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Affirming Christian Fellowship 38th Annual Conference
at St. Jude Community Church - Winston-Salem, North Carolina
“Affirming Our LGBTQ+ Family With Christ-Centered Fellowship. Reconciliation And Education.”
“Affirming Our LGBTQ+ Family With Christ-Centered Fellowship. Reconciliation And Education.”
Our Theme this year is: PRESSING ON
'Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.'
Philippians 3:12 https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PHP.3.12
Let us know you'll be attending!
Reseve your Room at the Sleep Inn Hanes Mall by Choice Hotels
Use the link for our lowest ever reservation rates. $75 per night.
Add a third person to your room for only $15. If you call use the
Group Name: ACF
At Affirming Christian Fellowship we are Pressing on in our Faith!
Some of Our 2025 Conference Attendees
Day 1
Day 1
“Be the warrior God called you to be!”
for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. '
1 John 5:4 https://www.bible.com/bible/111/1JN.5.4
As always, our pastors' retreat is on Thursday afternoon followed that evening with our Annual Banquet and Worship service. This year Sam Samson will open our conference and prepare our heats for a weekend of power and healing.
Day 2
Day 2
“I know the plans I have for you”
'For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. '
Jeremiah 29:11 https://www.bible.com/bible/111/JER.29.11
We wake up and praise every morning then join our workshops, worship servicesand celebration of God's great love for us.
Day 3
Day 3
"Put all your trust in the Lord."
'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. '
Proverbs 3:5-6 https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PRO.3.5-6Embtace the word of God and allow his Healing power to flow through your body, mind, sould and spirit. Be filled with God's power and take that power into your communities
Opening Banquet and Worship
Register for our 38th annual conference and join us on Thursday evening for our first conference event the Annual Opening Banquet followed by worship
led by
Rev. Sam Sampson of Sam Sampson Ministries
Rev. Sam Sampson
Rev. Sam Sampson is an ordained Pastor who has served Jesus Christ throughout his life; a long-time supporter and member of TEN/ACF.
Sam, as he prefers to be called, began his service under the direction of Rev. Dr. B. F. Green at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Sam was educated at Tennessee State Univ. and Vanderbilt. Sam became Pastor of Greenhill Baptist Church in Clarksville, Tennessee before serving in the US Air Force.
In 1979 Sam met his spouse Bill Hennessee and they moved to Phoenix to start their lives together; they now reside in McMinnville, Tn where they are active members of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church.
Sam became Minister of Music at Casa de Cristo MCC, Phoenix, Arizona, then at Desert Palm United Church of Christ Tempe, Az. Sam and Bill also attended Sweetwater Church of the Valley.
In 1983 they moved to San Diego, California and Sam opened the doors of Anchor Ministries, a church for for all people.
During his tenure as Senior Pastor, Sam produced ministries across a broad spectrum of fields and traditions: Baptist, Episcopal, Pentecostal and more. Sam developed a versatile and innovative music department covering multiple styles and settings.
The church was active in the community, taking part in Pride Parades and Festivals each year. Sam, Bill and others taught, preached and ministered to a very diverse congregation, equipping the members to love one another, some went on to become pastors/ministers.
In 1996 Bill and Sam relocated to Nashville, Tn to live near their families and aging parents. Bill began a career with the state government. Bill is now retired and continues to hike often.
Sam became the top Recording Artist on GodsChildRecords and continues to travel to Sing and Preach anywhere he is invited.
Let us know that you'll be attending!
Let us know that you'll be attending!
Our Speakers
Our Speakers
(watch this space as we update with speaker confirmations)
Pastor David Thomas
Pastor David Thomas
Leading our Pastor's Retreat will be our Affirming Christian Fellowship President, David Thomas.
Pastor of Abundanct Grace Church in N. Carolina Pastor David has been president of ACF since 2023. As president of ACF Pastor David reaches out to our Affiliates supporting the work they do in their areas, offering encouragement and praying for the needs that arise with each ministry. His message to our community on the Affirming Christian Fellowship Facebook pages invite us to grow in Christ together.
Pastor Paul Turner
Pastor Paul Turner
Rev Paul Turner is the Editor-in-Chief of Whosoever.org and Founding and Senior Pastor of Gentle Spirit Christian Church of Atlanta, Rev. Paul M. Turner (he/him) grew up in suburban Chicago and was ordained in 1989. He was profiled by Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters in 2014 for their Spiritual Journey series, where he discussed his longtime ministry to LGBTQ+ people and others who have been neglected and turned away from the traditional church, along with his journey to the ministry and the challenges and joys of being a pastor and openly gay.
He was also profiled in 2008 in the first video interview for the “Questing Parson” blog of Rev. Guy Kent, former pastor of Epworth United Methodist Church in Atlanta’s Candler Park.
He and his husband, Bill, celebrated their 44th anniversary in June 2026, the same month that the Supreme Court made marriage equality the law of the land, and they legally tied the knot on November 21, 2015.
He and his husband Bill have lived in metro Atlanta since 1994.
Pastor Jack McConnell
Jack McConnell is a man of vision who has founded 21 churches and established a day homeless ministry as well as an LGBTQ+ resource center for his city. When he saw the discrimination and isolation among many in the local trans community, Pastor Jack formed the first transgender support group in the foothills of North Carolina. He holds an A.S. in Mental Health, a B.S. in Religious Studies from Barry University, and an M.S. in Psychology from New York Institute of Technology. Pastor Jack presently serves as Senior Pastor of St Jude Community Church in Winston-Salem NC, the Associate Pastor of Abundant Grace Church in Granite Falls NC, the Director of the LGBTQ+ Resource Center of Greater Hickory and has a private counseling practice in Catawba County NC.
Jack will be presenting a workshop entitled: Total Forgiveness—a journey through the Scriptures which equips individuals to work through the wounds of life in a fallen world and enables them not only to deal with their scars but to heal from them. This seminar has been presented numerous times throughout the United States and has often had a profound impact on those who attended.
[Rev. “Adero” Cheryl E. Allison, PhD]
[Rev. “Adero” Cheryl E. Allison, PhD]
Rev. Adero, the second child of Hugh and Gertrude Allison, was raised in Detroit, Michigan with her older brother Kenneth. She was baptized at a young age at Greater Christ Baptist Church by the Rev. Dr. Jacob C. Oglesby. Cheryl started in the music ministry at the age of twelve, playing for Sunday school and directing the children's choir.
She has ministered in music and the Word in Michigan, Oregon and Arizona and continues to serve the Lord in all aspects of life. In Oregon she adopted the name Adero, which means Lifegiver. Confirmation came from people in both the church and her college job sharing how she had ministered in their lives. Pastor Adero serves as a co-pastor at Casa de Cristo Church and Apostolic Center in Phoenix, AZ. Adero is happily enjoying her new marriage with wife, Dusty, who has reinvigorated joy of her life. Pastor Adero enjoys reading, movies and time with family including her dogs, Oreo and Luna.
“As a cisgender female, ‘african’ ‘american’, queer, ‘christian’ minister who is also a researcher I seek to implement the restorative justice of ‘Christ’ in a small congregation that brings results through faith, equity and the power of inclusion."
The results of applying the Christian principle of restoration to the homeless, addicted and wounded individuals who come through our doors allows us to see the miracle of lives changed on a daily basis.
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“Affirming Our LGBTQ+ Family With Christ-Centered Fellowship. Reconciliation And Education.”
“Affirming Our LGBTQ+ Family With Christ-Centered Fellowship. Reconciliation And Education.”
Let us know if you'll be attending!
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