Breakouts - MW Advance

Associational Leaders Track

Spiritual Health of an Associational Leader

Ryan Johnston
Wednesday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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Description coming

Bio Coming

Best Practices for the Associational Leader

Mark Millman
Wednesday, 9:30 – 10:45 a.m.
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This session we will talk about implementing best practices into your association. God can use small changes to make great impact. Our prayer is this session will help to make great impact on your churches.

Mark has served as the Associational Missions Strategist since 2005 where the Greater Wisconsin Baptist Association has grown from 13 to 44 churches. Mark has also served churches in Indiana, Florida, and New Jersey.

The State of the Association

Ray Gentry
Wednesday, 11-12:15 p.m.
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SBCAL conducted a survey during the summer of 2026 asking AMSs of various size associations about the State of the Association – both theirs and others. Come learn what the survey showed as the association’s greatest strengths and challenges, how do AMSs define success, and what they need most.

Ray has served as President/CEO of SBCAL for 11 years – full-time since July 1, 2023. He edited the “The Baptist Association,” in 2020. He has served as a Pastor of two churches, an Associate Pastor of three churches, and as an associational leader of five associations. Ray is a graduate of UGA, SWBTS, and SEBTS. He and Debra live in metro Atlanta.

Developing a Full-time Strategy with Part-time Resources

Bob Burton
Wednesday, 2:15-3:30 p.m.
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If you’re a volunteer or part-time leader of an association, then you know the weight of full-time ministry expectations. This can be overwhelming due to limited time, staff, and funding. In this practical breakout, discover how to clarify priorities, rally churches around a shared mission, and multiply the impact of your team. Do more with less when you focus your time and strengthen collaboration toward the Great Commission.

Dr. Bob Burton has served in ministry assignments such as church staff, IMB Journeyman, youth, pastor, church planter, IBSA staff, and missionary/staff with NAMB Send Network. Currently, he serves as the AMS for the Salem South Baptist Association in Mount Vernon, Illinois (his hometown). Out of his passion for missional revival, he has authored a book and workbook published by Lifeway entitled “The Spiritual DNA of a Church on Mission”.

Pastor Search: Finding God’s Man for Your Church

Mark Elliott
Wednesday, 3:45 -5 p.m.
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Choosing the right pastor is the most important decision your church will make! Many churches start their search process by looking for resumes with the goal of choosing their next pastor as quickly as possible. Mark will describe a patient, persistent, prayerful, and proven process that improves the probability that you will identify THE candidate with the qualities that best fit your church.

Mark has been directly involved in pastor transitions in the local church for over forty years. For most of those years he served as an AMS in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. He has a passion for disciple-making, leadership development and assisting churches in transition. Many of his experiences are included in the book Pastor Search: Finding God’s Man for Your Church.

Associationalism Rising: Rediscovering Local Partnership in the SBC

James Risner
Thursday, 8-9:15 a.m
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We are experiencing a quiet shift across the SBC: pastors and churches are rediscovering the strength of local associationalism. This session explores why relational cooperation is fortifying churches for shepherding, revitalization, and mission. Discover how healthy local associations prioritize trust through aligned mission and confession, and how this strengthens national entities. Learn practical ways to build trusted, face-to-face partnership that pastors are longing for today.

James has served the local church vocationally since 1999, after growing up in the home of an SBC Church Planter in Trenton, Ohio. Alongside church ministry, James has enjoyed complimentary callings in remodeling and education. He has served as the Associational Leader of GDAB since 2019, and also serves in leadership at the Southern Baptist Conference for Associational Leaders.

Church Planters Track

Raising up Pastors/Planting Churches

Charlie Robinson
Wednesday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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The ability to plant churches relies first on identifying and raising up pastors who will help plant and lead them. Although there is no secret formula aside from the movement of God, we hope to discover and discuss some ways we hope to identify and train the next generation of church planters.

Charlie Robinson is passionate to see Jesus build His Church. He has been married for 40 years, raised 5 daughters all now married and has 10 grandchildren. He has been in ministry for 40 years, 33 of those with Northridge Church. Northridge Church has 6 very rural churches and 10 full-time pastors who Charlie helps train and oversee.

Sectarian Church Planting

Tim Kimberly
Wednesday, 9:30-10:45 a.m.
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Sectarian thinking quietly convinces us our church, our place, and our calling matter most. In this session, Tim challenges that instinct and invites leaders to recover the wider heart of Jesus—one that honors every story and place swept up into His story and place. When we do, we move from isolation to courageous presence, becoming a somebody somewhere.

