Lessons learned

Attendee Mix Challenges Conference Planner

By Joan Drammeh

The Life Center Fellowship sponsored the “Men & Women After God’s Own Heart” conference in Atlanta, Georgia, February 5-7. Breakout sessions such as “Marriage Lessons,” “Successfully Single,” and “Back on the Market,” were offered to more than 500 attendees who packed the Sheraton Gateway Hotel Atlanta Airport. One attentive meeting planner, 30 volunteers, and a paid staff of seven managed the annual event.

“We picked Atlanta because we want to start a church here,” says Jermaine Collins, conference planner. “I like the location of a downtown hotel, but I like the price of hotels in the suburbs even better.”

Location is a big issue for a conference where ages range from 0-85. “I had to consider whether or not I had ample space for seniors and handicap facilities,” he says. “I also needed the hotel to be close to something that the kids would want to do.”

This year, the youth went on college tours to Spellman and Morehouse, lunched at the Georgia Aquarium, and visited Underground Atlanta and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. They also participated in an evening of fashion and laughter during the conference, the highlight of which was a “What Not to Wear to Church Fashion Show.”

For the adults, a pamper room invited attendees to get manicures, pedicures, and massages during breakout sessions.

Ultimately, the conference drew people seeking a stronger connection with God. “People know they will feel the presence of God with Life Center,” says Collins. “The worship services are nearly second to none in the Pentecostal realm and the preaching is never boring.”