The XP-Seminar was a significant milestone for us. We decided to initiate my succession over the next seven years. I would never have started this process had I not attended the conference. The outstanding workshops made me realize that the best way I can ensure the legacy of the church I planted is to skillfully and intentionally pass the baton to those who will lead in the next generation.
—A Senior Pastor

The 2026 workshops will be posted in October

2025 Workshops

Pre-registration is not needed.

Get to the room as soon as possible—some rooms fill quickly.

4th Quarter Discipleship: How to Actively Step into the Greatest Discipleship Opportunity in Your Church

Could your church be missing out on the greatest discipleship opportunity of our lifetime? How many Bible characters make or break the potential impact of their lives in the 4th quarter of their lives? Does your church have a process for helping people gain traction in this incredibly important life transition? In this workshop, the Grand Plan Team will help you work through and identify the greatest challenges facing one of the most strategic people groups in your congregation—people entering the 4th quarter of their lives (52–73-year-olds). Join us as we imagine together what discipleship and ministry could look like for this quickly emerging, but overlooked people group.

Stan Endicott has had a successful career in the music industry as an arranger, producer, and music executive for over three decades. He worked with Maranatha Music for 25 years, which allowed him to contribute to the production and arrangement of many Praise and Worship Albums, including Break Down the Walls and Making of a Godly Man albums for Promise Keepers. He is co-founder of The Slingshot Group, one of the nation’s top church and nonprofit staffing organizations. The very name Slingshot came to him from his childhood.  

He is known as a professional question asker, developing questions tailored to most any situation. He serves as a mentor to numerous leaders, offering wisdom, experience, and discernment. Described by others as a Curiositor, Creative, Maverick, and Mentor.  His commitment to inspiring others to Love their Work reflects his keen interest for cultivating a positive and fulfilling work environment. With his research and understanding of what makes a healthy life, Stan is well-equipped for coaching and mentoring individuals of any age.

Stan Endicott, Co-Founder, Slingshot Group

Dave is the co-founder of Clarity House, a coaching and consulting organization that helps churches take their next step into a disciple-making future they can believe in and the Strategic Director for the Grace Family of Churches headquartered in Atlanta, GA. He has consulted with hundreds of local church leaders in creating disciple-making cultures for more than 15+ years and guided hundreds of followers of Jesus to know and name their special calling from God. Dave co-founded Life Younique and The Future Church Co. He was the U.S. Team Leader for 3DM and Lead Strategist at Wayfarer Ministries. He has worked as a collaborative partner with 100 Movements, 10,000 Fathers, PLI, and Exponential and has written several books including Redefining Normal: An Open Invitation for Ordinary People Wanting to Become Extraordinary Disciples.

Dave Rhodes, Co-founder, Clarity House

Five Pillars of Effective Outreach

Reimagine your church’s approach to outreach and evangelism by learning the Five Pillars of Effective Outreach. Drawing from decades of ministry experience, this workshop explores how to grow your church through an incremental approach to outreach and evangelism. Learn how to strategically integrate digital marketing and communications to enhance each pillar, creating multiple pathways for people to move toward faith. You will learn practical ways to leverage existing community partnerships, develop clear “next steps” for every outreach initiative, and build sustainable programs that energize rather than exhaust your congregation. Each participant will get access to a Strategic Outreach Assessment Tool to evaluate their current initiatives and plan future strategies across all five pillars.

With over 23 years of experience as a pastor and church planter, Bart Blair is a practitioner of ministry and marketing. From the Dallas-Fort Worth area, he serves as the Executive Director of Missional Impact at Missional Marketing, an agency dedicated to helping local churches fulfill the Great Commission through digital marketing and outreach.

Bart Blair, Brand Director, Missional Marketing

5 Real-Life Case Studies: How We Handled Impossible Staff Terminations And What We Learned

Meet Not-Retiring Randy, the pastor who’s been preaching for 30 years but now mutters, “I’m dying in the pulpit.” Or Family-First Frank, the elder’s son who’s been riding the church’s coattails as youth pastor for years, but isn’t pulling his weight. Then there’s Tone-Deaf Tom, the worship leader whose voice cracks under pressure but still has an army of loyal fans … in the choir. These aren’t hypothetical—they’re real, messy situations, and tougher to navigate than you’d expect. In this session, we’ll share 5 case studies of impossible staff terminations and the tough conversations that followed. Learn how we managed awkward family dynamics, cultural mismatches, and the tension of keeping love intact while making hard calls.

With 25+ years in faith-based executive leadership, Matt Davis knows the wins, the losses, and everything in between. As Executive Pastor, he led a team of 140+, tackling the challenges that come with big vision and real impact. As President of Pastoral Transitions, he guides churches through tough leadership changes. Matt and his wife, Marilee, host the Life After Ministry Podcast, where they dive into real talk with former pastors who’ve found their kingdom assignment beyond church walls—unfiltered stories of grit, growth, and God’s purpose beyond the pulpit.

Matt Davis, President, Pastoral Transitions

5 Steps to Building a Culture Plan: Turn Your Culture into a Competitive Advantage

Your team is your greatest asset—are you stewarding it with the intentionality it deserves? Your people are the linchpin between your mission and strategy, yet many leaders overlook the importance of a clear culture plan. Research shows that while 90% of leaders agree that having an engagement strategy is vital, only 25% actually have one. Without a plan, even the best intentions can fall short of creating a thriving team culture.

This workshop will change that. Certified LeadCulture coaches Genea Browne and Karissa Parks will guide you through the proven LeadCulture Framework—a five-step process for creating a culture plan that aligns your team, empowers them to thrive, and helps your ministry achieve its mission. You’ll gain practical tools and insights to:

  • Assess your current culture and identify key areas for growth.
  • Clarify your team’s purpose and priorities to build stronger alignment.
  • Create actionable steps to engage, develop, and retain your staff.

