Successful disciple-making ministries understand the process and elements required for spiritual multiplication.

One of the key issues is understanding what the ultimate objective is in disciple-making and building people who are equipped to meet those objectives.

When it comes to our ministries, our careers and our callings, bigger is always better. But not in God's eyes.

We'll explore the life of John the Baptist, Peter and others to discover the counter-intuitive truth of that God is after more than big results. He's after big obedience.

The story of the American church has been dominated by the perspectives and stories of the wealthy and powerful. The danger of reducing the story of American Christianity to a single perspective is that it has trained everyone to believe that majority culture Christians have everything to teach minorities and nothing to learn. This session tells the miraculous story of black Christianity and connects the dots between Phillis Wheatley, Richard Allan, Henry McNeal Turner, MLK and James Cone with the hope of inspiring unity in the body of Christ by learning how to tell each other’s stories.

The “house church” is not only a viable model for gathering; it is also a necessary one. To lay the foundation for this case, we must have a thorough understanding of this movement’s history.

This workshop will move from God’s heart and mandate for “households,” to Jesus’ model of discipleship and Kingdom work, to the infant Church meeting “in their homes” (Acts 2:46) and then to the present day movement. Why did the church begin meeting in homes? When and why was any other model introduced? How has God used the house church model throughout history?

The Bible teaches that God is concerned with justice, but how do we live when justice remains elusive? What then becomes the goal? Moreover, how does God move when justice is absent in a society?

Through story-telling and song, Mrs. Ellis brings history and theology to life as she shares stories from the global persevering church, explores what Western Christians can learn from those around the world who live without justice daily and contrasts approaches to freedom based on God’s character with other types of activism that also pursue justice.

As women, our lives are often full of comparison, people pleasing, fear and constant self-focus. What would it look like as a woman to have a transformed view of one’s self and to actually live in the truth that our identity and security are settled?

The search for affirmation and acceptance is over once it finds its sure footing in the gospel. There is freedom and security as our hearts learn to humbly rest in the finished work of Jesus.

We will address how media, popular philosophies and entertainment have shaped our culture in recent years. Are we allowing the marketplace to inform our faith? Is it our job to shape these industries, and if so, how should the Christian engage and respond?

We are living in dark days, but we can have hope! Through the lens of Esther, we will see how God's hand is present even when we don't see it. As women, we tend to want to have a road map for our lives and have God sign off on it. Instead, we should be open to seek the Lord's will for our lives and how we can impact the culture around us (like Esther).

With over 65 million people displaced around the world, we must begin taking a closer look at the global refugee crisis. This workshop will explain what sets refugees apart from other immigrant groups, explore why so many people around the world are becoming displaced and walk participants through the refugee resettlement process. We will consider both sides of the conversation around welcoming refugees into the United States and close with some practical ways to advocate for refugees.

How does a disciple of Jesus minister in a work environment that is not conducive to or even antagonistic against the gospel?

This workshop explores how Christians can evangelize and make disciples in not-so-ideal settings. Attendees will get an interactive session focused on truly obeying the Great Commission, regardless of locale.