Co:Mission – Values Conference 2023

Jesus has called us friends.  In fact, he makes a really big deal about that in Scripture.  And yet… in the church we don’t seem to recognize friendship as a fundamental model for how to do ministry.  This workshop seeks to renew the commitment to authentic friendship as fundamental to how we preach salvation, do ministry, and model the church.

Pastors Brett & Tara Smith have been in ministry for 20 years in various capacities, and have served churches in Arizona, California, Indiana, Tennessee, Illinois, and Papua New Guinea. They have two great teenagers, Miles and Macey.  Tara loves playing games, reading, and generally engaging in shenanigans and hijinks.  Brett’s favorite place to be is outside in the woods or on a mountain, but preferably both.  Together, they love serving the church through the lens that Jesus offered:  as the people of God, we are to become genuine friends to one another, caring in ways that can’t help but overflow into the lives of our neighbors.  This culture of hospitality creates disciples of boundless love who reach into every corner of the world.

The whole Church carries the Blessing of discipling children.  Can we stand out — for Good at home, school, and in our community of faith? Yes!

There’s no denying the world is vastly different than the way we grew up,, but we are not without hope.  We need each other as our children face a culture desperately trying to influence them down an unhealthy path regarding their faith and identity.

Teaching children Christian values that encourage and equip them to stand up and stand out as uniquely different and divinely called in today’s world is the calling of all Christians.  Parents and local church leaders, let’s gather and discuss how we can intentionally equip, encourage, and spiritually invest in our children, so they stand out for Good in the world around them.

(Sponsored by NDI)

Ms. Kalyn Vogelmann resides in West Chester, OH (suburb of Cincinnati).  She attended Mt. Vernon Nazarene University and majored in Elementary Education.  It was there where she met her husband Robb and, upon graduation, began fulfilling her call as a first-grade teacher.  They have four children, Claire 21-a junior at MVNU, Robby 20-a sophomore at MVNU, Andy 17, and Abby 13.

Currently, Kalyn serves as the volunteer leader for the Southwest Ohio District Women’s Discipleship Ministry called THRiVE.  Kalyn is also the director for Nazarene Women’s Discipleship & Ministry for NDI in USA/Canada. She has led women’s conferences in Haiti & Guatamala, speaks at various retreats, and serves as the junior high girl’s connection group leader on Sunday mornings at her church.  Kalyn and her husband also facilitate a small group in the home for friends in their community. Over the last several years in these lay ministry roles, she has sensed God calling her to more ministry. In May 2023 she will graduate with a Masters of Divinity in Missional Leadership from Northwest Nazarene University.

Kalyn desires all women to THRiVE in their journey with the Lord and to share with them the ‘secret’ to thriving. “And the secret is this: Chfrist in you, the hope of Glory.” Colossians 1:27

How do I fit into the mission of God and spreading his Word?  What do I have to offer? I wasn’t called to preach, how could God possibly use me? Come discover how you too play a vital role in the mission of God where you are and exactly how you are today.

(Sponsored by NYI)

Brad Cluff  is the Youth and College Age Pastor at Connection Pointe Church of the Nazarene in Lincoln, Nebraska.  He and his wife, Karlie, have been married for five years and have a Siberian Husky named Luka.  Brad is passionate about building God’s Kingdom and raising up the next generation of leaders.  In his free time he enjoys watching and playing sports, especially basketball and golf.

Every congregation has a unique culture that is embedded in its core values and embodied through habitual actions. Some of these values and behaviors are healthy, biblical, and life-giving. Some are not. By carefully listening to and observing a congregation’s language and loves, pastors and leaders can cooperatively re-narrate a congregation’s story with God and co-author a revitalizing future.