Whether you’re starting fresh or refining an existing approach, this session will equip you with a roadmap to steward your team well and build a culture where everyone grows, thrives, and is unstoppable.

Your team deserves more than hope—they deserve a plan. This workshop will help you create it.

Genea Browne is an engaging executive coach with over 20 years of both ministry and marketplace experience. She is most passionate about guiding individuals and organizations to achieve alignment, growth, and excellence. She achieves this through intentional coaching on mission, vision, values, purpose and goals. In her most recent role as Executive Team Lead for Community Christian, a multisite church in the Bay Area, she focused on leadership development, team culture and care, led the Community Group ministry for all locations, as well as developed and executed Human Resource strategies and systems. Genea’s career has also included developing and leading volunteer teams and working as the Director of Coaching for a leadership organization where she coached executive pastors and leaders nationwide. Genea has experience with both sides of ministry working as a staff member and also serving two consecutive terms on an elected Board at a large multisite church in the Chicago area.

Genea Browne, Executive Coach, 4Sight

Karissa Parks is the marketing and growth strategist for the 4Sight Group, where she uses her expertise in marketing and business development to amplify the mission of serving faith leaders. Driven by her calling to support organizations that equip the Church, Karissa is passionate about connecting leaders with the tools they need to build thriving teams and cultures.

Her career spans organizations like Leadr, Cru, NASCAR, and BMWL, a CPA firm serving the nation’s leading churches, ministries, and nonprofits. This diverse background gives Karissa a unique perspective on how mission-driven organizations can grow, engage, and lead more effectively.

Outside of work, Karissa and her husband, Adam, planted Eastside Christian Church in Orlando, Florida, in 2020. Together, they are raising two daughters, Brighton and Kennedy, and a golden retriever named Chipper while serving their city to change the spiritual landscape of Orlando.

Karissa Parks, 4Sight

5 Ways To Stretch Your Space

Maximize the impact of your building by making it flexible for a variety of ministry uses. Learn how to implement practical, adaptable design strategies that meet both current and future needs.

With over 20 years of experience serving rural to mega-churches, Nathan understands the struggles facing churches today. He has an extensive background in creative arts as well as executive pastoral leadership. As the Director of Strategic Design at Visioneering Studios, Nathan serves churches across the country, helping them bridge the gap between ministry and building design.

Nathan Elder, Director of Strategic Design, Visioneering Studios

6 Simple Hacks for Lasting Impressions: Enhancing the First-Time Experience

Creating a meaningful and memorable first impression is essential for welcoming guests to your church. In this engaging talk, you’ll learn six practical strategies to transform how first-time visitors experience your space. From empowering greeters to foster genuine connections to simplifying navigation with clear signage and thoughtful design, these hacks will help your church create an environment that feels approachable and inviting. You’ll also explore the importance of clarity over creativity, meaningful guest gifts, and intentional follow-up to ensure every visitor feels valued and encouraged to return. Perfect for church leaders looking to improve their hospitality and build deeper connections with their community!

With over 10 years’ experience as the Creative Director for a multi-campus church, John’s passion for providing the highest level of concierge service can be seen in his strategic and structured approach to each project. He is the Director of Enviropop.

John Lindsey, Director, Enviropop

Accounting Tech Stacks: Best Practices for Your Ministry

Technology changes quickly, and if you do not evaluate your church’s software and systems frequently, they can become outdated and inefficient. We’ll share considerations and tips to help your church create and maintain an effective accounting tech stack that can save time and reduce errors while supporting your mission-focused goals. You’ll learn how to assess your current financial management processes and systems to identify gaps or areas for improvement, recognize additional data and features that could optimize your workflows and decision-making, and evaluate potential accounting technology solutions to find the right fit for your church’s budget and needs.

Ken Tan serves as a Partner at CapinCrouse, a national CPA and consulting firm exclusively serving churches and other nonprofit entities. He has more than 15 years of public accounting and large nonprofit experience, providing both advisory and assurance services to various nonprofit entities, churches, and mission organizations. Prior to joining the firm, Ken managed the audits of public Fortune 100 and private multi-billion dollar companies for a Big 4 accounting firm, provided advisory and strategic planning for churches, nonprofits, and small to medium-sized businesses, and served as the controller and corporate officer for a large faith-based multi-national mission agency.

Ken Tan, Partner, CapinCrouse

Adrenaline Recovery Practices

In this workshop, Bill and Kristi go deeper into the practical challenges of adrenaline and stress in ministry. They will share real life stories of adrenaline addiction and how it affects people they are in relationship with. They will also teach the Adrenaline Addiction Cycle and how to reverse it, as well as respond to questions about managing adrenaline. They will introduce fresh spiritual practices to aid adrenaline recovery for you, your staff, and your church.

Bill is a psychologist and ordained pastor, specializing in ministry to pastors. He and Kristi are the authors of Journey of the Soul, which was #1 on Amazon in Christian Counseling. He was personally mentored for many years by Dallas Willard and Ray Ortlund Sr. His earlier book Your Best Life in Jesus’ Easy Yoke tells the story of his spiritual renewal from anxious living and burnout and introduces the message and way of Soul Shepherding.

Bill and Kristi Gaultiere founded Soul Shepherding in 2009, which is a ministry to help pastors and churches go deeper with Jesus in emotional health and loving leadership. Bill serves as CEO and Kristi as Chief Culture Officer. They oversee 20 operations staff and over 40 independent contractors. Bill is a psychologist (Ph.D.), ordained pastor, and spiritual director. Kristi is a marriage and family therapist (Psy.D.) and spiritual director.

Bill Gaultiere, Co-Founder, Soul Shepherding

Kristi is a psychotherapist and spiritual director for women in ministry and pastors’ wives. She co-leads Soul Shepherding with Bill. She was mentored by Jane Willard and Dr. Jan Stoop. As a pastor’s wife, mother, and ministry professional, Kristi offers empathy and wisdom from her experience personally and as a therapist who has spent many thousands of hours caring for people. Kristi enjoys speaking, training, teaching, consulting, counseling, and retreat leading with Bill.

