news article
Developing Developers brings people across The Connection to UNY
August 16, 2023 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
From Sunday, Aug. 13 to Tuesday, Aug. 15, an extraordinary event unfolded primarily at the United Methodist Center in Liverpool, NY. United Methodists of Upper New York had the distinct honor of hosting the 2023 Developing Developers event—an annual affair orchestrated by Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church’s Path 1 team.
Path 1 is a team of leaders drawn from global, national, regional, and local levels of The United Methodist Church. Their mission is to train, equip, and deploy church leaders, both lay and clergy, who will equip people for disciple-making and start and sustain new and vital congregations and ministries in the United States and worldwide.
The Rev. Dr. Aaron Bouwens, Upper New York Director of Missional Excellence, said, “This is an empowering event with the goal of resourcing each other and connecting with each other.”
The 2023 event began Sunday, as folks gathered for a Syracusan dinner at Dinosaur BBQ. This allowed folks from all over the United Methodist Connection to get to know each other. Conferences represented included North Georgia, Great Plains, North Texas, Texas, Desert Southwest, Western PA, and more.
Discipleship Ministries Executive Director, the Rev. Bener Agtarap, lead the event and representatives from different agencies and Conferences presented throughout the days—sharing success stories and effective church planting and church building strategies.
The repertoire of presentations spanned a diverse spectrum, encompassing everything from the intricacies of grant creation to the profound realm of spiritual well-being. Following each presentation, attendees were armed with thought-provoking discussion prompts, designed to spark conversations at their respective tables. These discussions were instrumental in fostering profound connections among attendees, setting the stage for an exchange of innovative ideas.
One particularly resonant practice, taught by Rev. Dr. Ron Bell, Director of Healing & Resilience—an organization dedicated to Christ-centered mental health—proved exceptionally powerful. Coined as "Sharing your P.I.E.S."—an acronym encapsulating Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Spiritual health—this practice encouraged attendees to delve beyond the surface and share vulnerabilities, which created a nurturing sense of comfort and camaraderie.
The event ended with Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Héctor A. Burgos Núñez, offering a brief message and communion. Bishop Héctor said, “We hope you leave with new possibilities that came out of your time together.” As he broke the bread for communion, he reminded attendees that “The love of God is as real as this bread.”
If you would like a quick review of the Path 1 resources currently available and those soon to emerge, click here for more information and ways to contact the Path 1 team.