NCBC Pre-Congress Symposium – National Capital Congress of Christian Education

Reclaiming Our Young People for Christ:

Win, Build, Equip, Reclaim, Multiply

Friday, May 13

7pm – 9pm

The Mission of the NCBC Pre-Congress Symposium is to encourage local congregations to WIN young people to Christ, to BUILD teen believers in God’s truth and love, to EQUIP youth workers to live and share their faith, to RECLAIM our young people to Christ, and MULTIPLY maturing young disciples in Jesus Christ.

Panelists & Topics

“Psychological, Emotional, Societal Factors to Consider in Equipping Young People with a Biblical Worldview”

Dr. Carletta N. Artis

Department Chair, Department of Counseling Ministries
Program Director, MA in Human Services Program
Program Director, MA in Pastoral Counseling Program
Assistant Professor of Psychology, Department of Counseling Ministries
Regent University School of Psychology & Counseling

“The Battle for Minds, Souls, and Hearts of Young People”

Rev. Leroy Gilbert, Ph.D.

President of NCBC Congress of Christian Education,
Assistant Professor, Regent University, School of Divinity, Virginia Beach, VA

“Ways to Establish and Preserve a Biblical Worldview in Young People”

Mrs. Marilyn James

Executive Director, Children & Charity International, Washington, DC

“Resources for Teaching and equipping Young People with a Biblical Worldview”

Dr. A. Michael Black

Dean, Lancaster Bible College

Reverend Dr. A. Michael Black

A. Michael Black serves as the Dean and Site Director for Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary and Graduate School at the Greenbelt, Maryland campus. His calling of life became crystallized when he delivered his initial sermon at Bethesda Baptist Church in July 1982 and was officially licensed to preach the gospel on January 9, 1983, under Reverend Dr. John D. Bussey and was ordained on November 10, 1984.

Pastor Black recognized his need to be thoroughly equipped to further his calling; he continued his training at Washington Bible College in Lanham, Maryland, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Pastoral Ministry. He continued his studies at Palmer Theological Seminary (formerly Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated with a Master of Theological Studies in Christian Faith and Public Policy. Pastor Black has done Doctoral Studies at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, in the Leadership Excellence Program. He was honored with an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree in April 2005.

He previously served as pastor of Elim Baptist Church, Temple Hills, Maryland, for seven years; his home church, Bethesda Baptist Church, Washington, D.C., for fifteen years; Westwood Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia, for five and half years and Executive Pastor at Heritage Fellowship Church, Reston, Virginia for three years.

Besides serving as a pastor, he has held numerous leadership roles in several organizations:

President of the Missionary Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Washington, DC, and Vicinity
Adjunct Professor at Washington Bible College
Member of the Board of Directors for Washington Bible College and Capital Bible Seminary; Baptist Convention of Washington, DC, and Vicinity; and Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention
Dean of the Baptist Educational Congress of Washington, DC, and Vicinity
Professor at Washington Baptist Theological Seminary

Pastor Black is married to the former Angli J. Sampson and has three children, Michael, Letitia, Joshua, and a proud grandfather. In all of his work and ministry, he endeavors to be true to his favorite verse of scripture, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Marilyn I. James

Marilyn I. James is an educator, missionary, and philanthropist. She is executive director of Children & Charity International, a charitable organization that provides supplemental academic engagement, enrichment, and life skills for children and youth in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area, and is dedicated to improving the quality of life in rural and indigenous communities around the world through education, direct feeding and health programs. Mrs. James is also a poet, playwright, songwriter, and author.