Bill and Kristi Gaultiere founded Soul Shepherding in 2009, which is a ministry to help pastors and churches go deeper with Jesus in emotional health and loving leadership. Bill serves as CEO and Kristi as Chief Culture Officer. They oversee 20 operations staff and over 40 independent contractors. Bill is a psychologist (Ph.D.), ordained pastor, and spiritual director. Kristi is a marriage and family therapist (Psy.D.) and spiritual director.

Kristi Gaultiere, Co-Founder, Soul Shepherding

AI on Mission: Effectively Launching Artificial Intelligence within Your Church

Have you wondered how your church can effectively implement AI at scale? Are your staff members at different stages in their AI journey, making it challenging to move forward together? In this practical session, we’ll create your roadmap for bringing AI into your church’s future. You’ll learn how to assess your team’s AI readiness, identify ministry pain points, and choose the right tools for your mission. Walk away with a concrete action plan for integrating AI into your church in ways that serve both your staff and congregation.

David oversees Research and Development for the three brands under the Missional Marketing Group. He has worked with Missional Marketing since 2017. He’s also among our top producers of SEO Content writing. With a doctorate in leadership studies, he also has earned master’s degrees in management and leadership, counseling, and practical theology. He heads up AI for churches brand, focusing on how the church can better utilize AI in all aspects of ministry.

David Thorne, ED.D, Research and Development, AI-for-Churches, Missional Marketing Group

Anchoring Your Church Giving: Leading Through a Quickly Changing Stewardship Landscape

Discover fresh strategies to build a sustainable giving culture, even in challenging times. This workshop equips executive pastors with tools to foster discipleship-driven stewardship, leverage technology, and engage all stages of giving.

Walk away with actionable steps to become a catalyst for change, ensuring your church remains vibrant and financially resilient for the road ahead.

With over 30 years of financial stewardship experience, Brad has devoted his career to helping churches and nonprofits cultivate and strengthen their stewardship culture. For 23 years, he was a key leader at Generis, serving as both Principal and President for 11 of those years. Now, as Principal with Ministry Essentials, he continues to coach organizations to build strong stewardship cultures and fulfill their God-given missions.

Passionate about helping churches accelerate their visions, particularly during times of change and financial complexity, he takes a forward-thinking approach to guiding congregations of all sizes and forms across the U.S. His focus is on enhancing both the practical and spiritual aspects of stewardship, supporting leaders as they grow and evolve.

Brad holds a Masters in Theology and brings a wealth of expertise in areas such as stewardship coaching, capital projects, major gift development, and giver communication.

Brad Leeper, CEO/Founder, Ministry Essentials

Background Checks—What We Don’t Know Can Lead to a Ditch

Many churches rely heavily on background checks as the solution for child sexual abuse risk. Is this heavy reliance well-founded? In this session, Kimberlee Norris will address the realities of background check effectiveness. She will also explain other factors that further impact background check effectiveness unknown to ministry leaders: federal and state legislative limits on search scopes and reports, state record purges, corners cut by background check vendors, and more.

Kimberlee D. Norris is a sexual abuse trial attorney: representing victims of abuse, serving as a consulting and testifying expert in abuse cases, and providing crisis management and allegation response counsel to child-serving organizations of all sizes. An acknowledged authority in child sexual abuse issues, Norris has trained over three million child-serving staff members and volunteers since 2005. After decades of litigating sexual abuse cases and providing legal counsel to ministries, Norris partnered with Dallas Theological Seminary to create the first seminary course in existence exclusively addressing the risk of child sexual abuse in ministry contexts.

Kimberlee D. Norris, Attorney at Love & Norris, Founder of MinistrySafe

The Basics of Estate Planning: Leaving a Legacy

We can’t predict the future, but we can plan for it. Financial Planning Ministry (FPM) takes the mystery out of estate planning, guiding you and your family through a straightforward process, allowing you to design a legacy plan that blesses your family and honors God. Take this opportunity to make decisions, pass on your values and valuables, and start planning for your future. Learn more about wills, trusts, guardianship, and health care directives as you work to create your own customized estate plan with FPM at no out-of-pocket cost to you.

Dave Hess is a 22-year veteran of the United States Air Force. Following his retirement from the Air Force, Dave served two different congregations over a 12-year period as pastor of education, pastor of worship, and executive pastor. For the past eleven years Dave has served with Financial Planning Ministry. As Vice President of Training & Development, his role is to assist in the training and management of a team of 40 professionals who provide education on estate planning processes while assisting individuals and families with their specific planning needs.

Dave Hess, Vice President of Training & Development, Financial Planning Ministry

Chris Goulard, CFP®, MML, serves as Vice President of Financial Planning Ministry (FPM), where he helps churches develop estate planning ministries as a cornerstone of their stewardship initiatives. With over 20 years dedicated to promoting biblical financial stewardship, Chris also chairs the Christian Stewardship Network and frequently teaches on stewardship and generosity. After a successful financial services career as a Vice President at Fidelity Investments, MFS, and Prudential Financial, he joined Saddleback Church in 2004 as Pastor of Stewardship. There, he led initiatives such as Financial Freedom Workshops, Estate Planning, and a $50 million giving campaign, fostering a culture of generosity. Chris holds a BA in Economics from Dartmouth, a CFP® designation, and a seminary master’s degree. He and his wife, Jenifer, have been married for 34 years and have two adult sons.

