General Leadership Conferences
LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center: July 10-13, 2009
LifeWay Glorieta Conference Center: July 20-24, 2009
An exciting track for every General Leader! Practical, hands on tracks help you learn how, in today’s world, to connect the Sunday School with its mission focusing on class, community, and commission.
- Pastors
- Ministers of Education
- Sunday School Directors
- Outreach Directors
- Coaching Conference
- General Leadership Electives
- General Leadership Faculty
Pastor, do you want to discover how to look at the work of your Sunday School classes and determine at what level the work of the kingdom and the work of the church they are ministering? Do you want to discover practical handles for moving them from one level to the next? Do you want to establish classes that are taught in a way that lives are dramatically transformed through the study of God’s Word is where they become a caring community of believers that minister to one another inside and outside of the classes and motivate your classes to be become agents of the Great Commission to go beyond the walls of their classrooms? These subjects and much more will form the central discussion for these core conferences.
Saturday, July 11
8:30-9:30 a.m.
General Session for Pastors, Ministers of Education, Sunday School Directors, and Outreach Directors
David Francis, leader
Mountain Laurel Auditorium
During this fast-moving time together, David Francis will introduce the week and overview how you can build a more “connected” Sunday School. You will be guided in using an evaluation tool as you examine these three aspects of the work of your Sunday School
- Class – Focus on leading people to have their lives dramatically transformed through God’s Word
- Community – Focus on building a caring community where members of classes love, accept, minister to, and support each other in and through the work of the class
- Commission – Focus on classes reaching out beyond their members to lost and unchurched friends, relatives, associates, neighbors, and others to minister to their hurts and needs and share the message of Christ
9:45 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Building Sunday School Classes that Dramatically Transform Lives Through the Teaching of God’s Word
Brett Robbe, leader
Mountain Laurel 4
Does it burn in your pastor’s heart to see the teaching in your Sunday School make a dramatic difference in people’s lives? Do you desire to see every area in the life of your Sunday School teach God’s Word in a way that effectively engages people in life-changing, life-transforming Bible study? Are you searching for specific ways you can impact the work of your Sunday School classes and the teaching taking place? If so, this session is just what you want. During this session you will learn what to look for to determine whether effective teaching is taking place, learn how to lead your teachers to understand the purpose of life-transforming teaching, discover a variety of ways you can equip your teachers to prepare and teach more effectively, and learn how an effective atmosphere, equipment, and resources can have a dramatic affect on lives. During this session you will learn to help your teacher understand how to move a class from teaching just the information of the Scripture to leading class members and others to experience the truly transformational power of the Scripture. You will explore the Sunday School ministry and how the organization and design of the class structure allows for the member to continue in Bible living, not just participate in Bible study.
Sunday, July 12
8:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Transforming Each of Your Sunday School Classes into Caring Communities that Minister, Love, and Nurture
Brett Robbe, leader
Mountain Laurel 4
Isn’t it wonderful when you see Sunday School classes and departments that not only teach God’s Word in a way that transforms lives but also are communities of people that love and care for one another. But how do you help classes, whether they are teachers who richly love and care for babies or the oldest adults, minister to, watch out for, and love one another. During this session you will take a look at your Sunday School classes to determine how much of a community they have become. You will explore the range of the work of community. You will explore the practical understandings you can convey to teachers that will provide new focus and understanding of this vital part of the work of the Sunday School. You will determine the steps you can and will take to turn each of your classes into caring communities. This session will explore the Sunday School ministry and its individual class commitment to being a part of a community of healthy and transformed individuals who care for and commit to ministering to one another.
2:00 – 4:15 p.m.
Fulfilling God’s Commission to Reach Beyond the Walls to Minister, Reach, and Witness to a Lost and Unchurched World
Brett Robbe, Leader
Mountain Laurel 4
Your Sunday School classes can and should be the leading avenue reaching beyond the walls of your church. They should sense God’s commission to touch people who need the message of Christ, who need the ministry of the church, and who need to care of their class. This exciting session will help you understand how you can help classes develop a greater heart for the Great Commission, and gain a greater understanding of how their class can be used by God. You will have the opportunity to explore how you can motivate, organize, train, and engage Sunday School classes in this essential and vital ministry of your Sunday School. This session will explore the Sunday School ministry and the commission given to the class to pray, go, and share with others the transformational love of Jesus.
Monday, July 13
8:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Critical Issues for Sunday School in the Future
Ed Stetzer and David Francis, leaders
Mountain Laurel Auditorium
What a marvelous way to close out your Ridgecrest experience. This two-hour session will be a practical interactive discussion of key issues related to Sunday School in the future and exploration of specific steps that can be taken now to address those issues. Led by Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, and David Francis, director of Sunday School work for LifeWay and our convention, this session promises to be informative, practical, interesting, and fun. It will be a session that you will say to others, “you should have been there.”
Tuesday, July 21
9:15-10:15 a.m.
General Session for Pastors, Ministers of Education, Sunday School Directors, and Outreach Directors
David Francis, leader
Holcomb 403-406
During this fast-moving time together, David Francis will introduce the week and overview how you can build a more “connected” Sunday School. You will be guided in using an evaluation tool as you examine these three aspects of the work of your Sunday School
- Class – Focus on leading people to have their lives dramatically transformed through God’s Word
- Community – Focus on building a caring community where members of classes love, accept, minister to, and support each other in and through the work of the class
- Commission – Focus on classes reaching out beyond their members to lost and unchurched friends, relatives, associates, neighbors, and others to minister to their hurts and needs and share the message of Christ
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Building Sunday School Classes that Dramatically Transform Lives Through the Teaching of God’s Word
Ken Marler and Brett Robbe, leaders
Holcomb 401-402
Does it burn in your pastor’s heart to see the teaching in your Sunday School make a dramatic difference in people’s lives? Do you desire to see every area in the life of your Sunday School teach God’s Word in a way that effectively engages people in life-changing, life-transforming Bible study? Are you searching for specific ways you can impact the work of your Sunday School classes and the teaching taking place? If so, this session is just what you want. During this session you will learn what to look for to determine whether effective teaching is taking place, learn how to lead your teachers to understand the purpose of life-transforming teaching, discover a variety of ways you can equip your teachers to prepare and teach more effectively, and learn how an effective atmosphere, equipment, and resources can have a dramatic affect on lives. During this session you will learn to help your teacher understand how to move a class from teaching just the information of the Scripture to leading class members and others to experience the truly transformational power of the Scripture. You will explore the Sunday School ministry and how the organization and design of the class structure allows for the member to continue in Bible living, not just participate in Bible study.