Tim Kimberley is the founding pastor of Sacred Mission Church, planted in 2019 in rural Iowa. Having led through profound personal loss and ministry challenges, he brings a perspective shaped by both suffering and perseverance. Tim is passionate about building thoughtful, Jesus-centric ministries and exploring fresh approaches to church planting that move beyond unnecessary division.

Maintaining Pastoral Focus While Multiplying

Todd Stiles
Wednesday, 11-12:15 p.m.
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How does a pastor effectively keep one eye on the field and one eye on the flock? What are essential postures for continued progress around the mission as well as continued unity within the family? This breakout will tackle the two-sided coin inside every pastor’s pocket – pastoring and planting.

Todd planted First Family Church 23 years ago, a multiplying church with a sending heart. Over those 23 years, First Family has planted 8 autonomous churches, launched 4 additional campuses, and sent 10 of its own families as missionaries to foreign fields.

Sent in Prayer: Creating a Culture of Prayer That Fuels Multiplication

Matt Hess
Wednesday, 2:15-3:30 p.m.
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Jesus said His church would be a “house of prayer”, but for many churches today, prayer is optional, sporadic, or sidelined. This widespread prayerlessness is quietly undermining mission and multiplication. What if prayer wasn’t an afterthought, but the defining mark of your church? In this session, discover how to establish a culture of corporate prayer that fuels gospel movement and impacts generations to come.

Matt was born in Wichita, KS and raised in Claremore, OK. He has served as a pastor and church planter for over 20 years. In 2012, he planted in Toronto, later helping launch multiple churches. Now in St. Louis, he serves at Waypoint Wentzville and with Send Network Missouri. He’s passionate about prayer/Spirit dependency, developing leaders, multiplying churches, and preaching the Gospel. He and his wife Arrica have four children.

Church Planting Teams: Leading and Developing a Team to Launch a Church Plant

Taylor DiRoberto
Wednesday, 3:45-5 p.m.
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Church planting can be an isolating and lonely experience, but it doesn’t have to be. In this session, we’ll explore Biblical and practical frameworks for planting churches with strong and sustainable team leadership.

Dr. Taylor DiRoberto has served as a professor, pastor, and church planter. He currently serves as Pastor of Preaching and Leadership at Northside Fellowship; a church he helped plant in 2021. Likewise, he serves as a Send City Missionary in Kansas City, helping churches and planters start healthy, multiplying, Gospel-preaching churches throughout KC.

Momentum in Planting: How Spirit-led Structure Cultivates Lasting Fruit

Timm Collins
Thursday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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How can thoughtful systems and simple processes create healthy momentum in church planting without stifling the work of the Spirit? We’ll examine how structure that is aligned with mission creates space for greater faithfulness, clarity, and multiplication.

Timm Collins serves as Director of Church Planting for the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptist, where he provides leadership in discipleship, ministry systems, and church operations, with a focus on developing leaders and cultivating healthy, multiplying teams. Timm also planted Capital City Church in 2020 and serves as the sending pastor for two churches planted out of Cap City.

Current Issues

Cooperating Together for the Least of These

Evan Lenow
Wednesday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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Discover how churches and state conventions partner to place life-saving ultrasound machines in pregnancy centers nationwide, and join us for a discussion on the future of the pro-life movement amid the rise of chemical abortion.

Dr. Evan Lenow is the president of The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. He previously served as associate professor and chair of Christian Studies as well as director of the Institute for Christian Leadership at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi.

Child & Youth Protection Foundations

Jeff Dalrymple
Wednesday, 9:30-10:45 a.m.
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Child safety and abuse prevention are issues of Great Commission significance. Unfortunately, abuse is a problem in our culture from which the church is not exempt. The good news is that there are steps that ministry leaders can take to protect children under their care. Creating a child protection program can feel like a daunting task, but ministry leaders should leave this type of session with resources and simple, actionable steps to get started.

Jeff Dalrymple is currently the Director of Abuse Prevention & Response at the SBC Executive Committee. Jeff formerly served as executive director of the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention, a national association of Christian ministries committed to child and youth protection. In his role with the SBC Executive Committee, Jeff serves as a catalyst to educate and equip Southern Baptists with abuse prevention and response.

Preachers and AI

Obie Dalrymple
Wednesday, 11-12:15 p.m.
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AI is here. Should church leaders use it? How should church leaders use it? What are the basics and benefits? What are the pitfalls?

Obie Dalrymple is the Lead Pastor of Troy First Baptist Church. He has an Air Force communications background and is a graduate of Liberty University, Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, and received a Doctorate of Educational Ministry through Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of the Christian fiction book, The Messengers and the Forgotten Choice.