Chris Goulard, Vice President, Financial Planning Ministry

Building Nightmares: 7 Questions You Must Ask Before Hiring a Contractor

A bad contractor can sink your project, waste your budget, and leave you with a half-finished building—or worse, a finished one that doesn’t actually work. With millions of dollars and the future of your ministry at stake, hiring the wrong team isn’t just risky. It’s a gamble you can’t afford to take. If you’ve ever wondered, “Did we hire the right team for this job?” or worse, “How did we not see this coming?”—this workshop reveals the essential questions every leader must ask before signing a contract. Learn to spot red flags, negotiate contracts confidently, and safeguard your vision. This isn’t about playing it safe. It’s about playing it smart. Gain the tools to ensure your next project is a success.

Dave Milam is the Chief Strategy Officer at Visioneering Studios. He stands firmly at the intersection of ministry, design, and visual storytelling. Dave served in the church for over 20 years. Dave has a heart for guiding pastors through unique challenges of ministry to awaken the beauty that God has placed within them and their facilities. His writing has been featured in LifeWay, Outreach Magazine, Influence, Christian Standard and other national periodicals.

Dave Milam, Chief Strategy Officer, Visioneering Studios

ChurchLaw&Tax Roundtable Forum
Invitation only

ChurchLaw&Tax again joins the XP-Seminar for a series of invitation-only roundtable forums with executive pastors and business administrators. The forums spur great conversations regarding legal, tax, financial, and risk management issues confronting churches in 2025, and help identify topic ideas and trends for ChurchLaw&Tax to cover in the future. The forums also offer networking and fellowship among the participants, including helpful tips and ideas for solving ministry-related problems.

Attorney Matthew Branaugh is editor of ChurchLaw&Tax.com, an award-winning website devoted to helping pastors and church leaders with their legal, tax, financial, and risk management needs.

Matthew Branaugh, Attorney and Editor, ChurchLaw&Tax

Church Tax and Regulatory Update

In this session, we will discuss recent and pending developments related to federal tax law impacting churches and ministers. The discussion will cover the impact of the recent election on future tax law changes.

Mike Batts is the managing partner of Batts Morrison Wales & Lee, a national CPA firm dedicated exclusively to serving nonprofit organizations and their affiliates across the United States. Mike has more than 30 years of experience serving nonprofit organizations in a variety of ways. He has served on and chaired the boards of nonprofit organizations – both nationally and locally. He advises nonprofit organizations on matters related to board governance, financial oversight, tax compliance and strategy, risk management, corporate structure, international activities, and other related topics. Mike has authored several books and has actively engaged in nonprofit legislative matters at the federal and state levels. Mike leads BMWL’s national headquarters office in Orlando as well as its Dallas office.

Mike Batts, Managing Partner, Batts Morrison Wales & Lee

Kaylyn Varnum is a partner and the assistant national director of tax services for Batts Morrison Wales & Lee, a national CPA firm dedicated exclusively to serving nonprofit organizations and their affiliates across the United States. She has more than 10 years of experience in public accounting and is a contributing editor of BMWL’s OnPoint Feature Articles and Special Alerts, which provide news related to current developments and perspective on issues impacting nonprofits and their leaders. She also trains, mentors, and coaches firm team members in the nonprofit tax arena. Kaylyn is a member of the Church Law & Tax Advisors-at-Large board. She has also been a speaker on nonprofit taxation issues at both the local and national levels. Kaylyn is based in BMWL’s national headquarters office in Orlando.

Kaylyn Varnum, Partner & Assistant National Director of Tax Services, Batts Morrison Wales & Lee

Creating the Right Space at the Right Time with the Right Feel

Every church facility tells a story, but is yours aligned with your ministry’s mission and purpose? This workshop will explore how to create spaces that strategically align with your vision, position your church for future growth, and resonate with your congregation. Join us as we delve into practical design tips, analyzing the balance of context, time, and budget to ensure your facility is impactful, functional for everyday use, and inspiring to those who enter. Discover how to design a space that not only meets your needs but also tells a powerful story and furthers your ministry’s impact.

Bruce Woody is President & CEO for HH Architects and a frequent speaker on both large and small-scale church/faith-based campus planning projects. Since joining the firm in 1990, he has served as Design Lead or Principal-in-Charge on the vast majority of the firm’s large-scale projects, many of which are award winning. Bruce is best known for his creative problem-solving skills and the passion he has for design, which is evident in each long-standing partnership he has developed through his 33 years with the firm. He currently serves on the boards of Sunny Glen Children’s Home and the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design Dean’s Advisory Council. He is an active member of Texas Society of Architects, American Institute of Architects Dallas Chapter, and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

Bruce Woody, President & CEO, HH Architects

Developing Greater Generosity from Online Attenders

How is your church reaching and discipling those who attend online, but cannot (or don’t yet) attend in-person? Specifically, how are you cultivating greater generosity for their online giving?

ECFA ran a recent research project where more than 100 leading churches gave input on strategies that are working to move people from spectator to participant, including their role in giving financially to the church. You’ll walk away with specific examples of what you can do, including obstacles that churches are overcoming to do digital discipleship more effectively. Many churches are seeing an increased impact in online discipleship; why not yours?

Warren Bird is the SVP of Research at the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Warren is an award-winning writer and researcher. His background includes pastoring and seminary teaching, and a 13-year run as research director at Leadership Network. Warren has authored or co-authored more than 30 books including Hero Maker with Dave Ferguson, How to Break Growth Barriers with Carl George and Unleashing the Word with Max McLean.

Warren Bird, Senior Vice President of Research, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability

Experience the Grand Plan-Clear Legacy

Legacy is a term that many people talk about, but few people have a proven pathway to deliver. We all want our lives to live on beyond our lifetime. But very few of us have intentionally designed a way for that to happen. In this workshop, The Grand Plan Team will provide a “hands on” experience to the process we use to help people climb the 5th Summit of The Grand Plan Process—The Summit of Clear Legacy. In this workshop, we will equip you with tools that will help you guide people to think ahead about what they want to leave behind.