Rev. Jason Hill has been the senior pastor of Cape Church of the Nazarene for the past 13 years and has served in pastoral ministry for 23 years.  Jason is currently finishing a Doctor of Ministry at Nazarene Theological Seminary with an emphasis on transformational discipleship in the small church. Jason currently serves the Missouri District on the Advisory Board, Credentials Board, and the Values Conference Team. He has been the Missouri District Clergy Representative to the Board of Trustees of MidAmerica Nazarene University since 2021. Jason and his wife, Jessica, have two kids – Jacob (19) and Caitlin (16). In his free time, he writes columns on the St. Louis Cardinals for Viva El Birdos.

We will look at how we can approach missions as equitable partners, learners, and teamwork.  We will also share a sneak peek at what is new and where Work & Witness is going for the next 50 years!

(Sponsored by NMI)

Stephen and Anne Sickle have served with Global Missions in the Church of the Nazarene since 2009.  They started the adventure on the Mesoamerica Region as Work and Witness coordinators, living first in Costa Rica and then in Mexico.  They returned to the USA in 2019 to join the Global Missions team at the Global Ministry Center.  Now Stephen is the Work and Witness and Partnerships coordinator while Anne serves in the Global Missions Administration.

The Sickels have seen firsthand how God uses his beautiful Church to save a hurting world.  It has has been their joy and privilege to have a small part in mobilizing Nazarenes from many cultures and backgrounds to serve their God shoulder to shoulder.

The Sickel crew includes three ornery kids: Micah (10), Elizabeth (8), and Levi (8). They spend a lot of their time together, reading, fishing, making s’mores, and discussing weather, planes, and princesses.

This workshop will equip ministry leaders with how to prepare for the future using planned giving. Churches, schools, and other organizations often overlook ways of giving that can create sustainable structure. An entire generation of faithful Nazarenes will pass away in the coming decade, and they want to invest their resources in the Church. In this workshop, you’ll explore new ways to fund the future of your church’s ministry.

Mark Lail, President of the Church of the Nazarene Foundation, has served at the Nazarene Foundation since March 2012. He previously served as the Director of Stewardship Ministries for the Church of the Nazarene, Inc. He is a graduate of Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Nazarene Theological Seminary and also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. Mark also served as a pastor for over 22 years, leading Nazarene churches in New York and Ohio. Under Mark’s leadership the Foundation stewards over $140 million in assets and distributes over $10 million to ministry every year. Mark and his wife Ruth live in Ottawa, Kansas, and have five daughters and six grandchildren.

Contemporary models for evangelism most churches use come to us from Baptist and Non-denominational churches.  But what if the Church of the Nazarene is being called to offer a unique mode of evangelism that flows naturally from our theology of prevenient grace?  This workshop teaches a distinctly Wesleyan model of evangelism in which love is both the strategy and the goal.

Pastor Brett and Tara have been in ministry for 20 years in various capacities, and have served churches in Arizona, California, Indiana, Tennessee, Illinois, and Papua New Guinea. They have two great teenagers, Miles and Macey.  Tara loves playing games, reading, and generally engaging in shenanigans and hijinks.  Brett’s favorite place to be is outside in the woods or on a mountain, but preferably both.  Together, they love serving the church through the lens that Jesus offered:  as the people of God, we are to become genuine friends to one another, caring in ways that can’t help but overflow into the lives of our neighbors.  This culture of hospitality creates disciples of boundless love who reach into every corner of the world.

In this workshop we will talk about modern day hurdles to discipleship and how the Spark Discipleship Process has worked to help churches create paths to overcome many of those obstacles. Several churches of various sizes have implemented Spark successfully over the last decade and are seeing a fresh movement of discipleship in their local setting.

(Sponsored by NDI)

Rev. Michael Downs, the founder of Spark, will be sharing in-person encouragement and practical tools to help you create a church-wide discipleship movement.

Discover how your life experiences are relevant and useful to the mission of God. Each experience in our life can and will be used by God to reach others. Dive into the ways that God has worked in your life and how expressing this to others is important.  Develop your personal testimony story.

(Sponsored by NYI)

Brad Cluff  is the Youth and College Age Pastor at Connection Pointe Church of the Nazarene in Lincoln, Nebraska.  He and his wife, Karlie, have been married for five years and have a Siberian Husky named Luka.  Brad is passionate about building God’s Kingdom and raising up the next generation of leaders.  In his free time he enjoys watching and playing sports, especially basketball and golf.

