{"id":9070,"date":"2021-09-16T13:11:47","date_gmt":"2021-09-16T18:11:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/?p=9070"},"modified":"2026-02-09T09:46:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T15:46:01","slug":"leadershipconference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/leadershipconference\/","title":{"rendered":"Leadership Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The Neighborhood Church | 2025 Leadership Conference<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Antioch, TN \u2014<\/strong> Two hundred Free Will Baptist pastors and ministry leaders from 25 states gathered December 8-9, at Sonesta Nashville Airport in Nashville, Tennessee, for the annual Free Will Baptist Leadership Conference.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keynote speaker Dr. Sam Rainer explored the theme, \u201cThe Neighborhood Church,\u201d identifying strategies to develop a church that is loved and valued by its community. \u201cYour church is not at its address by accident,\u201d he challenged listeners during his opening session. \u201cIf God can save <em>any<\/em> person, then He can save <em>any <\/em>church&#8230;.This should be the heart of our ministry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The president of Church Answers and the lead pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church in Bradenton, Florida, Rainer writes, teaches, speaks, and consults on many issues surrounding church health. The author of nine books and hundreds of articles, he is a frequent speaker and co-hosts the podcast <em>Rainer on Leadership<\/em>. Rainer spoke five times during the conference, twice during Monday and Tuesday evening keynote sessions, and three sessions Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>(Click the links below to listen to audio recordings of the sessions):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Session 1: <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/nafwb.podbean.com\/e\/the-surprising-return-of-the-neighborhood-church-dr-sam-rainer-1767814397\/\">The Surprising Return of the Neighborhood Church<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li>Session 2: <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/nafwb.podbean.com\/e\/the-trends-that-can-make-or-break-your-next-10-years-dr-sam-rainer\/\">The Trends That Can Make or Break Your Next 10 Years<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li>Session 3: <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/nafwb.podbean.com\/e\/proven-approaches-from-churches-reaching-young-families-dr-sam-rainer\/\">Proven Approaches From Churches Reaching Young Families<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li>Session 4: <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/nafwb.podbean.com\/e\/why-churches-are-targets-keeping-your-congregation-safe-dr-sam-rainer\/\">Why Churches Are Targets (Keeping Your Congregation Safe)<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li>Session 5: <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/nafwb.podbean.com\/e\/how-to-get-everyone-in-your-church-inviting-someone-dr-sam-rainer\/\">How to Get Everyone in Your Church Inviting Someone<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Washington Pastor Brent Nix shared his thoughts regarding both the conference and what he heard during keynote sessions. \u201cThe Leadership Conference has been a source of encouragement and inspiration for me every year I\u2019ve attended. This year\u2019s sessions with Sam Rainer\u2019s insightful, practical, and passionate teaching have been a wonderful blessing to me and, hopefully, to my church when I get home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tuesday afternoon, additional seminars offered practical instruction on building and maintaining a healthy church.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/nafwb.podbean.com\/e\/from-hello-to-home-dynamic-first-impressions-ministry-dr-shiloh-hackett\/\"><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">From Hello to Home: Dynamic First Impressions Ministry,<\/span><\/em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> Shiloh Hackett (TN)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/nafwb.podbean.com\/e\/ministering-to-people-who-didn-t-plant-their-own-olive-trees-jon-forrest\/\"><em>Ministering to People Who Didn\u2019t Plant Their Own Olive Trees,<\/em> Jon Forrest (TN)<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/nafwb.podbean.com\/e\/revitalization-lessons-from-a-water-bottle-and-the-bible-travis-alexander\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Revitalization: Lessons From a Water Bottle and the Bible,<\/em> Travis Alexander (AR<\/span>)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/nafwb.podbean.com\/e\/small-groups-make-big-steps-kevin-barnett\/\"><em>Small Groups Make Big Steps,<\/em> Kevin Barnett (AR)<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As always, the Leadership Conference featured more than sessions and training. Attendees enjoyed conversations over meals, explored resources from national ministries, and talked long after sessions reached a conclusion. This year, the Leadership Conference also hosted a Funding Summit that explored ways to address the challenges of financing crucial denominational ministry without overburdening Free Will Baptists.