Start well, Stay Well: Stewarding Health and Financial Wellbeing

Troy Patterson and Gary Ellison
Wednesday, 2:15-3:30 p.m.
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Discover practical strategies to strengthen both your physical and financial wellbeing through intentional stewardship. This session explores how healthy habits, wise financial decisions, and long-term planning work together to support overall wellbeing, help individuals and families thrive while honoring the resources entrusted to them.

Guidestone’s mission is to enhance the financial security and resilience for those who serve the Lord. Financial security and resilience are not the ultimate goal — it’s a means to an end. It gives you the freedom to answer God’s calling, provide for your family and bless the next generation of believers. Our vision is that every servant of Christ finishes well.

The Case for Cooperation

Jeff Iorg
Wednesday, 3:45-5 p.m.
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Cooperation is the foundational commitment that defines how Southern Baptists work together. Today, some are asking if cooperation is still the best way to accomplish our global mission and if it is possible in a context of increasing diversity. This session will answer those questions and make the case for continued cooperation as we advance our mission together.

As President of the SBC Executive Committee, Dr. Iorg facilitates the work of the SBC and its entities. One of his most important roles is managing the distribution of more than $190 million in Cooperative Program funds given by churches to support global ministry and mission initiatives. Prior to his current role, he served as president of Gateway Seminary and as Executive Director of the Northwest Baptist Convention. Before that, he was a pastor and church planter.

How to Lead Congregations in Adopting a Sabbatical Policy

Buddy Funk
Thursday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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Associational leaders and pastors are becoming aware that sabbaticals are a biblical model of stewardship. However, there is awkwardness in advocating for a sabbatical. In this session you will be given the tools to lead a congregation in adopting a sabbatical policy.

Buddy Funk has been in ministry for nearly 30 years. He is the Team Leader for Church Renewal at the Missouri Baptist Convention. He oversees the MBC Leader Care which encourages minsters to be renewed and always renewing.

Discipleship Track

Disciple-Making in the Church: Growing Believers in Maturity & Multiplication

Gary Vaughan
Wednesday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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Disciple-making in the church is central to the work of the Gospel. How do we grow people in maturity as we prepare them to take up God’s mission? Most people focus on either discipleship or disciple-making; it’s not either/or, it’s both/and! Disciple-making is teaching our people to live as worshipers who are sent on mission. Learn how you can equip disciple-makers in your church.

Gary Vaughan has served as a discipleship pastor for 30 years. For the past 10 years he has served at Harvest Church North Indy as the Executive Pastor of Adult Discipleship. His heart beats for groups and discipleship in the church; equipping people to grow in Christ-likeness to be ambassadors for Christ living on mission each day. He loves to hunt and is a passionate sports fan!

Disciples Path: A Free Tool Your Church Needs Now

Ken Braddy
Wednesday, 9:30-10:45 a.m.
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Less than half of pastors are satisfied with their church’s disciplemaking practices. Discover a new free tool from Lifeway to help your church design a unique and effective discipleship pathway for your congregation.

Director of Sunday School, Lifeway; author of 13+ books, blogger, podcaster, and trainer. Church practitioner with 35+ years of discipleship/group ministry experience.

The State of Groups: A Wake-Up Call for Discipleship

Ken Braddy
Wednesday, 11-12:15 p.m.
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New Lifeway research reveals why disciple making is harder than ever for today’s churches. Learn the trends, hear pastor’s views on discipleship, uncover the obstacles, and walk away with practical solutions to fulfill the Great Commission.

Director of Sunday School, Lifeway; author of 13+ books, blogger, podcaster, and trainer. Church practitioner with 35+ years of discipleship/group ministry experience.

Discipleship 101 – Starting, Maintaining, and Growing Discipleship in Your Ministry

Jonathan Meyer
Wednesday, 2:15-3:30 p.m.
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Let’s be honest, everyone talks about making disciples, but very few can show you what it looks like. Starting from Scripture, we will follow Jesus’ footsteps all over Galilee to see what he taught, how he lived and what he expected from his own disciples. Then we will ask – how do we do that in our local context?

Jonathan has served as the High School Pastor at Grace Church since 2003 and has 32+ years of youth ministry experience. He founded the Ignite Youth Leadership Conference in 2004 and it continues to equip hundreds of youth ministries yearly.

Building a Disciple-Making Pathway

Brent Longenecker
Wednesday, 3:45-5 p.m.
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This workshop explores the call of Christ and what it means to Make, Mature, and Mobilize disciples of Christ. Together, we’ll evaluate our current disciple-making efforts through the lens of the Great Commission and identify where we (and our members) are in our walk with Christ. This workshop is designed to encourage and equip pastors and leaders by providing biblical strategies and practical structures to help churches integrate disciples into the life and mission of Christ.