Stan Endicott has had a successful career in the music industry as an arranger, producer, and music executive for over three decades. He worked with Maranatha Music for 25 years, which allowed him to contribute to the production and arrangement of many Praise and Worship Albums, including Break Down the Walls and Making of a Godly Man albums for Promise Keepers. He is co-founder of The Slingshot Group, one of the nation’s top church and nonprofit staffing organizations. The very name Slingshot came to him from his childhood.  

He is known as a professional question asker, developing questions tailored to most any situation. He serves as a mentor to numerous leaders, offering wisdom, experience, and discernment. Described by others as a Curiositor, Creative, Maverick, and Mentor.  His commitment to inspiring others to Love their Work reflects his keen interest for cultivating a positive and fulfilling work environment. With his research and understanding of what makes a healthy life, Stan is well-equipped for coaching and mentoring individuals of any age.

Stan Endicott, Co-Founder, Slingshot Group

Dave is the co-founder of Clarity House, a coaching and consulting organization that helps churches take their next step into a disciple-making future they can believe in and the Strategic Director for the Grace Family of Churches headquartered in Atlanta, GA. He has consulted with hundreds of local church leaders in creating disciple-making cultures for more than 15+ years and guided hundreds of followers of Jesus to know and name their special calling from God. Dave co-founded Life Younique and The Future Church Co. He was the U.S. Team Leader for 3DM and Lead Strategist at Wayfarer Ministries. He has worked as a collaborative partner with 100 Movements, 10,000 Fathers, PLI, and Exponential and has written several books including Redefining Normal: An Open Invitation for Ordinary People Wanting to Become Extraordinary Disciples.

Dave Rhodes, Co-founder, Clarity House

From Starting to Finishing Well: Planning Your Financial Future

Planning for your financial future is important no matter where you are on your ministry journey. In this session, you’ll gain insights from industry experts regarding retirement savings and investment strategies, protecting yourself and the church against unexpected risks, and benefit strategies to help your ministry team stay physically and financially well.

Greg serves as Senior Relationship Manager at GuideStone Financial Resources and specializes in retirement plan solutions for ministries. Greg joined GuideStone in 2012 after nearly two decades in corporate and pastoral ministry. He holds an MBA from Dallas Baptist University, multiple securities and principal licenses, and several professional certifications. Greg’s passion is to equip churches with benefits solutions aimed at enhancing financial security and resilience for those who serve the Lord so that every servant of Christ finishes well. Most importantly, Greg and his bride, Jaime, have been married for nearly 25 years and enjoy raising their two kiddos—John Parker and Georgia Grace.

Greg Love, Senior Relationship Manager, GuideStone Financial Resources

Fueling Ministry Growth: Overcoming Obstacles to Generosity

As passionate leaders, you work tirelessly to meet, invite, and connect with your congregation and donors, rejoicing in their spiritual growth. Yet, the path to greater ministry impact is often hindered by technical challenges—processing errors, outdated payment methods, and missed engagement opportunities.

Join us for an insightful session to discover how Pushpay, the leading church giving and engagement solution, helps ministries like yours overcome these obstacles. Learn how to rescue failed donations, maximize generosity, and deepen connections within your community. We’ll also unveil Pushpay’s latest product innovations and integrations designed to empower your ministry’s mission and inspire meaningful connection with your congregation.

Over the past 15 years Cary Yocum has been helping organizations build a complete and scalable customer journey to support growth. After 5 years as a Youth Pastor and 25 years as a worship pastor, Cary knows exactly what you’re going through. And as Pushpay’s VP of Sales, he knows how to guide growth for ministries at any stage.

Cary Yocum, VP of Sales, Pushpay

The Giving Journey: Engaging Every Stage of Generosity

Building a thriving stewardship culture requires more than repeating decades-old practice. This workshop equips executive pastors with actionable strategies to inspire first-time givers, nurture consistent generosity, and develop a pipeline for major contributors—plus, discern how to engage the conversation around wills and estates along with those who are 50 and above. Learn what systems are needed to make it all happen.

Through practical applications and examples from churches like yours, you’ll have a clear framework to guide your church leadership and all households toward deeper biblical stewardship. Walk away with a clear roadmap to spark lasting generosity at every level. Perfect for shaping your 2025 and beyond!

With over 30 years of financial stewardship experience, Brad has devoted his career to helping churches and nonprofits cultivate and strengthen their stewardship culture. For 23 years, he was a key leader at Generis, serving as both Principal and President for 11 of those years. Now, as Principal with Ministry Essentials, he continues to coach organizations to build strong stewardship cultures and fulfill their God-given missions.

Passionate about helping churches accelerate their visions, particularly during times of change and financial complexity, he takes a forward-thinking approach to guiding congregations of all sizes and forms across the U.S. His focus is on enhancing both the practical and spiritual aspects of stewardship, supporting leaders as they grow and evolve.

Brad holds a Masters in Theology and brings a wealth of expertise in areas such as stewardship coaching, capital projects, major gift development, and giver communication.

Brad Leeper, CEO/Founder, Ministry Essentials

How to Restructure Budgets and Free Up Resources for Debt Payoff

This session will focus on helping Executive Pastors structure their budgets to pay off debt faster and more effectively. Here’s what the session will cover:

  1. Debt Prioritization Methods—We’ll dive into the pros and cons of the Snowball vs. Avalanche approach and show pastors how to choose the best strategy for their ministry’s specific financial situation.
  2. Identifying Overlooked Budget Cuts—Participants will discover surprising areas where ministries typically waste money, such as energy costs, and how small changes can add up to significant savings. Tim will facilitate a sticky note collaboration where people will share how they saved money this past year and share it with others.
  3. Creating Accountability for Debt Reduction—We’ll explore ways to track progress, build transparency within the leadership team, and ensure financial goals are consistently met.

