We wrapped the 2023 ARC Conference just a few weeks ago, and we are still on cloud nine! This year’s conference was held at Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, AL, April 25-26. We did something new this year, hosting two venues simultaneously at two of Highland’s campuses. This allowed more space for people to attend and connect with one another.
Thousands of pastors, church leaders, and church planters came together to become equipped to help the local church thrive. The two days were full of impactful messages, worship, practical breakout sessions and many opportunities for attendees to build relationships with others in ministry. We even held our first ARC Women Luncheon!
The conference kicked off with a word from ARC’s Executive Director, Dino Rizzo, as he shared what has been accomplished so far in 2023 and where ARC is headed.
“I believe with all my heart that ARC’s future is existing churches becoming sending churches that prepare healthy church planters to be trained by ARC, to plant in undersaturated cities and in population growth cities, to fulfill the Great Commission.”
Chad Fisher shared his heart for building the local church. He and his wife, Katie, are members of the ARC Lead Team and lead pastors of Rock City Church in Columbus, OH,
“It’s not time to put off what you know God has on your heart to do. It’s time we put our faith to work.”
Tuesday night’s session was held at Church of the Highlands’ Grandview location, home of Highlands College. Chris Hodges, one of ARC’s founders and lead pastor of Church of the Highlands, shared an honest message about pastoring.
“My calling has a competitor. It’s comfort. If you are looking for comfort, you are in the wrong business. You have to embrace the hard. If you embrace the hard and know that it’s part of the calling, you actually start to enjoy the hard because it’s part of the calling. Now you’re not resenting it. You’re not resenting that the devil is attacking you, everybody is hating you, and you’re having all this trouble. You’re actually embracing it because you know it’s part of the calling.”
We were so grateful to hear from Miles McPherson, pastor of The Rock Church in San Diego, CA. Pastor Miles always leaves us inspired about what God has called us to do.
We heard a powerful message from Chad Veach. He and his wife Julia pastor Zoe Church in Los Angeles, CA.
“You have to be careful, pastor, because if you promote yourself, you will have to keep promoting yourself. But if God promotes you, nobody can stop it.”
“We are the carriers of His presence. We are the carriers of His power. Some of you forgot that that is within you and resides upon you. Some of you need to stand back in the authority of your calling until your calling and election is sure.”
