{"id":9070,"date":"2026-09-01T13:00:47","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T18:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/?p=9070"},"modified":"2026-09-01T13:28:03","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T18:28:03","slug":"leadershipconference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/leadershipconference\/","title":{"rendered":"Leadership Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2026 Leadership Conference will be held December 7-8<\/strong> at the Sonesta Nashville Airport. Dr. Chuck Lawless<\/a><\/span> will be the keynote speaker. Dr. Lawless is Dean of Doctoral Studies and Vice-President for Spiritual Formation at Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. He also serves as team leader for Global Theological Education Strategies for the International Mission Board (SBC).<\/p>\n

Conference Schedule<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Register Now<\/span><\/strong><\/a>
\n(Registration is $285 per person and includes all sessions, conference materials, and four meals.)<\/p>\n

Hotel Reservations<\/a><\/span><\/strong>
\n(The conference rate is $156\/night plus tax and includes complimentary Guest Room WiFi and $5\/night parking)<\/p>\n

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Lawless to Speak at Leadership Conference<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nashville, TN \u2014<\/strong> Dr. Chuck Lawless, senior professor of Evangelism and Missions at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary will headline the 2026 Leadership Conference, December 7-8, at Sonesta Nashville Airport. Pastors and church leaders from across the denomination will gather to examine \u201cChurch Tools: The Basics of Effective Ministry,\u201d a refreshing look at what really matters in ministry. Lawless will speak four times: twice during Monday and Tuesday keynote sessions, along with sessions Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n

Dr. Lawless serves as the dean of Doctoral Studies and the vice-president of Spiritual Formation and Ministry Centers at Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, where he also serves as professor of Evangelism and Missions. Dr. Lawless was awarded an M.Div. and a Ph.D. in Evangelism and Church Growth from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also served as a professor and the dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism. Prior to that, Lawless pastored two Ohio churches. He is a frequent conference speaker and the author of several books, including Discipled Warriors<\/em>, Putting on the Armor<\/em>, Mentor<\/em>, and Nobodies for Jesus<\/em>. Dr. Lawless and his wife, Pam, have been married more than 30 years, and they live in Wake Forest, North Carolina.<\/p>\n

\u201cChuck Lawless brings a strong interest in discipleship and mentoring,\u201d notes Executive Secretary Eddie Moody. \u201cHis perspective as a pastor, educator, and church practitioner are unique, and we encourage Free Will Baptists to take advantage of an opportunity to enjoy hearing Dr. Lawless in person.\u201d<\/p>\n

Five additional seminars from Will Harmon (AR), Dr. Ron Hunter Jr. (TN),\u00a0 Dr. Jeff Manning (NC), Dr. Brad Ransom (TN), and Dr. W. Jackson Watts (MO) will offer practical guidance on topics ranging from discipleship and sermon preparation to church systems and structure. Throughout the conference, attendees will establish and renew friendships over meals, explore new resources from national departments, and enjoy visiting the Nashville area.<\/p>\n

Multiple boards and committees will meet in conjunction with the conference, including the Executive Committee; D6 Family Ministry; Free Will Baptist Foundation; IM, Inc.; North American Ministries; Richland Ave Financial; Welch College; WNAC; the Historical Commission; and state leaders and promotional directors.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeadership Conference is such a great time for \u2018iron to sharpen iron,\u2019\u201d observed conference director Ryan Lewis. \u201cAttendees not only gain valuable insight from speakers and presenters, but they also swap ideas, share burdens, and spend time with others who understand ministry.\u201d<\/p>\n

For updates or registration, visit nafwb.org\/leader\/.<\/p>\n

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2025 Conference Recap and Recordings<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Neighborhood Church | 2025 Leadership Conference<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

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<\/em> person, then He can save any <\/em>church….This should be the heart of our ministry.\u201d<\/p>\n

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<\/em>. Rainer spoke five times during the conference, twice during Monday and Tuesday evening keynote sessions, and three sessions Tuesday.<\/p>\n

(Click the links below to listen to audio recordings of the sessions):<\/p>\n