GENERAL

Room 31 – Why Unity Matters and What You Can Do To Promote It
Phil Severn, North Park Baptist Church
Unity is so important that Jesus said it is one of the ways the world will know who he is! But what does it practically look like to be church members who build unity rather than discord, practice love instead of judgment, and contribute to an atmosphere of grace and togetherness? (M, W, M/E)

Room 38 – The ABCs of Apparent Biblical Contradictions
Robert Bowman, Institute for Religious Research
There are many apparent contradictions in the Bible. How should we handle these issues? This workshop will encourage believers to approach such matters with the right attitudes and will equip them with principles and strategies any Christian can use.  (G, L, S, M/E)

Room 58 – Supporting Marriage: A Healthy Marriage Model
Ryan Rose, Focus on the Family: Hope Restored
Having a healthy view of marriage is important for the church. This workshop will share a model to talk about marriage that has equipped thousands of couples to recover from the brink of divorce and move toward a marriage in which they honor each other and honor Christ. (D)

DISCIPLESHIP

Room 34 – A Biblical Response to Unwanted Circumstances
Terry Burlingame, Jamestown Baptist Church
The situations and difficulties we face are often not what was planned or expected; they can be difficult and discouraging, confusing and complicated. During this session we will consider how to respond Biblically to make choices which will lead to both pleasing the Lord and giving the believer freedom and encouragement to move forward in a new chapter of life.

Room 52 – True North: Choosing God in the Frustrations of Life
Gary Heim, Magnify Church
Flat tires, wounding words, cranky kids, a troubled marriage…everyone struggles. Learn how to struggle well. When frustrations, pain, and disappointments come, we either turn north to God and respond in helpful ways, or we go south to the false gods of this world and react in hurtful ways. This workshop offers biblical insight, personal examples, and a practical, spiritual roadmap to help you turn to God with every frustration in life so you can grow into a wholehearted follower of Jesus.

Room 64 – Genuine Kindness
Andy Molyneux, First Baptist Church, Mt. Pleasant
The risk of hurting people’s feelings can be scary. It can be so scary that many people end up unknowingly choosing things like bitterness, division, and insincere relationships instead. Be encouraged to remember that a healthy church culture requires humility, love, truth, patience, reconciliation, and genuine kindness. (L)

Room 122 – Getting to the Heart of People’s Problems
Mike Hanson, Biblical Counseling Ministries
People have problems and the church is the place to go! Do you believe this? Or are you feeling not equipped? If you want to grow in your confidence to give Biblical Care and Counsel to your people this workshop is for you.

LEADERSHIP

Room 121 – Leading Within Our Limits
Matt Bell, NorthPointe Christian High School
Establishing a life balance and prioritizing our character is essential to becoming a healthy leader who can care well for others. Drawing from several of the principles found in Paul David Tripp’s book, ‘Lead’, participants will be encouraged and challenged to consider their God-given limits, evaluate a healthy leadership balance, and take a deep look at the importance of character. (L)

MEN’S MINISTRY

Room 30 – 10 Types of Men We All Need in Our Lives
Matt Haviland, Alpha Grand Rapids
A 2019 study found that the average number of lifelong friends is three, and the average American has not made a new friend in five years. Given our commitments to our families, work, and other primary obligations, time for friends can be drastically limited. We need to connect intentionally with these 10 different types of men.

WOMEN’S MINISTRY

Room 32 – Building Better Bible Studies
Marya Jones, Calvary Baptist Church, Greenville
Learn how to choose and plan Bible studies that truly fit your group. Discover how to use study tools wisely, guide prayer time well, and handle common group dynamics—all while keeping your focus on following the Spirit’s lead and pointing women to Jesus. (L, D)

Room 66 – Time is the Enemy
Darlene Larson, Magnify Church
Time is the enemy. A woman can only do so much. Many women work in the home and out of the home. Juggling diverse roles is taxing. And to find an extra night to attend a Bible study or a women’s event at church is just one more thing to add to an already full “to-do” list. Come and learn how to maximize your women’s (events, studies, connection) with a timely and purposeful message that will actually stir hearts to want more of God.

STUDENT MINISTRY

Room 128 – Developing Biblical Community in Youth Ministry
Matthew Tomlinson, Maranatha Bible Church
The concept of community in youth ministry is something that can often be neglected or misunderstood in the church today. How do we think through this biblically? In this workshop, we will outline biblical principles that will inform the need, means, and goals in developing a healthy community in our youth ministries, practical considerations to implement these principles, as well as dangers and misconceptions of which we must be aware.

Room 129 – The Changing Normal: How Development Shapes Discipleship
Caleb Andrist, Lake Ann Camp
Behind every question is a heart seeking truth. This session will help you unlock how age and development shape discipleship, and in turn, lead those seeking truth to a lasting faith. (C, L, M/E)

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

Room 124 – Making Scripture Stick: Teaching Memory Verses with the L.E.A.R.N. Method
Kim Buffinga, MI Bible Clubs
We all know how important it is for children to memorize Scripture—it lays a foundation of truth that will guide them for the rest of their lives. But memorization alone isn’t enough. If children can recite a verse but don’t understand what it means or how to live it out, we’ve missed a key opportunity. That’s where the L.E.A.R.N. method comes in—a simple yet powerful way to break down any Bible verse so kids can understand, remember, and most importantly, apply it in their daily lives. Come join us and discover how easy—and fun—it can be to teach memory verses in a way that reaches hearts, not just heads. (S)

Room 126 – Child Protection in the Local Church
Kevin Trotter, Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP)
This workshop is designed to give leaders in the local church context a basic understanding of the reality of bad actors that target children and how to have a proactive approach to reducing the risk of abuse of a child within the local church. This session will provide the attendee with next steps as they consider what is best for their local church.

MISSIONS & EVANGELISM

Room 54 – Witnessing to Pagan Culture
Robert Gillespie, Reasons for Hope
Perhaps not everyone who says,”I believe in Jesus” is really born again. When witnessing in this pagan culture, there are some important things we should make sure people know. We can’t assume that everyone knows the basics. (D)

Room 56 – Developing a Gospel Training System
Rochelle Visser, Camp Michawana
Stop assuming your volunteers already know how to share the Gospel. Learn how to create a clear, consistent pathway for Gospel training in your church or ministry. We’ll explore simple tools (like the Gospel Colors) and other evangelism methods to help you choose a style that fits your context. Then, walk through practical steps to train, test, and implement a plan that equips every worker to confidently lead someone to Christ.

WORSHIP

Room 50 – Design with Purpose: Planning and Budgeting Your Church Technology the Right Way
Justin Edmonds, Enhance AVL
Join Justin Edmonds from Enhance AVL for a practical session on system design, purchasing, and planning for churches. Learn how to plan your audio/visual systems the right way—whether you’re building, remodeling, upgrading, or planting a church—and how to budget wisely so technology enhances worship instead of distracting from it. This workshop is perfect for pastors, tech leaders, and anyone preparing for their next ministry project. (L)