Wednesday, July 22
9:15 – 12:00 noon
Transforming Each of Your Sunday School Classes into Caring Communities that Minister, Love, and Nurture
Ken Marler and Brett Robbe, leaders
Holcomb 401-402
Isn’t it wonderful when you see Sunday School classes and departments that not only teach God’s Word in a way that transforms lives but also are communities of people that love and care for one another. But how do you help classes, whether they are teachers who richly love and care for babies or the oldest adults, minister to, watch out for, and love one another. During this session you will take a look at your Sunday School classes to determine how much of a community they have become. You will explore the range of the work of community. You will explore the practical understandings you can convey to teachers that will provide new focus and understanding of this vital part of the work of the Sunday School. You will determine the steps you can and will take to turn each of your classes into caring communities. This session will explore the Sunday School ministry and its individual class commitment to being a part of a community of healthy and transformed individuals who care for and commit to ministering to one another.
Thursday, July 23
9:15 – 12:00 noon
Fulfilling God’s Commission to Reach Beyond the Walls to Minister, Reach, and Witness to a Lost and Unchurched World
Ken Marler and Brett Robbe, leaders
Holcomb 401-402
Your Sunday School classes can and should be the leading avenue reaching beyond the walls of your church. They should sense God’s commission to touch people who need the message of Christ, who need the ministry of the church, and who need to care of their class. This exciting session will help you understand how you can help classes develop a greater heart for the Great Commission, and gain a greater understanding of how their class can be used by God. You will have the opportunity to explore how you can motivate, organize, train, and engage Sunday School classes in this essential and vital ministry of your Sunday School. This session will explore the Sunday School ministry and the commission given to the class to pray, go, and share with others the transformational love of Jesus.
Friday, July 24
8:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Critical Issues for Sunday School in the Future
Ed Stetzer and David Francis, leaders
Holcomb 403-406
What a marvelous way to close out your experience. This two-hour session will be a practical interactive discussion of key issues related to Sunday School in the future and exploration of specific steps that can be taken now to address those issues. Led by Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, and David Francis, director of Sunday School work for LifeWay and our convention, this session promises to be informative, practical, interesting, and fun. It will be a session that you will say to others, “you should have been there.”
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Minister of Education Conferences
Practical, interactive, involved are words that describe the experience planned for ministers of education.
You will be fully engaged through the leadership of Bob Mayfield, director of Sunday School work for Baptists in Oklahoma (and a former effective minister of education) and Rob Patterson, a minister of education from Bowling Green, Kentucky. Both Bob and Rob have led and are leading Sunday Schools that have experienced exceptional growth as they connected with their community.
The three core sessions for ministers of education will explore the work of your Sunday School in light of three key concept areas
- Class – Getting an accurate picture of the level of teaching being done in your Sunday School and how effectively to move your Sunday School classes from simply transferring information to being truely used by God for spiritual transformation
- Community – How you can impact classes, leaders, and members in a way that leads them to become caring communities that pray for, minister to, support, and love one another
- Commission – How to lead Sunday School classes, leaders, and members to see their work as not merely confined to the members of the class and the walls of the classroom but to have a passion to touch the lives of lost, hurting, and unchurched people beyond the classroom
Saturday, July 11
8:30-9:30 a.m.
General Session for Pastors, Ministers of Education, Sunday School Directors, and Outreach Directors
David Francis, leader
Mountain Laurel Auditorium
During this fast-moving time together, David Francis will introduce the week and overview how you can build a more “connected” Sunday School. You will be guided in using an evaluation tool as you examine these three aspects of the work of your Sunday School
- Class – Focus on leading people to have their lives dramatically transformed through God’s Word
- Community – Focus on building a caring community where members of classes love, accept, minister to, and support each other in and through the work of the class
- Commission – Focus on classes reaching out beyond their members to lost and unchurched friends, relatives, associates, neighbors, and others to minister to their hurts and needs and share the message of Christ
9:45 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Building Sunday School Classes that Dramatically Transform Lives Through the Teaching of God’s Word
Bob Mayfield and Rob Patterson, leaders
Mountain Laurel Auditorium
Does it burn in your heart to see the teaching in your Sunday School make a dramatic difference in the lives of people? Do you desire to see every area in the life of your Sunday School teach God’s Word in a way that effectively engages that group in life-changing, life-transforming Bible study? As a minister of education, are you searching for specific ways you can impact the work of your Sunday School classes and the teaching taking place? If you are, then this session is just what you want. During this session you will
- Explore and discuss what to look for to know if effective teaching is taking place
- Learn how to lead your teachers to understand the purpose of life-transforming teaching
- Discover a variety of ways you can equip your teachers to prepare and teach more effectively
- Learn how an effective atmosphere, equipment, and resources can have a dramatic effect on lives
During this session you will learn to help your teachers understand how to move a class from teaching just the information of the Scripture to leading class members and others to experience the truly transformational power of the Scripture.
Sunday, July 12
8:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Transforming Each of Your Sunday School Classes into Caring Communities that Minister, Love, and Nurture
Bob Mayfield and Rob Patterson, leaders
Mountain Laurel Auditorium
Isn’t it wonderful when you see Sunday School classes and departments that not only teach God’s Word in a way that transforms lives but also are communities of people who love and care for one another. But how do you help classes — whether they are the teachers of babies or the oldest adults — to minister to, watch out for, and love one another? During this session you will explore and discuss how you can determine the level of community your Sunday School classes have become. You will explore the range of the work of community. You will explore the practical understanding you can convey to teachers that will provide new focus and understanding of this vital part of the work of the Sunday School. And you will determine the steps you can and will take to turn each of your classes into caring communities.
2:00 – 4:15 p.m.
Fulfilling God’s Commission to Reach Beyond the Walls to Minister, Reach, and Witness to a Lost and Unchurched World
Bob Mayfield and Rob Patterson, leaders
Mountain Laurel Auditorium
Your Sunday School classes can, and should be, the leading avenue reaching beyond the walls of your church. They should sense the commission of God to touch people who need the message of Christ, the ministry of the church, and the care of their class. This exciting session will engage you in exploring ways you can help classes develop a greater heart for the Great Commission and a greater understanding of how their classes can be used by God. You will have the opportunity to explore and discuss how you can motivate, organize, train, and engage Sunday School classes in this essential and vital ministry of your Sunday School.