In times of uncertainty, we need to understand the power and value of leverage. How do we mobilize people of faith to do his will? Partner with schools differently, partner with people differently, and partner with our communities differently. What are those small actions that will yield great results? A single seed can multiply and bring forth fruit, so the question is, “What giant stone is standing in your way?” In this workshop, participants will learn the value and importance of leverage and how to apply it to your life and ministry areas.

Ms. Pam Harris is a champion for God’s Kingdom. She believes in the power of encouragement and believes that everyone was created for God’s purpose.

She is a consultant with the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative which is a 15-month leadership initiative that equips Urban Youth Leaders with state-of-the-art faith-based leadership training. She is a City Liaison and Coach. She currently serves on the Board of UniteKC, a racial healing and racial reconciliation movement that seeks to bring unity to the Greater Metropolitan area of Kansas City.

She has spoken and facilitated on a variety of different platforms including national women’s conferences, minister wives conferences, lady day programs and women’s leadership programs.  She loves uplifting, inspiring and encouraging the people of God to be the best they can be for the glory of God.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas, a master’s degree from Avila University, a college advising certification, and most recently received a Certified Public Manager certification. She hopes to one day pursue a doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership and Management to better serve her church and greater community.

She is the wife of Dr. Artrell Harris, minister of the Roswell Church in Kansas City, KS, and together they have one daughter. Pam is passionate about the community and helping individuals achieve spiritual and emotional wholeness and wellness. Both in word and deed, she pushes individuals to be naturally and spiritually healthy and inspires them to fulfill the call that God has on their lives.

Pam’s favorite saying is simple: Your LIFE has Impact, Your STORY is Important, Your DREAMS Count, Your VOICE Matters because you were born to make a difference and impact the world for the cause of Christ.

One in three women will experience sexual assault or domestic violence at some point in their lives.  How can we as Christians respond to this growing concern?  Our Nazarene Manual states that the church should refrain from and advocate against sexual violence and marital abuse.  In this session, we will discuss the warning signs of abusive relationships and the challenges victims encounter, and learn how effectively to support and minister to survivors, both within our congregations and within our communities.

(Sponsored by NMI)

Jessica Hill is the Executive Director of the Safe House of Southeast Missouri, a non-profit domestic violence services agency located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  She is also a member of the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence Board of Directors.  Since joining the Missouri District in 2010, she has served as the chair of the District Women’s Council and as secretary of the SDMI (now NDI) Council.  Jessica has a bachelor’s degree from Truman State University and a master’s degree in non-profit management from Oral Roberts University.  She and her husband Jason, who is Senior Pastor of Cape Church of the Nazarene, have two children: Jacob and Caitlin.

Worship is all about presenting our gifts to the Lord, the very best of our possessions. When it comes to giving in the local church, many generous Nazarenes miss out on the creative ways that they can offer their resources back to the Lord. Learn how your ministry can receive non‐cash gifts such as stock, real estate, cybercurrency, collectibles,  businesses, precious metals and gifts from retirement accounts.

Mark Lail, President of the Church of the Nazarene Foundation, has served at the Nazarene Foundation since March 2012. He previously served as the Director of Stewardship Ministries for the Church of the Nazarene, Inc. He is a graduate of Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Nazarene Theological Seminary and also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. Mark also served as a pastor for over 22 years, leading Nazarene churches in New York and Ohio. Under Mark’s leadership the Foundation stewards over $140 million in assets and distributes over $10 million to ministry every year. Mark and his wife Ruth live in Ottawa, Kansas, and have five daughters and six grandchildren.

Unfortunately, safety and security are becoming more and more of an issue in our society.  It is important to keep your congregation as safe as possible.  This seminar will share valuable information on starting and developing a safety team at your local church.