Brent Longenecker grew up as a missionary kid on the Blackfoot Indian Reservation in Browning, Montana. It was there on the mission field he gave his life to Christ and grew under the discipleship of godly parents. In 2010, after several years of traveling as an acrobat/evangelist, he and his wife Amanda moved to the Philippines to serve as church-planting missionaries in the city of Manila. In 2020, the Lord called them back to the States to serve at the Missouri Baptist Convention, along with their two daughters, Rhian (13), and Iris (11).

“Jesus’ Marks of a Disciple: Aligning Our Target to His”

John Shields
Thursday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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When we say we are making disciples, what exactly do we mean? How will we know we are on track? Without a clear target our efforts get cloudy, fall short or even face the tension of competing aims. Thankfully Jesus names His discipleship targets for us. We will look at Jesus’ marks and consider how to embrace His target as our own.

John lives in Lincoln, Nebraska and serves as the Leadership Health Director for the Church Forward Network in Kansas & Nebraska. He embraced this role in 2021 after serving as lead pastor of Parkview Baptist church in Lexington, NE for 25 years. He desires to see pastors thrive in their calling and relationships through deepening connection with Jesus & each other.

Evangelism Track

Missional Engagement Through Co-Vocational Ministry

Eric Trout
Wednesday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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As Christ followers, we are commanded to make disciples of all nations. The natural place to start doing this is in the immediate context in which you live, but how do we do that? To missionally engage your community is to be intentional, persistent, and strategic by living in the giftings of the Spirit.

Following 12+ years of Student Ministry in Kentucky, Illinois, and Texas, Eric and his family moved to central Iowa in 2018 to plant Restoration Church. As the planting pastor, Eric has led Restoration from 13 to 200+ people gathered together and living on mission. During his 8+ years in Iowa in addition to leading Restoration Church, Eric has managed a laundromat, worked at a coffee shop, purchased a small business, and been elected to city council.

Helping Children Come to Jesus

Fred MacDonald and Beth Savery
Wednesday, 9:30-10:45 a.m.
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Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me.” Many wonderful things happen when children come to Jesus. They have a lifetime ahead of them to walk with and serve the Master, and most missionaries came to Jesus before age of 12. This conference will provide practical tips on obeying Jesus by not only “letting” children come to Him, but helping them.

Fred has served for 42 years as a pastor, Director of Missions, and a State Evangelism Director and Executive Director. His “Pastor Fred’s Brown Bag” is cherished by children in both the U.S. and Africa. He is now pastor of Newell Baptist Church in Newell, SD.

Bethany served several years as the Children’s Ministry Director of Connection Church in Belle Fourche, SD. She currently homeschools her four children and works with her husband in the youth ministry at Connection Church.

Love Your Neighbor: Practical Steps Towards Community Engagement

Traci Byrd
Wednesday, 11-12:15 p.m.
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Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors, but many churches struggle to know where to begin. This interactive workshop will equip leaders with practical tools to better understand their communities, identify opportunities for ministry, and take meaningful next steps toward local mission engagement. Participants will leave with a simple framework they can immediately apply in their own church and community.

Traci Byrd serves as Site Director of the Send Relief St. Louis Ministry Center. She leads community engagement initiatives, mission team mobilization, church partnerships, and compassion ministries throughout the est. Louis region. Through work with local churches, community organizations, and underserved populations, she helps churches discover practical ways to share the gospel while meeting tangible needs and building sustainable ministry opportunities.

How to Set a Gospel Fire in Your Church

Josh Crisp
Wednesday, 2:15-3:30 p.m.
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WARNING!!! You ready to set a fire in church??? Come learn five easy ways to set your church on fire with gospel with simple ministry steps to help you reach your community and the world.

Josh Crisp is a recovering alcoholic, Army Combat Veteran (27 months in combat in Iraq), Former NAMB Church Planter, obtained his MDIV from SWBTS and is currently working on DMIN, and Lead Pastor of First Baptist Bethalto, IL.

NAMB Evangelism Kit

JJ Washington
Wednesday, 3:45-5 p.m.
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JJ began his ministerial career as a youth pastor before eventually serving as a children’s pastor also, and he played a strategic role in two church plants. JJ was eventually recruited to join the church strengthening team for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board (GBMB) in January 2020. JJ began his service at the GBMB as the Missions Consultant for the West Central Region and eventually became the Evangelism Catalyst for the state of Georgia. Additionally, during this same period, JJ became an adjunct professor at his alma mater, Luther Rice Seminary & University, where he taught pastoral ministry courses thru 2022. In the summer of 2022, JJ transitioned from the GBMB to the North American Mission Board (NAMB) where he currently serves as the National Director of Personal Evangelism. JJ is a licensed and ordained minister, and he holds a Master of Arts Degree in Leadership (Luther Rice Seminary), a Master of Divinity Degree (Luther Rice Seminary), and a Doctor of Ministry Degree (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary).