Monday, July 13
8:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Critical Issues for Sunday School in the Future
Ed Stetzer and David Francis, leaders
Mountain Laurel Auditorium
What a marvelous way to close out your Ridgecrest experience. This two-hour session will be a practical interactive discussion of key issues related to Sunday School in the future and exploration of specific steps that can be taken now to address those issues. Led by Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, and David Francis, director of Sunday School work for LifeWay and our convention, this session promises to be informative, practical, interesting, and fun. It will be a session that you will say to others, “you should have been there.”
Tuesday, July 21
9:15-10:15 a.m.
General Session for Pastors, Ministers of Education, Sunday School Directors, and Outreach Directors
David Francis, leader
Holcomb 403-406
During this fast-moving time together, David Francis will introduce the week and overview how you can build a more “connected” Sunday School. You will be guided in using an evaluation tool as you examine these three aspects of the work of your Sunday School
- Class – Focus on leading people to have their lives dramatically transformed through God’s Word
- Community – Focus on building a caring community where members of classes love, accept, minister to, and support each other in and through the work of the class
- Commission – Focus on classes reaching out beyond their members to lost and unchurched friends, relatives, associates, neighbors, and others to minister to their hurts and needs and share the message of Christ
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Building Sunday School Classes that Dramatically Transform Lives Through the Teaching of God’s Word
Bob Mayfield and Rob Patterson, leaders
Holcomb 405-406
Does it burn in your heart to see the teaching in your Sunday School make a dramatic difference in the lives of people? Do you desire to see every area in the life of your Sunday School teach God’s Word in a way that effectively engages that group in life-changing, life-transforming Bible study? As a minister of education, are you searching for specific ways you can impact the work of your Sunday School classes and the teaching taking place? If you are, then this session is just what you want. During this session you will
- Explore and discuss what to look for to know if effective teaching is taking place
- Learn how to lead your teachers to understand the purpose of life-transforming teaching
- Discover a variety of ways you can equip your teachers to prepare and teach more effectively
- Learn how an effective atmosphere, equipment, and resources can have a dramatic effect on lives
During this session you will learn to help your teachers understand how to move a class from teaching just the information of the Scripture to leading class members and others to experience the truly transformational power of the Scripture.
Wednesday, July 22
9:15 – 12:00 noon
Transforming Each of Your Sunday School Classes into Caring Communities that Minister, Love, and Nurture
Bob Mayfield and Rob Patterson, leaders
Holcomb 405-406
Isn’t it wonderful when you see Sunday School classes and departments that not only teach God’s Word in a way that transforms lives but also are communities of people who love and care for each other. But how do you help classes — whether they are the teachers of babies or the oldest adults — to minister to, watch out for, and love one another? During this session you will explore and discuss how you can determine the level of community your Sunday School classes have become. You will explore the range of the work of community. You will explore the practical understanding you can convey to teachers that will provide new focus and understanding of this vital part of the work of the Sunday School. And you will determine the steps you can and will take to turn each of your classes into caring communities.
Thursday, July 23
9:15 – 12:00 noon
Fulfilling God’s Commission to Reach Beyond the Walls to Minister, Reach, and Witness to a Lost and Unchurched World
Bob Mayfield and Rob Patterson, leaders
Holcomb 405-406
Your Sunday School classes can and should be the leading avenue reaching beyond the walls of your church. They should sense God’s commission to touch people who need the message of Christ, who need the ministry of the church, and who need to care of their class. This exciting session will help you understand how you can help classes develop a greater heart for the Great Commission, and gain a greater understanding of how their class can be used by God. You will have the opportunity to explore how you can motivate, organize, train, and engage Sunday School classes in this essential and vital ministry of your Sunday School.
Friday, July 24
8:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Critical Issues for Sunday School in the Future
Ed Stetzer and David Francis, leaders
Holcomb 403-406
What a marvelous way to close out your experience. This two-hour session will be a practical interactive discussion of key issues related to Sunday School in the future and exploration of specific steps that can be taken now to address those issues. Led by Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, and David Francis, director of Sunday School work for LifeWay and our convention, this session promises to be informative, practical, interesting, and fun. It will be a session that you will say to others, “you should have been there.”
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Sunday School Director Conferences
As a Sunday School director, you are in for some of the most helpful and creative days of training ever. Under the leadership of John Boone, Doug Watkins, and David Moore (Ridgecrest) or Sean Keith and Jeff Ingram (Glorieta), you will discover the practical principles of building a strong connect Sunday School and how to carry out those principles through your role as a Sunday School director. These three sessions will be unlike anything you have experienced before. During these three sessions you will identify the “level” (class, community, commission) at which your Sunday School classes are currently functioning, discover ideas for operating on each level with greater meaning, and determine how you can move to a higher level and function there more effectively.
Saturday, July 11
8:30-9:30 a.m.
General Session for Pastors, Ministers of Education, Sunday School Directors, and Outreach Directors
David Francis, leader
Mountain Laurel Auditorium
During this fast-moving time together, David Francis will introduce the week and overview how you can build a more “connected” Sunday School. You will be guided in using an evaluation tool as you examine these three aspects of the work of your Sunday School
- Class – Focus on leading people to have their lives dramatically transformed through God’s Word
- Community – Focus on building a caring community where members of classes love, accept, minister to, and support each other in and through the work of the class
- Commission – Focus on classes reaching out beyond their members to lost and unchurched friends, relatives, associates, neighbors, and others to minister to their hurts and needs and share the message of Christ
9:45 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Building Sunday School Classes that Dramatically Transform Lives Through the Teaching of God’s Word
John Boone, Doug Watkins, and David Moore, leaders
Mountain Laurel 1-3
Does it burn in your heart to see the teaching in your Sunday School make a dramatic difference in the lives of people? Do you desire to see every area in the life of your Sunday School teach God’s Word in a way that effectively engages that group in life-changing, life-transforming Bible study? As a Sunday School director, are you searching for specific ways you can impact the work of your Sunday School classes and the teaching taking place? If you are, then this session is just what you want. During this session you will
- Explore and discuss what to look for to know if effective teaching is taking place
- Learn how to lead your teachers to understand the purpose of life-transforming teaching
- Discover a variety of ways you can equip your teachers to prepare and teach more effectively
- Learn how an effective atmosphere, equipment, and resources can have a dramatic effect on lives
During this session you will learn to help your teachers understand how to move a class from teaching just the information of the Scripture to leading class members and others to experience the truly transformational power of the Scripture.
