God's Grace Abounds to Me

Event Summary of EC's 2004 West Coast Conference

Orange, CA (July 28-August 1, 2004) - "Spiritual highlight of the year!" "There is nothing like it!" "Encouraging, informative, life changing!" These were a few of the comments as Connection 25 (our 25th West Coast conference) came to a close at Chapman University in Orange, California. The theme of Connection 25, God's Grace Abounds To Me, was evident as people attended challenging workshops, listened to empowering keynoters, and enjoyed worship and music that inspired everyone with the consistent message of God loves ME.

Listen to Conference Keynote Speakers

Dr. Ralph Blair (32 MB - MP3 format)

Jeremy Marks (23 MB - MP3 format)

Darlene Franklin (21 MB - MP3 format)

The above recordings are in mp3 format. If you would like to download the files to your computer, right click on the icon above and select "save target as..."

Family groups (groups of attendees who discuss their impressions during the conference) scored high this year with great interaction in a large variety. Some of the groups were devoted to discussing specific issues, such as HIV, ex-gay recovery or friends and family.

Connection 25 saw many parents of GLBT children involved with many aspects of the conference. One parent commented that "the love and acceptance was the most I ever remember experiencing anywhere, and I'm straight!"

The musical performance of Jason and deMarco resulted in a standing ovation by the more then 300 people in attendance at the Saturday night Reunion 25 special event hosted by the ever popular and colorful Momma.

"People who have struggled alone for so long can come to a place of acceptance and to sense for the first time the unconditional love of Jesus and experience the freedom at last," said one first-time attendee. Comments like these made it all worthwhile for the more then 30 volunteers who coordinated the various aspects of Connection 25.

Jason and deMarco

Other small encouraging touches abounded. For example, angelgrams (small notes delivered by "angels" or volunteers) raised more then $500 for the Connection Scholarship Fund.

Lives were changed. All of us who are involved with Evangelicals Concerned Western Region need to share the love of Christ that many of us have found at Connections.