YMCA teams and individuals from around the country are together in Nashville, Tennessee, November 15-17 for Mission Ignition. This national conference, presented by the US Mission Network is the largest gathering in North America that brings together key YMCA leaders and staff for the purpose of strengthening the Christian mission of the Y.
The US Mission Network is dedicated to helping YMCAs share the message of Jesus with the members and communities they serve. The network is a collaborative effort of YMCA leaders that are united in an effort to preserve, nurture and advance the Christian heritage and purpose of the YMCA across America.
Mission Ignition 2017 Promo Video from Sam Cox on Vimeo.
The 2017 conference features several speakers and important topics:
Dan Doctor is the Minister of Music Ephesus Ministries (Buffalo). He brings the introduction keynote to the conference. He is an Elder and Minister of Music at Ephesus Ministries (Buffalo), Community Outreach Liaison for the Medina Central School District and founder of West Side Academy of Visual and Performing Arts. He has been seen and heard speaking at Christian Leadership Conferences around the continental United States.
Dr. Lori Salierno is the President & CEO of Celebrate Life International, Inc. She shares about the cause of transforming at-risk youth into responsible citizens. She is the author of several books and is the co-creator of the Teach One to Lead One philosophy.
David Newman is the Lead Pastor at Antioch Church in the Countryside YMCA. He speaks on inspiring a vision of the global potential of the YMCA. Dr. David Newman is one of the world’s leading experts on the history, mission and future of the YMCA. Read about his walk through YMCA history. He pastors a church that is strategically partnered with his local Y and has a life-long vision of seeing a church partnered with all 14000 YMCAs on the planet. David has had the opportunity to experience the mission of the YMCA in some of the most remote parts of the world as he has helped to build third world YMCAs, train village leaders and play with many orphans.
Cal Turner is the Former President & CEO of Dollar General. Cal has served as Chairman of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee (the original home to Restore Small Groups) and Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Cal’s commitment to the Methodist Church has been a lifelong personal ministry of faith. The Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church inducted Mr. Turner into the Fellows of the Society of John Wesley in 2001, for distinguished service to local church mission and ministry.
Eric Alexander is the Youth Justice Advocate for The Campaign for Fair Sentencing of Youth. He is also the Program Director for the YMCA of Middle TN, He spekes in support of our public education and advocacy efforts. Eric operated a three-point program that addressed the socio emotional development in students with behavioral and academic performance issues. Eric now serves as the Youth Justice Advocate with the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth.
The Mission Ignition website offers complete details about this conference. Get the latest on what God’s doing in YMCAs across the country! Go to the US Mission Network website and subscribe to their newsletter.
This article is featured in then YMCA Focus department. of the October/November 2017 issue of Faith & Fitness Magazine.
