Pre Conference Intensives
Dates / Times: Monday, April 23, 1pm - 5pm and Tuesday, April 24, 9am - 12pm
Cost: $59 (NOTE: If registering for a pre-conference intensive, you must also register for the main conference)
Options: Pre-conference Intensives to choose from include:
- Exponential - Reproducing at All Levels to Produce a Missional Church Movement - NewThing Network
- Future Travelers Conference @ Exponential
- Church Unique (Auxano) Conference @ Exponential
- Mosaix Multi-Ethnic Church Planting Conference @ Exponential
- Sticks Conference (Small City Planting) @ Exponential
- Church Plant Killers (ChurchPlanters.com) Conference @ Exponential
- Externally Focused Churches—Making Missional Practical
- Real Life Discipleship @ Exponential
- Essentials for Church Planting Directors (Previously Denominational)
- Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting (Next Network)
- Finish Strong (Launch Network)
- How to Create a Missional Movement (3DM)
- Generosity @ Exponential
- Planting Gospel-Centered Churches
- Getting Unstuck: Breaking Common Church Planting Barriers
- Gospel Coach Certification Training (Scott Thomas/Acts 29) @ Exponential
DESCRIPTIONS FOR PRE-CONFERENCES:
Exponential - Reproducing at All Levels to Create a Missional Church Movement - NewThing Network
NewThing is offering a unique event that we have never offered in year's past. This year, at the 2012 Exponential Conference, we have invited Michael Frost, internationally recognized missiologist, to speak on the subject of incarnational leadership - what it means to love the community of which your church is apart.
Along with Michael Frost, Dave and Jon Ferguson, co-authors of Exponential and co-founders of Community Christian Church and NewThing, sharing their story and practical skills on how to reproduce leaders at all levels. You will also get a chance to hear from Eric Metcalf, Director of NewThing; Carter Moss, COMMUNITY's Small Groups Champion and many other leaders who have lived out the principles talked about in Exponential. We will walk through topics like:
- The Leadership Path
- Incarnational Leadership
- Apprentice: Come Follow Me
- Reproducing Groups and Missional Teams
- Reproducing Artists
- Reproducing Multiple Sites
Future Travelers Conference - Making The Leap From Church as Institution to Church as Movement – led by Alan Hirsch, Rob Wegner & Dave Ferguson
"We are changing the scorecard from catching to releasing. The first 20 years of Granger Community Church was about bringing the community into the church. The next 20 years is about sending the church into the community. The church is not a field to be fenced, but a force to be unleashed.”
Mark Beeson, Founding Pastor, Granger Community Church
"I planted my church, and God grew it big. We've done externally-focused, church planting, and multi-site, and we'll keep doing them. But there are not enough years left in my life to simply keep growing this thing bigger. I'm interested in something more viral. I'm interested in changing the conversation from 'where is our next one' to 'how do we release 250 of our members to take our city?"
Steve Andrews, Lead Pastor, Kensington Community Church
The local church is on the verge of a massive, category shifting change. For 1700 years, the primary identity of the local church in the West has been "church as institution." Over the last 50 years, the church growth movement has brought much needed reformation within this expression. Although God continues to transform many lives through these prevailing models, it has not stemmed the decline of Western Christianity. We can't settle for winning a battle via contemporary church and multi-site, while losing the larger war. Simply producing more of the same will not be enough. Our times require a different expression of the local church — church as apostolic movement, where every person is living a mission-sent life, where every person is a reproducing Christian, and every church a reproducing church. In this conference, Alan Hirsch, Dave Ferguson, and Rob Wegner will share a rich combination of theology, theory, and best practices, along with inspiring true stories of Future Travelers, leading influential churches from with the prevailing model, who are making the leap to church as movement. These churches are seeking to keep the best of what church growth has taught us, while simultaneously leveraging megachurch and multi-site as a launch pad for missional movements of their people. This is not for the faint of heart. If a holy discontent is stirring in you to recapture a more primal, yet contemporary, expression of church that is truly an unstoppable force for the Kingdom, then come join Future Travelers. Think you might already be a Future Travelers? Are you ready to for a year long journey with other revolutionaries? Learn more at www.missional.com.
Finish Strong - Led by Launch Network
How to live well and finish strong. Can you do life, marriage and ministry the way you're doing it right now for decades? If not, you need to make changes. We will explore a life-wide, life-long strategy for health and longevity, intimacy and impact.
Session Leader: Chip Judd, Tim Wheat and Jason Gerdes
Church Unique: How Organic Vision Shapes Culture and Creates Movement - Led By Wil Mancini
Ministry leaders today have settled for photocopied vision and over-programmed strategies. What if your next step to effectiveness in NOT the latest resource, a silver-bullet program, or leadership pep rally? What if the leader's greatest asset is still imagination fueled by faith, that translates into a stunningly unique, God honoring vision? In Church Unique, you will first learn how to navigate out of the "unoriginal sin" that most of our "vision" work produces today (church conferencing, outdated strategic planning, church growth methology, etc.) Then, you will gain new insights that equip you to lead your team with unprecedented clarity, answering "What is the best model for communicating vision?" and "How do we deliver vision daily as a leadership team?"