Sunday, July 12
8:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Transforming Each of Your Sunday School Classes into Caring Communities that Minister, Love, and Nurture
John Boone, Doug Watkins, and David Moore, leaders
Mountain Laurel 1-3
Isn’t it wonderful when you see Sunday School classes and departments that not only teach God’s Word in a way that transforms lives but also are communities of people who love and care for one another. But how do you help classes — whether they are the teachers of babies or the oldest adults — to minister to, watch out for, and love one another? During this session you will explore and discuss how you can determine the level of community your Sunday School classes have become. You will explore the range of the work of community. You will explore the practical understanding you can convey to teachers that will provide new focus and understanding of this vital part of the work of the Sunday School. And you will determine the steps you can and will take to turn each of your classes into caring communities.
2:00 – 4:15 p.m.
Fulfilling God’s Commission to Reach Beyond the Walls to Minister, Reach, and Witness to a Lost and Unchurched World
John Boone, Doug Watkins, and David Moore, leaders
Mountain Laurel 1-3
Your Sunday School classes can, and should be, the leading avenue reaching beyond the walls of your church. They should sense the commission of God to touch people who need the message of Christ, the ministry of the church, and the care of their class. This exciting session will engage you in exploring ways you can help classes develop a greater heart for the Great Commission and a greater understanding of how their classes can be used by God. You will have the opportunity to explore and discuss how you can motivate, organize, train, and engage Sunday School classes in this essential and vital ministry of your Sunday School.
Monday, July 13
8:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Critical Issues for Sunday School in the Future
Ed Stetzer and David Francis, leaders
Mountain Laurel Auditorium
What a marvelous way to close out your Ridgecrest experience. This two-hour session will be a practical interactive discussion of key issues related to Sunday School in the future and exploration of specific steps that can be taken now to address those issues. Led by Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, and David Francis, director of Sunday School work for LifeWay and our convention, this session promises to be informative, practical, interesting, and fun. It will be a session that you will say to others, “you should have been there.”
Tuesday, July 21
9:15-10:15 a.m.
General Session for Pastors, Ministers of Education, Sunday School Directors, and Outreach Directors
David Francis, leader
Holcomb 403-406
During this fast-moving time together, David Francis will introduce the week and overview how you can build a more “connected” Sunday School. You will be guided in using an evaluation tool as you examine these three aspects of the work of your Sunday School
- Class – Focus on leading people to have their lives dramatically transformed through God’s Word
- Community – Focus on building a caring community where members of classes love, accept, minister to, and support each other in and through the work of the class
- Commission – Focus on classes reaching out beyond their members to lost and unchurched friends, relatives, associates, neighbors, and others to minister to their hurts and needs and share the message of Christ
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Building Sunday School Classes that Dramatically Transform Lives Through the Teaching of God’s Word
Sean Keith and Jeff Ingram, leaders
Holcomb 403-404
Does it burn in your heart to see the teaching in your Sunday School make a dramatic difference in the lives of people? Do you desire to see every area in the life of your Sunday School teach God’s Word in a way that effectively engages that group in life-changing, life-transforming Bible study? As a Sunday School director, are you searching for specific ways you can impact the work of your Sunday School classes and the teaching taking place? If you are, then this session is just what you want. During this session you will
- Explore and discuss what to look for to know if effective teaching is taking place
- Learn how to lead your teachers to understand the purpose of life-transforming teaching
- Discover a variety of ways you can equip your teachers to prepare and teach more effectively
- Learn how an effective atmosphere, equipment, and resources can have a dramatic effect on lives
During this session you will learn to help your teachers understand how to move a class from teaching just the information of the Scripture to leading class members and others to experience the truly transformational power of the Scripture.
Wednesday, July 22
9:15 – 12:00 noon
Transforming Each of Your Sunday School Classes into Caring Communities that Minister, Love, and Nurture
Sean Keith and Jeff Ingram, leaders
Holcomb 403-404
Isn’t it wonderful when you see Sunday School classes and departments that not only teach God’s Word in a way that transforms lives but also are communities of people who love and care for each other. But how do you help classes — whether they are the teachers of babies or the oldest adults — to minister to, watch out for, and love one another? During this session you will explore and discuss how you can determine the level of community your Sunday School classes have become. You will explore the range of the work of community. You will explore the practical understanding you can convey to teachers that will provide new focus and understanding of this vital part of the work of the Sunday School. And you will determine the steps you can and will take to turn each of your classes into caring communities.
Thursday, July 23
9:15 – 12:00 noon
Fulfilling God’s Commission to Reach Beyond the Walls to Minister, Reach, and Witness to a Lost and Unchurched World
Sean Keith and Jeff Ingram, leaders
Holcomb 403-404
Your Sunday School classes can and should be the leading avenue reaching beyond the walls of your church. They should sense God’s commission to touch people who need the message of Christ, who need the ministry of the church, and who need to care of their class. This exciting session will help you understand how you can help classes develop a greater heart for the Great Commission, and gain a greater understanding of how their class can be used by God. You will have the opportunity to explore how you can motivate, organize, train, and engage Sunday School classes in this essential and vital ministry of your Sunday School.
Friday, July 24
8:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Critical Issues for Sunday School in the Future
Ed Stetzer and David Francis, leaders
Holcomb 403-406
What a marvelous way to close out your experience. This two-hour session will be a practical interactive discussion of key issues related to Sunday School in the future and exploration of specific steps that can be taken now to address those issues. Led by Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, and David Francis, director of Sunday School work for LifeWay and our convention, this session promises to be informative, practical, interesting, and fun. It will be a session that you will say to others, “you should have been there.”
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“More time and energy are expended talking about outreach in my Sunday School than are actually spent doing outreach.” If this statement is descriptive of the outreach strategy in your Sunday School, then this conference is for you. General outreach directors, evangelism directors, others with outreach responsibilities, as well as Sunday School directors, will find value in learning how to develop a comprehensive outreach strategy for the church. We will explore the influence that class, community, and commission have in Sunday School outreach. We will discover the relationship between care-giving and assimilation. The take away from this conference will be the ability to identify components of a healthy outreach strategy and the know how to develop and implement an outreach plan for your Sunday School at home.
Saturday, July 11
8:30-9:30 a.m.
General Session for Pastors, Ministers of Education, Sunday School Directors, and Outreach Directors
David Francis, leader
Mountain Laurel Auditorium
During this fast-moving time together, David Francis will introduce the week and overview how you can build a more “connected” Sunday School. You will be guided in using an evaluation tool as you examine these three aspects of the work of your Sunday School
- Class – Focus on leading people to have their lives dramatically transformed through God’s Word
- Community – Focus on building a caring community where members of classes love, accept, minister to, and support each other in and through the work of the class
- Commission – Focus on classes reaching out beyond their members to lost and unchurched friends, relatives, associates, neighbors, and others to minister to their hurts and needs and share the message of Christ
9:45 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Discovering an Approach to Sunday School Outreach Focused on Committed Leaders and Shared Responsibility
Dean Abernathy, leader
Mountain Laurel 5
Join us as we unveil the primary components of a Sunday School outreach strategy. We’ll explore how effective outreach components are a part of conversation, community, and conversion. Discover how essential the Sunday School outreach leader’s role is in the life of the Sunday School. Help the group be proactive as we identify the outreach issues that need improvement in your Sunday School and as we seek solutions together.
