Speakers
Dr. Jeff Iorg
Dr. Jeff Iorg is President and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee. He served as president of Gateway Seminary from 2004-24, managing its relocation to Southern California, leading its rebranding, and overseeing significant institutional growth.
Before his tenure at Gateway Seminary, Iorg was Executive Director of the Northwest Baptist Convention for almost 10 years, after pastorates in Oregon, Missouri, and Texas.
A native Texan, Iorg is the author of eight books focusing on biblical leadership, character development, leading through change, evangelism, and church health. He and his wife, Ann, have three children and five grandchildren.
Dr. Mark A. Croston, Sr.
A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Mark Croston has ministered in churches in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Virginia. He currently serves as National Director of Black Church Ministries at Lifeway Christian Resources in Nashville, Tennessee; General Editor for the YOU Urban Bible Study curriculum; Executive Editor of Deacon Magazine; a Teaching Pastor of Christ Fellowship, Miami, Florida; and Executive Pastor of Mount Gilead Baptist Church, Nashville, Tennessee. He is the author or contributor to multiple books, including his most recent, Big Results: Leadership.
Dr. Croston has served as President and Treasurer of the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention; President of the Baptist General Association of Virginia; and President of the Virginia Baptist State Convention.
Three years after the death of his first wife, Dr. Croston married his current wife, Brenda. This blended family has four children
Brian Croft
Brian Croft is the former Senior Pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky and is the Founder and Executive Director of Practical Shepherding, Inc. He is also Senior Fellow for the Mathena Center for Church Revitalization and an Adjunct Professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Croft has served in pastoral ministry for over twenty-five years, spending seventeen of those years as Senior Pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church.
He has written or contributed to over twenty-five books to help serve pastors and church leaders on the practicalities of pastoral ministry, and trains and mentors hundreds of pastors all over the world on a weekly basis through video cohorts in partnership with the North American Mission Board. He and his wife Cara have four children.
Bruce Kirk
Bruce Kirk is Senior Pastor of Alpha Missionary Baptist Church in Bolingbrook, Illinois. He spent his early years in Tennessee and Ohio, before relocating to the Chicago area in 1984. Kirk was on a trajectory of a successful career in industrial robotics when he was born again on December 28, 1989.
He was baptized into the fellowship of Alpha Baptist and discipled by founding pastor, William Rorer, and began serving the church as a volunteer minister. Upon Rorer’s retirement, Kirk was installed as senior pastor of Alpha Missionary Baptist church in September of 2013.
He is passionate about leading his church to reach the community and grow leaders. Pastor Kirk and his wife Michelle have 6 wonderful children and 10 grandchildren.
Michael Nave
Dr. Michael Nave is the current IBSA President and serves as lead pastor of Cornerstone Church in Marion, Illinois, where he has been since 2007. He was raised in Martinsville, in east-central Illinois. Nave is a graduate of Indiana State University, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He has led Cornerstone to expand in reaching the unchurched and dechurched, while emphasizing gospel-centered transformational preaching. Michael is married to Carol Ann, and they have five children.
BREAKOUTS
FOR THE PASTOR'S WIFE & WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
HELP! MY HUSBAND IS A PASTOR
9:00 AM
(ROOM #/NAME COMING)
JUDY TAYLOR
Many pastors' wives look forward to this ministry role before it becomes reality and others find themselves in a reality they never dreamed would be so challenging. Find encouragement from an experienced pastor's wife who will help you discover your unique fit and purpose as you serve Jesus and complement your husband.
UNLEASHING THE "YOU" GOD MADE YOU TO BE
10:30 AM
(ROOM #/NAME COMING)
MELODY WESTBROOK: Author of "The Walk Back to Eden," Women's Ministry Leader & Coach, and Pastor's wife for 35 years.
You are a one-of-a kind masterpiece! Lean in to your identity in Christ. God has designed you for a purpose right where you are, with the talents, strengths, abilities, personality and gifts you have.
