The 2000 Discipleship Weekend Sept. 22-24 at the Life Enrichment Center in Leesburg offers pastors and church leaders the opportunity to grow spiritually and professionally and further develop their leadership skills. "Rooted in the Word—Growing to the Future" is this year’s theme.

Leonard Sweet, author, dean of the Theological School at Drew University and preacher to the postmodern age, is the keynote speaker and leader of the "Spice Up Your Spiritual Life with ‘Soul Salsa’ " class.

The Rev. Jorge Acevedo, of Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Coral, and the Rev. Terri Hill, of Isle of Faith United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, are also featured speakers.

Classes on ministry for all ages, evangelism, stewardship, mission and outreach, personal growth, caring ministries, church and society, worship, and multimedia will be offered.

The program fee for all participants is $40, with additional costs for food and lodging. Scholarships are available. The event’s registration deadline is Sept. 10. For more information, contact Carol Sue Hutchinson, director of the Conference Council on Ministries’ Discipleship Ministry office at 1-800-282-8011, extension 141, or CHutchinson@flumc.org. 

Strengthening families, neighborhoods and cities through improved human services is the focus of a two-day conference at Miami-Dade Community College Sept. 15-16.

Sponsored by the Kellogg Family Foundation Project and Miami Urban Ministries, the conference offers sessions on housing and community development, building a volunteer and staff team, welfare-to-work innovations, changing public policy and faith-based human service.

James H. Carr, senior vice president for Innovation, Research and Technology for the Fannie Mae Foundation, and the Rev. Dr. Preston R. Washington, president and cofounder of Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement Inc., will be the keynote speakers.

The cost is $50, which includes lunch both days. The registration deadline is Sept. 1. For more information, contact the Rev. Dr. Carol Hoffman-Guzman, director of the Kellogg Project, at 305-237-3890 or choffman@mdcc.edu.