Sunday, July 12
8:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Who Are You Trying to Reach Through Your Sunday School Outreach Actions? Welcome and Assimilation Actions Must Complement Our Outreach
Dean Abernathy, leader
Mountain Laurel 5
When was the last time you evaluated the “curb appeal” of your Sunday School? Do your classes exhibit flexibility and openness for those in your community who need to be reached? We’ll learn how to establish, use, and maintain a viable prospect file system. How is the prospect file related to the class list and the ministry list? We’ll investigate the role of class care groups in a healthy outreach strategy.
2:00 – 4:15 p.m.
What Have We Learned That Will Make a Difference in the Outreach Strategy in Your Sunday School? You Can Be a Catalyst for Better Outreach Through Your Sunday School. Is Evangelism a Part of Your Outreach Strategy?
Dean Abernathy, leader
Mountain Laurel 5
How can we influence our leaders and members to be evangelistic through the Sunday School? We will focus on how you can implement the truths you’ve learned about outreach through your Sunday School. We will walk through the steps the outreach leader can take that will result in more outreach participation and more productive outreach actions.
Monday, July 13
8:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Critical Issues for Sunday School in the Future
Ed Stetzer and David Francis, leaders
Holcomb 403-406
What a marvelous way to close out your experience. This two-hour session will be a practical interactive discussion of key issues related to Sunday School in the future and exploration of specific steps that can be taken now to address those issues. Led by Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, and David Francis, director of Sunday School work for LifeWay and our convention, this session promises to be informative, practical, interesting, and fun. It will be a session that you will say to others, “you should have been there.”
Tuesday, July 21
9:15-10:15 a.m.
General Session for Pastors, Ministers of Education, Sunday School Directors, and Outreach Directors
David Francis, leader
Holcomb 403-406
During this fast-moving time together, David Francis will introduce the week and overview how you can build a more “connected” Sunday School. You will be guided in using an evaluation tool as you examine these three aspects of the work of your Sunday School
- Class – Focus on leading people to have their lives dramatically transformed through God’s Word
- Community – Focus on building a caring community where members of classes love, accept, minister to, and support each other in and through the work of the class
- Commission – Focus on classes reaching out beyond their members to lost and unchurched friends, relatives, associates, neighbors, and others to minister to their hurts and needs and share the message of Christ
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Discovering an Approach to Sunday School Outreach Focused on Committed Leaders and Shared Responsibility
Dean Abernathy, leader
Holcomb 407-408
Join us as we unveil the primary components of a Sunday School outreach strategy. We’ll explore how effective outreach components are a part of conversation, community, and conversion. Discover how essential the Sunday School outreach leader’s role is in the life of the Sunday School. Help the group be proactive as we identify the outreach issues that need improvement in your Sunday School and as we seek solutions together.
Wednesday, July 22
9:15 – 12:00 noon
Who Are You Trying to Reach Through Your Sunday School Outreach Actions? Welcome and Assimilation Actions Must Complement Our Outreach
Dean Abernathy, leader
Holcomb 407-408
When was the last time you evaluated the “curb appeal” of your Sunday School? Do your classes exhibit flexibility and openness for those in your community who need to be reached? We’ll learn how to establish, use, and maintain a viable prospect file system. How is the prospect file related to the class list and the ministry list? We’ll investigate the role of class care groups in a healthy outreach strategy.
Thursday, July 23
9:15 – 12:00 noon
What Have We Learned That Will Make a Difference in the Outreach Strategy in Your Sunday School? You Can Be a Catalyst for Better Outreach Through Your Sunday School. Is Evangelism a Part of Your Outreach Strategy?
Dean Abernathy, leader
Holcomb 407-408
How can we influence our leaders and members to be evangelistic through the Sunday School? We will focus on how you can implement the truths you’ve learned about outreach through your Sunday School. We will walk through the steps the outreach leader can take that will result in more outreach participation and more productive outreach actions.
Friday, July 24
8:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Critical Issues for Sunday School in the Future
Ed Stetzer and David Francis, leaders
Holcomb 403-406
What a marvelous way to close out your experience. This two-hour session will be a practical interactive discussion of key issues related to Sunday School in the future and exploration of specific steps that can be taken now to address those issues. Led by Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, and David Francis, director of Sunday School work for LifeWay and our convention, this session promises to be informative, practical, interesting, and fun. It will be a session that you will say to others, “you should have been there.”
Electives | Faculty | Return to top
Coaching is moving people toward God’s preferred purpose through intentional conversations. Growth requires a transformation through relationships with God and others and coaching equips leaders in the process of personal transformation so they will be more effective in leading the Sunday School. Coaching is the catalyst that takes Sunday School leaders to the next level of productivity. John McInnis, a certified coach trainer who serves church leaders through the Florida Baptist Convention Sunday School Department, will equip Sunday School leaders to understand the purposes, competencies, and practical skills of leadership coaching. During the three training sessions, Sunday School leaders will learn how coaching applies to real ministry situations. The benefits and values of coaching as a leadership development process will also be explored. Sunday School leaders will learn the primary skills of discovery listening, asking powerful questions, and goal setting. Leaders will experience an exciting learning process as they discover the value of coaching to enhance the quality of leaders and improve Sunday School. Leaders will develop a plan to employ coaching in their Sunday School and small groups ministry.
Saturday, July 11
8:30-9:30 a.m.
General Session for Pastors, Ministers of Education, Sunday School Directors, and Outreach Directors
David Francis, leader
Mountain Laurel Auditorium
During this fast-moving time together, David Francis will introduce the week and overview how you can build a more “connected” Sunday School. You will be guided in using an evaluation tool as you examine these three aspects of the work of your Sunday School
- Class – Focus on leading people to have their lives dramatically transformed through God’s Word
- Community – Focus on building a caring community where members of classes love, accept, minister to, and support each other in and through the work of the class
- Commission – Focus on classes reaching out beyond their members to lost and unchurched friends, relatives, associates, neighbors, and others to minister to their hurts and needs and share the message of Christ
9:45 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Building a Coaching Culture for Sunday School and Small Group Ministry
John McInnis, leader
Mountain Laurel 7
As a Sunday School leader are you searching for specific ways you can develop leaders who will enhance the work of your Sunday School classes and small group ministry? If so, this session is just what you need. During this session you will learn how to apply foundational principles of coaching to real life. You will learn the definitions of Christian coaching and how to determine when coaching is effective in helping people in contrast to other tools such as counseling, mentoring, discipling and supervising. You will learn the value and benefits of various types of coaching to build up individuals, class and small group members, and leadership teams. You will explore the role of Jesus as a coach and examine Scriptures that demonstrate His coaching style. You will apply the foundational principles and processes of leadership coaching to real ministry scenarios in order to connect the practice of coaching to your role in Sunday School.