Rev. Jim Chapman is the lead pastor at O’Fallon New Life.  He is a graduate of St. Louis Christian College. Jim has been in ministry for over 20 years, with a portion of that time being his own speaking ministry.  Jim and his wife, Jennifer, have two boys, Tyler and Hunter.  He is a fan of the Cardinals, Quicktrip, and the Florida Gators football.

So, I have a story, but what do I say?  How do I tell it?  I’m so shy!  I’ve never done this before.  Come practice compiling and sharing your story to become a stronger witness for the Lord. Gain confidence in knowing what to say and how to reach others for the Lord.

(Sponsored by NYI)

Brad Cluff  is the Youth and College Age Pastor at Connection Pointe Church of the Nazarene in Lincoln, Nebraska.  He and his wife, Karlie, have been married for five years and have a Siberian Husky named Luka.  Brad is passionate about building God’s Kingdom and raising up the next generation of leaders.  In his free time he enjoys watching and playing sports, especially basketball and golf.

The church’s gathered worship service, when constructed with intentionality, can be an encounter of grace in faith that forms participants in discipleship and empowers them for mission in their communities. This roundtable conversation will feature pastors, worship leaders, and lay leaders from across the district and will cover topics like corporate prayer and scripture reading, preaching and sermon planning, music and organizing music teams, administering the sacraments, and more!

Rev. Jason Hill has been the senior pastor of Cape Church of the Nazarene for the past 13 years and has served in pastoral ministry for 23 years.  Jason is currently finishing a Doctor of Ministry at Nazarene Theological Seminary with an emphasis on transformational discipleship in the small church. Jason currently serves the Missouri District on the Advisory Board, Credentials Board, and the Values Conference Team. He has been the Missouri District Clergy Representative to the Board of Trustees of MidAmerica Nazarene University since 2021. Jason and his wife, Jessica, have two kids – Jacob (19) and Caitlin (16). In his free time, he writes columns on the St. Louis Cardinals for Viva El Birdos.

Learn about JESUS Film Harvest Partners’ role in the Church of the Nazarene’s efforts in Evangelism, Discipleship and Church Planting and how you can get involved and help prepare the way alongside more than 5,000 Nazarene evangelists.

(Sponsored by NMI)

Daniel was born in San Jose, Costa Rica. He spent his childhood in Costa Rica, Mexico City, Mexico, and South Carolina, Unites States, and his family settled in Mexico for his teenage years.  It was there that he met his future wife, Julie. Daniel and Julie were married in 2009 and began residing in Oklahoma City.  The following year, Daniel began to work as a volunteer with the Evangelism and JESUS Film ministry in the Mesoamerica Region.  In 2012 God opened the doors for Daniel to serve as a missionary for the Church of the Nazarene assigned to the JESUS Film Harvest Partners global office in Olathe, Kansas.  For the past 10 years, he has helped to facilitate the work of over 1,190 teams of nationals around the world who work to share God’s love with the lost.  Daniel and Julie have three children: Abigail (6) and Samuel (2).

Gifts you would never consider could provide a sustainable future for your church’s ministry. Learn why it’s spiritually important and practical to ask for out-of-the-ordinary gifts from your congregation, as well as how the Nazarene Foundation can help you receive these gifts for ministry. Learn how to ask for legacy gifts and tap into available services through the Church of the Nazarene Foundation.

Mark Lail, President of the Church of the Nazarene Foundation, has served at the Nazarene Foundation since March 2012. He previously served as the Director of Stewardship Ministries for the Church of the Nazarene, Inc. He is a graduate of Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Nazarene Theological Seminary and also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. Mark also served as a pastor for over 22 years, leading Nazarene churches in New York and Ohio. Under Mark’s leadership the Foundation stewards over $140 million in assets and distributes over $10 million to ministry every year. Mark and his wife Ruth live in Ottawa, Kansas, and have five daughters and six grandchildren.

