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Pastoral Training in Member Care

Pastoral at heart, and peer-driven, the PTM Conference is unique among member care conferences. For anyone involved in caring for global workers—whether with a local church, a sending agency, or a member care organization—PTM provides ample opportunities to network, learn, and be encouraged. Committed to caring for caregivers, the PTM Conference exists to develop the shepherding skills and heart of the member care community.

Anchored

Help for the Present / Hope for the Future

October 3–6, 2023

Ridgecrest Conference Center in Asheville, North Carolina

Have you ever felt “adrift” in your spiritual life? Perhaps this drift has been gradual and, in some cases, unnoticeable. In our work as member care providers, we often care for global workers who have lost their way and maybe have even lost their hope. Hope...it's the one thing you and I cannot live without. But trying to hold on to hope can take all your strength, particularly when hope's old enemy, doubt, drags you toward despair. When you're in despair, logical thinking will not help. You need something solid to hold on to! What can you hold on to when life's storms crash over you? The better question is, Whom can you hold on to? In Hebrews 6:18 & 19 the writer reminds us of our steadfast hope which keeps us from drifting aimlessly in our faith journey. Join us for this year's PTM Conference as we unpack our theme, “Anchored…Help for the Present, Hope for the Future.”

Our presenters will facilitate practical answers to questions like:

  • What or Who is our Anchor?
  • What keeps us attached to the Anchor?
  • How might we as caregivers encourage those we shepherd to be anchored amid their daily global challenges?

Pre-Conference Workshop Selections: October 2, 2023

  • ParaMed:
    A Unique Training Event for Those Who Come Alongside Healthcare Missionaries
    Stan Haegert & Jim Ritchie
  • Consulting in Member Care:
    Developing and Leading Organizational Member Care Teams or Departments
    Al & Elizabeth Dyck
  • Best Practices in Church-Based Missionary Care:
    Pre-Field, On-Field and Upon Return
    Bradley Bell and Matt Clark
  • The Prodigal: A Spiritual Retreat:
    Experience a spiritual retreat echoing the Gospel story and the three-step process in sanctification of releasing (purgation), receiving (illumination), and resting (union)
    Herb & Debbie Lamp
  • Member Care Toolkit:
    What does it mean to provide "Member Care?"
    Amy Young

 

Conference Registration 2023

Conference Pricing

As a Guest Staying at Ridgecrest:

Pre-Conference:
-- Early Bird: $175  
-- After May 31st: $200
-- After July 31st: $225

Main Conference:
-- Early Bird: $285
-- After May 31st: $300
-- After July 31st: $325

Pre & Main Conference:
-- Early Bird: $460
-- After May 31st: $50
-- After July 31st: $550

Note: If you chose to register "As a guest staying at Ridgecrest", this only includes your admission to the PTM Conference. It does not include lodging and meals. Please contact the Ridgecrest Conference Center at (800) 588-7222 from 9am-4pm EST (or outside of hours email Ridgecrest Conference Center) to make your lodging and meal reservations. There is a block of rooms set aside for the PTM Conference so please mention that you are with the conference when booking your room. Space is limited to please make arrangements as soon as possible.

Sample Pricing for Lodging and Meals:
Lodging: Ridgecrest Conference Center starts at $139/night
Meals: $39/person for each day.
(The fees for the Banquet Dinner on Tuesday evening and the Brunch on Friday morning have already been collected in your conference fees)

As a Commuter:

Pre-Conference:
-- Early Bird: $300
-- After May 31st: $325
-- After July 31st: $350

Main Conference:
-- Early Bird: $425
-- After May 31st: $440
-- After July 31st: $465

Pre & Main Conference:
-- Early Bird: $700
-- After May 31st: $700
-- After July 31st $725

Note: This option includes your registration to the PTM Conference and meals.

Register for PTM

Location and Arrivals

PTM is held at Ridgecrest Conference Center in Asheville, North Carolina

Pre-Conference:
Arrival date of Monday, October 2, 2023
Registration is open from 12:00-1:30 pm and workshops will begin at 1:30 pm.

Main-Conference:
Arrival date of Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Registration is open from 3:00-5:00 pm and will begin with a banquet at 6:00 pm. It will end by noon on Friday, October 6, 2023.

Registration Deadline

Friday, September 8, 2023

Cancellation Fees

$50/person up to September 8, 2023, $100/person after September 8, 2023.

Conference App Disclaimer

The PTM Conference Uses an app called Whova which allows conference participants to access helpful information about the conference including schedules, special announcements, handouts for workshops and many other things. It will also allow you to interact with and view other participants information. If you wish to make yourself invisible in Whova, a video will be posted on how to do that once the app becomes available to you.

Speakers

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FAQ

Who attends the PTM Conference?