Sunday, July 12
8:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Developing Coaching Skills to Transform Sunday School and Small Group Leaders and Members
John McInnis, leader
Mountain Laurel 7
The most effective coaches learn to listen for discovery, ask powerful questions, and set action goals. In this session you will learn how to use the skill of discovery listening as the basis for building trusting relationships with people you coach. You will also explore how to ask open questions in guiding the person being coached to find the best solutions to the areas needing the most improvement. You will also learn how to lead persons being coached to set appropriate goals and actions to bring about significant improvement in their role as Sunday School and small group leaders. You will learn the power of the coaching process as you understand the value of supporting, encouraging, and holding accountable the persons being coached.
2:00 – 4:15 p.m.
Starting a Coaching Strategy for Your Sunday School and Small Group Ministry
John McInnis, leader
Mountain Laurel 7
Beginning a coaching process for your Sunday School leaders and members requires intentional commitment, planning and training. In this session, you will have the opportunity to apply the coaching skills in a practice coaching session in order to develop better coaching skills. You will examine the four key steps in planning your the first coaching session with Sunday School leaders in your church and how to develop a coaching agreement with those leaders. You will also discover the basic elements in a coach multiplication strategy that will expand the impact of coaching as a valuable leader improvement tool in your Sunday School and small group ministry. You will learn about resources and training systems you can use to continue to grow in your coaching competencies.
Monday, July 13
8:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Critical Issues for Sunday School in the Future
Ed Stetzer and David Francis, leaders
Mountain Laurel Auditorium
What a marvelous way to close out your Ridgecrest experience. This two-hour session will be a practical interactive discussion of key issues related to Sunday School in the future and exploration of specific steps that can be taken now to address those issues. Led by Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, and David Francis, director of Sunday School work for LifeWay and our convention, this session promises to be informative, practical, interesting, and fun. It will be a session that you will say to others, “you should have been there.”
Electives | Faculty | Return to top
Saturday, July 11
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Connect3: The Power of One Sunday School Class
Daniel Edmonds, leader
Mountain Laurel Auditorium
One of the gifts you have received this week is a copy of the exciting new book Connect3. During this two-hour conference you will have the opportunity to explore this new book exploring the "connect" or ministry dimension of the work of the Sunday School. You will discover the three levels of work of classes: class, community, and commission, and where your classes function. You'll begin to understand the biblical mandates for each of these levels: Great Confession, Great Commandment, Great Commission. You'll grow to understand the focus of your Sunday School as member, or minister, or missionary. You'll look at the organization needed for each of the three levels. All of this plus much, much more make this practical study time well spent. (continued at 3:15 p.m.)
Moving Through Sunday School Growth Barriers
John Boone, leader
Mountain Laurel 3
Sunday Schools face barriers both organizationally and motivationally. This conference will help you recognize barriers faced by your Sunday School and determine practical steps in overcoming them.
Starting Off-Campus Small Groups and Keeping Them Healthy
Brian Upshaw, leader
Mountain Laurel 9
For many churches one of the most exciting expansions of their Bible teaching ministry is the starting of new, dynamic, off-campus small groups throughout the week. During this session we will examine steps you can take to start those groups in a way that better assures their effectiveness. We will also examine principles for keeping the groups healthy.
How to Ensure Lifelong Spiritual Growth in Your Members
Bret Robbe, leader
Mountain Laurel 4
The Sunday School leader’s responsibility for teaching for spiritual transformation is a lifelong process from the first time a baby is entrusted to your care to the oldest adult’s final days on earth. Come learn how you can ensure that this process begins and continues throughout the life of an individual.
The Best Practices of Missional Churches
Doug Watkins, leader
Mountain Laurel 8
Missional churches vary greatly, but they do practice many common elements. Come and discover the common elements of missional churches and how to develop missional Christ followers through your Sunday School/small groups ministry.
How to Infuse Heart into Your Sunday School and Care for Individuals
Rob Patterson, leader
Mountain Laurel 2
Essential to building a Sunday School that feels responsible for people and that connects with people is a heart for people. The questions are: How do you build a Sunday School that is concerned about people? and, How do you mobilize that concern? This conference will answer those two questions.
Moving People from VBS to Sunday School
Belinda Jolley, leader
Mountain Laurel 1
Develop your church strategy for connecting prospects discovered during VBS to Sunday School. You'll discover great ideas for coordinating follow up strategies before, during, and after VBS to involve all family members in ongoing Bible study beyond VBS. A heavy emphasis on mobilizing adult classes at all stages of follow up may be the missing piece of the puzzle.
Using Five Key Growth Criteria (Flake’s Formula) to Evaluate Your Sunday School
Mark Miller, leader
Mountain Laurel 7
Arthur Flake promoted a five-step formula for planning and growing a Sunday School. This conference will equip the leader in understanding how to recognize and use these timeless growth criteria to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your Sunday School.
3:15 – 4:15 p.m.
Connect3: The Power of One Sunday School Class (continued)
Daniel Edmonds, leader
Mountain Laurel Auditorium
One of the gifts you have received this week is a copy of the exciting new book Connect3. During this two-hour conference you will have the opportunity to explore this new book exploring the "connect" or ministry dimension of the work of the Sunday School. You will discover the three levels of work of classes: class, community, and commission, and where your classes function. You'll begin to understand the biblical mandates for each of these levels: Great Confession, Great Commandment, Great Commission. You'll grow to understand the focus of your Sunday School as member, or minister, or missionary. You'll look at the organization needed for each of the three levels. All of this plus much, much more make this practical study time well spent.
Sunday School in Tough Economic Times
Belinda Jolley, leader
Mountain Laurel 1
Discuss practical ways to connect the relevancy of God's Word to these tough economic times. You'll also discover ways to minister within and beyond the walls of the church through Sunday School and use the language of tough times as talking points for outreach initiatives. Sunday School leaders will also share ways to ensure we make the best use of our Sunday School resources.
