Are you tired of trying one claim after another to find the secret to church growth only to be spinning in circles?  Our goal is to help Pastors, staff, and laymen take the NEXT STEP UP on their journey to being the unique church that God has called them to be. 

Featured Speakers

    Jeff Iorg              David Melton          Shari Borders         John Durkin

Main Sessions, Dr. Jeff Iorg

Dr. Jeff Iorg is the president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. Prior to his service at the Seminary, Dr. Iorg was the Executive Director of the Northwest Baptist Convention for almost ten years. He was also the founding pastor of Greater Gresham Baptist Church in Gresham, Oregon and has served as a pastor in Missouri and a staff pastor in Texas.

Dr. Iorg teaches leadership, preaching, and church ministry courses at Golden Gate. He speaks frequently on these same subjects in conferences and other venues, including college campuses and leadership seminars. His publications include five books - The Painful Side of Leadership, The Character of Leadership, Is God Calling Me?, The Case for Antioch, and Live Like a Missionary - along with dozens of articles and curriculum materials. Dr. Iorg maintains a leadership resources website at www.JeffIorg.com

Breakout Sessions

David Melton, Pastoral and Adult Ministry 

David Melton is the President of Boston Baptist College and is the founding pastor of the MetroWest Baptist Church in Wellesley, Massachusetts.   He holds graduate degrees from both Harvard Divinity School and the University of Oklahoma, and has completed additional study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.  His academic specialization is in the rise of Christianity in the Greco-Roman world.  Love for the New Testament documents and their historical setting drives his preaching and teaching.  David and his wife/best friend Kim, have four sons and live in a suburb of Boston.  He is a New England sports fan, a PBS junkie, and an outspoken advocate for Christian apologia.  He golfs…poorly.

David Melton's sessions, called Pitching from the Podium, will be, "Taking the Mound," and "Curveballs, Splits, and Spits."  He will also deliver "Complete Game, Complete Seasons, and Complete Careers" in a general session. 

Group Training: Next Level Training for Youth and Children's Ministry

 Many of you may already use Group Publishing material in your kid's and youth ministries.  They also offer training.  Ministries come in all shapes and sizes. But they all have one thing in common: room to grow. Group Training can take your ministry to the next level in a way that’s fun and easy.  You could pay big bucks to bring these guys to your church, especially to get separate training for youth and children.  But we are bringing them both here to train you and your entire team of volunteers. 

Shari Borders, Children's Ministry, Group Training

Shari serves as a national speaker and trainer for Group Publishing an locally for Joni and Friends Disability Ministries.  Shari received her degree from St. Louis Christian College and has served in children's and youth ministry for more than 22 years.  Shari has a rich heritage of family who served in ministry and she and husband Russ are raising their four children to do the same.  A native of St. Louis, Shari moved to Texas as a child and had a short stint in southern Illinois, but has been back in St. Louis serving in local ministry since 2002.  Go Cardinals!

John Durkin, Youth Ministry, Group Training

John currently serves as a Director of Youth, Young Adult, and Family Life Ministries at St. John Church and School in Indianapolis, IN.  John has over twelve years of full time ministry experience working with groups from the single digits to groups in the hundreds.  He is a graduate of Concordia University Chicago, where he studied Theology, and youth and family ministries.  John's wife Mary is a Christian school teacher. They have two wonderful children Maddie (10) and Mike (5).  In his spare time John works as a presenter for Group Publishing, an MC at work camps, a project coordinator with Kids Against Hunger, and a freelance speaker.  He is passionate about equipping saints for ministry through training, networking, and support.

JUST ADDED:  Ken Braddy of Lifeway

• Event Price
• $30/person before July
• $45/person in July
• $60/person in August or at the door

Price includes meals (Mon. lunch and dinner; Tues. breakfast and lunch), all sessions, and conference materials.

Scholarships or discounts are available for those who may have financial restrictions.  DO NOT allow cost to cause you to miss this!  Please call 314-291-6919 or send an email to david@yourlbc.com for assistance.