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JJ Washington
Thursday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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Specialized Ministries Track

Social Media: Your Church Has A Story to Tell

Dan Dameron
Wednesday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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Every church has a story worth sharing! Social media is more than a platform—it’s often the front door to your church and the first glimpse people get of your community. In this session, you’ll discover why your online presence matters and learn practical ways to tell your church’s story with authenticity, purpose, and impact.

Dan Dameron is one of the founding pastors of Convergent Church in Owosso, Michigan, and serves as Director of Communications for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Prior to joining the convention staff, he was Director of Operations for a branding and marketing agency. Dan is passionate about helping churches tell their stories and leverage social media to reach their communities with the gospel!

Church Communications That Actually Work

Ben Bradley
Wednesday, 9:30-10:45 a.m.
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Church communications don’t have to be overwhelming. Learn a practical framework for delivering the right message to the right people at the right time while reducing communication overload. Through real-world examples, worksheets, and practical tools, you’ll leave with a clearer strategy to strengthen communication and increase ministry engagement.

Ben Bradley serves as Communications & Outreach Director for the Baptist Convention of Iowa. Across a variety of ministry contexts, he enjoys helping pastors and church leaders bring clarity to vision, communication, and ministry systems so churches can reduce complexity, engage people more effectively, and remain focused on making disciples.

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Tim LaFleur
Wednesday, 11-12:15 p.m.
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The Heart of Women’s Ministry: Equipping Women to Know God’s Word

Kari Minter
Wednesday, 2:15-3:30 p.m.
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At the heart of every thriving women’s ministry is a love for God’s Word. In this session, we’ll discuss how to cultivate Bible-centered ministry that helps women understand Scripture, connect the grand story of the Bible, and experience lasting spiritual transformation. You’ll leave with practical ideas for creating a ministry that points women to Christ and equips them to walk faithfully with Him.

Kari Minter has spent over 20 years serving in women’s ministry, teaching Scripture, writing curriculum, planning events, developing leaders, and helping churches build Bible-centered ministries that align with their mission. She is the author of Beyond Egypt, a Bible teacher, pastor’s wife at Keystone Church in Ankeny, Iowa, and Pastor’s Wives Advocate for the Baptist Convention of Iowa.

Lifestyle Preaching

Andy Addis
Wednesday, 3:45-5 p.m.
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Structuring for Soul Care: Ensuring No Member Walks Alone

Todd Wallace
Thursday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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Meet “Jack”: a stable provider who attends weekly yet remains unknown and disconnected. How does a church care for him without burning out staff? This breakout introduces a practical framework for organizing church life so that care becomes the shared responsibility of the body – moving beyond crisis management so every person is known, protected, and encouraged in their walk with Christ.

A strategic thinker with a shepherd’s heart, Todd is passionate about moving churches from simple programming to true relational discipleship. He developed a structural framework at Keystone to ensure every member – not just those in crisis – receives meaningful care. He and his wife, Ranel, have four daughters. Todd loves music, reading, and helping leaders find sustainable rhythms for the long haul.

Leadership Track

12 Things Every Ministry Leader Needs to Do

Doug Munton
Wednesday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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Using stories, humor and drawing from insights learned in 31 years as pastor at FBCO, Pastor Doug Munton will talk about 12 things every pastor and ministry leader needs to do to more effective in making a lasting impact for the Kingdom.

Pastor Doug has been the Senior Pastor at FBC O’Fallon, IL for more than 31 years and teaches online classes on preaching and evangelism for Liberty Seminary. He is past President of the Illinois Baptist State Association and former 1st Vice President of the SBC. His fall back job is to be the CEO of Amazon (retired).

Practical Shepherding

Mark Hallock
Wednesday, 9:30-10:45 a.m.
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This session is designed to help pastors and ministry leaders care for people with wisdom, grace, and confidence for the people that God has entrusted to them. Discover practical ways to shepherd well, navigate ministry challenges, and faithfully lead others while finding renewed joy and strength in your calling.

Mark Hallock serves as the Lead Pastor of Calvary Church in Englewood, Colorado. He also serves as President of the Calvary Family of Churches, a family of churches committed to planting and replanting churches for the glory of God (thecalvary.org). His great desire is to see the gospel transform lives and neighborhoods through the planting of new congregations, along with the revitalization of declining congregations, throughout the city of Denver and beyond. He has written a number of books including Leading Church Revitalization, Replant Roadmap, and The Relentless Encourager. Mark is married to Jenna, and they have two kids, Zoe and Eli.

