November 3 – 5, 2026 · Southaven, MS
Scan the agenda at a glance, drill into each day in chronological order, and explore every class and workshop. Save what interests you — or register whenever you're ready.
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01 · Overview
Three distinct days, one steadfast aim. Each day carries its own theme — from the opening charge to the closing commissioning — woven together by corporate worship, expository preaching, and breakout classes designed for the pastor's craft.
Day 1
Tuesday
November 3
Welcome · Panel · Workshop A
10:15
Conference Panel
6:30 PM
Evening Worship & Impact Award
Day 2
Wednesday
November 4
Workshops B · C · D
8:00
Breakfast & Registration
9:00
Workshop B · The Women's Ministry: Modeling Reverence (women only) — Rev. Bettina Saulsberry
9:00
Workshop B · The Living Room of Worship: Romans 12–15 — Pastor Sean Taylor
Day 3
Thursday
November 5
Workshop E · Forward Focus · Sending
8:00
Breakfast
9:20
Workshop E · Dr. Joel Gregory
9:20
Workshop E · Casting Vision in Ministry — Pastor William Watson
02 · Daily Schedule
Switch between days to see every session in chronological order — keynotes, breakout classes, worship and panels. The day selector follows you as you scroll.
Day 1 · Theme
Tuesday, November 3, 2026 — 11 sessions.
How It Works
Tap the bookmark on any session to add it to your Conference Plan.
Saved sessions appear in your Conference Plan below. Saving is optional — you can register any time.
8:00
until 9:00 AM
01
9:00
until 10:05 AM
02
10:15
until 11:30 AM
03
11:45 AM
until 12:50 PM
04
1:00
until 2:20 PM
05
Dr. Reginald Taylor
The Rock Church
1:00
until 2:20 PM
06
Pastor Joel Gregory
Gregory Ministries
1:00
until 2:20 PM
07
Pastor Keith Norman
1:00
until 2:20 PM
08
Dr. Steve Lawson
OnePassion Ministries
1:00
until 2:20 PM
09
Rev. Roline Thomas
Saint Mark Baptist Church, Little Rock, AR
1:00
until 2:20 PM
10
Dr. Jamison Hunter
Mount Jezreel Church, Silver Spring, MD
6:30 PM
11
03 · Classes & Workshops
Working sessions on preaching, leadership, worship, discipleship and ministry life — taught by practitioners. Search by topic or speaker, filter by track, or surface only the sessions you've saved.
Browse workshops by time slot, speaker, or topic. Use the Workshop buttons below to view sessions available during a specific conference workshop period. You may also search by speaker name, ministry topic, or keyword. If you save sessions to your Conference Plan, click "Saved" to quickly view your selections.
How to Use This Page
Search by speaker name, church, ministry topic, or workshop title.
32 sessions found
Workshop AIn this session we look at the preacher's priorities, the preacher's perspective, and the preacher's personal life.
Workshop AContemporary preaching takes place in a distracted congregation that requires a new discernment and careful communication to engage the people who are actually there. Dr. Gregory discusses in a venue-specific way how biblical exposition can be curated to get heard in an increasingly distracted culture — communicating with the people who are actually there rather than those we wish were there. All preaching is venue specific. How do we get the text out of them to now, out there to here, and wasness to isness?
Workshop AHow the shepherd gets fed: a candid session on personal soul care, sustainable rhythms, and the spiritual disciplines that keep ministry leaders nourished for the long haul.
A practical workshop on how to prepare a sermon or message — moving from biblical text to faithful, clear, applied proclamation.
Workshop AHave you ever sensed God calling you to do something, but fear, uncertainty, or self-doubt held you back? This empowering women's workshop explores how God often works through ordinary women who choose extraordinary obedience — even when they are afraid. Through biblical examples, practical application, and honest discussion, participants will discover that courage is not the absence of fear but the decision to trust God.
This class explores God's design for women to live as examples of reverence, wisdom, and godly character in their homes, churches, and communities. Participants will examine the biblical principles of discipleship, mentorship, spiritual maturity, and Christ-centered living as outlined in Titus 2. Through practical application and scriptural insight, women will be encouraged to cultivate a lifestyle that honors God, influences future generations, and strengthens the body of Christ.
Workshop BThis class explores God's design for women to live as examples of reverence, wisdom, and godly character in their homes, churches, and communities. Participants will examine the biblical principles of discipleship, mentorship, spiritual maturity, and Christ-centered living as outlined in Titus 2. Through practical application and scriptural insight, women will be encouraged to cultivate a lifestyle that honors God, influences future generations, and strengthens the body of Christ. This session is designed to inspire women to embrace and demonstrate their unique calling and model a faith that reflects the beauty and holiness of the Gospel.