Anyone with a heart to shepherd cross-cultural workers is invited to attend PTM—whether from a local church, sending agency, member care organization, or other care-giving vocation. Pastors, clinical counselors, on-field workers, teachers, life coaches, organization heads, church members, full-time member care providers—all can benefit from our pastoral approach to training in member care, as well as the encouraging and refreshing atmosphere of the PTM Conference.

Meals & Lodging

When registering, you will have two options. Option 1 "As a guest staying at Ridgecrest": If you choose this as your registration option, please contact the Ridgecrest Conference Center registration team at (800) 588-7222 from 9am-4pm EST to make your lodging and meal reservations. They have set aside a block of rooms for PTM at a special rate so please mention that you are with the PTM Conference when booking your room. You will only be responsible for the firsts nights lodging at the time of registration. Balance due will be collected at check-in or you may call in at any time before arrival to pay the balance. If you cannot call during the the hours listed above, you may email them using this link. Space is limited so please make arrangements as soon as possible after registering for the conference.

Option 2 "As a commuter staying offsite": If you choose this option, you may choose to find your own lodging offsite. Meals are included in your PTM registration cost.

What costs do the fees cover?

If registering "As a guest staying at Ridgecrest", your registration Includes admission to the PTM Conference only. It does not include lodging and meals. You are responsible for booking your lodging and meals are included with your room cost. If registering "As a commuter staying offsite", your registration includes admission to the PTM Conference and meals. Please see the "Meals & Lodging Information" section for more information.

The Ridgecrest campus also has an ice cream shop, a coffee shop, and some food you can buy a la carte. Additionally, the Asheville area offers some attractive options for sightseeing, should you wish to do so. You will be responsible for these extra expenditures, and we encourage you to plan accordingly.

Do you allow participants to stay off-site?

Although we prefer all participants stay on-site to enjoy the community and fellowship provided by the PTM Conference, we do allow people to commute to the conference. All meals are included in the commuter rate in order to foster the peer interactions and networking that are such a valuable part of the PTM Conference.

Do you provide childcare?

While we value children, we do not currently provide childcare.

Can I register when I arrive?

No. In order to enable both the PTM Planning Committee and the Ridgecrest Conference Center to adequately prepare for those attending the conference, all registrations must be received at least two weeks before the conference.

Can I pay when I arrive or do I have to pay when I register? What forms of payment do you accept?

Registration and payment for the PTM Conference have been combined into one convenient process. All those registering for the PTM Conference must pay by credit card when they fill out the online registration form. The registration cannot be completed without the final step of the credit card payment.

Can I bring promotional materials for my organization, or books I have written?

Yes! We welcome exhibitors for a small $50 fee, which covers a 4x4 table space and access to special features in our conference app. The PTM Conference is a great place to introduce others to your work or ministry. To facilitate the sharing of resources between groups and individuals, tables are provided on which to display books, brochures, banners, or other materials. We have also planned a ministry fair/networking evening. Authors are free to sell their books at PTM, although we ask that they be relevant to the member care audience. (Authors are responsible for handling the sale of their own books; PTM organizers will not oversee these transactions.)

What accommodations are made for those with dietary restrictions?

You will have an opportunity to alert us of any dietary restrictions or allergies during the registration process. Most of the meals at the PTM Conference are buffet style, and Ridgecrest offers a variety of options to suit almost any diet, with each entrée clearly marked as gluten free, vegetarian, and/or dairy free.

What amenities does the Ridgecrest Conference Center provide?

Complimentary wifi is available throughout the Ridgecrest Conference Center. In order to encourage reflection and retreat, Ridgecrest does not have televisions in guest rooms. However, televisions are available in select fellowship areas throughout the campus. Guest rooms do offer a wide array of other conveniences, however, such as hair dryers, in-room iron and ironing board, coffee maker, etc. Please click here to see a more complete list of Ridgecrest amenities.

May I arrive early?

You are more than welcome to arrive before the PTM conference starts. When booking your room, simply check with the Ridgecrest Conference Center to see if they can accommodate your needs. If not, there are many nice hotels in the Black Mountain/Asheville area.

What are the closest airports?

Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) — 24 miles
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) — 77 miles
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport (CLT) — 101 miles

Do you provide transportation to/from the airport?

We do not, but once you have downloaded the conference app you may reach out to other participants to find ride-sharing options. Otherwise there are a variety of local services available. Please see our transportation page for a list of resources. Also refer to Ridgecrest Conference Center’s very helpful travel page. Unfortunately, we do not have sufficient staffing to arrange travel for participants to and from the conference. But we do wish you safety on the road, and we hope you enjoy the lovely Blue Ridge Mountain scenery!

What are the dates and locations for future PTM Conferences?

Mark your calendar! The dates for PTM 2024 will be October 7-11, 2024 at Ridgecrest Conference Center.