2012 Marshall Hudson Summer Conference

A Grace Disguised: When Life's Challenges Meet God's Purposes

June 15-16, 2012  |  South Hamilton, MA

 Workshops  |  Schedule  |  Conference Details  |  Summer Course  |  Registration  |  Brochure

Registration is now open for the Summer Conference!  Click here to register online.

The Beyond Suffering course, created by the Joni and Friends Christian Institute on Disability, will be offered in conjunction with the conference. Dr. Kathy McReynolds will be teaching this course in-class from June 12-14, and the conference from June 15-16 with complete the course. All are welcome to participate! For more information, click here.
 

Plenary Speakers:

Joni Eareckson Tada, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Joni and Friends International Disability Center, is an international advocate for people with disabilities.

A diving accident in 1967 left Joni Eareckson, then 17, a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, unable to use her hands.  After two years of rehabilitation, she emerged with new skills and a fresh determination to help others in similar situations.  During her rehabilitation, Joni spent long months learning how to paint with a brush between her teeth.  Her high-detail fine art paintings and prints are highly sought-after.  Her best-selling autobiography "Joni" and the feature film of the same name have been translated into many languages, introducing her to people around the world.  She also has visited more than 45 countries.

Joni and Friends International Disability Center was founded in 1979 as she and her friends responded to the many questions and needs pouring in from families affected by disability who had read Joni's books or had seen the movie of her life.  Beginning in 1982, she hosted "Joni and Friends," a daily five-minute radio program of information and inspiration.  Now four minutes in length, the program airs on more than 1,000 outlets and reaches 1 million listeners each week.  The 30-minute television version of "Joni and Friends" looks at people who inspire Joni by enduring the most difficult trials while continuing to trust in God.

In June of 2010, Joni was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.  Having undergone surgery and chemotherapy, she remains committed to invest her energies and efforts in kingdom building intiatives around the globe.  She has been interviewed or featured on TV shows such as 'Larry King Live" and "ABC World News Tonight," in print outlets such as Christinity Today, the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times and on radio shows such as "Focus on the Family".

Joni and her husband, Ken Tada, have been married since 1982. For more on Joni Eareckson Tada, visit the Joni and Friends International Disability Center website.

David Deuel M.A., Ph.D. (Cornell University and The University of Liverpool) is the Director of International Academic Studies for Joni and Friends as well as the Academic Director of The Master’s Academy International, a consortium of ministry training schools worldwide. Dr. Deuel served as Regional Director for Joni and Friends in the San Fernando Valley, CA and in board positions for The North Los Angeles Regional Center, All Children's Hospital (Los Angeles), Direct Link for the Disabled and a Governor's Advisory committee for Disability (Sacramento). He is Chairman for the Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern consultation of the Evangelical Theological Society. Dr. Deuel focuses his ministry interests on assisting others in starting and developing ministries, primarily on the foreign field, and ministers with and to persons with disabilities through the Joni and Friends Christian Institute on Disability.

Kathy McReynolds M.A., Ph.D (Biola University and Talbot School of Theology) is Director of Academic Studies for the Joni and Friends Christian Institute on Disability and is Adjunct Professor in the Biblical Studies and Apologetics Departments at Biola University. Dr. McReynolds has written several articles and commentaries and is the author of several books including The Pilgrim Psalms, Women as Christs’s Disciples, and Enhancing Our Way to Happiness? Dr. McReynolds  contributes to the Joni and Friends Christian Institute on Disability by developing position papers on the many ethical issues in bioethics that seeks to promote and influence for the benefit of the disabled, and contributes to curriculum development for the variety of courses in disability studies that the Institute is creating for higher education. She will be teaching the Beyond Suffering course in conjunction with the Summer Conference 2012.

Workshops

There will be two workshop sessions for you to attend on Saturday. Our speakers will cover a range of topics and are from various backgrounds. Our workshops leaders include: Shauna Amick, Director of Joni and Friends New England; David Deuel, Academic Director of The Master's Academy International; David Horn, Director of the Ockenga Institute at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; Kathy McReynolds, Director of Academic Studies for Joni and Friends Christian Institute on Disability; and Dr. Pablo Polischuck, Professor of Pastoral Counseling and Psychology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Worship

Worship is an integral part of the Summer Conference. Through times of singing and reflection we are able to join together in worship of God and remain focused on the One who deserves all our praise.

Matt Scott will be our worship leader for the conference.  Matt serves as a Ministry Development Associate at Leadership Transformations, Inc. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, he is a graduate of the University of Mobile, earning a double major in Worship Leadership and Music Performance. In May of 2011, he completed his Masters of Divinity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. His interests include photography, carpentry, songwriting, and the hymns of the Church. He and his wife, Kristen, live on Boston’s North Shore with their dog, Stella. Matt is currently writing and recording his third album.

