Conference to Explore Church Generosity Andy Stanley, Bob Coy, Michael Easley, Charles Stanley and pastors of other innovative churches are the featured speakers for Exponential '05: Unleashing Generosity in Your Church to be held September 13, 2005 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The one-day conference examines ideas to create a generous church, and participants will learn how to preach, teach, apply and celebrate financial faithfulness and generosity. For more information, go to www.exponential05.org.
	Divorce Down, But Marriage Also Taking a Hit Couples who once might have wed and then divorced now aren't marrying at all, reports The State of Our Unions 2005, an annual report issued by the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University. The U.S. divorce rate is 17.7 per 1,000 married women, down from 22.6 in 1980. Also the marriage rate has declined 50% since 1970 from 76.5 per 1,000 unmarried women to 39.9. Cohabiting couples have twice the breakup rate of married couples; in the U.S., 40% bring kids into these often-shaky, live-in relationships. Although many European countries have higher cohabitation rates, divorce rates in those countries are lower, and more children grow up with both biological parents. The U.S. has the lowest percentage (63%) among Western nations of children who grow up with both biological parents.
	Intersection: Where Profession and God's Purpose Connect Christian professionals will discover how their profession can produce Kingdom impact, church leaders will explore turning a congregation's professional capacity into Kingdom resources and mission pastors will learn how to mobilize people for world evangelization at this year's Intersection Conference, scheduled for October 20-22 at Overlake Christian Church in the Seattle area. "It really is three conferences in one," said Carol Davis, event organizer and Global Spectrum Director. Click here for more information.
	East Coast Multi-Site Practicum New Thing Network, sponsored by Community Christian Church of Naperville, IL, is sponsoring a Multi-Site Practicum on Sept. 15-16, 2005, at Coastal Community Church, Virginia Beach, VA. The Practicum, an intensive workshop, will help you and your team develop a step-by-step strategic plan for how to become a multi-site church.