Why Do We Need a Safety and Security Plan?
Todd Bishop | Wilson Hall A

Every church needs a clear plan to keep its people safe. In this breakout, we’ll discuss why safety and security matter, where to begin, and what to include in a comprehensive plan. We’ll explore the role of technology, weigh the pros and cons of off-duty officers versus lay-led security teams, and outline practical steps for training and equipping volunteers. You’ll leave with a framework to help your church create a safer environment for worship and ministry.

Connection Ministry: Moving First Time Guests to Fully Engaged
Hadden Finch | Wilson Hall B

Does your church have a Connection Ministry, or would you like to start one? Discover why Connection Ministry is so important and the steps that your church can take to help a First-Time Guest become fully engaged. 

 W.O.M.E.N: “The One Where We Started a Ministry”
Amy-Jo Girardier | Wilson Hall C

Hey women’s leaders!  Come pull a chair to the table and let’s talk like friends about women’s ministry basics. This breakout will frame up the conversation like a TV episode show. Brentwood Women has started and the basics for launching a women’s ministry alongside of other campuses that minister to women as well.   

Transition Planning for Key Staff
Stan Breeden, Brian Coates, Tim Foot, Matt Wright | Wilson Hall D

What if a key lead staff member leaves or retires?  Do you have a plan for how transitioning to a new leader.  Churches often focus on the senior pastor’s transition but there can be other key leaders on the staff team.  How does the senior pastor’s transaction impact the staff?  We will discuss how Brentwood Baptist has gone through the transition of both the senior pastor and the senior executive pastor roles in the last 3 years including utilizing an outside organization to help with the process.

Church Revitalization
Fady Al-Hagal, Steven Wald | Wilson Hall E

Experience renewed church health and growth through an intentional process of revitalization. 

Every church needs renewal.  The truth is that throughout the life of any church many ifferent seasons will be experienced.  There will be seasons of plenty as well as harder seasons of searching.  And since it’s not a matter of “if” but “when,” every church should focus on how they will journey through; today.  So, if you are a pastor and are looking to renew your church’s mission and presence within your community or a pastor of a church in distress, come explore intentional methods to revamp or reboot your ministry. 

Pastoral Care: How to Create a Christian Therapeutic Referral Network
Keith Tenpenny | Wilson Hall F

In shepherding God’s flock, there are times we may need to refer people to counseling professionals.  How do we do this?  To whom do we send them?  Discover a strategy for developing a list of people in your community you can trust for referrals. 

Leading Your Team Well
Nic Gonzales | Choir Room

Principles and guidelines for keeping your teams functioning healthy, happy, and growing.

Preaching as a Team: Preaching as a Community for Our Communities
Jay Strother | Inman Chapel

In this breakout we talk about how to build a preaching team, how we collaborate to build an annual sermon plan, how we study and prepare as a team weekly.   

Why and How We Send Short Term Teams
Keith Holloway, Alec Beard | Room 2004 A-C

What is the role of a short term team? How do we avoid overwhelming a partner? What preparation is needed and how do you find and train team leaders? How do we involve the whole church? 

Building Blocks of Preschool Ministry
Renee Blain, Kelsi Lynne Taylor | Room 2103

From Birth to Kindergarten development is crucial for the little ones in your Ministry. Come learn about the basics of Preschool age development and learn and how what you teach can build a foundation for the Gospel in the hearts of those in your Ministry.    

5 Values of Brentwood Family Ministry
Linc Taylor, Taylor Johnson | Room 2132

A deep dive into the primary values that give shape to how we lead and equip families to be intentional in their homes and how we best design church ministries to champion the parent/child relationship. 

Central Support (Hiring, Training, and Retaining)
Bill Ferrell | Wilson Hall A

This breakout will discuss the structure of our Central Support Department which includes Finance, HR, Facilities, Live Production, and IT. Particular attention will be given to hiring and training practices. We will give an overview of our “Selection Toolkit” as well as assessments we use in the hiring process. There will be plenty of time for Q&A as well. 

Every Member A Minister: Engaging Your Congregants’ Gifts and Passions
Stephinie Prince | Wilson Hall B

Is your church experiencing volunteer burnout? Join us as we dive into the importance of empowering congregants to recognize and cultivate their unique spiritual gifts and passions for the building up of the body of Christ.   Every member can be equipped by God to not only serve but thrive in their calling! 

Understanding the Purpose and Vision of Small Groups
Paul Wilkinson, Truett Ross | Wilson Hall C

The book of Acts shows us the power of gathering in both large and small settings to grow the church and strengthen believers’ faith. In this session, we’ll explore the biblical foundation and strategic purpose of small groups and begin drafting a vision statement for how groups can thrive in your church. 

