. In 2009 he moved with his family to Indianapolis and planted Clearnote Church, Indianapolis with David Abu-Sara. In 2015 he moved his family to Cincinnati, together with several others, to plant Christ Church.
Rev. David Abu-Sara
Dave helped plant Clearnote Church, Indianapolis in 2010 and serves as its pastor. He attended New Geneva Academy in Bloomington, Indiana, and graduated in the spring of 2010. He is married to his lovely wife Vanessa, and they have ten children.
Dave helped plant Clearnote Church, Indianapolis in 2010 and serves as its pastor. He attended New Geneva Academy in Bloomington, Indiana, and graduated in the spring of 2010. He is married to his lovely wife Vanessa, and they have ten children.
Rev. Max Curell
David (Max) Curell has served as an Associate Pastor at Trinity Reformed Church in Bloomington, IN since 2002. Max oversees Trinity’s Home Groups and just about every other aspect of church life. Max is married to Annie, and they have three children and thirteen grandchildren.
David (Max) Curell has served as an Associate Pastor at Trinity Reformed Church in Bloomington, IN since 2002. Max oversees Trinity’s Home Groups and just about every other aspect of church life. Max is married to Annie, and they have three children and thirteen grandchildren.
Mrs. Mary Lee Bayly
Mary Lee is the wife of Tim Bayly and has been serving along side him in ministry for 40 years. She is mother to five and grandmother to 28. She has cared for the women and children of their congregations, including spending many midnight hours as a doula to church mothers. Back in 1992 when the Baylys moved to Bloomington, there was no Christian school for her kids to attend, so she worked to found and served as a board member and principal for a decade of Bloomington’s Lighthouse Christian Academy.
Mary Lee is the wife of Tim Bayly and has been serving along side him in ministry for 40 years. She is mother to five and grandmother to 28. She has cared for the women and children of their congregations, including spending many midnight hours as a doula to church mothers. Back in 1992 when the Baylys moved to Bloomington, there was no Christian school for her kids to attend, so she worked to found and served as a board member and principal for a decade of Bloomington’s Lighthouse Christian Academy.
Mrs. Sarah Dionne
Sarah Dionne used to wear high heels and rhinestones, but 24 years ago she traded those in for more sensible attire, so she could marry Andrew Dionne and tackle the raising of their 6 children. This year 2 of her children are off to college, 3 will attend a local Christian school, and 1 will be homeschooled. When she is not doing laundry or packing lunches, she enjoys serving the women at Trinity Presbyterian Church in SC, teaching voice lessons, and reading books way too quickly so she can get to the plot.
Sarah Dionne used to wear high heels and rhinestones, but 24 years ago she traded those in for more sensible attire, so she could marry Andrew Dionne and tackle the raising of their 6 children. This year 2 of her children are off to college, 3 will attend a local Christian school, and 1 will be homeschooled. When she is not doing laundry or packing lunches, she enjoys serving the women at Trinity Presbyterian Church in SC, teaching voice lessons, and reading books way too quickly so she can get to the plot.
SCHEDULE
Wednesday, October 4
530 PM Registration
630 PM Session 1
800 PM Social Event at Local Venue
Thursday, October 5
800 AM Continental Breakfast
900 AM Session 2
1030 AM Session 3
1200 PM Lunch
130 PM Session 4
300 PM Women's Breakout Session
300 PM Free Time, grab dinner on your own
700 PM Session 5
815 PM Q & A Panel Discussion
[Friday, October 6 | Evangel Presbytery Meeting]
830 AM Coffee & Light Breakfast
900 AM Evangel Presbytery Meeting
1200 PM Lunch
100 PM Presbytery Resumes
500 PM Presbytery Adjourns
Wednesday, October 4
530 PM Registration
630 PM Session 1
800 PM Social Event at Local Venue
Thursday, October 5
800 AM Continental Breakfast
900 AM Session 2
1030 AM Session 3
1200 PM Lunch
130 PM Session 4
300 PM Women's Breakout Session
300 PM Free Time, grab dinner on your own
700 PM Session 5
815 PM Q & A Panel Discussion
[Friday, October 6 | Evangel Presbytery Meeting]
830 AM Coffee & Light Breakfast
900 AM Evangel Presbytery Meeting
1200 PM Lunch
100 PM Presbytery Resumes
500 PM Presbytery Adjourns