NATCHEZ — More than 1,000 people are expected to converge on Natchez starting Monday and running through Friday for the International Kingdom Covenant of Churches 2018 Pastors and Leaders Conference.

Aaron Patten Jr., church administrator for New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, said the public is invited to attend the events, including seminars on such topics as church administration, bookkeeping and broadcasting church services.

The events to be held at New Hope M.B. Church: The Vision Center 418 Morgantown Road, Natchez, are free and open to the public and will feature well-known speakers such as Suzette Darville, David Taylor of Joshua Media Ministries International and three-time Grammy winner Donnie McClurkin.

Patten said the International Kingdom Covenant of Churches is a non-denominational organization with a mission of bringing churches together to collaborate on the kingdom of God rather than on denomination.

Patten said more than 443 churches worldwide are members of the organization founded by Dr. Bishop Stanley B. Searcy in 1999.

Patten estimates approximately 25 to 30 member churches are in the Miss-Lou.

Patten said the annual conference is an economic boon to the area.

“We have people from all over come in from all over and a bus full from North Carolina and all over the world,” Patten said. “With over 1,000 people each night, several hundred from out of town and overseas, they stay in hotels and eat at restaurants.”

Morning sessions for next week’s conference are from 8 a.m. until noon daily and include:

• Tuesday: Building the Character of God in the Kingdom with pastor Kim Grant; Foreign Ministry “The Importance of Supporting Mission Work” with Dr. Perumal Paramanandam; Tax Law: Taking Care of Business, the importance of having your books correct with deacon Aaron Patten Jr.; Church Media for the 21st Century with minister Pearson Jenkins.
• Wednesday: How to Advance the Kingdom of God Throughout the Nation” with apostle Kevin Grant; A Time of Fellowship & Impartation “Power of Speaking on One Accord” with Bishop Stanley B. Searcy.
• Thursday morning’s session is the only session not open to the public and is open only to students of the Freshman Academy of Natchez-Adams County School District. The topic will be Youth Career Building with Aaron Patten Jr.
• Friday, Oct. 6: The Importance of Operating a Prophetic in the Church with Dr. Demarco Grant.

Night sessions begin at 7 each night at New Hope The Vision Center:

• Monday Donnie McClurkin;
• Tuesday Pastor Suzette Darville;
• Wednesday: Apostle David Taylor;
• Thursday: Jekaylyn Carr;
• Friday: Bishop Fred Caldwell