Creating Missional Urgency: How Small Groups Can Lead the Way
Wade Owens | Wilson Hall D

In this breakout session, we’ll uncover how small groups can become powerful catalysts for creating missional urgency within your church or community. Attendees will learn how to inspire and equip small group leaders to embrace their role in reaching the lost, building meaningful relationships, and fostering a culture of outreach. Together, we’ll explore practical strategies to mobilize small groups for effective, mission-driven growth. 

Marks of Healthy Church
Fady Al-Hagal, Steven Wald | Wilson Hall E

Are you pastoring a church and hoping the congregation and community around you will catch your vision?  As you implement your ministry plan, how do you know if you’re setting your church up for success? Further, what does success even look like?  Come hear more about the biblical marks of a healthy church and how to implement them within your own church. 

How AI Can Help Your Church Improve Your Communications
Dillon Sherlock | Wilson Hall F

This session explores how churches can harness the power of artificial intelligence to enhance their communication strategies. From automating email campaigns to optimizing social media engagement and tailoring messages to specific audiences, you’ll learn practical AI tools and techniques to save time and connect with your community effectively. 

Planning with Purpose: Revitalizing Your Worship Planning
Travis Cottrell, Ashton Burgos | Choir Room

Worship planning is more than filling blanks—it’s about creating space for people to encounter the Living God. This session will give you practical tools and Spirit led vision to plan with fresh purpose and renewed passion.

Brentwood Baptist Vision Frame: How We Engage the Whole Person With the Whole Gospel, Anywhere, Anytime, With Anybody
Jay Strother | Inman Chapel

Every church has to find a way to communicate its biblical mission, vision, values, and strategy.  In this session we’ll share ours, how we developed our framework, and why its essential for alignment, goal setting, and more.

Developing/Growing/Maintaining a Global Worker (Missionary) Pipeline
Keith Holloway, Brett Freemon | Room 2004 A-C

In this breakout session, we will guide you through our comprehensive strategy for identifying, preparing, and supporting Global Workers. The session will cover practical and relational methods, from using mission journeys to spark interest to providing ongoing soul care and support teams.

Preschool Ministry: Beyond the Classroom
Todd Villemont, Amy Keys | Room 2103

Many times in Preschool Ministry we focus a lot of our time and energy to what happens inside the Preschool Classroom. Come and learn how to interact with Parents, Volunteers and Kids outside of the classroom to build community and relationship within the Preschool Ministry of your church.  

Building Bridges: A Collaborative Approach to Foster Care and Adoption
Elizabeth Cochran | Room 2132

An in-depth look at our ministry, our collaborative efforts within our church ministries (respite, equip nights, Groups in WRAP teams, etc.), and concerted efforts with the state and other organizations.

Multi-Site from the Second Chair: Alignment & Processes
Brian Coates | Wilson Hall A

How do you actually run a multi-site church day to day? From the executive pastor’s seat, Brian will walk through the procedures, systems, and rhythms that keep nine campuses moving as one—budgeting and approvals, calendaring, staff structure, communication flows, decision rights, and accountability. You’ll leave with practical tools, sample processes, and “what we’d do differently” insights you can adapt tomorrow.

Leveraging Your Membership Process
Michele Dyer | Wilson Hall B

Is your membership process designed to create meaningful connections and drive engagement for every new member? Join us as we explore practical strategies and tools to help new members embrace their unique calling and find their place within their new church family. 

Building Effective Small Group Leaders
Cameron Russell, Alec Beard | Wilson Hall C

Strong small group ministries start with strong leaders. This session will provide practical tools for identifying, recruiting, and equipping leaders, and guide you in developing a plan to train and support them effectively in your church.

Be Doers of the Word: Crafting Effective Sermon Applications
John Joseph | Wilson Hall D

Are your sermons inspiring but you’re not sure if they’re translating into real-life change? Do you want to craft messages that not only teach but also transform? Join us for an engaging breakout session where we’ll explore the art of crafting effective sermon application. Learn how to take biblical truths and turn them into practical, life-changing steps for your congregation. Whether you’re a seasoned preacher or just starting out, this session will equip you with the tools to make your sermons more relevant, impactful, and transformative.  

Developing Leaders: Residency, Bi-Vocational Residency, and Lay Training
Roger Severino, Chris Hoppe, Jim Dickey | Wilson Hall E

Have you ever considered a residency, internships, or lay training courses to raise up the next generation of spiritual leaders for your church or God’s Kingdom? Come learn about the history of BBC’s residency and the changes we made after a few years. Come learn the details of “why” and “how” we do our Ministry Residency, Bi-Vocational Residency, and Lay Training initiatives.  

The 2025 Guide to Social Media for Your Church
Dillon Sherlock, Laila Al-Hagal | Wilson Hall F

Stay updated on the latest trends, platforms, and strategies in social media for churches. This session will cover how to effectively create content, manage multiple platforms, and measure success to ensure your church’s message reaches and engages your community in 2025 and beyond. 

