1st Annual OVU Bible Class Teacher Workshop A Success

Approximately 160 Bible class teachers from nearly 30 regional congregations recently met on the campus of Ohio Valley University for an intensive one day training workshop conducted by the nationally-known Christian Education Association (CEA) of Fort Worth, Texas.

Tom Butterfield, Church Relations Director at Ohio Valley University, coordinated the event that consisted of practical workshop sessions developed especially for today’s Bible class teachers. The event was open to all age groups and offered a wide range of teaching experiences and instruction.

"All participants went home with a sense of rededication and renewed excitement about the challenge and opportunity of Bible class teaching at all age levels,” Butterfield said. “Several congregations sent nearly their entire teaching staffs to benefit from this experience. We believe the workshop was a great success.”

The workshop focused on the following topics:

- Do babies really learn as newborns?
- Creation and God Made Me - Jesus Loves the Children and “The Boy Who Shared” 
- Keeping Up with Preschoolers 
- Stones: Examining What Young People are Building Their Lives Upon 
- The Journey to Excellence: Planning your route - The Journey to Excellence: Avoiding roadblocks 
- The Journey to Excellence: Who’s in the driver’s seat?

Presenters included Edith Hurley (Southwest Church of Christ in Amarillo, Texas); Ryan Inlow (Fairmont Park Church of Christ in Midland, Texas); Mike Monroe (President of Christian Education Association in Ft. Worth, Texas); Lavonne Randolph (North Main Church of Christ in Weatherford, Texas); Mark & Judi Sparks (Burnt Hickory Church of Christ in Marietta, Ga.); and Karla Taylor (Co-owner of Light My Path Ministries Publishing Company).

“As church leaders we realize the critical role our Bible classes play in the spiritual growth and development of individuals and congregations. Ohio Valley University is developing new ways to serve churches as a regional resource and believe workshops such as this one are doing just that,” Butterfield said.

The 2nd annual workshop will be offered August 1, 2008 on the OVU campus.

For further information contact Tom Butterfield at 1-304-865-6039 or email tom.butterfield@ovu.edu

To learn more about OVU visit www.ovu.edu