CONFERENCE DESCRIPTIONS
Expository Preaching - Pastor HB Charles
Making the text Live OFF OF THE PAGE! There is a difference between a tour guide and a travel agent. A travel agent will sell you a trip to somewhere they have never been. However, a tour guide has been there and knows the terrain. Come set at the feet of a modern-day homiletic hero, who know how to traverse the terrain of the passage and show you how to make it live off the page. What good is a story if you don’t know how to tell it?
Strategic Moves for Gaining Momentum in Ministry - Rev. Jewel London
The great WISDOM Guru Mike Murdock once said, “A vision without a strategy is a curse.” More times than not, Pastors and church leaders have an idea of where they would like to see their ministries go, however, they are clueless as to how to get there. Well problem solved! All Pastors, lay leaders, and ministry teams from the chairman of boards to the custodial staff need to be in this class where Rev. Jewel London, Executive Pastor of The Church Without Walls will equip you and your team with the foundational tools necessary to put feet to your faith and move your ministry into drive and get out of park.
Checking your Church’s Pulse for a Healthy Body - Dr. Phillip Pointer
Has your ministry seemingly hit a plateau? Is your ministry thriving and alive? Or are you just existing in mediocrity and as the saying goes, just kicking the can down the road. Well, fasten your seatbelts as one of today’s leading Pastors and pulpiteers shares the framework to audit your ministry and do a spiritual check-up. Anything healthy grows automatically and as Dr. Frank E. Ray Sr. has been quoted as saying, “There is a difference between growth and swelling, swelling means there is infection somewhere”. Dr. Pointer is a strategic surgeon and knows how to operate. Come get a check-up and stop guessing at the health status of your ministry.
I Got the Church, but how do I keep the Church - Bishop Kevin Willis
It’s been stated that a man can only flesh out in life, what has been modeled in front of them. The landscape of leading as a senior pastor has changed adversely over the last decade. The pastor is called upon to be the preacher/ teacher, life coach, motivational guru, resident fixer of all things church. In many instances the new pastor is ill equipped to maneuver beyond the pulpit. The sobering reality is that Pastoring goes beyond style and substance. Also, most pastors get discouraged when they take their cues from the latest social media clergy superstar or what church is presently trending. Many quit prematurely or split good churches that have a history of either fighting the pastor or not following the pastor. Bishop Kevin Willis is not only a powerful proclamatory personality but a shepherd with over four decades of Pastoring and shepherding in The Lords Church. He takes serious to his calling to not only lead in his personal context, but also make available opportunities to pass on to up and coming Pastors and associate ministers. No longer can you just be a scholar that can holler. But to lead in these challenging times, it takes more than a catchy cliché’ filled sermon and tailor-made suit. You need lungs and lessons, coupled with life skills and loving patience, and a prayerful lifestyle that leads to longevity in pastoring. One should be afraid of a shepherd that doesn’t smell like sheep. Come learn how to keep the church once you’ve been elected. For woe unto the shepherd who scatters the flock. .
I’m not Living Off the Church - Rev. Elliot Shelton
What would you do if you could work your passion, dream, and do ministry if money was not an object? The truth of the matter is that ministry requires resources. Talk is cheap, but it takes money to buy land. In a world where most churches and non-profits struggle with the three main Bs (budgets, buildings and putting bodies in seats) come listen and learn from one of the greatest pastor CEO’s of our time who changes the trajectory and used kingdom principles to move from salary to success by utilizing the real time word of God to “Be about his Fathers BUSINESS” literally. Pastor Elliot Shelton is a Prudent Preacher who through Faith and Finances has become one of Americas PEO’s (Pastoral Executive Officer). With an ever changing economy and shaky and shifty national administration paradigm, Pastor Shelton has the blueprint to shift churches to becoming faithful and frugal and as a Pastor you can create income with a different Outcome and not just live from Sunday to Sunday.
The First Lady is the Centerpiece, not Side Piece! Lady Patsy Dugger
Far too long the Pastors’ wife has been looked at as just arm candy and not an asset. The truth is, she is not just the Pastors wife or First Lady, she is a woman of purpose and has passions and dreams of her own. Yet, she is called to walk alongside Gods’ choicest ambassador and in many cases her walk is a lonely one. First Ladies only! Come gain and glean the fuel necessary in this season to walk in the assignment that has far too long been looked at as an accessory to your husband. You have passion and purpose beyond the second pew.
