Keynote Speaker

Paul Smith
Paul Smith has been at First Alliance Church in Lexington, KY since July of 2018. No longer satisfied with a “three songs and a sermon” approach to Sunday services and church life, Paul loves cultivating a culture of prayer, presence, dependance, humility, authenticity and mission. The Asbury Outpouring profoundly affected Paul and FAC.  

Paul received his BA from Toccoa Falls College in 1996.  Days after college graduation, he moved sight unseen to Alaska to be a youth pastor.  Three weeks in, the senior pastor tossed him the keys and Paul was the new lead.  He learned a lot in the following two years: preaching, care, leadership, and staff dynamics to name a few.  A fantastic one year assignment as Preaching Pastor at Fox Island Alliance Church followed.  While there, he met his beautiful wife Heather through a wild set of events, and they married in 1999.  He needed a job, so two weeks after the wedding, they said yes to the tiny Alliance church in Lewiston, Idaho. God moved in powerful ways at that church: miraculous provision, hundreds saved, a town impacted.  When he left this beloved church after 19 years, it was healthy and well over 1000 people. Paul and Heather felt clearly called to FAC in Lexington in 2018, and God has once again been faithful.  The church has grown and changed significantly, but most importantly, the presence of God is palpable.

Paul would say he is a dependent maximizer; he keeps prayer and God’s presence primary, and he is always strategically working to grow and expand the kingdom in and through the Church.   Paul has an M. Div. from Bethel Seminary in Minnesota and a D. Min. in preaching and leadership from Asbury Seminary. He loves his kids, daugher Elliott (19) and son Quinn (17), and lovingly tolerates the family doxipoo Winston.  You will find him on a date with his wife or on the golf course any time he has free time.

Gary Friesen
Gary Friesen has served as General Counsel for The Christian and Missionary Alliance since 2014. Formerly he served in various roles at Peacemaker Ministries, including Acting CEO, Executive Vice President, and Conciliation Director. He practiced corporate and nonprofit law in Oregon for eight years. Gary loves to teach, (he has a PhD in Peace Studies) and has taught and consulted for Christian organizations and leaders in more than 20 countries. Primarily, he is passionate about seeing people everywhere experience the redemptive power of the Gospel, beginning with himself, his wife, and their children.

Elections for this Business-year District Conference:

District Superintendent (4-year term)
The Search Committee has nominated Rev. David A. Nagel.

District Executive Committee:
Electing three (3) members for 4-year terms

Credentialing Council (formerly known as LO&CC):
Electing three (3) members for 4-year terms

Rules Committee:
Electing three (3) members for 4-year terms

District Conference Minutes
All Official Workers can access the 2024 District Conference Minutes through the Official Workers page and entering their password. If you have forgotten your password, please contact Paige Ealy in the District Office.

Lay Delegates Certificate
Forms must be submitted to the District Office by September 13, 2024.
To complete the fillable PDF form, please download the form first and then open in Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Article II, Section 1.,  A. 3) a) (p. 6 District Bylaws) Each accredited church of The Christian and Missionary Alliance shall be entitled to send two lay delegates, in addition to its official workers. If the voting membership (as reported in the last annual report of the church) is 150 or more, another lay delegate may be sent for each additional 100 voting members or fraction thereof. The church shall appoint and certify lay delegates as specified in the local church bylaws. 

Service Awards
Below are the individuals who will be recognized on Tuesday evening for their years of service and those who are retiring. Please plan to join us to celebrate and congratulate those who have helped to spread the gospel in the WPA District.

Location:
Community Alliance Church
800 Mercer Rd.
Butler, PA

Lodging:
Everyone is responsible for their own lodging arrangements. There are 2 hotels in Butler that have rooms blocked for people attending District Conference. If all rooms are booked, you will need to make other accommodations.

• Hampton Inn Butler: call 724-431-2400, 610 Butler Crossing, Butler. Cost is $115 per night plus tax. Register online at: Hampton Inn Direct Booking Link. Book by September 3, 2024

• SpringHill Suites Butler: call 724-256-9844, 125 East Jefferson St., Butler. Cost is $109 per night plus tax. Register online at: Spring Hill Suites Booking Link. Book by September 1, 2024