In this talk, Kinley Coulter outlines three points to highlight the battle we are in, and how to effectively win by God’s grace:

THE INESCAPABLE REALITY:

The forces powering the conflict that is raging between the Church and the kingdoms of this world are invisible but utterly real and eternally dangerous.

OUR INFERNAL RIVAL:

The kingdoms of this world are walking in blind, faithful obedience to the God of this world. We do well to consider the ‘wiles’ and ‘devices’ of the prince of this world so that we can better perceive how he operates against us through fallen humanity, deceiving us into compromise and disobedience.

OUR INFINITE RESOURCES:

The church will, most certainly, prevail. The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord. The resurrection power we wield as the people of God is without limit, and so we are without excuse. Tragically, many Christians, many congregations, and many denominations will be ineffective, or worse, suffer needless shipwreck.

The topic ends with a call to faithfulness.

In this engaging talk, Melvin Lehman discusses how Communism and Socialism have failed. He begins with the its history and high aspirations: goals we could identify with. Yet it’s famously crumbled. Why?

Are we destined to have a society with disparate poor and wealthy classes? How can worthy goals like equality be realized today? Melvin points to the answer offered by Jesus.

This chorus of 150+ youth attendees of KFW 2024 praised the Lord in song together.

“Media” by Melvin Lehman

We do well to be wary of the negative effects digital media has on our lives. But “What hath God wrought?” to quote Samuel Morse, is an important question. How might our heavenly Father direct us to use this tool to serve the Kingdom of God in our day? We hope to look at the issues pro and con that are raised by this question.

“Business” by Leo Eby

Business and hospitality as usual? Hardly!

Seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteous puts a hard reset to business and hospitality!

Business and hospitality are not in competition with apologetics or community building, or media opportunities. Instead, business and hospitality provide a perfect spring board for apologetics, community building, and media opportunities.

“Community Development” by Pete Garber

What does it look like when the truth transforms a community? Community Development believes in the inherent dignity and value of people, the latent resources and capacities within communities, and the comprehensive plan and provision of God for human flourishing. As His emissaries, we have the opportunity to be a catalyst in the work that God is doing to heal, redeem, restore a broken world. Come join the work of proclaiming the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of David!

“Apologetics” by Kinley Coulter

Apologetics is articulating a reasoned defense of Christian truth… responding to unbelievers’ objections to the faith. We are, like Paul, to be “set for the defense of the Gospel” (Philippians 1:17).

Polemics is the other cutting edge of the Christian apologist’s blade… we move beyond defense of truth and go on the offensive… pointing out errors and undermining the worldling’s irrational and anti-scriptural worldview.

We must use both cutting edges deftly, convincingly and compassionately as we obey Peter’s imperative to “Be ready, always, to give an answer to every man” (1 Peter 3:15).

Purpose, meaning, fulfillment, motivation—these are things every human longs for. But what exactly is purpose, and how do we know when we’ve truly found it? What is your reason for being? While there are no simple answers, a biblical perspective offers foundational principles to help us begin answering these questions in each of our own lives. In this talk, we will discuss the universal pursuit of meaning and purpose in life.

When our homes become hospitality centers, it’s sort of like a combination of a restaurant and a hospital with no charge.

God has given each of our homes a strength or a talent that we can offer to the people that God sends to our homes. What is a strength that God gave you to share? Do you have one specialty food that you love to make? Or you can serve cereal. We are really without excuse.

Besides food, people are hungry for acceptance and value, a listening ear, a safe place to cry. Share a song, share your children.

Be strong where it matters most – loving God and loving people. Even though we will never be the perfect hostess, we can practice on people, as if they were an angel, or as if they were Jesus himself.

Join us as we explore the reality of poverty and some of the ways to measure it. What we identify as the cause will determine what we propose as the solution.

We'll be discussing economic disparity, considering the opposite of poverty (it's not wealth), and precedents in poverty alleviation.

Imagine what the world might be like if communities applied what God has shown us of His heart for the marginalized and the vulnerable. How did the early church respond. What will it cost us, where do we begin, and what can we expect?

As Anabaptists interact more freely and frequently with news media, they are faced with greater pressures—internally and externally—to become involved in national and international affairs. Should we be doing more? If so, what is the more we should be doing? This talk is not entirely descriptive (since a small percentage of Anabaptists are involved to one small degree or another politically), but it is more prescriptive as we look at ways non-resistant Christians are and should live consistently, clearly and caringly toward the broader national culture in which we find ourselves.

Prayer for political leaders:

Dear God, thank You for the peace and stability You have granted us. Please move upon the leaders of this nation and help them recognize the responsibility they have before You. I pray for President Biden, Vice President Harris, the Supreme Court justices and all judges across this nation. I pray also for the representatives and senators, both state and national. I lift the governor, the county commissioners, the township supervisors, and all who are in authority, to You. Help them to lead in such a way that we may live quiet and peaceable lives. I pray that You would bring to nothing the counsels of the ungodly, foil the plans of the evil one and let truth prevail. In all these things I pray Your kingdom come and Your will be done in this nation and in every nation on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

The sands of time are sinking! This message is an urgent call to devote our hearts, lives, time, and energy completely to the kingdom of Jesus. Jesus said his followers are the light of the world, but before that can happen each of our own lamps must first be lit by a personal walk with Jesus.

Time moves on, eternity draws nearer every day, and the world and our own flesh are trying to distract us from our mission: to keep our eyes on the Bridegroom, and to expand his glorious kingdom! We need to refocus, to set our affection on things above, to examine our hearts and see if we are in the faith, and to live always in the joyful anticipation of the glorious dawning of the day when the last sands slip through the glass, the dawn of heaven breaks, and the Bridegroom comes for his bride!

Jesus is building a spiritual kingdom on earth in earthen vessels sanctified for the Master’s use with none other than resurrected, crucified flesh! His kingdom doesn’t exist in a vacuum, but in flesh and blood, in a world groaning and broken by sin.

"So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us." -1 Thessalonians 2:8

Does it matter if we share, or do not share, our souls and emotions in sharing of the Gospel? Just how far do we go in sharing our souls and emotions and resources? How does this verse challenge me and all of us in areas of business and hospitality to share our souls, emotions, and resources, along with the Gospel of the kingdom?