Young, Gifted, & Saved: They Not Like Us! Don’t Conform, Transform - Pastor Joseph Manaway
REALITY CHECK, “THIS IS NOT YOUR GRANDMOTHERS CHURCH”. We are living in arduous times. This is a cancel culture as well as a counterculture. In times past, those who were pre-millennial weren’t even given the option to miss church. However, now we are four generations into a society that is 88% unchurched. The largest generation to defect the church are post millennials, gen-x, generation alpha, and so on. We must not only insist on giving our young adults a faith base and foundation, we must invest in emerging generations, and equip them to lead Christ-like lifestyles in a culture that is anti-Christ. They will not look like us, dress like us, even lead like us. Yet we must embrace them with love into the body of Christ or reject them and risk losing them to the world that has no moral rectitude. Bring your youth, young adults, teens, and tweens as we have a class just for them because the truth his they not Like us, but they still belong to us.
Stop Losing Your Best Volunteers & Leaders - Pastor Charles Bond
The demands of ministry after seventeen centuries of Christendom in a world that is anti-organized religion poses challenges to present day Pastors and church paradigms. However, with this shift we must galvanize, engage, and inspire the modern-day Christian by equipping them with modern techniques that will make them eager to S-E-R-V-E. Saints Excited to Run with the Vision in the spirit of Excellence! There is no I in team, but it is one in WIN. In most Mega churches there is a waiting list for volunteer and serve teams. The reason why is because there is emphasis and expectations around this coveted population. We normally risk the ministry sparing feelings when the truth is volunteering should be taught and shared as the most valuable commodity in Christian service. Yet volunteers must be taught and trained and then trusted to serve with excellence. Come learn how to stop losing this valuable kingdom human asset.
How do I Engage my Kids in Church - Pastor James McCarroll
If there are no babies crying the church is dying! – Author Unknown. Joint heirs in Christ, every church should want to see the church of the future thrive and pass along our faith values to emerging generations. Yet the challenges in today’s climate where more and more kids are affected by diagnosis like autism and ADHD, as well as coming from homes where Christ is never mentioned, we don’t just need faithful volunteers working with our children WE NEED SKILLFUL volunteers working with our children. Children’s church can no longer be soda pop and pizza and teaching a version of Yes Jesus Loves me this I know. Yet we need people who are passionate, background checked, and TRAINED on how to share Christ and engage our kids in a healthy worship experience at their level from the soul patrol 2’s and 3’s to the curious and overly vocal independence seeking 9–11-year-olds. They have a world view and see things through a different lens, and we must be proactive and invest in their faith. SUFFER not THE CHILDREN TO COME, and Christ even told Peter FEED MY LAMBS.
From Burnout to Build Up: A Second Wind - Pastor Donald Johnson
Associates, deacons, and lay leaders come learn the secrets to supporting your pastor’s vision so that you can achieve maximum success. Long gone are the days where we place all the Onus of ministry on the Senior Pastor. The bare fact is this we need more Aarons and Hers who know how to hold up the arms of Moses, so that the church can WIN! Far too long we are suffering with an influx of people who want to shine, but don’t want to serve. We have too many people who show up when it’s time to grab a mic but are ghosts when it’s time to grab a mop. So, the senior Pastor is burned out overworked and overwhelmed and the church suffers. This should not be. Jesus stated that the greatest among you shall be your servant. Yet we have spotlighted far too long those who are in front of the camera and not emphasized that it’s the supporting cast who is listed in the credits as well. Your VOLUNTEER LIFE MATTERS! Come learn how to serve and really be valuable to the kingdom beyond being a Sunday morning show-out and a midweek dropout.
A Woman’s Walk, A Woman’s Work, and a Woman’s Worth - Pastor Sheila Vann
There is an old saying that goes THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING! There are no truer words to describe a woman who is clear on her assignment. Come set at the feet of a worshipper, mentor, and vessel of grace who has faithfully provided leadership, love, and loyal support for more than 45 years alongside her husband. Now as Executive Pastor at Second Ebenezer Church of Detroit, she is fully living out her God-given potential. Some lessons are taught, some lessons are bought, yet the best lessons are caught. Come catch the principles that lead to the promises of Godly women in an age where women are needed more than ever to be the catalyst of change in our communities, cities, country and globally impact the Kingdom. It’s time ladies to know your worth and then add Tax!
Sunday School Teacher Certification
Pastor Billy Bell
Church Administration
Dr. Rhonda Hooks
LOGOS 101
Pastor Anthony Pettus