Christians Gather Some 6,500 People Representing 1,400 Churches Expected At Annual Conference

Fri., March 17, 1995

By Kim Barker kimb@spokesman.com

It has balloon animals, talking puppets and trinkets for children, but it’s also sending a serious message to Christians.

The annual Christian Workers Conference opened in Spokane Thursday with 176 booths and 150 speakers and workshop leaders. The conference lasts through Saturday.

The seminars are the big attraction for the more than 6,500 people expected at the conference.

“The more seminars I go to, the more insight I can have,” said Floyd Rhodes, who carried a bag filled with free pamphlets from the different booths. “It’s all about learning.”

Spokane has held the largest Christian Workers Conference nationwide for the past five years. Organizers of other conferences pick up tips in Spokane.

More than 1,400 churches are represented at the event, held at the Ag Trade Center, the Opera House and the Sheraton Hotel.

The conference is Rhodes’ third. It’s the first for Sue Fall.

“I have some great concerns about the way this country is going and the education of the children,” Fall said.

She attended a seminar on Christians and politics led by Jim Robinson, coordinator for the Christian Coalition in Eastern Washington.

Robinson told about 40 people that they should become involved in politics.

“The church is a sleeping giant - and I emphasize sleeping,” Robinson said. “If the church wanted abortion to go away in Spokane County, it would be gone within the year, I guarantee.”

The Christian Coalition, founded in 1989, aims to rally Christians at a grassroots level to get involved in politics. It distributes voter guides on Christian issues, trains Christian leaders and encourages Christians to have a voice.

After listening to the speech, Fall said she might change her ways.

“I’m mildly politically involved,” she said. “This could very well motivate me to get more.”

Brooke Spencer and Amber Gordon were more interested in the youth seminars. Although they learned to make balloon animals Thursday, they were looking forward to the seminars offered today and Saturday that are relevant to teenagers.

Spencer, 15, attends school at home in Sandpoint. This is her second Christian Workers Conference.

“I love this place,” said Spencer as she walked by the booths. “It’s a lot of fun.”

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