Pastor Brett and Pastor Tara have been in ministry for 20 years in various capacities, and have served churches in Arizona, California, Indiana, Tennessee, Illinois, and Papua New Guinea. They have two great teenagers, Miles and Macey.  Tara loves playing games, reading, and generally engaging in shenanigans and hijinks.  Brett’s favorite place to be is outside in the woods or on a mountain, but preferably both.  Together, they love serving the church through the lens that Jesus offered:  as the people of God, we are to become genuine friends to one another, caring in ways that can’t help but overflow into the lives of our neighbors.  This culture of hospitality creates disciples of boundless love who reach into every corner of the world.

ReFocus – Values Conference 2022

While God’s holiness does not change, the language we use to testify to it does. As we recognize the deadly payload of sin in our culture, human sanctity takes on new light and meaning. Let’s talk about a way of describing the holy life that will sound like good news for people today.

Dr. Dan Boone serves as president of Trevecca Nazarene University. He earned MDiv and DMin degrees from Nazarene Theological Seminary and McCormick Theological Seminary. A well-respected speaker and lecturer, Boone is also a prolific writer.  He is the author of more than a dozen books on a wide range of theological topics, from worship and unity to hard questions and hot-button issues.  Dan has pastored churches in Illinois, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee.  He lives in Nashville with his wife Denise.

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While God’s holiness does not change, the language we use to testify to it does. As we recognize the deadly payload of sin in our culture, human sanctity takes on new light and meaning. Let’s talk about a way of describing the holy life that will sound like good news for people today.

Dr. Dan Boone serves as president of Trevecca Nazarene University. He earned MDiv and DMin degrees from Nazarene Theological Seminary and McCormick Theological Seminary. A well-respected speaker and lecturer, Boone is also a prolific writer.  He is the author of more than a dozen books on a wide range of theological topics, from worship and unity to hard questions and hot-button issues.  Dan has pastored churches in Illinois, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee.  He lives in Nashville with his wife Denise.

Helping someone cross the line of faith, or making a decision to repent and believe on Jesus, is a critical moment on the Journey of Grace. We call this moment “Saving Grace.” Why do so few disciples of Jesus ever experience the joy of leading someone into a relationship with God? In this breakout session, you will learn some basic, biblical principles that will help you share your faith without fear.

Dr. Scott Rainey was elected as the Global Director of Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International (SDMI) for the Church of the Nazarene, effective August 1, 2018. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Field Strategy Coordinator for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)) Field on the Eurasia Region. Under Scott’s leadership, the CIS Field entered three new countries (Georgia, Belarus, and Latvia) and started 24 new missional communities with hopes that each of these house churches would develop into healthy, multiplying churches. As an ordained elder, Scott has served as the lead pastor of  Living Word Church of the Nazarene in Houston, TX. During Scott’s pastoral ministry the church grew from 450-730 in regular attendance, relocated, and planted Celebrate Life Nazarene in Katy, TX. Scott has also served in staff positions in Fort Wayne, IN and Kansas City MO. Dr. Rainey is a graduate of Olivet Nazarene University, Nazarene Theological Seminary, and Houston Gradugte School of Theology, where he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree with an emphasis in church dynamics. He and his wife, Jenni, and their two daughters, Bekah and Sarah, currently reside in the Kansas City area.

This workshop is sponsored by NDI.

During our sessions together we will be diving into the book of Hosea as we examine how the rhythms in our lives impact not only ourselves but also those around us and our relationship with Christ. We will also work together to take a deeper look into what rhythms we desire to establish and get rid of.

Karen Brooks currently resides in Dallas, TX with her husband and serves at a Dallas nonprofit, Reach Council. She earned her Bachelors of Arts from MidAmerica Nazarene University, where she served as Class Chaplain, with a degree in Criminal Justice and minors in Ministry and Legal Studies. Karen is currently preparing for law school and she believes that Lord has called her to do nontraditional ministry and is passionate about advocating for those who are commonly underserved and overlooked.

This workshop is sponsored by NYI.

Holiness is not a complicated reality. It is actually the thread that ties together our understanding of who God is, who we are as human beings, and how we relate to God. In this workshop, we will present holiness and sanctification in a simple yet powerful way that makes those ideas exciting, hopeful, and worthy of our aspirations and our lives.

