The Unbearable Weight of Being Your Own Self | Dr. Dan Boone

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.

Sharing Jesus as the Way and Truth | Dr. Scott Rainey

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 SDMI.

Kingdom Rhythms – Part 1 | Ms. Karen Brooks

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 101 | Timothy Crutcher

Tim 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.”

(This workshop will be repeated in Session 2.)

I’m Called to Be a Missionary, Now What? | Joyce Tempel

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.

Collaboration Over Isolation | Rev. Larry Thomas

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.

Racism, Woke, CRT, LGBTQI, Fill-in-the-Blank Political Party, and All Those Other Things We’re Supposed to be Against | Dr. Dan Boone

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.

Jesus the Life (Sanctifying Grace) | Dr. Scott Rainey

Every individual who desires to worship God, must be committed to the call to discipleship. The call to discipleship is a call to a deeper life in God, becoming more like Jesus every day, experiencing victory over sin and power for service. Have you ever desired to go deeper in your walk with God? Are you prepared to lead someone you love into this deeper relationship with Jesus? Come, explore the deeper things of God for you personally and for those you disciple.

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 SDMI.

Kingdom Rhythms – Part 2 | Ms. Karen Brooks

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 101 | Timothy Crutcher

Tim 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.”

(This workshop is a repeat of Session 1.)

If You Build It, He Will Come | Josh and Shannon Herndon

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!

Depression and Faith: If Christ has won the victory, why am I so sad? | Rev. Stephanie Lobdell

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.

Two Models of the Church | Dr. Dan Boone

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.

Ministering to Children with Special Needs | Mrs. Kris Chapman

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 SDMI.

Kingdom Rhythms – Part 3  | Ms. Karen Brooks

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.

Ministry in the Small Community | Rev. Terry Armstrong

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.

ReFocus and Serve | Rev. Phil and Rev. Dr. Denise Anderson

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.  

The Church: The Death of Revival| Rev. Stephanie Lobdell

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.