NATCHEZ — An individual leader can only reach so many people.

The Rev. Troy Thomas, pastor of Bethel Church, 204 Airport Road, Vidalia, Louisiana, said he has a plan for reaching more people.

“If you can strengthen the leaders,” Thomas said, “you are going to strengthen the church. I developed a passion based on 2nd Timothy 2:2: ‘And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.’ I realized if I can train a leader and help a minister, they’ll reach people I can never reach.”

From 8:30 a.m. until 1:45 p.m. Saturday, Thomas said Bethel Church would host the 16th annual growing healthy churches conference, which is a church leadership/ministers seminar.

Thomas said the program is open to anyone who would like to attend.

“We are having six speakers, two ladies, four men,” Thomas said. “We basically start off at 8:30 with breakfast, a little singing around 9 to 9:15 and the speakers share for up to 50 minutes apiece.”

Speakers on the agenda include Rod and Mary Aguillard of Reserve, Louisiana, Hollis McGehee of McComb, Raymond Johnson of Baton Rouge, Wesley Granger of Ridgeland, Betty Cade of Natchez.

“Just to give you some of the subjects they are going to be sharing on,” Thomas said, “one of them is a medical doctor and he is going to be sharing on physical health and spiritual health tied together. We have got another man who is a judge, a pastor and an attorney who has had challenges with substance abuse and different relationship problems, and he is going to be sharing on sin and mistakes of the past and how the Lord has helped him to overcome them.”

Tickets are $35 per couple and $25 at the door, Thomas said.

“We have this and the nominal registration fee is not really enough to cover the cost,” Thomas said “We put it where if a person has a problem with the registration fee, if they will call us we will sponsor them to come. Even if they want to come on that Friday night, we will get them housing free over night. Can’t beat that.”

For more information, call 318-336-9576 or 318-421-1450.

“The event is open to anybody who wants to be stronger in God,” Thomas said.