Tim Samuel serves as the Chief Financial Officer at Bridgeway Community Church in Columbia, Maryland, where he has been a key financial leader since 2008. With nearly two decades of experience in accounting, Tim specializes in helping churches and nonprofits maximize their financial potential. He is passionate about restructuring budgets to free up resources for debt payoff and sustainable growth. Tim’s expertise lies in strategic financial planning, debt reduction, and organizational accountability. He has a deep commitment to empowering Executive Pastors to navigate complex financial challenges. When he’s not working with numbers, Tim enjoys engaging in community-building activities, smoking meats on his Traeger, and spending time with his family.

Tim Samuel, Chief Financial Officer, Bridgeway Community Church

Tim Samuel

The Intangibles of Finance

Have you ever wondered what non-financial data points lenders care about?  Chris and David will be highlighting the data points that could prevent your church from obtaining the most competitive financing opportunities, even though your financial statements are on fire.

Chris Lewis is a Senior Relationship Manager at Thrivent Church Financing. Born in Brazil, where his parents served as missionaries, Chris learned 3 languages: Spanish, Portuguese and English. In 2006, after assisting the church he was attending with a capital campaign, Chris discovered that there was a need for lenders to work with growing ministries. Over the years, Chris has worked with growing ministries by providing sustainable financing solutions for construction, acquisition and refinancing.

Chris Lewis, Senior Relationship Manager, Thrivent Church Financing

David Lee is a Senior Relationship Manager at Thrivent Church Financing. David has over 30 years of banking experience in serving non-profit ministries (churches, Christian schools and parachurch ministries) with a focus on financing and treasury services. He’s served 25 years on pastoral staff at churches as well as on boards of non-profit organizations, seeing the unique challenges and needs of balancing ministry and business. Prior to joining Thrivent, he served 5 years as Director with Bank of the West in their Religious Institution Lending Division and 25 years with Evangelical Christian Credit Union in their Ministry Lending Division.

David Lee, Senior Relationship Manager, Thrivent Church Financing

Maximizing Multisite

Hitting 70%?  Then chances are good that 80% is just around the corner! Many churches have found that solutions to capacity issues (God’s blessing) needs to be more than 1) more seats, 2) stacking more services, or 3) streaming into other rooms.

Get Ready!

Leaders of growing churches need to know all the options available in order to design strategies for when it’s time to pull the trigger. Ask yourself, “Am I thinking of everything?” What are the various options? How much does each option cost? Multisiting, and planting with momentum are two solutions to grow your congregation without growing an expensive monster facility. One church with multiple locations is growing bigger while growing smaller. But how?

Get Set!

In this session, we’ll unpack Seven Factors to Maximizing your multiplication strategy. Whether you are nervous about launching your first new location, have already launched a few locations, or have become a serial launcher, this session could help you take that next step. Or maybe you’ve just hit a snag!  Bring it with you and we’ll help to untangle it! From comparing real estate options, to the when and how of capturing DNA and culture for your next location, all will be on the table for discussion.

Go!

Jeffrey Beachum, in his role with Portable Church Industries as the Multiplication Specialist, comes alongside church leaders who are engaged in launching new expressions of their church (plants and multisites) in new communities and neighborhoods. Jeff brings a unique blend of experience from Lead Pastor, organizational leadership, and commercial real estate. His primary purpose is to help decision makers in the church determine strategies for choosing new communities, sift through the real estate options, prepare timelines for launching, and developing a balanced affordable plan in keeping with their DNA, Culture and Expectations. Jeff has been married to Aleta for 40+ years and enjoys hanging out with their 3 adult children, their spouses, and their grandies … and of course Parker, their English Cream Golden Retriever!

Jeffrey Beachum, Church Multiplication Specialist, Portable Church® Industries

Ministerial Exception

Sometimes working in a faith-based organization brings on a unique set of challenges. Applying ministerial exception is one of those sticky spots. We’ll discuss some parameters and scenarios to help you apply the exception with integrity in your organization.

Ally Haefner is a Senior Attorney at Middlebrook | Group, PLLC.  Her main practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, including negotiating, drafting, and reviewing transaction contracts.  In addition, Ally assists clients with forming new businesses, advising on employment-related matters, and civil litigation matters. Before becoming an attorney, Ally worked in student ministries overseeing adult volunteers, coordinating small groups, and planning retreat weekends.  With this experience layered under her legal experience, Ally brings a unique understanding to assist clients’ needs and challenges.

Ally Haefner, Senior Attorney, Middlebrook | Group, PLLC

Chris Goulard, CFP®, MML, serves as Vice President of Financial Planning Ministry (FPM), where he helps churches develop estate planning ministries as a cornerstone of their stewardship initiatives. With over 20 years dedicated to promoting biblical financial stewardship, Chris also chairs the Christian Stewardship Network and frequently teaches on stewardship and generosity. After a successful financial services career as a Vice President at Fidelity Investments, MFS, and Prudential Financial, he joined Saddleback Church in 2004 as Pastor of Stewardship. There, he led initiatives such as Financial Freedom Workshops, Estate Planning, and a $50 million giving campaign, fostering a culture of generosity. Chris holds a BA in Economics from Dartmouth, a CFP® designation, and a seminary master’s degree. He and his wife, Jenifer, have been married for 34 years and have two adult sons.

Nick Wilbur, Attorney, Middlebrook | Group, PLLC

Nuts and Bolts of Healthy Internal Control

In this session, we will discuss practical considerations for maintaining healthy internal financial controls in a church environment.  We will address revenue-side and expense-side controls, with a special focus on electronic transactions.

Danny Johnson is a partner and the assistant national director of quality assurance for Batts Morrison Wales & Lee, a national CPA firm dedicated exclusively to serving nonprofit organizations and their affiliates across the United States. Danny leads the firm’s engagement team members on audit and assurance engagements, including some of the firm’s largest and most complex client engagements. He also assists with the firm’s quality control systems and peer review process. Danny has more than 10 years of experience in auditing nonprofit organizations, analyzing internal controls, and other related areas of practice. He is a contributing editor for BMWL’s Special Alerts and other intellectual property, and he has been a national conference speaker on nonprofit accounting, finance, and related issues. Danny is based in BMWL’s Dallas office.

