Matt Chandler, Jim Essian, Adam Flynt, & One Mokgatle | Preaching in a Church Plant

Preaching is not just a component; it’s the heartbeat of your church plant’s ministry. We understand that your time for sermon preparation might be constrained, which is why this track is tailored to support communicators at every level of experience. Our goal is to equip you with the tools, techniques, and skills needed to make your preaching thrive, ensuring that your church plant not only survives but flourishes. We will talk about what preaching is, the purpose of preaching, the preacher himself, the preacher’s power, how to prepare sermon series and sermons, the act of preaching itself, and what to do after you preach.

Mark DeYmaz | For the Sake of the Gospel

In an increasingly diverse and cynical society, multiethnic churches are not only beautiful but necessary for the advancement of a credible Gospel. In this workshop, we will explore the biblical mandate and foundational theology upon which such churches can and should be established through planting, revitalization, and transition.

One Mokgatle, Philip Moore, & Scott Zeller | International Partnerships in a Post-Global World

In a season of change in global politics, how can local churches find opportunities for redemptive, missional impact through international partnerships? With complex stories in the news, how can churches respond with clarity? This workshop will explore how to build strategic partnerships while raising the missional awareness of your church for the benefits of planting churches worldwide in our time.

Jason Shepperd | A Practical Tool for Evangelism: Good. God. Gospel.

How can we practically encourage everyone in our church to be an evangelist in their circles of influence? We can start by equipping them with simple tools to help start conversations. Good. God. Gospel. is an approach that everyone in your church can use everywhere, every day. This workshop will help you use this tool to equip your people for comprehensive gospel conversations.

Joel Smyer (National Christian Foundation, Sponsor) | Ministry to High Net Worth Christians

This workshop will examine the National Christian Foundation’s research into high-net-worth Christian families and how churches can be equipped to help those families prayerfully navigate and steward what they have been entrusted with. We will also discuss specific steps churches can take to offer ministries that help prepare these unique families to prayerfully transfer wealth over generations, no matter how each generation views money.

Samaritan’s Purse (Sponsor) | Partnering with Churches to Proclaim the Gospel Worldwide

Come see how God is using Operation Christmas Child to transform the world through Evangelism, Discipleship, and Multiplication. Hear a first-hand account from an actual shoebox recipient.

Sam Allberry | A Better Story: The Gospel and Sexuality, Identity, and Gender Part I

We will be looking at how the Bible’s teaching about sexuality and gender is good news at a time when there is so much confusion and anxiety. Rather than shying away from such contentious topics, we have an opportunity to help people both inside and outside the church “taste and see that the Lord is good.”

Ryan Baitzel | Leading an Evangelistic Church – From Clarity to Culture to Calendar

Most churches try to do too many things at the expense of the main thing. Paring down initiatives results in focus, clarity, and success. Remember why you planted a church? Most likely, the answer was to rescue as many people as possible from hell with the good news of the gospel. This workshop will take some time to focus on God’s heart and the greatest mission in the world: to seek and save the lost.

John Paul Basham (Lifeway, Sponsor) | 5 Ways to Reach Your Community Through Small Groups

Discover five practical strategies for leveraging small groups to strengthen discipleship and multiply your church’s impact. This workshop will equip you with simple, scalable approaches to engage your community and cultivate lasting spiritual growth.

Boyd Bettis | The Nuts + Bolts of Church Planting

A thriving, healthy church plant is composed of many essential elements. This workshop session offers an opportunity to delve into the practical necessities that will help your church plant flourish. Whether you’re in the midst of planting a church or contemplating beginning the journey, this workshop will provide invaluable insights and actionable steps. Join us to explore the key components that will set your church plant on a path to missional effectiveness.

Melissa Cotter, Logan Helm, & Sidney Rowell | Whole Person Discipleship from Birth to Graduation

Too often, kids and student ministries operate independently. But what if we viewed discipleship as one continuous journey, one mission, from birth to graduation? In this workshop, we’ll explore how kids and student ministries can align under one mission, link arms with parents, and build a whole-person discipleship pathway that sets the next generation up for a life of enjoying God, loving people, and making disciples.

Jen Curran | How to Build, Sustain and Grow a Thriving Women’s Ministry

Jen Curran brings 15 years of women’s ministry experience to coach pastors and women on building, sustaining and growing women’s ministries that care for and mobilize women in ways that allow the whole church to thrive. Join her as she shares her years of experience and gives you tools you can begin using in your church today.