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Rachel Bland
Wednesday, 11-12:15 p.m.
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Endurance: Leading for the Long Haul

Dr. Jeff Iorg
Wednesday, 2:15-3:30 p.m.
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Leaders often start with passionate commitment, but lose their way through discouragement, conflict, or character failure. Younger leaders can develop the skills to endure for the long haul by considering both what the Bible teaches about endurance and studying the examples of New Testament leaders who failed to endure. This session will focus on the former and inspire your personal study of the latter!

Resign Now: Seven Jobs Great Leaders Have to Quit

Bob Ingle
Wednesday, 3:45-5 p.m.
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Leadership has a way of exposing things in us we didn’t know were there. Over time, good intentions, natural strengths, and even the qualities that helped us become effective leaders can quietly become liabilities. ‘Resign Now’ takes an honest, practical, and biblical look at the “jobs” leaders often take on without realizing it and challenges us to quit the things that keep us from leading well.

Bob Ingle has served in pastoral ministry for more than 30 years and has been the Lead Pastor of Waypoint Church in St. Charles, Missouri, since 2009. He currently focuses on preaching, developing leaders, mentoring pastors, and helping churches pursue health and effectiveness. Bob also serves as a Church Renewal Strategist with the Missouri Baptist Convention.

Succession is the Stewardship of Continuity, Not a Relay Race

Will Heath
Thursday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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If every leader in your church defined succession, would the answers match? Succession efforts are often reduced to finding the next leader. But healthy succession plans establish a broader perspective. This breakout introduces the 6 Planning Succession Conversations, giving your team a shared framework for understanding how to effectively steward a season of succession.

Will Heath is the Founder of Sherpa, author of Embracing Succession, and creator of The 6 Planning Succession Conversations. He has commissioned the Barna Group to conduct two national studies on succession (2010 and 2019) and has over 30 years of ministry experience. He has helped churches and ministries across five continents steward the topic of succession.

Missions Track

IMB

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Wednesday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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Missions Discipleship: Where Missionaries Come From

Jon Jeffries
Wednesday, 9:30-10:45 a.m.
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Missionaries don’t just drop from the sky—they come from our churches. They are discipled to follow Jesus and live on mission. We call that missions discipleship. Learn how WMU can equip your church to raise up the next generation of Southern Baptist missionaries through online courses, resources, and proven discipleship pathways.

Jon Jeffries has served in ministry both internationally and on staff in the local church, and appreciates how the WMU serves as a vital link between both. He currently serves as Denominational Liaison and Editorial Hub Manager at WMU, SBC where he coordinates with NAMB and IMB on the missionaries featured in WMU publications.

IMB

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Wednesday, 11-12:15 p.m.
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Qusai Mahmud
Wednesday, 2:15-3:30 p.m.
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Becoming a Sending Church

Shannon Ford
Wednesday, 3:45-5 p.m.
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Becoming a “sending church” means transitioning from passively supporting missions to actively identifying, equipping, and deploying missionaries from within your own congregation, plus supporting them as they serve on the mission field.

Shannon is an Emeritus IMB Missionary who welcomed many team members and volunteer teams during his 23 years in Europe. He now uses this experience to help churches better prepare for Acts 1:8 engagement whether they are serving far or near.

What Can I Learn from a College Minister About Missions?

Ben Beck
Thursday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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College campuses are mission fields right in the middle of our communities. College ministers have a front-row seat to a generation wrestling with faith, identity, truth, and community. What can we learn from what is happening on campus? Together, we’ll explore the college campus as a vital mission field and consider what we can learn about reaching the younger generation in our own communities.

Ben Beck has served with Launch Campus Ministry at Purdue University since 2002, leading alongside his wife, Nettie. As a self-supported NAMB missionary, Ben has spent more than two decades engaging college students with the gospel, developing student leaders, and helping churches partner in reaching the campus.

Next Generation Track

Reaching Generation Alpha: What We Need to Know About Generation Alpha

Shane Pruitt
Wednesday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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Each generation has had their ministerial focus. Many have witnessed the focus on Millennials as well as Generation Z. We are now in a time where the next generation (Generation Alpha) are just now old enough to be in children’s ministries and student ministries. Generation Alpha has their own unique needs. Let’s talk about how to reach and disciple them.

Shane serves as the National Next Gen Director for the North American Mission Board (NAMB). He has been in ministry for over 20 years as a denominational leader, church planter, lead pastor, and student pastor. Shane is also a traveling communicator, evangelist, and Bible teacher. Every year he speaks to over a hundred thousand people about the good news of Jesus Christ. He is the author of three books, 9 Common Lies Christians Believe, Calling Out the Called, and Reaching Generation Alpha. As well as, two Bible Studies, called Revival Generation and Not My Jesus. Shane is also one of the hosts of The Gensend Podcast. Follow him on Instagram & X: @shane_pruitt78.

