Spark Conference

Southwest Regions Live Gathering

Byne Memorial Baptist Church, Albany, GA
Saturday, Aug 20

Dr. Ken Adams, Keynote

Ken is the pastor of Crossroads Church in Newnan, Georgia, and the director of Impact Ministries. He is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Ken is married to his wife, Val, and they have three grown children. Ken planted Crossroads Church in 1989 and founded Impact Ministries in 1999. Ken is passionate about seeing the church become a movement of multiplying disciples.

Breakout Session One

Becoming a Strong Children’s Leader led by Jenni Carter, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Kids Ministry Consultant.
To become strong in any aspect of our lives, it takes commitment to excellence and preparation and practice. In this session, we’ll discuss 7 areas we need to strengthen to become a strong children’s leader. This session will be great for Children’s or Preschool leaders in the Church. 
Connecting the Next Generation led by Scott Sullivan, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Discipleship Catalyst.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn key characteristics of the past 6 generations and key points of connection that you can enhance to reach, retain, and launch the next generation. A good lunch & learn.
Teaching the Bible to Students in Today’s Culture led by Ricky Smith, Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Columbus, GA.
Kids these days! As you pursue Christ personally, this session will provide tips for preparing and presenting God’s Word to students as we disciple the next generation. 
Sometimes it Takes a Pebble in Your Shoe! led by Kenny Sexton, Pastor, Satilla Baptist Church, Wray, GA. 
Have you identified the pebble in your shoe and its significance? What are you going to do about it? What you do with the pebble could ignite a movement of disciple making in your life. 
Beyond the Walls led by Chris Watson, Lead Pastor, Gracepointe Baptist Church in Douglas, GA.
The church has made two glaring mistakes in the last generation. She has neglected the call to “go” into the world and sought to be known for what she is against. The results of this have had an impact on her ability to reach the community that she is to love. If we are faithful to the call to “make disciples”, then we must go beyond the walls with a message of WHO we are FOR rather than what we are against. Join Pastor Chris for a practical insight into how your church can embrace the call of discipleship by impacting your community. 
Practical Ministry from the Adult Group led by Mike Taylor, Associational Mission Strategist, Smyrna Baptist Association. 
Everyone needs someone to minister to them in need. This is best done in the context of a smaller group within the church. We will look at how to be organized to meet needs and reach new people with the gospel.
The Domino Effect led by Tim Williams, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Evangelism Consultant, Southeast and Southwest regions.
7 principles that will help change the culture of the church to become more evangelistic. 
No Sweat Evangelism led by Levi Skipper, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Lead Strategist for Church Strengthening.
Learn how to mobilize your church to do effective evangelism. 
Dealing with Difficult People led by Chris Reynolds, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Pastor Wellness Consultant.
Relational conflict is a reality of ministry. In fact, it is one of the more challenging issues we face because of the impact it can have on us and our family led by emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. The question is not whether relational conflict will occur, but are we prepared to deal with it when it does. 
Multi-Generational Worship: Giving an Ear (and place) for All Generations of Worshippers led by John Blair, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Worship & Music Consultant, Southeast and Southwest regions. 
No matter what style or size your church services are; there is a place of unity for all generations; from the platform to the technical booth. However, getting there or where to start can feel like a mountain to climb. This breakout session will give you practical tools and thoughts on what it means to invest in the next generation without abandoning the others for your worship and church.
Casting Biblical Vision for Missions in Your Church led by Samuel Ayala, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Missions Consultant, Southeast and Southwest Regions.
Join Samuel for a biblical dive into the true meaning of missions. Learn how to move beyond an event or trip and cast a vision for launching a churchwide missions movement. 
Do You Want to Be Part of Something Bigger than Yourself? led by Dwain Carter, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Director of Disaster Relief.
Join new Georgia Disaster Relief Director Dwain Carter for practical ways your church can engage in the Great Commission by serving those in critical need. 
Leading to Involve Women in Missions and Ministry led by Beth Ann Williams, Lead Strategist for Georgia Baptist Women.
As you work with women in the local church are you uncertain how to increase participation, convey an inspiring message and involve young women? Join Beth Ann to explore ways to successfully engage all women of the church in spiritual growth and meaningful ministry.
Creating Your Church Budget/other financial issues led by Chris Sanchez, Administrative Pastor. Northside Baptist Church, Valdosta, GA. 

