EFCA Theology Conferences

In 2016, EFCA pastors and church leaders gathered in Des Moines, Iowa, for the annual Theology Conference. The focus of the postconference was on the theme, “The Ministry of the Gospel and Gender Dysphoria.” On this brief episode of the podcast, we share the introduction to this topic from Greg Strand.

In 2016, EFCA pastors and church leaders gathered in Des Moines, Iowa, for the annual Theology Conference. The focus of the postconference was on the theme, “The Ministry of the Gospel and Gender Dysphoria.” On this episode of the podcast, we share the third and final message from Mark Yarhouse, “Gender Dysphoria: Toward a Pastoral Response.”

Mark is the Hughes Endowed Chair and professor of psychology at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he is a core faculty member in the doctoral program in clinical psychology. Mark is also the founding director of the Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity.

In 2016, EFCA pastors and church leaders gathered in Des Moines, Iowa, for the annual Theology Conference. The focus of the postconference was on the theme, “The Ministry of the Gospel and Gender Dysphoria.” On this episode of the podcast, we share the second message from Mark Yarhouse, “Gender Dysphoria: Scientific – Biological, Psychological and Sociocultural Considerations.”

Mark is the Hughes Endowed Chair and professor of psychology at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he is a core faculty member in the doctoral program in clinical psychology. Mark is also the founding director of the Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity.

In 2016, EFCA pastors and church leaders gathered in Des Moines, Iowa, for the annual Theology Conference. The focus of the postconference was on the theme, “The Ministry of the Gospel and Gender Dysphoria.” On this episode of the podcast, we share the first message from Mark Yarhouse, “Gender Dysphoria: Foundational Considerations (Key Terms and Biblical Perspectives).”

Mark is the Hughes Endowed Chair and professor of psychology at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he is a core faculty member in the doctoral program in clinical psychology. Mark is also the founding director of the Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity.

On this episode of the podcast, we share a message from that preconference by Roy Oksnevad, “Who are the real Muslims?” Roy serves as Director of COMMA Network, a Coalition of Ministries to Muslims in North America, and ReachNational All People Director of Muslim Ministry.

In 2018, EFCA pastors and church leaders gathered in San Antonio, Texas, for the annual Theology Conference. The focus of the preconference was on the theme, “Understanding Islam, Loving Our Neighbors.” On this episode of the podcast, we share a message from that preconference by Mike Urton entitled, “What do Muslims Believe?”

Mike serves as Associate Director of the COMMA Network, a Coalition of Ministries to Muslims in North America, and ReachNational All People Muslim Ministry.

At the end of the day, we long to hear the words of Jesus: "Well done, good servant!" (Luke 19:17). In light of the topic of this Theology Conference, what does that mean? What guides us to that end? What enables us to live in such a way? Jesus informed us in some of his final words to his disciples on the way to the cross, the time and manner in which the new covenant would be ushered in through his death, burial and resurrection and the subsequent pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Join us in the final message of the EFCA Theology Conference from John Perkins as he discusses how we move forward in unity.

Are compassion and justice ministries the gospel? Or are they entailments of the gospel? On the one hand are those who make them the gospel who end up denying the biblical gospel, that which is done and accomplished in the person and work of Jesus Christ. This is the good news that affirms "it is finished," and is to be proclaimed. Rather than a biblical gospel, they end up with a social gospel applying Christian ethics to the social ills of the day, e.g., economic inequality, poverty, racial tensions, addictions, etc. but without the biblical gospel. Join us as Dr. Peter Cha discusses the call of compassion and justice for believers.

One of the word of the year lists last year consisted of xenophobia, a "fear or hatred of foreigners, people from different cultures, or strangers." In light of the worldwide migration, and of the fear associated with immigration, it is not surprising. But is it biblical, is it the appropriate response of a believer, of an Evangelical? Interestingly, one of the biblical commands is the opposite of this, evidence in the term philoxenia, a "love for strangers or foreigners; hospitality, kindness to strangers." Join us as Dr. Daniel Carroll explains the response of believers in an increasingly xenophobic society.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. This often is one of those racial markers over which there are differences of opinion. Likely, many white brothers and sisters have probably not thought much about this anniversary. Conversely, most African American brothers and sisters are quite aware of this anniversary, and not to remember or recognize this in some way would be hurtful. Many of the differences regarding Martin Luther King, Jr. are along racial lines. Join us as Dr. Carl Ellis Jr. discusses the relationship between The Gospel, Martin Luther King, Jr., Contextual Theology, and Evangelicalism.