The 2022 Leadership Conference will be held December 5-6 at the Sonesta Nashville Airport Hotel. Robby Gallaty will be the featured speaker. More information will be made available at https://nafwb.org/leadershipconference/ as it becomes available.
Download the 2021 Leadership Conference Program
You can listen to seminars from the 2021 Leadership Conference below:
The Next Great Movement Among American Congregations – Dr. Thom Rainer
Next Steps for the Post-Pandemic Church – Dr. Thom Rainer
Church Revitalization and Worldview Thinking – Matthew S. Bracey
Como Evitar Un Colapso Pastoral – Rufo Gomez
Curso Liderazgo Importa: Un Vistazo a la Delegación – Kristi Johnson
Discipleship in Church Revitalization – Terry Pierce
El Ministeria Hispano Como Una Herramienta en la Revitalización de Una Iglesia – Francisco Vazquez
Getting Outside of Your Ministry Bubble – Chris Truett
Lessons Learned From Revitalization – Shiloh Hackett
Letting Go – Developing a Sending Culture in Your Local Church – Josh Baer
Ser y Participar: Dos Imperativos para los Líderes Bautistas Libres Hispanos – Jose Rodriguez
Thoughts for the Next Generation of FWB Leaders – Derek Altom
Tips for Effective Stewardship Preaching – Will Harmon
What Does “Husband of One Wife” Really Mean? – Randall House Panel
Purchase the book: Husband of One Wife: An Exegesis
What Every National Association Delegate Needs to Know – Tim York
Equipped for His Work | 2021 Leadership Conference
Nashville, TN—The 2021 Free Will Baptist Leadership Conference met at Sonesta Nashville Airport Hotel December 6-7. One hundred ninety-five pastors, church leaders, and denominational leaders from 25 states and a Canadian province gathered to explore the important theme “Equipped,” considering new ways forward in post-pandemic ministry.
Monday and Tuesday evenings were highlighted with sessions featuring Dr. Thom Rainer, founder of ChurchAnswers.com, an online forum for church leaders. The prolific author and former CEO of LifeWay encouraged healthy churches to consider “adopting” or “fostering” another struggling church. The primary goal is to help that church return to a place of health where assistance is no longer needed. In some cases, however, the helping church may ultimately “adopt” the struggling congregation, bringing the two churches together permanently.
Why adopt this strategy rather than just merging from the outset? “I grieve when God’s Church loses a presence in a community,” Rainer noted. “I want every church to continue being a lighthouse to the families and neighborhoods around it.”
During a packed Tuesday schedule, 16 speakers presented training seminars and workshops over a wide range of topics, ranging from “Developing a Sending Culture in Your Local Church” to “Hispanic Ministry as a Tool for Church Revitalization.” For the first time, a portion of seminars were provided by and for Spanish-speakers, and keynote sessions were translated into Spanish.
The conference additionally featured two panel discussions. Danny Baer (NC), Jeff Blair (OK), Doug Carey (OK), Ron Hunter (TN), Jeff Manning (NC), and Mike Trimble (MI) addressed the important question, “What Does ‘Husband of One Wife’ Really Mean?” Following the Tuesday service, Executive Secretary Eddie Moody, Moderator Tim York, Dr. Robert E. Picirilli, and Dr. Danny Dwyer explored the important subject, “Facing the Pastoral Shortage,” and identified the growing need for revitalized churches.
The two-day conference featured much more than strategy and training, however. The ballroom buzzed with conversation during banquet-styled meals, and in-depth conversations continued long after each meal concluded.
Several national boards, committees, and groups met in conjunction with the conference, including the Board of Retirement; the Executive Committee; Free Will Baptist Foundation; IM, Inc; North American Ministries; Randall House; Welch College; state leaders; and the 3 for 30 Task Force.
Reflecting on the conference, Executive Secretary Eddie Moody said, “I think we were all able to come away with actions we can take to help our churches be healthier and more effective in reaching their communities, discipling other believers, and giving themselves completely to the Lord. I was encouraged by the inaugural meeting of the 3 for 30 Task Force, and by meeting with state leaders. I look forward to seeing the ideas discussed this week put into action across our movement in the coming days.”
Moody announced December 5-6, 2022, as the dates for next year’s conference. Best-selling author and pastor Robby Gallaty will be the featured speaker as the conference addresses the theme, “Discipleshift.”
Visit www.nafwb.org/leadershipconference throughout the year for more updates regarding the 2022 conference.