Breakout Session Two

Developing and Sustaining a Leadership Pipeline  led by Carl Johnson 
There are very few churches who boast of having enough leaders. The ones who do probably have a plan for developing leaders and maintaining a leadership pipeline. This session will cover some foundational elements to identifying potential leaders and developing them to equip others for ministry and leadership. 
Teaching Priceless Biblical Truths Using Dollar Store Items led by Jenni Carter, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Kids Ministry Consultant.
Teaching Preschoolers and Children can get expensive. Come learn some creative ways to teach Bible truths using items that won’t break the budget while learning more about Children’s Learning Approaches. 
Leading a Child to Christ led by Krista Staton, Children’s Minister, Northside Baptist Church, Valdosta, GA. 
Having Gospel conversations with children is a joy. In this session you’ll learn the questions to ask, the points to cover, and tips for leading a child to Christ.
Recruiting and Retaining Student Volunteer Leaders led by Tim Kilgore, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, NextGen Consultant, Southeast and Southwest regions.
NextGen Ministry always needs leaders, so recruiting new volunteers is an all the time thing we need to be doing. Also, making sure you keep the leaders you have is a big deal as well. In this session, we'll look at ways to enlist and retain volunteers in all areas of our ministry.
Leading Trends in Bi-Vocational Ministry led by Panel Discussion hosted by Hans Wunch, Associational Mission Strategist for the Mallary Baptist Association.
The panel will consist of pastors who have embraced bivocational work. They will focus on topics such as: leadership development, balancing work, ministry, family, and more.
The Watershed Principle: Life Change that Leads to World-Impacting Disciple-makers led by Panel Discussion with Scott Sullivan, Matthew Gibbs, and Ray Sullivan.
In this session, you will learn about the Watershed Principle and how to use this resource as an evaluation tool and springboard for developing a disciple making pathway with alignment in all areas of your church ministry. Along with a commitment to personal disciplemaking this is one of the next best steps to becoming a world-impacting disciplemaking church.
Sacred Bonds: Prioritizing our Christ-Centered relationship for the Glory of God and Kingdom Growth led by JR Neal, Discipleship and Missions Pastor, First Baptist Church, Moultrie, GA. 
True discipleship happens outside the walls of the church and outside of 2-3 hours on a Sunday morning, yet many of us and many of our people fail to connect with our church family outside of this time. Is there a problem that we are too busy or that we fail to prioritize these sacred relations. Join JR Neal as he explores the need to prioritize these relationships and ways we can set our church on the course to connect beyond the walls for the glory of God and the growth of His kingdom. 
Practical Ministry from the Adult Group led by Mike Taylor, Associational Mission Strategist, Smyrna Baptist Association. 
Everyone needs someone to minister to them in need. This is best done in the context of a smaller group within the church. We will look at how to be organized to meet needs and reach new people with the gospel.
Ride the Waves led by Levi Skipper, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Lead Strategist for Church Strengthening.
Learn how to leverage natural attendance bumps in the life of your church. 
Reaching the World that has Reached Us! led by Chris Reynolds, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Pastor Wellness Consultant.
The diversity of our state is growing at a rapid pace. Therefore, we must be prepared to reach people who are culturally, ethnically, and socio-economically different than many of our congregations. Using scripture as our foundation and personal testimony for context, we will explore how to reach the world that has now reached us. 
Mission Georgia: Moving Your Church to the Frontlines 
Join Lorna Bius, Mission Georgia Mobilizer, for an overview of ways churches can make an impact in five critical needs every community is facing. Hear updates on how Georgia Baptist churches are serving Afghan refugees and anti-human trafficking efforts, bringing Read Georgia to schools, serving foster families and more!
Women’s Missions and Ministries Dialogue led by Beth Ann Williams, Lead Strategist for Georgia Baptist Women.
Gather with women from your region to build relationships, discuss best practices, problem solve challenging issues and learn about helpful resources for effective women’s ministry and missions.  
Making and Keeping Your Church Safe led by Ben O’Neal, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Safety and Security.