Timothy Crutcher has been the pastor of the Florida Keys Church of the Nazarene and a district missionary with the Southern Florida District since 2019. Before that he served as a professor of theology and church history and Southern Nazarene University and Africa Nazarene University. He is the author of  “John Wesley: His Life and Thought” and “Becoming Human Again: A Biblical Primer on Entire Sanctification.”

Are you or someone you know sensing a call to serve in missions? Join Global Engagement Coordinator Joyce Tempel as she shares about the process to become a Nazarene Missionary. Maybe this will be the first step to say, “Here I am. Send me!”

Joyce Tempel is the Global Missions Engagement Coordinator, which means she connects with those who sense God calling them to missions and supports them as they discern how to answer that call.  She also serves the regions by promoting service opportunities all over the world.  Joyce is originally from Brazil and has been involved in missions for over 16 years.  She earned the Brazilian equivalent of a BA in Intercultural Studies and an MA in Missional Leadership from Northwest Nazarene University.  She is married to Howard, and they have two kids, Davi (11) and Laila (9). In Brazil, Joyce served in urban church planting and in pioneering church ministry in the Amazon rainforest. She also served as a volunteer missionary in Kenya. She has been serving in the US for almost 15 years in a variety of ministry roles, including translation and interpretation, pastoral ministry, multicultural ministries development, district missions mobilization, Work & Witness, and partnerships. In addition to her work at Global Missions, Joyce is the co-pastor, along with her husband, of the Brazilian Ministry at Central Church of the Nazarene, in Lenexa, Kansas.

This workshop is sponsored by NMI.

Your mission as a local church is too big to go at it alone. The focus of this workshop is cooperative partnerships to accomplish multiple missions.

Pastor Larry Thomas planted and pastors New Yu Church, a community of Christ disciples whose mission is to love God and love people.  New Yu Church is located in Shiloh, Il.  New Yu began as a youth ministry in Washington Park in 2006 and launched as a church in January 2019.

A significant conversation is going on in American culture today. Is there a Biblical narrative that guides us into these conversations? Or shall we just toss judgment grenades over the fence and let the shrapnel do its work? We’ll study Acts 10-11 to see if our categories need converting.

Dr. Dan Boone serves as president of Trevecca Nazarene University. He earned MDiv and DMin degrees from Nazarene Theological Seminary and McCormick Theological Seminary. A well-respected speaker and lecturer, Boone is also a prolific writer.  He is the author of more than a dozen books on a wide range of theological topics, from worship and unity to hard questions and hot-button issues.  Dan has pastored churches in Illinois, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee.  He lives in Nashville with his wife Denise.

Scripture is clear that God designed parents of families to take the lead when it comes to the spiritual development/nurture of their children. Sadly, this isn’t a reality for some kids. Ministering to kids who have never set foot in a church before can prove to be an eye opening experience to even seasoned ministry veterans. We will learn how to create a new culture and how to practically minister to kids who are Spiritual Orphans.

Rev. Jill Waltz is an Ordained Elder in the COTN and has been in full time ministry for over twenty years. She currently serves as an evangelist and leadership trainer. Jill obtained her B.S. degree from Olivet as well as her Masters in Church Management. She has authored 3 books and is passionate about challenging life-long Christians to lean into their role in God’s Story. She currently lives in Middletown, IN with her husband and 3 daughters, mini horse, and donkey named Elvis.

During our sessions together we will be diving into the book of Hosea as we examine how the rhythms in our lives impact not only ourselves but also those around us and our relationship with Christ. We will also work together to take a deeper look into what rhythms we desire to establish and get rid of.

Karen Brooks currently resides in Dallas, TX with her husband and serves at a Dallas nonprofit, Reach Council. She earned her Bachelors of Arts from MidAmerica Nazarene University, where she served as Class Chaplain, with a degree in Criminal Justice and minors in Ministry and Legal Studies. Karen is currently preparing for law school and she believes that Lord has called her to do nontraditional ministry and is passionate about advocating for those who are commonly underserved and overlooked.