Justin Dean (Tithe.ly, Sponsor) | Church Growth & Health in the Age of AI: The Power of Ministry-Centered Technology

Discover how ministry-centered technology—especially the rise of AI—is transforming church growth and health. In this workshop, we’ll explore how tools like online giving, communication platforms, custom apps, and AI-powered solutions can eliminate friction, streamline admin, engage your people, and help you plan effectively for the future. We’ll discuss practical strategies and real examples of how churches are using AI today to amplify ministry, save time, and stay ahead in a rapidly changing world.

Brian Howard | Thriving in the Leader’s Seat: Proven Lessons from 30 Years

Drawing on 30 years of leadership experience and coaching over 1,000 leaders, Brian Howard will unpack the critical skills every leader needs to grow and thrive. This session will explore how to lead with confidence, adapt to change, and inspire the people you serve. Brian will also share fresh, real-time insights into current leadership trends and what he’s learning from leaders across a variety of contexts. Whether you’re navigating challenges or looking to sharpen your skills, you’ll leave with practical tools you can apply immediately.

Steve Bang Lee | How to Become a Leader Worth Reproducing

The future of the church doesn’t rest on talent alone—but on leaders & future planters who possess far more. Whether you’re considering planting or hungry for leadership development, this workshop will help you take intentional steps toward becoming the kind of leader God will use for the long haul.

Dwight Bernier, Adam Ramsey, & Scott Zeller | Church Planting to Cover the Earth with the Gospel as God Has Promised

Harry Li | How to Improve Your Team’s Cultural Intelligence (CQ®)

How can your church more effectively engage a rapidly changing society? Faith-based understanding and application of the Cultural Intelligence (CQ®) Assessment provides data-driven understanding for those seeking to reach all people with the hope of the Gospel. Together we will learn more about how this tool measures (and will improve) your team’s cultural intelligence.

Jeanine Martinez de Urrea | Practical Discipleship for Culturally Diverse Contexts

In today’s culturally diverse world, effective discipleship cannot be one-size-fits-all. This workshop is designed to equip church leaders, planters, and ministry teams with practical, biblical tools for making disciples in culturally diverse contexts. We’ll discuss adaptable guidelines for gospel-centered discipleship that are both theologically grounded and culturally relevant, regardless of your church’s size or age.

Jimmy Needham | 5 Worship Leadership Myths

Good worship leadership is a gift to a church and how we understand that role makes all the difference. What does the Bible really teach about gathered worship, and where does our modern worship culture miss the mark? In this session we will explore five popular but misguided views about worship and worship leading to help you lead your people even better.

John Rinehart (Gospel Patrons, Sponsor) | How to Build Generous Men and Women Who Advance the Gospel

Renaut van der Riet & Carrie Waters | Creating Extravagant Gospel Hospitality and Why it Matters

Sam Allberry | A Better Story: The Gospel and Sexuality, Identity, and Gender Part II

We will be looking at how the Bible’s teaching about sexuality and gender is good news at a time when there is so much confusion and anxiety. Rather than shying away from such contentious topics, we have an opportunity to help people both inside and outside the church “taste and see that the Lord is good.”

Hunter Beaumont, Brian Howard, & Chris Lewis | Breaking the Plateau: How to Get Your Church Growing Again

Many of the reasons churches stop growing are fully within a leader’s control—and they can be overcome. In this session, Acts 29 Board members Chris Lewis and Hunter Beaumont, along with Acts 29 President Brian Howard, will reveal seven common factors that cause churches to plateau. You’ll gain practical strategies to address these barriers, strengthen your leadership, and create renewed momentum. With a mix of real-world examples and biblical wisdom, this session will equip you to lead your church into a healthier, more fruitful season.

Andrea Bowman, Elisha Nanney, & Shelley Rakestraw | Mastering Workflow & Time: Proactive Support for Leaders

Given the ever-changing demands of an assistant’s role, this workshop offers practical solutions to navigate daily priorities. We’ll focus on organizational systems and tools designed to make the assistant’s job easier and more efficient. We’ll discuss valuable insights into prioritization and time management, learning to protect work time, and effective schedule management. Additionally, we’ll cover proactive support & anticipating needs, equipping you to identify administrative requirements and empower leadership to focus on their key objectives.

