Monday, March 10
Session 1 (9:00 – 10:00am)
The Gift of a Good Sermon Series
PHIL PEACOCK, Senior Pastor at Broadus Memorial Baptist Church in Mechanicsville
Every preacher longs to know what they’re preaching next Sunday. Learning to utilize sermon series can relieve a lot of the pressure. Let’s come together to share ideas for great series, and how to use them effectively.
Sharing Life: God’s Relational Mission
CRAIG WADDELL, Partnership Coordinator of Baptist General Association of Virginia
God changes us through a relationship, and calls us into a mission of reaching into the world in the same way. How can we make mission partnerships and mission trips more meaningful and effective by giving them a relational foundation? How does that foundation affect the way we see and treat mission partners? How can we broaden our church’s understanding of what being on mission can look like, so that we more effectively mobilize the entire congregation?
Tuesday, March 11
Session 1 (9:00 – 10:00am)
Encouraging an Evangelistic Ethos
STEVE NETHERY, Pastor at Spring Hill Baptist Church
Hope, redemption, reconciliation, forgiveness, peace, strength, freedom and overcoming are words that describe the Christian message as we help people enter into a personal and communal relationship with God and abide in His presence. Let’s discuss, share ideas, and learn together as leaders how we can encourage the people and the churches we serve to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others in the power of the Holy Spirit with the hope and desire they will come to Christ. Please give some thought to this topic prior to attending this Breakout Session and come prepared to have positive, encouraging, and practical dialogue.
Making Good Preaching Better: The Final Step in Preaching Preparation
WILLIAM H SMITH, Retired Pastor and former president of the John Leland Center for Theological Studies
Preachers grow more effective in their delivery of sermons when they add to their prayers, study and writing a final step: evaluation. This break out session identifies ways the preacher can objectively evaluate sermons. Over time the preacher will see progress in content and delivery if evaluation is made a part of the task of preaching.
A Practical Guide to Parliamentary Procedures
BETH FOGG, Parliamentarian of the Baptist General Association of Virginia
Join us for a practical breakout session on using Roberts Rules of Order to enhance congregational decision-making. This workshop will provide pastors with a clear understanding of parliamentary procedure, emphasizing its importance in fostering fair, efficient, and inclusive discussions within church governance. We’ll cover key principles, such as making motions, conducting votes, and managing debates, while addressing common challenges faced in church meetings. Empower your ministry with the tools to guide thoughtful and orderly decision-making!
A Closer Look At Women and the Gender of God
AMY PEELER, Author and Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College
This breakout session will explore Amy Peeler’s book, Women and the Gender of God. This session invites pastors to delve into Peeler’s insights on how gender shapes our understanding of God and informs our ministry practices. We will discuss key themes such as the theological implications of gendered language, the role of women in Scripture, and how these concepts impact congregational life. Come ready to challenge assumptions and inspire deeper faith conversations in your ministry.
Talking with Children about death
KIM ESKRIDGE, Pastor for Children and Women at First Baptist Church Alexandria
This breakout session is designed to offer practical guidance on the subject of talking with children about death. This workshop will equip you with effective communication strategies to help children process loss and grief in a supportive manner. We’ll discuss age-appropriate language, common questions children may have, and ways to create a safe space for dialogue. Through interactive activities you’ll gain confidence in addressing this sensitive topic while providing spiritual guidance. By the end of the session, you’ll be better prepared to support families in navigating conversations about death, fostering hope and understanding for young hearts.
Radical Priesthood
SHELTON MILES, Retired Pastor and Farmer
This session will explore the biblical witness regarding women, especially in Luke-Acts; God’s practice of speaking through men and women; a comparison of the New Testament’s treatment of slavery and patriarchy; and the Virginia Baptist traditions of individual conscience in matters that are non-salvific.
Growing in Discipleship
DANIEL DAPAAH, Author and Professor of Divinity at the John Leland Center for Theological Studies
This breakout session will address the challenge of discipleship in the local congregation. In Dr. Dapaah’s recent book, Growing in Discipleship, he argues the primary responsibility of the church is to make disciples. In this session he will present several ingredients to intentionally nurture Christian maturity.
AWAKENING THE SPIRIT WITHIN THE CHURCH
BEN DISHNER, OneCry Global Ministries Director
Prayer is the key for seeing the Holy Spirit come alive in your church. We’ll explore some tools and suggestions for developing a culture of prayer in your congregation.
