Continuing Education
The Rev. Dr. Leslie Fairfield
What can you learn about church planting from a young, aristocratic woman being gored by a wild cow in 3rd century Carthage? Or from a half-educated missionary bishop in 5th century Ireland? Or from an Italian playboy turned beggar-monk who wrote songs about "Brother Son" and tried to convert the Sultan of Egypt in the midst of the Crusades? As it turns out, an enormous amount. The Rev. Dr. Leslie Fairfield(retired professor of Church History at Trinity School fro Ministry) joined 15 of us from Tallahassee, Gainesville, Moultrie and Valdosta (Jacksonville and Savannah being sadly missed) for three days of teaching and reflection on how the Church was able to expand in three very different environments: within a hostile pagan culture (Perpetua in 3rd century Carthage), within a receptive pagan culture (Patrick in 5th century Ireland) and 
within a superficially Christian culture (13th century Assisi, Italy).
All of us walked away inspired by the radical witness of these saints, encouraged by the power of the Gospel to change lives and challenged to rethink our understanding of evangelism and Christian formation. If you want to experience second-hand something of the power of these days, check out the careful notes that Travis Boline took on Les' lectures and read the books that were assigned.
Download Documents
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The World of the Early Christians in Carthage: Helping People become Christians in an Openly Hostile Environment
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The Roman Empire and Irish Christianity: Ministry to People Unaware of the Christian Story in any Shape or Form
- The Imitation of Christ: Monks and Nuns in the Early Middle Ages. Context: A Superficially Christianized Culture
The Rev. Jim Hobby
Rector, Trinity Anglican Church, Thomasville, GA
www.TrinityAnglicanThomasville.org
Canon for Congregational Development, Gulf Atlantic Diocese