The George Whitefield Program is conducting its bi-annual training the week of June 17 - 21, 2024. The training is the same as the June training and is designed to provide a foundation of fruitful practical tools to facilitate your perseverance in the work of an evangelist.
To apply contact Bill Adams at either: bill@sfoi.org or 866-646-5683 and then complete the registration page noting whether you are participating in Track #1 or #2. If you are interested in joining the GWP discuss this with Bill.
There are two tracks
Track #1: Administrative: this is required for men who are joining the GWP or men who want to learn the fundamentals of evangelistic life. These topics are covered:
- Ministry Partner Development [fundraising].
- The role of the evangelist in the Great Commission.
- Spiritual disciplines which includes prayer and navigating the relationships you have as an evangelist.
Again, the training is for men who believe they are called to or are considering the work of preaching Christ in the open air. This is not training in evangelism, that training is conducted through Sports Fan Outreach Int'l events, rather this is training for the administrative and personal aspects of ministry.
To register to attend click on this link and when asked for the event you are attending type “George Whitefield Program – Track #1”: Register.
Track #2: Sermon Preparation: is for GWP evangelists who are already in the program and evangelists or men who want to become evangelists whether they are now a pastor, teacher, seminary student or layman.
These skills will be developed:
- Biblical exposition: in order to preach the Word faithfully and fruitfully.
- Preaching: you will preach a sermon(s) and have it critiqued.
- Critiquing sermons: you will critique the other participants sermons.
To register for the homiletics training visit this page and enter “George Whitefield Program – Track #2” when asked for the event you are attending: Register.
Scheduled Teachers
Track #1: Administrative
Rev. W.W. (Bill) Adams: Overseer of Sports Fan Outreach Int’l. Bill’s teaching includes:
- Ministry Partner Development
"Audio message: It's not about the money."
- The role of the evangelist in the Great Commission
- Prayer: "Audio message: praying daily - how to begin."
- Spiritual disciplines: establishing spiritual disciplines to be a fruitful evangelist.
"Audio message: Reordering Your Schedule."
Track #2 - Sermon Preparation
Heath Pucel: An evangelist at Fishermen’s Call. and the instructor for the "Sermon Preparation for Open Air Preachers: Keep Your Finger in the Text".
Heath describes the goal of his teaching: “It is a commitment to faithful exposition of Scripture and the dedication to the hard work of studying the text versus relying on what others say about the text like our favorite preachers or reliance on study notes and/or commentaries for our meaning before we put in the work. It seeks to correct the mishandling of Scripture in order to be relevant or to get it to say what we want to fit our own presuppositions or theological frameworks.”
These attachments also give you an idea of what and how Heath will teach. You will be assigned a text to work from prior to the training.
Heath's further comments on his teaching:
“Bill’s goal with SFOI and the GWP has been to train the next generation of George Whitefield’s. Both goals combined provide a powerful remedy of faithful heralds of the King, rightly proclaiming His word and living a life fully and totally committed to prayer, study and preaching the word.
I am excited this year as we dive into the Gospel of Mark for a week.
We will explore the Gospel of Mark as to how to interpret it, find its structure and how to arrange our material in preaching Christ from it.
You will be provided ample opportunity to preach from the Gospel of Mark during the week.
Schedule
The time slots are the same for both tracks. Both tracks come together for the “Evening Session” which is a joint worship service. Families are invited to attend the evening sessions.
Monday, June 17
Registration: Noon – 2:00 PM
Afternoon session: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Dinner break: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Evening session: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Tuesday, June 18 – Thursday, June 20
Prayer: 8:00 AM
Morning session: 9:00 AM – Noon
Lunch break: Noon – 2:00 PM [includes lunch and prayer]
Afternoon session: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Dinner break: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Evening session: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Friday, June 21
Prayer: 8:00 AM
Closing session: 9:00 AM – Noon.
Logistics
Location: Birchwood Community Center.
Accommodations: On your own. If want us to find local housing let us know.
Cost: $400. Includes 8 meals. GWP Payments.
For men bringing their families the extra cost is meals. Meals are $40 / person for 4 evening meals.
Extra: Consider this week like a Camp Meeting with training. This means there’s plenty of praying and preaching mixed with training. Men are encouraged to bring their families. There will be activities for the families during the training times.