The Multi-ethnic Church Planting Conference @ Exponential - led by Mosaix Global Network
The Multi-Ethnic Church Planting Conference is an annual gathering of multi-ethnic church pioneers, pastors and planters, ministry leaders, theologians and educators alike, committed to the development of multi-ethnic and economically diverse churches in the 21st century for the sake of the Gospel. The conference focuses on encouraging, equipping and empowering three groups of ministry leaders including …
1) Those seeking to plant multi-ethnic churches;
2) Those seeking to revitalize stagnant or declining churches in areas where the neighborhood is changing via the multi-ethnic vision;
Our unique format provides opportunity for up-close and personal interaction with thought-leading practitioners to help you grow in your understanding of the theology, core commitments, challenges and best practices of multi-ethnic local church development.
Featured speakers include experienced multi-ethnic church planters such as Efrem Smith (The Evangelical Covenant Church), Mark DeYmaz (Mosaic Church, Little Rock, AR), Naeem Fazaal (Mosaic Church, Charlotte, NC), Soong-Chan Rah (North Park University), and more!
In addition, your registration includes a free 3-month Individual Membership to the Mosaix Global Network! For more information, visit www.mosaix.info/membership-benefits.
Small City Church Planting – led by the Sticks Conference
Monday, April 23:
1:00-1:45 - The Mission of an - UnStoppable Church - led by Artie Davis
2:00-2:45 - The Machine of an - Unstoppable Church - led by Brandon Cox
3:00-3:45 - The Motion of an - Unstoppable Church - led by Jonathan Pearson
4:00-4:45 - The Methods of an - UnStoppable Church - led by Ron Edmondson
Tuesday, April 24:
9:00-10:00 - The Metrics of an- UnStoppable Church - led by Artie Davis
10:00-10:15 - The Multiplication of an- UnStoppable Church- led by Ron Edmondson
10:15-11:15 - The Movement of an - UnStoppable Church - led by Brandon Cox
Church Plant Killers: Ministry Issues No One is Talking About
There are some lessons that can only be learned through experience... or through the experience of others. Avoid the mistakes that can keep your church from reaching its full potential!
In this pre-conference intensive, Shawn Lovejoy, Matt Keller and Bob Franquiz walk you through the solutions to the toughest church planting issues. Imagine being equipped to:
• Reach your community on a shoestring budget
• Deal with the expectations of church planting
• How to build leaders in your church from day 1
• How to cast vision that sticks
• The power of the right team
• How to stay financially strong
• How to choose well in staffing
• And much more!
Externally Focused Churches—Making Missional Practical – Led By Brian Mavis, Eric Swanson & Rick Rusaw
Churches are throwing out the old measures of success. It’s no longer merely about size, seeker sensitivity, spiritual gifts, church health, nor the number of small groups. It’s about making a significant and sustainable difference in the lives of people around us—in our communities and in our cities. It’s no longer about being the best church in your community; it’s about being the best church FOR your community. Yet, at the same time, a lot of this kind of missional talk is just that—talk. So, how does ideal missional living work itself out in an un-ideal world? Learn realistic and practical ways to be a missional church in your world that is limited in resources and unlimited in human sinfulness and societal constraints.
How to Create a Missional Movement - led by Mike Breen and the 3DM Team
Much has been written on the theory on moving the church towards more of a movement and less of an institution. But as with all things, there can be a gap between what we see on paper and experience in practice. This pre-conference, led my Mike Breen and the 3DM team, is on the practice of starting and sustaining a missional movement in your local ministry context, whether you're a church planter, at a large church or anything in between.
Essentials for Church Planting Directors - Presented By Tom Nebel (Converge USA) & Steve Pike (Assemblies of God)
This pre-conference is designed for those responsible to see regional and national church planting movements take place, focusing on the “nuts and bolts” of what is needed to succeed. Topics will include: Designing a recruiting pathway, assessment options, conducting Expectation Interviews, reducing risk, casting regional vision, building a coaching movement, funding, and creating spiritual dependency. Our format will include short presentations on what’s working, followed by small group discussions and collaboration. Come and learn—and share what you know—with your peers in church planting leadership. Coordinated by Tom Nebel (Converge Worldwide) and Steve Pike (Assemblies of God).
Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting - Ron Sylvia and the Nuts & Bolts Team
Don't miss this no-holds-barred church planting conference that will provide you the tools to successfully launch a healthy church that reaches this generation. Join Ron Sylvia and the Nuts & Bolts Team as they take you from conception.. to launch.. to leading a new church.
