Spring Singles Conference

May 24-27, 2024

Spring Singles Conference

Suggested for ages 40 and older

Come and enjoy fellowship and biblical teaching with other reformed singles in the beautiful spring weather in the mountains of western Virginia! This conference will take place during Memorial Day Weekend and will include speaking sessions by Rev. Chris Wisdom on “God’s Character, Christ’s Comfort, and Our Conduct.” The theme will be expounded in a series of up to six messages from Paul’s 2nd letter to the Corinthians. These messages will focus on the names of God emphasized by Paul in this letter, and their implications for our salvation and service in Christ for his church.

In addition, there will be free time to enjoy hiking/recreational activities of your choice (feel free to bring your own recreational equipment and board games). Attendance will be limited to 40 registrations.

For any questions regarding the conference, please contact the Spring Singles Conference organizer, Ken Barnes, at kbarnes670@gmail.com.

Note that the Spring Singles Conference age range is suggested for those 40 and older.

Speaker: Rev. Chris Wisdom

Speaker Biography

Our speaker, Rev. Chris Wisdom, is an OPC minister and a retired US Army chaplain.

Christopher Harold Wisdom was born on February 24, 1951, in East Orange, New Jersey. He received his diploma from Livingston High School in 1969. He graduated from Nyack College, Nyack, New York in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science (Highest Honors).

Wisdom served on InterVarsity Christian Fellowship campus staff in New Jersey until 1976. He graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pennsylvania, with an MDiv. degree in 1980. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church ordained him as a minister in 1981. Wisdom was called as a church planter in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from 1980 to 1984. He was then the first pastor of Covenant of Grace Church until 1986, when he entered the Army Chaplaincy.

The Army commissioned him as a First Lieutenant in January 1986, and called him to active duty in June. Following his commissioning as a Chaplain, he served in battalion, brigade, major command, headquarters, and Department of the Army units and organizations. He began as a Battalion Chaplain in the 197th Infantry Brigade and The Infantry Training Center at Fort Benning, Georgia.  He was deployed from Friedberg, Germany, as Battalion Chaplain with the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Chaplain Wisdom also served as Senior Instructor in Chaplaincy Resource Management at the United States Army Chaplain Center and School from September 1993 to June 1998. At 1st Brigade, Fort Jackson, He led 11 chaplains and chaplain assistants in ministry until November 1999.

Following duty on the staff of the Senior US Chaplain for US Forces Korea and the Commandant of the US Army Chaplain Center and School, Christopher served as the Army Chief of Chaplains’ Resource Management Officer from July 2004 to August 2007. Wisdom served as Assistant Commandant of the US Army Chaplain Center and School from 2008-2010. He completed his career as Senior Chaplain for all Army Europe garrisons from 2011-2014.

During his 28-year tenure on active duty, Wisdom also pastored eight chapel congregations in four states and three foreign countries, including the 9-11 Memorial Chapel at the Pentagon.

Chaplain Wisdom received twenty-four military awards, including the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and Meritorious Service Medal (x4).

Chaplain Wisdom’s education also includes an MBA degree in 1993 from Syracuse University in the Army Comptrollership Program, a Master of Strategic Studies in 2008 from the US Army War College, Carlisle, PA, and a DMin degree in 2004 from Erskine Seminary, Due West, South Carolina. Upon military retirement, Dr. Wisdom was appointed Vice President and Professor of Practical Theology at Erskine Seminary and served from 2014-2016. As a Department of Defense Civilian he was the Deputy Director of Training for the US Army Chaplain Center and School from 2016-2017. Following their move to Salem, Virginia, Wisdom began serving in 2020 as professor of pastoral leadership for the Blue Ridge Institute for Theological Education (BRITE) in Roanoke, where he continues to teach part-time in retirement. He also now serves Garst Mill Presbyterian Church as a presbytery-appointed elder augmenting the GMPC Session.

Chris was happily married to the former Virginia Susan Ray of Arlington, Virginia, for 47 years until her death in 2022. They have three grown children, two married, and five grandchildren.

Online Registration Form