Theological Conference – We Are Not Alone: Engaging Your Community Together– Playlist
**To view all videos from this conference, click on the upper right corner of the image above and choose from the playlist**
Have you ever felt isolated in your walk with Jesus? Have you felt like the Church is in decline and your congregation is shrinking and struggling?
Maybe you’ve experienced the weight of Elijah’s words: “The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too” (1 Kings 19:10b NIV).
We all have moments of doubt and despair, especially when we feel like we’re standing alone. But just as God assured Elijah, “I have reserved 7,000 in Israel who have not bowed down to Baal,” He reminds us that we are never truly alone. There are countless brothers and sisters in Christ—many more than we realize—who are also committed to the work of the Gospel.
If you’re looking for encouragement, spiritual renewal, and practical ways to connect with others in ministry, don’t miss this year’s Theological Conference, titled “We Are Not Alone.” Join us as we discover the power of community in the body of Christ.
You are not alone.
Conference Booklet | Okamoto Presentation | Huston Presentation | Cloeter Presentation
- Opening Message – Rev. David A. Davis
- Session 1: God the Father Almighty is why we can Connect with Others with Hope – Rev. Dr. Joel Okamoto
- Session 2: The Neighborhood Stabilization Paradigm Shift – Dr. Rachel Ferguson
- Session 3: Meeting the Moment: Support the Church to Boldly Speak the Truth – Mrs. Sherri Huston
- Session 4: Flexing New Muscles – Rev. Jeff Cloeter
- Panel Discussion
Speakers
Rev. Jeff Cloeter
Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, St. Louis, Sr. Pastor
Rev. Jeff Cloeter is the Senior Pastor of Christ Memorial Lutheran Church in St. Louis, Mo. Cloeter has worked in youth ministry, church planting, and senior leadership; served on the board of directors for the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, and the founding board of Momentum Academy in the City of St. Louis. He founded and serves as director of The Harbor Leadership Collective, and also serves on an ecumenical council called Oikos. Cloeter is the author of Loved & Sent, and blogs at sixthgen.com. He is married to Bobbi and they have four children.
Dr. Rachel Ferguson
Concordia University Chicago, Assistant Dean of the College of Business
Dr. Rachel Ferguson is the Director of the Free Enterprise Center at Concordia University Chicago, Assistant Dean of the College of Business, and Professor of Business Ethics. She is an affiliate scholar of the Acton Institute and co-author of Black Liberation Through the Marketplace: Hope, Heartbreak, and the Promise of America.
Rev. Joel Okamoto
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Professor of Systematic Theology
Rev. Dr. Joel Okamoto is the Waldemar and Mary Griesbach Professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., where he tries to embody and promote good theology. He was raised in Michigan, where his father served as a pastor for more than 35 years.
Mrs. Sherri Huston
Alliance Defending Freedom, Director of Membership, Church & Ministry Alliance
Sherri Huston serves as Director of Membership, Church & Ministry Alliance, with Alliance Defending Freedom. In this role, Sherri develops relationships with churches and ministries to help them acquire the legal resources needed to defend against religious liberty challenges. In addition, Sherri oversees the direction and growth of the program. Over the past 30 years, her career has spanned numerous industries and operational leadership roles. Sherri and her husband Kerry live in Arizona. They have two children and two grandchildren.
Rev. David A. Davis
President, Michigan District, LCMS
Rev. David A. Davis attended Concordia University Ann Arbor and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo. After his ordination in 1984, he served as pastor of four different congregations, all in Michigan: St. Matthew, Spring Lake; St. Paul, Trenton; Immanuel, Grand Rapids; and St. Luke, Haslett/Lansing. Rev. Davis is the 13th President since the founding of the Michigan District, LCMS in 1881. He was elected president in June of 2022 and is currently serving his first term in office.