Danny Johnson, Partner and Assistant National Director of Quality Assurance, Batts Morrison Wales & Lee

Steve Cardwell is a senior manager for Batts Morrison Wales & Lee, a national CPA firm dedicated exclusively to serving nonprofit organizations and their affiliates across the United States. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Cedarville University, where he graduated with honors. Steve leads the firm’s engagement team members on audit and assurance  engagements, including some of the firm’s largest and most complex engagements. Steve is also a mentor and coach for up-and-coming members of the firm’s audit team. He is a contributing author for BMWL’s Special Alerts and other intellectual property, and he has been a national conference speaker on nonprofit accounting, finance, and related issues. Steve is based in BMWL’s Dallas office.

Steve Cardwell, Senior Manager, Batts Morrison Wales & Lee

Steve Kahlke is a senior manager for Batts Morrison Wales & Lee, a national CPA firm dedicated exclusively to serving nonprofit organizations and their affiliates across the United States. As a senior manager at BMWL, Steve leads the firm’s engagement team members on audit and assurance engagements, including some of the firm’s largest and most complex engagements. Steve is also a trainer, mentor, and coach for up-and-coming members of the firm’s audit team. Prior to joining BMWL, Steve served as the business manager for a higher education institution for over 10 years, where he leveraged technology to improve the school’s academic and financial reporting. He was also the controller and eventual CFO for a sizable broadcast ministry in South Florida for 10 years, allowing him to focus the ministry’s budgeting to support the mission of the organization and improve its overall accounting and reporting processes. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Florida Atlantic University. Steve is based in BMWL’s Dallas office.

Steve Kahlke, Senior Manager, Batts Morrison Wales & Lee

Rethinking Staff Reviews and Compensation: Addressing the Evolving Needs of Today’s Ministry Landscape

Traditional performance metrics fall short of the new evolving ministry landscape. With four generations in the workplace and approaches to work varying drastically, the time for rethinking staff reviews and compensation is overdue.

In this session, discover how each generation approaches ministry, what new metrics to add to your next staff review, which metrics are no longer relevant (and, in fact, may be hurting your ministry efforts), and how to utilize compensation market data to implement effective and healthy compensation strategies.

Ivette serves as the Director of Operations and Special Projects at Vanderbloemen. She holds a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership from Houston Baptist University (HBU). She received her Bachelor’s degree from HBU as well in Business Management and Spanish.

Prior to Vanderbloemen, Ivette served on a church staff for nearly ten years in a variety of roles, with her last position being the Family & Small Groups Minister. In this role, she developed and provided oversight to staff and lay leaders to help create healthy ministries that lived out the principles of fellowship, discipleship, evangelism, service, and worship. In addition, Ivette served as the Women’s Ministry leader and event organizer for all church-wide and community events.

Ivette has lived in the Houston area her whole life. She loves sports, ice cream, taking naps, and attending concerts. She has been married to her husband, Stephen, for 21 years. They have two children together. She has a passion for equipping and building up the local church. She is excited to be a part of the Vanderbloemen team as she continues to support the local church.

Ivette Naron, Executive Search Consultant, Vanderbloemen

A Self-Guide to Auditing Your Space: 4 Categories to Question

As pastors and church leaders, your facilities are more than just buildings. They are sacred spaces that shape experiences and reflect your mission. This workshop provides a practical, step-by-step guide to evaluating and refreshing your church space, ensuring it supports your ministry’s goals and resonates with your congregation’s values. You’ll learn to assess the functionality, aesthetics, and engagement potential of your space, and consider its future adaptability. With actionable tips on technology, signage, decor, and hospitality, you’ll leave equipped to align your space with your vision, creating an environment that inspires and connects all who enter.

With over 10 years’ experience as the Creative Director for a multi-campus church, JL’s passion for providing the highest level of concierge service can be seen in his strategic and structured approach to each project. John is the Director of Enviropop.

John Lindsey, Director, Enviropop

Signs Your Church May Be in Financial Trouble

Join us as we explore warning signs that may indicate a church is heading toward financial instability. We’ll share key financial ratios to monitor and discuss trends that could signal that financial trouble is on the horizon. You’ll gain practical tools and steps to assess your church’s financial health, make informed decisions, and develop proactive strategies.

Mark is a partner in the Phoenix office of CapinCrouse, a national CPA and consulting firm exclusively serving churches and other nonprofit entities. He has 30 years of experience providing assurance, accounting, and advisory services to nonprofit, financial service, real estate, and manufacturing organizations. Since joining CapinCrouse in 1998, Mark has worked extensively with denominational and church clients, international organizations, higher education institutions, foundations, and local outreach organizations.

Mark Yoder, Partner, CapinCrouse

Nathan serves as a Partner at CapinCrouse, a national CPA and consulting firm exclusively serving churches and other nonprofit entities. He has 15 years of experience providing auditing and accounting services to various nonprofit entities, including churches and denominational entities, colleges and universities, private schools, and international mission organizations. Nathan is responsible for the oversight of attest engagements, the recommendation of internal control structures and best practices, and ensuring that the team is communicating well with client personnel to facilitate efficient and effective service.

Nathan Davis, Partner, CapinCrouse

Staffing Trends in 2025: How You Can Stay Ahead of the Curve

Stay ahead of the curve with William Vanderbloemen’s State of the Church: Staffing Trends for 2025. This workshop will examine William’s comprehensive report and explore the emerging trends reshaping church leadership, staffing, and communication. No matter your congregational size, you’ll find actionable insights to help your ministry thrive in the years ahead.

