Chicago conference aftermath
Well it is practically over for all of you who have organised this very
inspiring conference. No doubt that there has been many challenges to face
and resolve; but hey! This is how we grow. I came back home by the long
way, driving and exchanging with my wife the highlights that we
had enjoyed during this whole week and you know what, everyday was a
highlight to us. Yes every speeches, lectures, workshops, meetings we
attended, new friends we made and old we rejoiced in seeing again was a
highlight. We came home with a better sense of purpose for our engagement
in the work we are doing for this revelation.
I hope that many peoples that were there will have or will take a decision
to become sincerely involve with all of us in the work required to make
this revelation an outstanding success.
Again, thanks to all of you who have dedicated many days of your life to
make this a memorable conference and a class one experience.
Gaétan Charland
President IUA
Toronto
Aug. 2, 2004
Conference accounts by:
• Jeffrey Wattles
• Meredith Van Woert
• Terry Grier
• Gaétan Charland
| URANTIA 2004 International Conference • River Forest, IL near Chicago July 26 - Aug. 1, 2004 • "The Mind Arena of Choice" Photos by Mario on Urantia Oregon |
| page 1 of 3 |
Chicago conference
Greater Lake Michigan Urantia Association very successfully hosted the international conference on the theme "The Mind Arena of Choice." This was Tonia's brain child; and the topic, the overall sequence of sub-themes for each day, and the multiple tracks giving diverse choices for participants were developed under her leadership. The work of James Woodward and Rick Lyon and their teams was truly rewarded.
I cannot recall an IUA conference with a higher average quality of presentations--verbal and artistic. We heard plenary presentations from several speakers who were not "regulars" often heard in such roles, and so we discovered talents new to us. The emcee, Guy Perron, consistently added humor that made our minds refreshed and receptive.
The scholarship fund was responsible for bringing at least three of the distinguished presenters to Chicago, and we should all be aware of the value of participating in that ministry if our intelligent and wise affection opens that door for us.
In my limited observation, the conference was blessed by a remarkably high proportion of readers with a keen focus on the in-depth study of the teachings of The Urantia Book, a remarkably low proportion of antagonistic"political" discussion. There were many new readers there, and the young readers made a particularly moving appeal for unity among readers. We had readers from Canada, Finland, Spain, Senegal, and Mexico as well as the U.S. (I'm sure I'm leaving out some country). The weather was unseasonably mild, and the food was the best university cafeteria food I can recall. The musical tribute to Lee Farmer was a marvelous experience. Many people enjoyed a thorough tour to Urantia Foundation, and there were many good comments about the lectures and workshops. The Dominican University staff were marvelous. As always, the socializing was most joyous.
Above all, we are most grateful to our unseen friends, the greater circuits, the Thought Adjusters, the Spirit of Truth, and the Holy Spirit (not to mention the revelators, without whom . . . , etc.). The partial surprise, I think, was how much the mind of Jesus became more real to us during those blessed days together.
--Jeffrey Wattles
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