Basics for Developing a Strategy for Your Sunday School
John Boone, leader
Mountain Laurel 3
Healthy Sunday Schools are intentional about their work. They have envisioned what they want to be, what they want to accomplish, have evaluated their work, determined their specific needs, and have determined the specific steps they will take to accomplish the work God has given them. This session will give you practical help in developing a strategy for your Sunday School.
Key Ingredients for Keeping Evangelism Central to the Work of Your Sunday School
Jimmy Stewart, leader
Mountain Laurel 5
Your Sunday School can and should be your number one strategy for mobilizing your army of believers to share the good news of Christ. During this session we will examine the key ingredients of building a Sunday School that is evangelistic.
Training and Developing New Leaders Through Mentoring
Brian Upshaw, leader
Mountain Laurel 9
Mentoring is one of those areas often talked about but with which not much is done. During this session you will learn practical ways you can use mentoring to train and develop leaders in your Sunday School.
Back to Basics in Sunday School
Doug Watkins, leader
Mountain Laurel 8
Just as baseball players gather each spring to refine their basic skills, Sunday School leaders need to be reminded of the basic skills necessary to make their Sunday School ministry all-star caliber. No matter your setting, you and your church need to hone the basics of Sunday School.
Using Your Church Web Site to Communicate With and Train Sunday School Leaders
Rob Patterson, leader
Mountain Laurel 2
Does your church have a Web site? Are you using it to its fullest capacity? Is it an avenue for communicating not only with outsiders and members but also a tool for specifically communicating with Sunday School leaders? Learn how you can maximize the use of your church Web site not only for communicating with Sunday School leaders but also for training.
Starting and Surviving Multiple Sunday School Times
Mark Miller, leader
Mountain Laurel 7
If you are looking for answers to space issues or just want to provide additional options, starting multiple Sunday Schools could be the answer. This conference will examine some of the common pitfalls to starting a second or third Sunday School and will provide practical tips to help you launch and survive multiple Sunday Schools.
Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way. Smaller Sunday Schools Can Be the Lead Dog
Bob Wood, leader
Mountain Laurel 4
Smaller Sunday Schools have unique opportunities and challenges. Discover how you can lead your Sunday School to embrace the opportunities and overcome the challenges as you seek to invite new persons, discover biblical truth, and connect with one another at all stages of life. You will learn leadership enlistment, organizational structure, and ministry approaches that have been effective in smaller membership Sunday Schools.
Monday, July 13
8:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Critical Issues for Sunday School in the Future
Ed Stetzer and David Francis, leaders
Mt. Laurel Auditorium
What a marvelous way to close out your Ridgecrest experience. This two-hour session will be a practical interactive discussion of key issues related to Sunday School in the future and exploration of specific steps that can be taken now to address those issues. Led by Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, and David Francis, director of Sunday School work for LifeWay and our convention, this session promises to be informative, practical, interesting, and fun. It will be a session that you will say to others, “you should have been there.”
Tuesday, July 21
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Connect3: The Power of One Sunday School Class
Phil Miller, leader
Holcomb 401-402
One of the gifts you have received this week is a copy of the exciting new book Connect3. During this two hour conference you will have the opportunity to explore this new book exploring the "connect" or ministry dimension of the work of the Sunday School. You will discover the three levels of work of classes: Class, Community, and Commission, and where your classes function. You'll begin to understand the biblical mandates for each of these levels: Great Confession, Great Commandment, Great Commission. You'll grow to understand the focus of your Sunday School as member, or minister, or missionary. You will look at the organization needed for each of the three levels. All of this plus much, much more make this very practical study time well spent. (continued at 3:15)
Eight Traits of Teachers That Impact Lives
Jeff Ingram, leader
Holcomb 403-404
Teachers have a tremendous, God given influence on the lives of those entrusted to their ministry. During this session we will explore eight biblical traits of life impacting teachers and how to develop a leadership covenant reflecting those eight traits.
How to Enfuse Heart into Your Sunday School and Care for Individuals
Rob Patterson, leader
Holcomb 405
Essential to building a Sunday School that feels responsible for people and that connects with people is a heart for people. The questions are: How do you build a Sunday School that is concerned about people? and, How do you mobilize that concern? This conference will answer those two questions.
How to Ensure Lifelong Spiritual Growth in Your Members
Bret Robbe, leader
Holcomb 406
The Sunday School leader’s responsibility for teaching for spiritual transformation is a lifelong process from the first time a baby is entrusted to your care to the oldest adult’s final days on earth. Come learn how you can ensure that this process begins and continues throughout the life of an individual.
The POWER of TEN; What Would Happen if Ten people Took the Next Twelve Months to Reach Two People?
Tim Smith, leader
Holcomb 407- 408
The average size of a Sunday School class is ten in attendance. In this conference you will learn a strategy to engage the Sunday School classes from your church in reaching the unchurched.
3:15 – 4:15 p.m.
Building Blocks for a Healthy Sunday School Ministry
Tim Smith, leader
Holcomb 407- 408
We all want a healthy Sunday School. Do you know how to recognize whether or not your Sunday School is healthy or how to move it toward health? There are basics that every Sunday School needs to develop in order to produce both growth and health. In this session you will learn the basics of good Sunday School work.
Connect3: The Power of One Sunday School Class (continuation)
Phil Miller, leader
Holcomb 401 -402
One of the gifts you have received this week is a copy of the exciting new book Connect3. During this two hour conference you will have the opportunity to explore this new book exploring the "connect" or ministry dimension of the work of the Sunday School. You will discover the three levels of work of classes: Class, Community, and Commission, and where your classes function. You'll begin to understand the biblical mandates for each of these levels: Great Confession, Great Commandment, Great Commission. You'll grow to understand the focus of your Sunday School as member, or minister, or missionary. You will look at the organization needed for each of the three levels. All of this plus much, much more make this very practical study time well spent.
Focus on Ministry... and the Attendance May Come!
Jeff Ingram, leader
Holcomb 403-404
Do you or your leaders ever get discouraged when inactive class members say they're coming, but never show up? You and your leaders will be encouraged when your focus shifts from attendance to ministry. During this session we will explore how to change the focus of your Sunday School from attendance to ministry. Your class membership lists will truly become ministry lists.
Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way: Smaller Sunday Schools Can Be the Lead Dog
Mark Donnell, leader
Holcomb 406
Smaller churches make up 70% of SBC churches in the US. They are the backbone of our convention. Smaller Sunday Schools are a powerful force to reach people for Bible study, salvation, and church membership. Let's explore together how we can focus this powerful ministry to expand the Kingdom of God.