FOR THE CHURCH PLANTER
RAISING FUNDS & RESOURCES FOR CHURCH PLANTING- THE NUTS AND BOLTS
9:00 AM
(ROOM #/NAME COMING)
Chris Conley: is an experienced church planter who developed a very practical fund raising system anyone can implement.
Most church planting is big vision on a shoestring budget. Learn practical tips from an experienced planter for finding the people, finances, and other resources you need as a new church.
EXPANDING YOUR CHURCH'S MISSIONAL REACH- PARTNERIING WITH A CHURCH PLANT
10:30 AM
(ROOM #/NAME COMING)
HOST: Kevin Jones (IBSA Church Planting Director)
PANEL: Rayden Hollis (Pastor of Red Hill Church, Glen Carbon, IL) , Josh Crisp (former Church Planter and current Pastor of First Baptist Church, Bethalto, IL)
Discover how your church can expand its missional reach and impact, whatever your church's size, by creatively partnering with a church plant. Whether it's adopting a church planter, offering a helping hand, prayer, financial support, being a "Sending Church," there are so many ways to be a part of what God is doing in Illinois!
FOR THE HISPANIC CHURCH LEADER
ALCANSANDO LA PROXIMA GENERACION (REACHING THE NEXT GENERATION) - IN SPANISH
9:00 AM
(ROOM #/NAME COMING)
Graviel Hernandez and Manny Contreras are on the Pastor Team at Iglesia Bautista Emanuel, Aurora- one of the larger Southern Baptist Hispanic churches in Illinois.
For the Hispanic church leader in America, effectively reaching the next generation poses many unique challenges. Explore them with other Hispanic church leaders, and discover ways to prepare and lead your church to reach the generation of your children and grandchildren.
REENFOQUE (REFOCUS - CHURCH REVITALIZATION AND HEALTH) - IN SPANISH
10:30 AM
(ROOM #/NAME COMING)
NATE ADAMS (Executive Director of IBSA), and SCOTT FOSHIE (Health Team Leader for IBSA)
Statistics tell us that at least 80% of churches are declining or on a plateau rather than growing. This breakout will overview intentional processes for honest self-assessment and decisions that can help your church get "unstuck."
FOR THE LEADER IN CHURCH HEALTH AND REVITALIZATION
DEALING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE
9:00 AM
(ROOM #/NAME COMING)
ROB PETERS (President of Corpus, a church revitalization ministry)
Every church has difficult people. If you don't think so, it may be you! Learn to work with impatient innovators, reluctant traditionalists and other perhaps good-hearted but challenging personalities, all while continuing to lead your church forward. With patient love, understanding, and wisdom, it's possible to lead your church to a healthier place, and bring out the unique ministry potential in everyone.
BIG RESULTS LEADERSHIP
9:00 AM
(ROOM #/NAME COMING SOON)
MARK CROSTON (National Director of Black Church Ministries, Lifeway Christian Resources, and author of "Big Results Leadership")
Nehemiah built the walls of Jerusalem amid great opposition. Learn how to focus your faith and leadership to achieve big results.
LEADING YOUR CHURCH TOWARD HEALTHY CHANGE TO REACH THE NEXT GENERATION
10:30 AM
(ROOM #/NAME COMING)
PAUL COOPER (Pastor of Marshall Baptist Church, Marshall, IL. He provided loving and courageous leadership to help his church become next generation focused.)
Many churches need to make some changes, not to the message, but to the methods of how they are trying to reach the next generation. If we’re going to reach our kids and grandkids for Jesus, we need to learn to connect with them where they are. Are we willing to “become all things to all people so that by all possible means we might save some?” (I Corinthians 9:19-23) Explore what it may look like to let go of some of our tastes and preferences to show the next generation Jesus’ love.
HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR PASTOR IN BUILDING A THRIVING CHURCH (FOR LAY-LEADERS/MEMBERS)
10:30 AM
(ROOM #/NAME COMING)
ROB PETERS (President of Corpus, a church revitalization ministry)
How can church members help and encourage their pastor through needed changes in their church? This breakout will help laypeople explore ways to release preferences, tastes, traditions, and comfort for the sake of those who are far from God, and begin shifting from a mindset of expecting to be served to serving others with joy.
FOR THE LEADER OF CHURCH MINISTRIES
SMALL CHURCH...BIG IMPACT
9:00 AM & REPEATED AT 10:30 PM
(ROOM #/NAME COMING)
LEO ENDEL (Pastor, Author, and Executive Director of the MN/WI Baptist Convention)
Based on his book, "Where Do We Go From Here? - Strategic Planning for the Smaller Church," experienced church consultant and network leader Leo Endel overviews a simple, annual planning process that can steadily lead your church of any size from where you are to where you want to be.
BREAKING THROUGH BARRIERS TO GOSPEL-CENTERED GROWTH
9:00 AM
(ROOM #/NAME COMING)
DERRICK TAYLOR (Planted and is now co-vocational Pastor at the growing Net Community Church in Staunton, IL.)
Each new level of spiritual growth in your church has unique obstacles to overcome. Learn what some of them are, and explore healthy systems that can facilitate Gospel-centered growth and breakthroughs. Learn to work with what you have to move your church to its next, Spirit-led level.
RAISING UP LEADERS AND STAFF FROM WITHIN
10:30 AM
(ROOM #/NAME COMING)
PAUL WESTBROOK (planted Metro Community Church and pastored there for 31 years. He is now an Associate Executive Director for IBSA.)
MARK MAESTAS (is the Growth Team Leader for IBSA. Mark was an Executive Pastor in Colorado and New Mexico, and is currently the Growth Team Leader for IBSA.)
Your church's future and best leaders may already be in your church. Discover how intentional mentoring and tools like a "Leadership University" can help you develop the leaders your church needs to grow thriving ministries that will reach people and expand your church's impact.
FOR THE LEADER IN MISSIONS AND EVANGELISM
RE-KINDLING GREAT COMMISSION PASSION IN YOUR CHURCH
9:00 AM
(ROOM #/NAME COMING)
NATE ADAMS (author of "the Acts 1:8 Challenge" and Executive Director of IBSA)
Jesus' last words before ascending into heaven are still his first priority for the church today. Learn to cast fresh vision and take practical steps in leading your church to be a Great Commission people, based on biblical unity around God's word, and biblical cooperation in God's history-long, world-wide mission.
DON'T BE SCARED! UNDERSTANDING CHICAGO- ILLINOIS LARGEST MISSION FIELD
9:00 AM
(ROOM #/NAME COMING)
NATHAN CARTER (Chicagoland Baptists AMS and Pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Chicago)
BRIAN PRICE (IBSA Zone Consultant and Pastor of Love Fellowship in Romeoville, IL)
Chicago is really 77 neighborhoods, and each one is a nearby opportunity to make a global difference in our own backyard. The world has come to us! Let's join Jesus on mission there.
NEIGHBORING: EVANGELISM EVERY BELIEVER CAN DO
10:30 AM
(ROOM #/NAME COMING)
DANIEL NEMMERS (Planted and is the Pastor of Salt Church in Normal, IL.)
Includes ideas and personal experiences on how to help church members reach their neighbors and build an invitational and evangelistic church culture.
BIG RESULTS SUNDAY SCHOOL
10:30 AM
(ROOM #/NAME COMING)
MARK CROSTON (National Director of Black Church Ministries, Lifeway Christian Resources and author of "Big Results Sunday School")
Many churches have forgotten or never learned how to reach the lost and grow the church through a dynamic Sunday School . Learn from LifeWay veteran Mark Croston how to maximize and leverage your church's Sunday School ministry (even post-Covid!) to take your church to the next level!