William Vanderbloemen is founder and CEO of Vanderbloemen Search Group. In 2008, William combined more than fifteen years of experience as a senior pastor with the best practices of executive search to forge a brand-new industry: executive search for values- and faith-based organizations. The firm is known worldwide for excellence in identifying talent and values matches for teams and has been recognized with numerous awards: Forbes Magazine named it as one of the best small businesses in the country. Entrepreneur magazine named Vanderbloemen as the best company culture in the country.

William is regularly invited to speak in both church services and as a resource to churches and conferences on leadership. William is the author of multiple books including, Next: Pastoral Succession That Works, Search: The Pastoral Search Committee Handbook, and Culture Wins: The Roadmap To An Irresistible Workplace.

Vanderbloemen has studied data gathered over the last fifteen years and lessons learned in three thousand searches to determine what habits the very best candidates exhibit and how others can learn those habits. This research study resulted in his newest book, Be The Unicorn: 12 Data-Driven Habits that Separate the Best Leaders From the Rest.

William Vanderbloemen, CEO & Founder, Vanderbloemen

State of the Church 2025: We Need More Thriving Churches

Is your church thriving? Are your people flourishing? And how do you know for sure? Be among the first to see a sneak peek of the upcoming State of the Church 2025 initiative, orchestrated by Barna and Gloo.  See current research on the state of the Church, tools to measure the State of your Church, and next steps to help your people on a journey. We’ll cover key areas like attendance trends, evangelism, innovations in real estate and more. Bring your phone: During the workshop we’ll provide a quick survey that will instantly show you key aspects of your current state, and where you’ll most benefit from participating in this groundbreaking movement.

Craig Springer is working with Gloo to help church leaders fully benefit from the State of the Church 2025. Craig has been an SVP at Barna Group, a leading research organization focused on the intersection of faith and culture, and the Executive Director for Alpha USA, a leading global evangelism effort that runs in over 6,000 churches across the USA. Craig is the author of How to Revive Evangelism: 7 Vital Shifts in How We Share Our Faith, and, How to Follow Jesus: A Practical Guide for Growing Your Faith. Craig has also been a leader and pastor in influential churches in Chicago and Denver. Craig lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife, Sarah, and two children.

Craig Springer, Gloo

The Top Two Attributes Every Key Staff Leader Needs

There are two areas you need to be screening for when hiring, prioritizing when developing, and training your staff to grow in, for your team to be remarkable and move your mission forward. Matt will synthesize his extensive experience as an XP, coaching XP’s and leverage Slingshot’s 18 years of working with over 3,000 organizations to prioritize what you need to know about these top two attributes.

For over 20 years, Matt has served in local churches in roles ranging from Worship/Creative Arts Pastor, Executive Pastor, and Lead Pastor. After working in the marketplace, Matt began vocational ministry in church leadership with a natural passion for focusing every effort of the church on the Great Commission with intentional leadership, careful shepherding, and effective strategic planning. Most recently, Matt served as the Executive Pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. Before his role as XP, he launched and was the Lead Pastor for Willow Creek’s South Lake Campus and the Executive Pastor for Willow Creek’s North Shore campus. In addition, he has coached many churches and nonprofits across multiple denominations, both in the US and abroad. These combine to give Matt a broad experience base that he loves to utilize to help individuals and churches find their sweet spot between the way God created them and the work he is calling them to do (Ephesians 2:10). He relishes every opportunity to help build remarkable teams that move churches forward. Matt brings all this passion, excitement, and experience to his role as Vice President of Slingshot’s Senior Leadership division. This world-class team serves churches across the country in all areas of senior leadership, including Lead Pastors, Executives, Campus Pastors, Teaching Pastors, Discipleship Pastors, and more.

Matt Wright, VP Senior Leadership, Slingshot Group

What Your Church Needs to Know about Securing Financing from a Bank

Securing financing for a project can seem overwhelming. In this session we will learn about what information you need to provide and how Cass Bank analyzes requests for financing projects.

Michael Porter is a Vice President in the Faith and Ministry Financial Services division of Cass Commercial Bank. He has been serving churches, schools, and other nonprofits with Cass Bank for 5 years. Before coming to Cass he served as the Business Manager and Director of Operation for 9 years at a church in St Louis. Michael offices out of the bank’s headquarters in St Louis.

Michael Porter, Vice President, Cass Commercial Bank, Faith and Ministry Financial Services

YourChurchGPT

There is no replacement for the prayerful, spirit-guided process of bringing the Truth of God’s Word to God’s people. As the AI landscape continues to rapidly unfold, new tools have emerged that are truly helpful in the full lifecycle of your sermon … the preparation, the delivery, and the extended value of your content after it has been preached. We will explore some of these practical tools, and discuss the current state of AI through the lens of the pastor.

Chase is currently the Director of Enterprise AI at Gloo. He joined the Gloo AI team ahead of Gloo’s acquisition of his start-up, Faith Assistant LLC, which created Christian AI Employees for Bible-based ministries, churches and schools. He also helped found BibleChat.ai, the first free Christian generative AI mobile application in the App store, with downloads in 200+ countries and 10M+ evangelical conversations. He is a West Point Military Academy graduate, having completed the US Army Airborne, Ranger, and Reconnaissance training, and serving as a US Army Officer in the South Pacific. After the military, Chase entered Goldman Sachs Sales & Trading Division as an Analyst, and left as a Vice President in the Interest Rate Products & Commercial Projects team for an opportunity to consult and advise companies on Executive Talent and Organization at Russell Reynolds Associates while following the call to private entrepreneurship. He holds an MA in Economics from Oklahoma, and attends Reunion Church in Dallas, with his wife, Samantha, and two young boys, who help him lead a biweekly Life Group.

Chase Cappo, Director of Enterprise AI, Gloo

Thanks again for the conference. Thanks for the privilege (and I mean that, privilege) of sharing a slice of life experiences with the conference participants. You continue to provide a necessary, stimulating, and exciting energy to many of us in ministry—Paul Utnage, XP