Using Your Church Web Site to Communicate With and Train Sunday School Leaders
Rob Patterson, leader
Holcomb 405
Does your church have a Web site? Are you using it to its fullest capacity? Is it an avenue for communicating not only with outsiders and members but also a tool for specifically communicating with Sunday School leaders? Learn how you can maximize the use of your church Web site not only for communicating with leaders but also for training Sunday School leaders.
Thursday, July 23
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Are You a New Sunday School Director? Here Are Ten Things That Will Help You Get Started Right
Marie Clark, leader
Holcomb 401-402
This conference is designed specifically for the new Sunday School director or the Sunday School director who wants to regroup and make a new beginning in your work. If you fit either category, this conference is for you and you won’t want to miss it.
Developing Effective Sunday School Teams
Rob Patterson, leader
Holcomb 405
The scripture tells us that as leaders we are to “equip the saints for the work of ministry.” During this session you will explore how to determine the training needs of your leaders and develop a very specific plan for training all of your leaders and meeting their very specific needs.
How to Complete a Thorough Church Facilities Analysis
Tim Smith, leader
Holcomb 407- 408
The size of the pot will determine how large the plant will grow. If you do not understand the basics of space it will be difficult to grow a health church. Are you making full use of all of your church space? Are you putting your space to its best use? Are you providing, within your means, the very best equipment to fit the teaching needs of the groups using the space? This conference will explore how to lead your church to do a complete and thorough analysis of your church facilities.
How To Reshape Your Sunday School’s Focus To Reaching People
Sean Keith, leader
Holcomb 403
Reaching people should be a primary focus of the work of your Sunday School, but in reality in many of our churches it is a low priority or at least very little is done. This conference will explore the actions you can take to refocus your Sunday School and lead members and leaders to see reaching people as a priority.
Ten Tips for Making Change Painless
Ken Marler, leader
Holcomb 406
This conference will explore the difficulties in making change happen in Church. Ten tips for helping a Church to go through change will be explored.
3:15 – 4:15 p.m.
Developing and Implementing a Plan to Train All Your Leaders
Rob Patterson, leader
Holcomb 405
The scripture tells us that as leaders we are to “equip the saints for the work of ministry.” During this session you will explore how to determine the training needs of your leaders and develop a very specific plan for training all of your leaders and meeting their very specific needs.
How To Have More Sunday School Workers Than You Need
Tim Smith, leader
Holcomb 407-408
What is your plan to develop new Sunday School leaders? An announcement or something in the bulletin is not enough. Often the growth of a Sunday School is stymied because of an insufficient number of workers or because the workers are not fully equipped. Through this session you will a learn a strategy to develop potential Sunday School leaders.
How To Maximize Your Enrollment To Grow Your Sunday School
Bob Mayfield, leader
Holcomb 406
Throughout history enrollment has been the foundational ingredient in a plan for reaching people and growing a Sunday School. Does your church still see enrollment as central? Do your members understand its importance? Are you implementing a plan to enroll people? This conference will help you discover how maximize enrollment and facilitate growth in your Sunday School.
Street to the Seat / Parking to the Pew
Sean Keith, leader
Holcomb 403
Is your Sunday School/church maximizing Sunday morning to connect with guests. This conference will explore the intentional step by step process of effectively connecting with guests on Sunday morning and following up.
Sunday School Planning Team – Key To Implementing the Work of Your Sunday School
Marie Clark, leader
Holcomb 401- 402
An effective, properly functioning Sunday School Planning Team is key to planning and implementing the work of your Sunday School. During this conference we will explore who is on that team, how the team functions, and the role of the team in both annual and ongoing planning.
Friday, July 24
8:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Critical Issues for Sunday School in the Future
Ed Stetzer and David Francis, leaders
Holcomb 403-406
What a marvelous way to close out your experience. This two-hour session will be a practical interactive discussion of key issues related to Sunday School in the future and exploration of specific steps that can be taken now to address those issues. Lead by Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research and David Francis, director of Sunday School work for LifeWay and our convention, this session promises to be informative, practical, interesting, and fun. It will be a session that you will say to others, “You should have been there.”
Dean Abernathy is a Sunday School specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, TN
John Boone (Ridgecrest only) is Sunday School Department director for the Florida Baptist Convention in Jacksonville, FL
Marie Clark (Glorieta only) is Bible teaching and discipling team leader for the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists in Kansas City, KS
Mark Donnell (Glorieta only) is general officer / adult Sunday School specialist for the Missouri Baptist Convention in Jefferson City, MO
Daniel Edmonds (Ridgecrest only) is director of the office of Sunday School for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions in Montgomery, AL
David Francis is director of Sunday School ministries for LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, TN
Jeff Ingram (Glorieta only) is adult ministry strategist for the evangelism / church growth team of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Alexandria, LA
Belinda Jolley (Ridgecrest only) is director of adult Ministry for the South Carolina Baptist Convention in Columbia, SC
Sean Keith (Glorieta only) is Sunday School / discipleship specialist for the Louisiana Baptist Convention in Alexandria, LA
Ken Marler (Glorieta only) is a network partnership specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, TN
Bob Mayfield is Sunday School / adult discipleship specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK
John McInnis (Ridgecrest only) is an associate in the Sunday School Department of the Florida Baptist Convention in Jacksonville, FL
Mark Miller (Ridgecrest only) is state Sunday School director for the Tennessee Baptist Convention in Brentwood, TN
Phil Miller (Glorieta only) is team leader / Bible study / discipleship, director for the Baptist General Convention of Texas in Dallas, TX
David Moore (Ridgecrest only) is an associate in the Sunday School Department of the Florida Baptist Convention in Jacksonville, FL
Rob Patterson is associate pastor of education at Eastwood Baptist Church in Bowling Green, KY
Wayne Poling is senior lead Sunday School specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, TN
Bret Robbe is director of Leadership and Adult Publishing at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, TN
Tim Smith (Glorieta only) is consultant for Sunday School / open group ministries for the Georgia Baptist Convention in Atlanta, GA
Ed Stetzer is director of research and missiologist in residence at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, TN
Jimmy Stewart (Ridgecrest only) is director of evangelism, church development, and collegiate ministries for the Alaska Baptist Convention, Anchorage, AK
Brian Upshaw (Ridgecrest only) congregational services team leader for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina in Cary, NC
Doug Watkins (Ridgecrest only) is an associate in the Sunday School Department of the Florida Baptist Convention in Jacksonville, FL
Bob Wood (Ridgecrest only) is church growth ministries team leader for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan in Fenton, MI