This workshop is sponsored by NYI.

[Due to technical difficulties we are unable to share a recording of this session.]

When we think about what the church is supposed to be, one of the first words to pop up is “community.” The beauty of the gospel is that it brings together all kinds of people from different walks of life to live in harmony focusing on Christ.  Within the main community of the church are separate groups that can bond over unique passions.  For some it is missions and for others it’s discipleship.  We see at every level that sports builds community.  Kids and parents have a chance to build new relationships and meet people from the church they haven’t already known.

Josh and Shannon Herndon served as missionaries with Church of the Nazarene in Spain from 2010-2016. In 2016, they moved to Thessaloniki, Greece, hoping to pioneer the work of the Church of the Nazarene there. The Herndons were involved in ministry to the refugees who were (and still are) stranded in Greece. Their sports ministry was put to use at refugee camps in order to give them a positive activity to focus on while living there. Through much prayer and working with Eurasia Regional leadership, the Herndon family accepted a new assignment in Romania. The Herndon family’s next assignment took them to Romania in September of 2017 and were blessed to serve with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Work & Witness, church and district development, leadership development, and Josh served as District Superintendent. Sports ministry and outreach continued to be part of the ministry in Romania, specifically utilizing baseball and American flag football. Josh and Shannon have accepted a new assignment and will be returning to the Western Mediterranean Field, where they will be serving in Italy. As they plan to move to Italy in September of 2022, they are looking forward to supporting the work of the Nazarene Church there. The Herndon family will work with leadership development, Work and Witness, theological education, and anything else the district needs! If you want to know more and experience Italy, you may just need to plan to come and serve in Italy alongside the Herndons on a mission trip!

This workshop is sponsored by NMI.

More than ever, people are struggling under the weight of mental health challenges. The church is not immune. Lay people and pastors alike can find themselves staring into an abyss of anxiety, fear, numbness, and hopelessness. Where is God in the midst of such suffering? What does it look like to faithfully respond to mental health challenges, be they our own or those of the ones we love?

Rev. Stephanie Lobdell Stephanie Lobdell is a pastor, writer, and speaker passionate about proclaiming the message of Jesus. Stephanie has served as a pastor in the Nazarene church since 2008. She currently serves as the Campus Pastor at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Stephanie is a graduate of both MidAmerica Nazarene University and Nazarene Theological seminary. She is the author of the book Signs of Life: Resurrecting Hope out of Ordinary Losses, and co-author of Lenten Postcards and Sacred Invitations and Belong: Retracing the Way of God’s Embracing Love. Stephanie is married to Tommy Lobdell and they share two children, JoJo and Jack.

Some of the divide among Christians today has to do with their preferred model of the church as it exists in society. Sometimes a word picture helps us discern what we are actually doing when we are being the church. We’ll look at the church as a walled city and the church as a game of tether ball.

Dr. Dan Boone serves as president of Trevecca Nazarene University. He earned MDiv and DMin degrees from Nazarene Theological Seminary and McCormick Theological Seminary. A well-respected speaker and lecturer, Boone is also a prolific writer.  He is the author of more than a dozen books on a wide range of theological topics, from worship and unity to hard questions and hot-button issues.  Dan has pastored churches in Illinois, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee.  He lives in Nashville with his wife Denise.

Come with your questions and ideas on how to minister to students with special needs. I will share the tools I have used in the past. There are many resources available to assist with behavior management and understanding the different types of disabilities your students may have.  I will also share key factors that lead to success in previous special needs programs I’ve served in.  Participation and discussion will drive this session as we share and learn from each other.

Kris Chapman is a public school educator in Early Childhood Education and Education Administration. Her 32 years in education includes working with children with special needs. Kris has attended several training sessions in the areas of behavior, trauma and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention. Mrs. Chapman has served in all areas of Children’s Ministry since she was a teenager.  Most recently, Kris has worked in the Special Needs Ministry in the churches she has attended in Missouri and Tennessee. Come with your questions and learn more about how to minister to children with special needs.