Stupid is as Stupid Does: Lessons Learned in Ministry
TOM STOCKS, BGAV Field Strategist, Southside Region
The deepest learnings of 45 years of my pastoral ministry came from painful mistakes. Most of those mistakes sprang up out of my own emotional deficiencies. Stories that will make you laugh or be glad you aren’t THAT dumb!
AI and the Church: A Tool for Ministry in a Changing World
HEIDI RUIZ, SRO Support Specialist at Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of everyday life, but what does it mean for the church? In this session, we’ll break down the basics of AI and explore its potential as a practical tool for ministry. From managing communication and planning events to staying organized, we’ll explore how AI can help with everyday tasks so you can focus on the heart of your ministry. We’ll also dive into some ethical and theological questions, with real-world examples to spark ideas and conversation about how AI can complement the church’s mission without replacing what makes ministry personal and sacred.
A Rhythm of Work and Rest: Why Sabbaticals are Vital to Healthy Ministers and Ministries
ELI WITHERS, Associate Pastor at Harrisonburg Baptist Church
According to Clergy Renewal: The Alban Guide to Sabbatical Planning, “the essence of Sabbatical is rooted in the Hebrew word sabbat and the biblical traditions surrounding it.” In this breakout session, we will rely heavily on Ruth Haley Barton’s book Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest and look at how the sabbath practices to which we have already been called will lead to a stronger, extended time of sabbatical and why this gift of time and space is not only healthy and beneficial for the minister but also for the church/ministry setting where he or she serves.
Pray and Go: Transforming Culture, One Prayer at a Time
ROBERT STEPHENS, Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church Alexandria
Join the Pray and Go movement and help transform your community by aligning with God’s heart for the lost. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to share His love—and this initiative helps us see the need for salvation in the lives of those around us. Will you commit to praying for every neighbor, even if that’s 71,000 neighbors? Together, we can bring lasting change and lead others to experience the life-changing power of Christ!
What’s New with EverBless?
PHILLIP BROWN, Relationship Manager, EverBless
EverBless is 102 years old and still breaking record highs! This session will be a lite introduction to the new and familiar resources and services that EverBless provides for Churches, Institutions, and Individuals. Additionally, Phillip will give an overview of a brand-new Bible study resource that he authored, and EverBless has produced, entitled “Legacy of Faith.” There will also be a great prize pack give away for some lucky person in attendance!
Baptist Identities
TODD LATHAM, Senior Pastor Memorial Baptist Church in Staunton
We have been called Separatists, Reformers, Puritans, and Congregationalists. Come and learn how all of our divisions, both past and present, hold Baptists together.
Thinking About Transformation
SKIP WALLACE, Field Strategist, Baptist General Association of Virginia
Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 that we are to be “…transformed by the renewing of your mind…” What might transformation look like in a church setting? How can we as pastors help facilitate transformation? In this breakout session we’ll look at a transformation cycle that was written about by Robert Quinn and talk about how we might use that cycle to help implement transformation in our congregations.
Missions Involvement: The Lifeline of the Church
STEVE COLLINS, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Nickelsville
When it comes to missions involvement and outreach many churches have chosen to pass the baton off to other mission groups, entities, or parachurch organizations which they feel can accomplish far more than they can individually; however, the truth of the matter is that Jesus gave His Great Commission to local churches. As the late, great Henry Blackaby said, “All we need to do is discover where He is working and join Him.” The session will focus on how local churches can and should be involved in direct missions involvement. And the great thing about this approach is that it will supercharge any local church that’s willing to listen, look, and step forward, joining God in His plan of global missions outreach.
The Global Church Strengthened Through Partnership
TONY MILLER, Global Partnership Manager, OneChild
Learn how to engage your congregation more deeply and inspire greater generosity through global mission partnerships that align with your vision.
Semillas de Mostaza
HABACUC DIAZ LOPEZ, Latino Network Coordinator, Baptist General Association of Virginia
The principle of multiplication is foundational to God’s Mission, and the Semillas de Mostaza initiative seeks to start gospel-centered, life-transforming communities of believers that seek to multiply disciples, creating a ripple effect that spreads the gospel far beyond any social, cultural, or geographical limits.
Sign up today! Registration ends March 1, 2025.
Conference with Lodging & Meals – $220/person
Conference with Meals Only (no lodging) – $95/person