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Various boards and committees met in conjunction with the conference, including the Executive Committee; D6 Family Ministry; FWB Foundation; IM, Inc.; North American Ministries; Richland Ave Financial; Welch College; the Historical Commission; and state leaders and promotional directors.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI left this year\u2019s leadership conference with a lot of hope for our local churches,\u201d noted Florida pastor John Howell. \u201cWe received practical tools and resources to help us reach our communities with the gospel of Jesus Christ!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As the conference concluded, Executive Director Eddie Moody challenged attendees to set four specific goals for their states, associations, and churches: 1) pray for neighbors (<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"http:\/\/nafwb.org\/bless\" data-outlook-id=\"a9309ac4-8234-4f09-b3c2-7465708f2208\">nafwb.org\/bless<\/a><\/span>); 2) increase the number of churches using <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"http:\/\/nafwb.org\/hope\" data-outlook-id=\"7952c517-bba9-4381-ba07-69c2ee90b8d5\">The Hope Initiative<\/a><\/span>; 3) refocus on Sunday School and discipling others in the faith; and 4) pray for the harvest and harvesters.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We must be outward focused to reach the community,&#8221; Moody concluded. &#8220;However, we must be inward focused as we pray for and look for harvesters. Who within your church can teach a class? Who meets the criteria to be a pastor, and who might God be calling?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moody announced December 7-8, 2026, as the dates for next year\u2019s meeting, when the conference will explore the theme, \u201cChurch Tools: Basics for Effective Ministry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit this webpage throughout the year for updates regarding the 2026 conference.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/25-Leader-Program.pdf\">Conference Program<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Notes From Keynote Sessions With Dr. Sam Rainer<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Session-1-The-Surpring-Return-of-the-Neighborhood-Church.pdf\">Session 1 &#8211; The Surprising Return of the Neighborhood Church<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Session-2-The-Trends-the-Can-Make-or-Break-Your-Next-10-Years.pdf\">Session 2 &#8211; The Trends the Can Make or Break Your Next 10 Years<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Session-3-Five-Proven-Approaches-From-Churches-Reaching-Young-Families.pdf\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Session 3 &#8211; Five Proven Approaches From Churches Reaching Young Families<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Session-4-Why-Churches-Are-Targets-Keeping-Your-Congregation-Safe.pdf\">Session 4 &#8211; Why Churches Are Targets (Keeping Your Congregation Safe)<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Session-5-How-to-Get-Everyone-in-Your-Church-Inviting-Someone.pdf\">Session 5 &#8211; How to Get Everyone in Your Church Inviting Someone<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/2024-leadership-conference\/\">Recap and recordings from the 2024 Leadership Conference<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Neighborhood Church | 2025 Leadership Conference Antioch, TN \u2014 Two hundred Free Will Baptist pastors and ministry leaders from 25 states gathered December 8-9, at Sonesta Nashville Airport in Nashville, Tennessee, for the annual Free Will Baptist Leadership Conference. Keynote speaker Dr. Sam Rainer explored the theme, \u201cThe Neighborhood Church,\u201d identifying strategies to develop a church that is loved and valued by its community. \u201cYour church is not at its address by accident,\u201d he challenged listeners during his opening session. \u201cIf God can save any person, then He can save any church&#8230;.This should be the heart of our ministry.\u201d The president of Church Answers and the lead pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church in Bradenton, Florida, Rainer writes, teaches, speaks, and consults on many issues surrounding church health. The author of nine books and hundreds of articles, he is a frequent speaker and co-hosts the podcast Rainer on Leadership. Rainer spoke five times during the conference, twice during Monday and Tuesday evening keynote sessions, and three sessions Tuesday. (Click the links below to listen to audio recordings of the sessions): Session 1: The Surprising Return of the Neighborhood Church Session 2: The Trends That Can Make or Break Your [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":13581,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leadershipconference"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9070"}],"version-history":[{"count":137,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9070\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14068,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9070\/revisions\/14068"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}