This workshop is sponsored by NDI.

During our sessions together we will be diving into the book of Hosea as we examine how the rhythms in our lives impact not only ourselves but also those around us and our relationship with Christ. We will also work together to take a deeper look into what rhythms we desire to establish and get rid of.

Karen Brooks currently resides in Dallas, TX with her husband and serves at a Dallas nonprofit, Reach Council. She earned her Bachelors of Arts from MidAmerica Nazarene University, where she served as Class Chaplain, with a degree in Criminal Justice and minors in Ministry and Legal Studies. Karen is currently preparing for law school and she believes that Lord has called her to do nontraditional ministry and is passionate about advocating for those who are commonly underserved and overlooked.

This workshop is sponsored by NYI.

Rural churches offer unique advantages and difficulties for the minister and congregation.  Our time together will give opportunity to hear the thoughts and experiences of one who pastored for 21 years in two different rural churches that thrived and grew.  We will look at what the rural church offered to family, congregants and community then and now and look at a few methods that were used to overcome the challenges.

Rev. Terry Armstrong has been the Illinois District Superintendent for the past 2 ½ years.  Prior to his move to Illinois, he served as lead pastor and associate – youth pastor in Oklahoma for 38 years. He has served in a variety of roles throughout the denomination including General NYI secretary, SNU and ONU Board of Trustees, and District Advisory Boards in Northwest Oklahoma and Southwest Oklahoma. He also served several years on the Guymon Public School Board.  He and his wife, Becky, have four children, all serving people in some form, and 10 grandchildren.

Over the past few years, due to the pandemic, society has had to shift how they carried out most aspects of their lives.  This was no different for the church.  Many programs and norms that the church (people) has enjoyed for years halted.  Church leaders have had to reinvent the new normal.  One of the things that halted and shifted was ministry to others.  As we move out of the pandemic and refocus on who we are as followers of Christ, we must also take the time to renew our call to serve.  This workshop will address why we serve, how we serve and the benefits of serving.

Rev. Phil and Rev. Dr. Denise Anderson Phil is the Executive Director of Cactus Nazarene Ministry Center (CNMC) in Texas.  Denise is a volunteer and serves as a Department of Justice representative for the Immigration Center, writes grants, and fills in where she can in other ministries for CNMC. Phil has a Masters in Missional Leadership and a Masters of Divinity from Northwest Nazarene University, and Denise has her Masters and PhD in Social Work as well as Masters in Pastoral Ministry from Northwest Nazarene University. Phil and Denise were in lay ministry until they were called to serve as missionaries in 2003.  They have served along with their daughters Makenzie and Morgyn, in Thailand, The Dominican Republic, and South Africa.  They feel blessed to serve the Lord and the church with so many different people groups in different world areas.  Serving in Cactus brings all of the world areas they have loved into one place.  Phil and Denise came to Cactus from Bourbonnais, IL where they both helped plant a church with their daughter and son-in-law.  

This workshop is sponsored by NMI.

Carlo Carretto once said, “How baffling you are, oh Church, and yet how I love you! How you have made me suffer, and yet how much I owe you!” Who among us does not love the Church and does not also bear scars at Her hand? In this workshop, we will exercise truth and hope. Truth demands we tell the truth, no matter how painful. Hope forbids us take up cynicism and despair. Come prepared to practice vulnerability.

Rev. Stephanie Lobdell Stephanie Lobdell is a pastor, writer, and speaker passionate about proclaiming the message of Jesus. Stephanie has served as a pastor in the Nazarene church since 2008. She currently serves as the Campus Pastor at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Stephanie is a graduate of both MidAmerica Nazarene University and Nazarene Theological seminary. She is the author of the book Signs of Life: Resurrecting Hope out of Ordinary Losses, and co-author of Lenten Postcards and Sacred Invitations and Belong: Retracing the Way of God’s Embracing Love. Stephanie is married to Tommy Lobdell and they share two children, JoJo and Jack.

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