Discipleship 101 – Starting, Maintaining, and Growing Discipleship in Your Ministry

Jonathan Meyer
Wednesday, 9:30-10:45 a.m.
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Let’s be honest, everyone talks about making disciples, but very few can show you what it looks like. Starting from Scripture, we will follow Jesus’ footsteps all over Galilee to see what he taught, how he lived and what he expected from his own disciples.! Then we will ask – how do we do that in our local context?

How to Talk About Cultural Issues with the Next Generation

Shane Pruitt
Wednesday, 11-12:15 p.m.
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Description: How do we talk Biblically about very important topics like sexuality, gender, and mental health with young people? Let’s discuss what the Bible says and practical ways to talk about these things with the Next Generation, because silence can no longer be an option.

Trade in Your Buckets

Jamie Brown
Wednesday, 2:15-3:30 p.m.
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Discover strategies to turn your kids ministry environments inside out to equip kids to turn their worlds upside down! Gospel centered teaching challenges us to recognize the significance of kids in the kingdom today. Transform your ministry mindset from filling buckets to utilizing pipelines for gospel advancement.

Jamie has served in ministry for 25 years in the areas of discipleship, families, and kids. Currently she serves as Kids Minister at FBC Clever and as the Kids Ministry Strategist for the Missouri Baptist Convention. These roles afford the privilege of connecting with other kids’ ministry leaders and equipping churches around her state. Jamie has a passion for discipleship and loves doing that work with kids, their parents, and their leaders.

Pastor Partnerships in Student Ministry

Dan Defriece & Jacob Fafard
Wednesday, 3:45-5 p.m.
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Developing partnerships between lead, pastors, and student Ministry leadership that fosters relational health leading to positive impact staff relations and ministry success.

Dan has 30 years of ministry experience in worship, student ministry, pastoral counseling, preaching and pastoral leadership.

Jacob’s ministry experience includes serving at Christian camps, children’s homes, and in the local church. Today, I have the privilege of leading the student and young adult ministries at Calvary Baptist Church in Seymour, Indiana, where my passion is helping the next generation follow Christ, grow in their faith, and make an impact for the cause of Christ.

Kids Matter: How to Reach, Teach, and Send Kids with the Gospel

Miranda Collins
Thursday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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Children aren’t just the future of the Church—they are an important part of the Church today. In this practical and encouraging session, you’ll discover how to intentionally reach kids with the life-changing message of Jesus, teach them to develop an authentic and lasting faith, and send them out as everyday disciples who impact their families, schools, and communities. Whether you serve in children’s ministry, lead volunteers, or partner with parents, you’ll leave with biblical principles, practical strategies, and fresh ideas to help build a gospel-centered ministry that equips kids to know Christ and make Him known.

Miranda Collins is the Director of Programming for Church Forward and Children’s Ministry Director for Capital City Church in Topeka, Kansas. She has a passion for equipping churches and creating engaging resources for families and volunteers. With over twenty years of experience as a public-school teacher and private school principal, Miranda enjoys helping churches build thriving ministries that reach the next generation. She is also the wife of a pastor and the mom to two teenage sons.

Revitalization Track

Is Your Church Surviving, Reviving or Thriving

Scott Foshie
Wednesday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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Title Coming

Andy Addis
Wednesday, 9:30-10:45 a.m.
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Colin Pugh
Wednesday, 11-12:15 p.m.
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Revitalization Roundtable

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Wednesday, 2:15-3:30 p.m.
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Investing in Pastors and Church Leaders for Revitalization

Bobby Pell and Terry Thompson
Wednesday, 3:45-5 p.m.
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Resilient Leadership

Terry Williams
Thursday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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Spiritual Renewal Track

Creating A Culture of Evangelism

Rob Pochek
Wednesday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” We’ve all heard that leadership quote from Peter Drucker. The same is true of evangelism in your church, or the lack of it. This breakout will explore eight components that are vital for creating a culture of evangelism in any church of any size.

Rob served as senior pastor of First Baptist Church on Park Street, Charlottesville, Virginia, from 2016 to 2025, leading his growing church to become more passionate about prayer, evangelism, and discipleship. He has also served churches in Missouri, Illinois, and North Carolina. He earned an M.Div. and a Ph.D. in missions/evangelism from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has authored The Unleashed Church.

Leading without Losing Your First Love

Matt Miller
Wednesday, 11-12:15 p.m.
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How do we cultivate a life with God while carrying the weight of leading God’s people? Every pastor knows this tension: leading others toward Christ can quietly become the very thing that erodes your own devotion. This session names that danger honestly and offers practical ways to sustain a devotional life that isn’t consumed by ministry.