Nuts & Bolts is no hype; practical How To event taught by experienced church planters who are in the trenches. You'll learn how to:
- Recruit a Launch Team
- Cast a Compelling Vision
- Teach for Life Change
- Take Your Personal Leadership to the Next Level
- Raise Financial Resources
- Build the Worship Experience
- Launch with Momentum
- Capture the Attention of Your Community
Speakers: Ron Sylvia, Steve Stroope. Dave Page, Mark Lee
Real Life Discipleship - Led by Relational Discipleship Network & Real Life Ministries
Learn how to make disciples in the Real World of sin, struggle, and ambiguity. Jim Putman and team grew to 8,000 in ten years using Real Life Discipleship, based on Jesus’ way of discipleship. This model is now leading to significant growth in multiple church plants and will be used in a new network of churches. Join us to learn how to do it the way Jesus did it.
1. Discipleship Teams – learn how to build a discipleship team that people want to join – we will show how Jesus built a team and how we can replicate a similar process today. Jesus invited people to come and “be with him.” We too invite people to come and “be with us,” as we invite them to join the greatest mission in human history.
2. Relational Environments – learn how to create an environment that draws people – Jesus created relational environments. He did life with his disciples and in the process trained, coached, and mentored them so that they became leaders in the church. Likewise, today, people have a God-given hunger for relationship. Join us to learn how we can create relational environments for intentional discipleship today.
3. The Discipleship Process- learn the stages of spiritual growth in the discipleship process. Everybody starts the discipleship path in the same place, as they become “reborn.” Everyone then moves from the infant to the child stages. While a majority of people who call themselves Christians never move on to become spiritual adults, learn how to lead people into being spiritual adults and then spiritual parents and we paint the picture of the discipleship process.
4. Practical Discipleship Systems – learn how to develop a system. Planters/Pastors cannot disciple every person, but they can make sure that every person is discipled. We will show you how to make sure that everyone gets an opportunity to enter into effective discipling relationships. We will then help you to see how leadership works in this kind of system.
5. Leadership – learn how to raise the bar on leadership so that everyone is totally committed – it is one thing to be a leader; it is another thing for leaders to be totally committed to discipleship. We will talk about church cultures where leaders are all on the same page and everyone is committed to discipleship.
6. Partnerships – learn how to build a win/win agreements with your leaders and staff. We will help you to identify and clarify the unspoken expectations that come with adding leaders to your team (roles, responsibilities etc...)
Generosity @ Exponential - led by Jim Sheppard, Julie Bullock and Brad Leeper from the Generis Team and special guest Chris Willard, Leadership Network
How do I raise funds for my church plant? This is one of the burning questions that causes church planters to lay awake at night. Reality is there are few other factors more tied to launching well and sustaining growth than funding. In this session, experts in generosity and stewardship will discuss principles and practices of churches that do it well. You will walk away with a clear sense of “do this, avoid that.” It will be interactive, collaborative and highly practical, so come prepared to learn! You will learn how to reproduce generosity from day one of your church plant.
Getting Unstuck: Breaking Common Church Planting Barriers – Lead By George Klippenes & Team
Many planters struggle with effective evangelism. Our churches are full of immature people. The Pareto principle of 20% of the people doing 80% is all too common of a practice. Developing new leaders is the number one concern facing planters. The sterility of American churches with less than 3% reproducing is legendary.
But this is a new day. God is raising up a new generation of outlier planters that are breaking through these barriers. They are reaching lost people, building believers, equipping workers, empowering leaders, and reproducing new churches that do the same. This seminar will be led by George Klippenes, Ev. Free Church Planting director and EFCA “outlier” planters who have successfully broken these barriers in the last few years.
Gospel Coach Certification Training @ Exponential - Scott Thomas/Acts 29
Healthy church leaders are the means to shepherd a flock for God's glory. The Apostle Paul urged the disciples to follow his personal example (1 Cor. 11:1) and likewise admonished Timothy to provide an example (template; stamp; model) to the believers in how to walk in line with the Gospel (1 Tim. 4:12). Caring for the church is a difficult task for lay leaders and vocational ministers alike. It is imperative therefore that leaders pay careful attention to their own lives so they can pay careful attention to all of the flock (Acts 20:28). Gospel Coach is a practical discipleship system to equip godly leaders, develop them in ministry and ensure that they remain personally, spiritually and missionally healthy as they serve in the local church.
Gospel Coach Certification Training is a 7 hour interactive training designed for male and female church leaders to disciple pastors, small group leaders, elders in training, deacons, Bible study leaders and new disciples. Over 2,000 leaders have been trained in this Gospel-centered system of making disciples. Scott Thomas, President of Acts 29 Network and co-author of Gospel Coach (published April 15, 2012 by ZONDERVAN) is leading this training. Cost is only $59 and includes access to an interactive website tool to help you coach effectively and make disciples. Space is limited. Sign up today.
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