Cory Butler | More Than a Vibe: Jesus’ Model for Youth Ministry

Whether you’re leading 20 students or 200, your ministry won’t thrive on charisma alone. This workshop will help you build a Jesus-shaped philosophy of ministry that frees you to focus on what matters most—discipleship, not just activity. We’ll explore why investing in volunteer leaders is essential to multiplying impact, avoiding burnout, and leading with joy beyond your own capacity. Come discover how faithfulness to Jesus’ model isn’t just sustainable—it’s the path to real flourishing for you and your students.

Mark DeYmaz & Harry Li | 7 Core Commitments of a Healthy Multiethnic Church 

Mark & Harry have pastored a multiethnic and economically diverse church in the heart of Little Rock’s urban center for 23 years. Come learn what is required both to build and sustain such a church and glean transferable truths from their proven experience that can help you identify and overcome common challenges.

Adam Flynt | Raising $500,000 for Your Church Plant

Fundraising for a new church plant is not only time-consuming and challenging but also often an area where many planters feel under-resourced. This breakout session is designed to provide you with a comprehensive framework and a visionary approach to fundraising. We’ll equip you with the skills, knowledge, and inspiration needed to effectively finance your church plant, turning the challenge of fundraising into an opportunity for mission.

Dave Hanson & Rodney Hobbs | The Mission Needs Buildings: The Importance of Place in Planting

Church planters come loaded with vision—a deep desire to see people meet Jesus and grow in Him—but they often overlook the importance of place. Where your church gathers will shape the future of your ministry as much as your preaching does. In this workshop, we’ll help you think strategically about real estate, development, and the physical place your church calls home!

Matthew Harding | Evangelism as Discipleship – New Resources and Encouragement for a Gospel Weary Church

In this workshop, you will be encouraged to think creatively about helpful resources and tools that disciple the church body in evangelism.

Alan Huerta (Planning Center, Sponsor) | Preparing for Growth With Planning Center

Growth doesn’t happen without preparation. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to set up processes and workflows to welcome people, keep them engaged, and follow up with them. We’ll also explore how to create environments with smooth check-ins and simplified scheduling that make people feel at home from the moment they arrive. We’ll also look at how to take care of your team so they can care for others and avoid burnout.

Jeanine Martinez de Urrea | Digging Deep: Bible Fluency in Discipleship 

Many believers know about the Bible but struggle to live from it. In this workshop, we’ll explore how true discipleship requires moving forward in the path of Bible fluency: understanding, applying, and speaking the truths of Scripture in every area of life. We’ll consider the consequences of a discipleship that has a basic biblical foundation and uncover practical ways to help disciples build deep, resilient lives rooted in the whole counsel of God—so they don’t just know the story, but live it, love it, and speak it naturally.

Dr. Jared Musgrove, (Beta Upsilon Chi, Sponsor) | Groups Planted

Healthy groups are the foundation of a thriving church. No matter where your church stands on the spectrum of healthy groups, this breakout presents over two decades of proven theology, philosophy, and practice for groups ministry. Whether you’re in the early days of planting or you’ve been planted for a while, this is a strategic session for people who love and lead small groups (and for those who want to).

Jim Randall (Auxano, Sponsor) | Sharpening Your Leadership Clarity: The Five Irreducible Questions of Leadership

In today’s complex cultural landscape, leading with clarity is vital for multiplying disciples and churches globally. This workshop will empower you to strengthen your leadership by engaging Auxano’s Five Irreducible Questions of Leadership—a strategic framework designed to realign and fuel your disciple-making and multiplication efforts. Together, we will explore five essential questions: “What, Why, How, When, and Where is God taking your church?” Join this session to sharpen your leadership clarity and conviction so the Gospel’s mission advances boldly and effectively within your ministry context.

Rebecca Wall (With Ministries, Sponsor) | 10 Inclusive + Accessible Things You Can Do By Next Sunday

If your church wants to start a disability program but is unable to hire additional staff, lacks dedicated space, feels too small for a special needs ministry, or if your leadership team hasn’t yet prioritized this area, we’re here to help! We will provide you with practical next steps, inclusive best practices, and creative ideas to start fostering a sense of belonging by next Sunday.

Bruce Wesley | Building Longevity in a Staff

What if you could hire great people and keep them past the average church staff stay of 3.5 years? While there are no guarantees to building a strong and tenured staff, there are practices that help. In this workshop, you will learn how to build a culture that makes great people want to stay on mission with you and your church for the long haul.