Breakout Session Three

Teaching the Bible to Students in Today’s Culture led by Ricky Smith, Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Columbus, GA.
Kids these days! As you pursue Christ personally, this session will provide tips for preparing and presenting God’s Word to students as we disciple the next generation. 
Parent 411 led by Tim Kilgore, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, NextGen Consultant, Southeast and Southwest regions. 
This pivotal breakout with explore the opportunity churches have to help parents minister to their own children and strengthen the church’s student ministry in the process. 
Becoming a Strong Children’s Leader led by Jenni Carter, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Kids Ministry Consultant.
To become strong in any aspect of our lives, it takes commitment to excellence and preparation and practice. In this session, we’ll discuss 7 areas we need to strengthen to become a strong children’s leader. This session will be great for Children’s or Preschool leaders in the Church. 
Leading a Child to Christ led by Krista Staton led by Children’s Minister, Northside Baptist Church, Valdosta, GA. 
Having Gospel conversations with children is a joy. In this session you’ll learn the questions to ask, the points to cover, and tips for leading a child to Christ.
The Mentoring Pastor: How to Develop Ministry Leaders in Your Church and Send Them Out led by Chris Roberts, Pastor, Bridge Church in Blackshear, GA. 
How do we address the current need to recognize, train, and send out pastors to fill the hundreds of vacant pulpits in our state? You may be the answer to this dilemma. This breakout will help pastors identify, mentor, train, and send out leaders to continue blessing God’s people. 
Sometimes it Takes a Pebble in Your Shoe! led by Kenny Sexton, Pastor, Satilla Baptist Church, Wray, GA. 
Have you identified the pebble in your shoe and its significance? What are you going to do about it? What you do with the pebble could ignite a movement of discipleship in your life. 
Sacred Bonds: Prioritizing our Christ-Centered relationship for the Glory of God and Kingdom Growth led by Jr Neal, Discipleship and Missions Pastor, First Baptist Church, Moultrie, GA. 
True discipleship happens outside the walls of the church and outside of 2-3 hours on a Sunday morning, yet many of us and many of our people fail to connect with our church family outside of this time. Is there a problem that we are too busy or that we fail to prioritize these sacred relations. Join JR Neal as he explores the need to prioritize these relationships and ways we can set our church on the course to connect beyond the walls for the glory of God and the growth of His kingdom. 
Mastering Your Craft: Learning the Value of Teaching for Life Transformation led by Matthew Gibbs, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Discipleship Consultant, East Central Region 
The best teachers are life-long learners. This conference is designed to help Sunday School Teachers grow in their ability to prepare and teach a Sunday school lesson. The goal of any Sunday School lesson should be life transformation. During this conference, attendees will learn the value and importance of preparation methods, the value of understanding different and preferred learning styles, and the value of a well-prepared classroom encounter. Additionally, learners will gain a new understanding of the value and importance of the continued growth after the classroom experience.
7 Essentials for Adopting Guests and New Members Effectively led by Scott Sullivan, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Discipleship Catalyst.
Join us to learn proven best practices to connect guests and new members, move them toward spiritual maturity, and launch them to impact the world.
4 “Must Haves” for Leading a Disciple-Making Men’s Ministry led by Ray Sullivan, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Discipleship Consultant, Southeast and Southwest regions. 
Ray Sullivan, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Discipleship Consultant, Southeast and Southwest regions. 
How to Have a Great Group led by Mike Taylor, Associational Mission Strategist, Smyrna Baptist Association.
This breakout will consider the three primary areas of Sunday School or Small Group work: ministry, reaching, and teaching. We will explore the common reasons we see classes faltering and look at some solutions to help our groups thrive.
Casting the Net: How to Prepare and Deliver an Effective Invitation led by Tim Williams, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Evangelism Consultant, Southeast and Southwest regions. 
Every evangelistic message succeeds or fails according to the effectiveness of the invitation. Take a deeper dive in how to effectively draw the net. 
Higher Praise: The Role of a Worship Leader and Song in the Church led by John Blair, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Worship & Music Consultant, Southeast and Southwest regions. 
Worship leaders and pastors come in all forms, different shapes, backgrounds, sizes, and stories. Jesus Christ doesn’t make clones, He makes disciples. God is making a masterpiece of us, and each one is a different brush stroke on a different part of the canvas. Each pastor and worship leader must understand the importance of their unique calling and how the songs we sing (and of the church as a whole) have a far greater impact than we could ever imagine. This session will dive deep into this incredible and humble talk we are given.
Creating a Missional Leadership Pipeline in Your Church led by Samuel Ayala, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Missions Consultant, Southeast and Southwest Regions.
Do you have a workable plan to help your church members understand God’s call on their lives for missions? Sam will walk through developing missional leaders from their very first trip to the varied course material available through IMB, NAMB, and GBMB, and the process for making applications as short-term, mid-term, or long-term missionaries. You’ll have an overview for creating a simple, clear vision for growing global missionaries in your church. 
Correctly Handling a Child Sexual Abuse Allegation (Video Breakout) led by Greg Love, Ministry Safe.
Join others for a video presentation and facilitated discussion of the practical “how to’s” for correctly handling a sex abuse allegation in your church. 
Produced by the Georgia Baptist Mission Board
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