Leading Multigenerational Services
Travis Cottrell, Mack Burns | Choir Room

Worship that spans generations is a glimpse of heaven—young and old lifting their voices together before the Lord. This session will help you lead with wisdom and grace, drawing every age into one Spirit led service that celebrates the body of Christ. 

Why Multi-Site? Our Story, Governance, and Model Choices
Jay Strother | Inman Chapel

Why did Brentwood Baptist become one church in nine locations—and why does it work for us? Jay will tell the story behind the shift to multi-site, compare multiplication paradigms, and unpack our governance and regional campus model (how authority, vision, and oversight flow). Expect lessons learned, strengths/limitations of the approach, and where we see the model headed next.

Creating a Healthy Missions Ministry From Scratch
Josh Lynn | Room 2004 A-C

Where do I start? What is ‘Missions Ministry’ and what’s not? What is healthy versus unhealthy? What to do when I don’t have much in the way of a budget? 

Asking The Right Questions in Kids Ministry
Lauren Denton, Brad Smith, Taylor Johnson | Room 2103

Creating an effective, impactful, and engaging Kids Ministry through planning and evaluation by asking the right questions.  

Go and Transform: Leading Student Mission Journeys for Spiritual Transformation
Evan Kunz, John Walker | Room 2132

Leading mission trips from start to finish…and creating onramps to what’s next when they return. 

Leading and Caring for Staff
Stan Breeden | Wilson Hall A

Effective staff leadership goes beyond administration—it’s about structure, communication, training, and care. This session will cover the value of a clear staff org chart, planning and leading all-staff meetings, improving communication and training, and providing shepherding through soul care, coaching, and counseling.

Building and Discipling Effective Guest Services Teams
Kiefer Johnson | Wilson Hall B

Guest Services teams play a crucial role in welcoming people into our church. While this ministry is essential, there is so much more we can achieve. In this breakout session, we will explore strategies to foster discipleship within the Guest Services ministry. We will also discuss how to develop servant leaders who exemplify a culture of hospitality, setting a powerful example for the entire church community. 

Structuring and Sustaining Small Groups
Shannon Moore, Ian Price | Wilson Hall C

Healthy small groups need clear structure and support to thrive. This session will cover practical strategies for organizing, starting, and sustaining groups, and help you outline a system that fosters growth and long-term success in your church.

What You Know Matters: Better Pastoring Through Giving Data
Ken Schafer | Wilson Hall D

Giving data is more than numbers—it’s a pastoral resource. This session will show how changes in giving can signal opportunities for care, why regular donor follow-up matters, and how a few key data points can help your team better shepherd your people. You’ll leave with practical next steps for using data with purpose and confidence.

Leadership Pipeline
Roger Severino, Michele Dyer | Wilson Hall E

Do you have enough spiritual leaders to do what God has called your church to do?   This session will explore how we seek to identify, equip, and deploy our people into spiritual service based partly on principles found in Mac Lake’s The Multiplication Effect.  

How to Build a Church Brand
Madi Wuebben, Mallory Nall | Wilson Hall F

Discover the principles of creating a memorable and impactful church brand. This breakout will guide you through identifying your church’s unique voice, defining its visual identity, and ensuring consistency across all platforms. Attendees will leave with actionable steps to communicate their mission and vision clearly. 

Your Worship Ministry’s DNA
Luke Roman | Choir Room

Do you know your DNA? Your ministry’s DNA is who you are, what you do, and the way you do it. In this breakout, we’ll explore the importance of shaping, articulating, and ministering from your Worship Ministry’s unique DNA. 

Having Hard Conversations with Team Members
Brandon Hays | Inman Chapel

Most leaders don’t list “having hard conversations” among their favorite aspects of the job, yet these discussions are vital for effectively shepherding people. In this breakout session, we will explore the “why” behind difficult conversations and equip you with practical strategies for approaching them. Participants will leave with actionable tools to gain confidence and foster open communication within their teams. Join us for an engaging discussion that will empower you to lead with grace and truth. 

Mobilizing Members for Local Projects and Partners
Vicki Howell, Sarah Beth Strong | Room 2004 A-C

How do we make members aware of opportunities and needs? How do we connect them with projects and partners? How do we measure success and celebrate? 

Special Needs Ministry 101- Equipping your Church to Serve All: Special Needs Ministry Basics
Ellie Axford, Embrace Team | Room 2103

Discuss the start of our ministry, basic beginning pieces such as the mission, policies and procedures, programming and events, team building, etc…including why each church should have some form of SNM and be prepared to serve these families. 

Developing Leaders Among Students
Evan Kunz, Linc Taylor | Room 2132

Sharing the Brentwood model of inspiring, equipping, and mobilizing students into leadership opportunities now and for future impact.