Steeple to Street: 

Steeple To Street Schedule

Day One- Friday

9.00 – 11.15: Pre-Conference Tracks 

* Mustard Seeds in a Micro-Garden:  Stewarding a Small Church in a Small Place (David Blackwell)

* Reaching the Next Generation:  Building an Inter-Generational Mission & Ministry (Stephen Gallaher)

* Building a Confident Faith:  Everyday Theology and Apologetics that Build Resilient Disciples (TBD)

* Moving Beyond Tenants:  Building Integrated Ministry While Sharing Space Between Congregations (Eliseo Mejia)

11.15 - 12.30: Pre-Conference Lunch Break

12.00– 1.00: General Conference Arrival 

1.00 – 2.15: Naturally Supernatural: The Power of the Holy Spirit for Regular People in Regular Places - Eliseo Mejia 

The mission of the Church is impossible—without the Holy Spirit. Be reminded of what it looks likes to rely on the presence and power of God’s Spirit moving in our lives and ahead of us in our neighborhoods. 

2.15 – 2.45: Break 

2.45 – 3.45: Growing Hope:  Leading Change in a Changing World and a Change-Averse Church (Kelly Legg) 

God is faithful and remembering “how” God has been faithful is key for churches going through rough patches. Hear how churches can experience new vitality while honoring the traditions, people, and moments that shaped their past. 

3.45 – 4.00: Break 

4.00 – 5.00: Workshop Session 1 

* Rural Church Leadership:  Organizing Congregations to Represent Jesus Well in Small Places (David Blackwell)

* Developing Teams for Ministry & Mission 

* Thriving in Youth Ministry (Stephen Gallaher)

5.00 – 7.00: Dinner Break (Optional On-Campus Meal Available During Registration)

* Affinity Networking for Local Leaders (Youth Ministry, Children’s Ministry, Worship Ministry, and More) 

7.00 – 8.30: Building Capacity:  Developing Leaders in Any Congregation: David Blackwell 

Every congregation needs leaders.  Yet, many ministries constantly find themselves lacking the leaders they need.  Based on decades of experience in raising up leaders in small towns and small churches, David Blackwell will share lessons and strategies that any congregation can use to increase its overall leadership capacity.   

8.30 – 9.30: Social Gathering (Optional) 

Day Two (Saturday)

8.30 – 9.00: Morning Prayer and Worship 

9.00 – 10.00: Everyday Discipleship: Strategies for Growing Followers of Jesus that Work Anywhere (Matt Lake) 

Our lives, and our souls, are constantly being shaped and formed by culture, media, jobs, and the places we live. But many churches approach discipleship like a classroom activity with lectures, reading, and homework. This session will explore how churches might craft discipleship strategies that can happen in the normal places where we live most of our lives.  Full of practical examples and concrete steps from beginning to end, you will walk away better prepared to grow the number of disciples around your congregation.   

10.00 – 10.30: Break 

10.30 – 11.30:  Doable Mission: How Everyday Congregations Impact Their Communities (Shannon Kiser) 

Stories of evangelism and church growth can become sensationalized, making God’s mission feel inaccessible to the average congregation. But what if there were a natural path that any Christian, leader or local church can take that helps them love their neighbors and build Christian community in unexpected places? 

11.30 – 12.30: Lunch 

* Affinity Networking for Local Leaders (Youth Ministry, Children’s Ministry, Worship Ministry, and More) 

12.30 – 1.30: Workshops Session 2 

*  Reaching Children & Youth – Even If Your Church Doesn’t Have Many (TBD)

*  Adaptive Change:  Letting Your Past Lead to Your Future (Shannon Kiser)

*  Church Around the Table:  How Established Churches are Reaching Those Hungry for Food and Friends (TBD)

*  Engaging Emerging Generations with the Gospel (Stephen Gallaher)

1.30 – 2.30: Secret Sauce:  The Hidden Power in the Everyday Church:  Stephen Gallaher 

For decades, the Church has been in the center of Western culture, leading many congregations to distinguish themselves by striving for higher and higher production value and even gimmicky. Yet, the story of Scripture and the history of God’s people tells us that God calls and equips ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Hear how God is using ordinary churches to reach new people, love neighbors in practical ways, and declare Jesus’ kingdom.