Matt Miller is the founding and Lead Pastor of New City Church in Shawnee, Kansas, a multiplying church that has grown to seven campuses across the Kansas City metro. Matt is passionate about helping pastors cultivate a personal walk with Jesus that remains strong amid the demands of ministry.

Revelation: A Call to Spiritual Renewal

Josh Bledsoe
Wednesday, 2:15-3:30 p.m.
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In Revelation 2-3, Jesus invites His church and people to seek Him for both personal and missional renewal. These instructions for these historic churches are an invitation for the modern church to seek God anew. This breakout will walk through assessments developed strictly from Revelation 2-3 to help you discover how Jesus is calling you and your church to be renewed.

I have spent over 20 years in ministry throughout the state of Illinois, serving in positions in worship ministry, student ministry, senior pastor, and currently on IBSA staff. Through our discipleship team, we seek to inspire pastors and churches to be healthy, fruitful disciples in their context. I am also seeking a Doctorate in Ministry from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a focus in Church Revitalization.

The Financially Healthy Church: Maximizing Impact Through Stewardship

Bobby Hart
Wednesday, 3:45-5 p.m.
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Every church — 200 in worship or 2,000 — faces the same pressure points: unpredictable giving, cash-flow crunches that hit at the worst moments, and maintenance that keeps getting deferred. This session gives pastors, elders, and administrators a practical framework — built around reserves, debt, and stewarding what you already have — illustrated with real church case studies. You’ll leave with a diagnostic you can apply to your numbers this month.

Bobby Hart is President of WatersEdge Ministry Services, where he leads lending, accounting, and investment services for churches and ministries. Prior to joining WatersEdge, he served 13 years as COO of First Baptist Tulsa, guiding the church through major operational and financial decisions. An engineering graduate of Missouri S&T, Bobby combines analytical thinking with firsthand church leadership experience.

Finding Joy in Ministry

Mark Hallock
Thursday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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Rediscover the joy that comes from serving Christ and His church. Learn how to remain faithful through challenges and cultivate a deeper delight in God that sustains long-term ministry.

Worship Track

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Matt Swain –
Wednesday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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Developing High-Capacity Worship Leaders & Worship Teams

Dalton Shaffer
Wednesday, 9:30-10:45 a.m.
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Every church longs to see disciples made, leaders raised, and worship come alive, yet few know the steps and systems to cultivate that kind of movement. This session pulls back the curtain on how we built a culture and team that consistently develops worship leaders and volunteers to serve the church and be sent out to lead in church plants across the country.

Dalton is Worship Leader at Candeo Church and founder of the Candeo Music Conference. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Central Arkansas and an MTS from Midwestern Seminary. With 10 years in full-time ministry, he is marked by a passion for worship that honors God, is rooted in Scripture, spiritually formative, and committed to training the next generation of worship leaders.

Worship Leader Roundtable

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Wednesday, 11-12:15 p.m.
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Matt Swain
Wednesday, 2:15-3:30 p.m.
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The Worship Target: How Worship Shapes the Head and Heart

Brad Newbold
Wednesday, 3:45-5 p.m.
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Congregational worship does more than express belief—it shapes what people believe, love, and value. This seminar explores how worship forms both the head and heart of God’s people through biblically grounded, Christ-centered practices. Participants will consider the formative power of worship and learn how to lead services that cultivate genuine spiritual transformation rather than mere emotional response.

Dr. Brad Newbold serves as Worship Pastor at Concord Baptist Church in Jefferson City, Missouri, and as an adjunct worship professor at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He holds a Doctor of Ministry in Worship Leadership from MBTS and is the author of The Worship Target. Brad speaks nationwide, training pastors and worship leaders in the formative power of congregational worship, and also works internationally in Albania, Kosovo, and Ukraine. He loves God, his family, and boating at the Lake of the Ozarks.

As For Me and My House: Raising Worshipers at Home

Jamison Bebiak
Thursday, 8-9:15 a.m.
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In a world of busy schedules, and constant distraction, many Christian families long for deeper discipleship in the home but don’t know where to begin. This session will explore the biblical vision for family worship and offer practical encouragement for leading your household in Scripture, prayer, and worship. Whether you feel confident or completely inadequate, this breakout is designed to help you take simple, faithful steps toward building a Christ-centered home.

Ministry background and current focus: Jamison started out in ministry as a worship leader working primarily with youth. As he and his wife Chelsea started and grew their family he became the leader of family ministries at several churches. Jamison is now a pastor and elder at Convergent Church in Owosso which he helped plant in 2021. There he focuses on preaching and strengthening families by overseeing the children’s ministry, nursery, and Life groups.