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Schedule

This is the basic schedule for the conference. Please note that the schedule may be subject to change. If you have any specific questions regarding the schedule please call us at 800.294.2774.

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Conference Details

Cost:
The cost per individual for the conference is $65 until May 4, $75 until May 25 and $85 after May 25. This cost includes conference registration, handouts and snack breaks. Spouse rates of $65 are available for the conference. Rates for students are available at $40 each. Group rates of $65/person are available as well with a deadline one week prior to the conference (June 8, 2012) to help with our planning. All group registrations must be submitted together (paper or online) to qualify for the group rate. Special rates for the Gordon-Conwell community (faculty/staff/students) are also available.

Conference meals are not included in the registration cost, and must be purchased separately. If you wish to eat on campus during the conference, meals must be purchased in advance.

Time and Location:
The conference will be held in the Academic Center and Kaiser Chapel of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, MA. Registration will be held in the Kaiser Chapel Lobby. Please see the above schedule for specific times for registration and sessions.

Confirmation and Cancellations:
You may consider your cancelled check or credit card statement to be confirmation of your registration. Event tickets will not be mailed. Online registrations will receive an email confirmation. Because of the planning involved with the conference, please note the following dates involving registration cancellations. Cancellations must be received by June 1, 2012 to receive a full refund, less a $10 processing fee. Cancellations made by June 8, 2012 will be refunded 50%, less a $10 processing fee. Cancellations after June 8, 2012 will not be refunded.

Conference Lodging & Transportation:
Conference guests are expected to provide their own lodging and transportation for the duration of the conference.  Room blocks have been made at the following hotels, however are not guaranteed after May 30th. After May 30th, the group rate will be offered on a space- and rate-available basis.  Participants must arrange their own accommodations.  Request the "Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Room Block."

• Courtyard Marriott ($119/night plus tax)
  275 Independence Way, Danvers, MA 01923
  800.321.2211, 978.777.5630

• SpringHill Suites ($89/night plus tax)
  43 Newbury Street (US 1 North), Peabody, MA 01960
  888.287.9400, 978.535.5000

Gordon-Conwell is near commuter rail stops, however, you must find transportation from the train stop to campus. The closest commuter rail stops are on the Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Line at North Beverly or Hamilton/Wenham. Click here for a link to the MBTA and the train schedule.

Directions
Take Rte. 128 North (toward Gloucester) to Exit 17 (Grapevine Road). Turn left off of the exit ramp and continue past Gordon College. Take your first right onto Rte. 22 (Rubbly Road). Turn left at the first stop sign (Essex Street). The entrance to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary will be 200 yards ahead on the right. Follow the “Conference” and "Event Parking" signs. For more specific directions click here.

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Beyond Suffering Summer Course

We are excited to be offering the Summer Conference in conjunction with a summer course Beyond Suffering taught by Dr. Kathy McReynolds.  This course is being offered as a credit course for enrolled Gordon-Conwell students and also as a non-credit course for anyone who would like to take this for personal enrichment.  

General information for both For-Credit and Non-Credit students:

• Dates of course: June 12-16, 2012
• June 12-14 is in-class with Dr. Kathy McReynolds
• June 15-16 is participation in the Summer Conference
• Summer Conference registration is included in summer course enrollment
• Meals for the Summer Conference will be included in enrollment
• The course syllabus may be viewed here

For-Credit Students:

• You must enroll for this course through the Gordon-Conwell registration office.
• Regular tuition rates apply
• You will be automatically registered for the Summer Conference including meals
• For-Credit students are responsible for purchasing their own course materials.

Non-Credit Students:

• You must register for this course through our online registration.
• Cost for course is $275
• You will be automatically registered for the Summer Conference, however please register for "Beyond Suffering Conference Meals" for the meal option
• One of the course books: Beyond Suffering Study Guide by The Christian Institute on Disability will be included in course registration. Students are responsible for purchasing all other course materials.

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Registration

There are a couple of ways to register for this event.

1. Register online
2. Or mail registration forms to:
   Ockenga Institute, GCTS
   130 Essex Street
   S. Hamilton, MA 01982

To contact us, please email ockenga@gcts.edu or call 800-294-2774.

Promotion Materials

Promotion materials are available for you to view or print-out to distribute to your church and friends.

• Conference Brochure (8.5"x15")
• Conference Poster (8.5"x11")
• Conference Half-Sheet (8.5"x5.5")

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Marshall A. Hudson founded the World Wide Baraca Philathea Bible Union in 1896.  This parachurch organization was designed to develop greater knowledge and practical application of Scripture in young men and women.  This conference is dedicated in Hudson's honor to the continual development of strong Christian leaders.