Workshop BThis class is designed to discover how Romans 12–15 applies worship to every area of life. Worship is expressed not only in our Sunday morning rituals but in our everyday relationships.
Intentional Discipleship highlights the strategic importance of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20) and the structured, active commitment required to make and multiply disciples. Dr. Moragne defines intentionality as a purposeful, active dedication to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that compels believers to act as instruments of God's love in the world. The session grounds these principles in Old and New Testament precedents — Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, Jesus and the Twelve, Paul and Timothy — and bridges spiritual discipleship with practical growth frameworks for the disciple's learning journey from new initiate to mastery.
This session equips church leaders, ministry workers, and volunteers with practical strategies for creating a safe and secure ministry environment. Participants will explore emergency preparedness, risk assessment, crisis response planning, active threat awareness, and best practices for protecting congregants during worship services and church events. The class emphasizes developing a culture of safety while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere for ministry. Attendees leave with actionable tools and resources to help their churches prepare for and respond effectively to a variety of safety and security challenges.
Workshop BHealthy pastoral relationships are essential to effective ministry and faithful shepherding. This session explores how pastors and ministry leaders can cultivate God-honoring relationships with congregants that reflect Christ's love, compassion, wisdom, and integrity. Participants will examine biblical principles for building trust, providing spiritual care, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and fostering meaningful connections within the church. The class emphasizes servant leadership, effective communication, and compassionate engagement as pastors seek to care for the flock entrusted to them.
Workshop CWe wonder many times why our prayers are unanswered. It's not that God does not care or that He's not listening — sometimes it's because we are still holding grudges, bitterness, and unforgiveness. This class is designed to help us work through this issue and realize: if we let go, God is ready to bless us fully.
Workshop CA study in the courage to obey God under pressure — drawn from Scripture and shaped for pastors and ministry leaders facing cultural, congregational, and personal headwinds.
Building and sustaining your music ministry — practical principles for worship leaders, ministers of music, and pastors who want a healthy, fruitful, gospel-centered music ministry.
This session equips church leaders, ministry workers, and volunteers with practical strategies for creating a safe and secure ministry environment. Participants will explore emergency preparedness, risk assessment, crisis response planning, active threat awareness, and best practices for protecting congregants during worship services and church events. The class emphasizes developing a culture of safety while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere for ministry. Attendees leave with actionable tools and resources to help their churches prepare for and respond effectively to a variety of safety and security challenges.
Parallel breakout session presented by the listed speaker as part of Workshop C. Full description coming soon.
Pastors and ministry leaders often serve on the frontlines of grief, crisis, emotional pain, conflict, and spiritual distress while simultaneously carrying the weight of leadership expectations, caregiving responsibilities, and personal pressures. This session explores how trauma, chronic stress, emotional exhaustion, and repeated exposure to the struggles of others impact both leaders and congregational life. Drawing from pastoral leadership, veteran care, chaplaincy experience, and the ORRHE™ (Operational Resilience in Repetitive High-Exposure Environments), participants will strengthen emotional awareness, reduce burnout, cultivate healthy boundaries, and develop sustainable rhythms for long-term ministry effectiveness. Designed for pastors, ministry leaders, chaplains, caregivers, and faith leaders seeking to cultivate emotionally healthy, spiritually grounded, and resilient ministry environments.
Workshop DThe mission has never changed, but the methods continue to evolve. In this practical and forward-thinking workshop, participants discover how to leverage technology, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence to expand their ministry's reach while remaining faithful to biblical foundations and the Great Commission. Whether you're a pastor, ministry leader, communicator, or volunteer, this session explores proven strategies for engaging people online, creating meaningful digital discipleship pathways, and using AI-powered tools to enhance communication, content creation, and ministry effectiveness. Attendees leave equipped with practical tools, actionable strategies, and a renewed vision for using technology to connect more people to Christ.
Workshop DIn this session we look at the preacher's priorities, the preacher's perspective, and the preacher's personal life.
Workshop DThis class examines how Christ dispenses His multi-faceted grace to broken people living in a broken world. As we walk through selected scenes in the Gospel of John, we will discover how to be agents of God's contagious grace.
Workshop DThis class explores God's design for women to live as examples of reverence, wisdom, and godly character in their homes, churches, and communities. Participants will examine the biblical principles of discipleship, mentorship, spiritual maturity, and Christ-centered living as outlined in Titus 2. Through practical application and scriptural insight, women will be encouraged to cultivate a lifestyle that honors God, influences future generations, and strengthens the body of Christ. This session is designed to inspire women to embrace and demonstrate their unique calling and model a faith that reflects the beauty and holiness of the Gospel.
Parallel breakout session presented by the listed speaker as part of Workshop D. Full description coming soon.
Workshop EParallel breakout session presented by the listed speaker as part of Workshop E. Full description coming soon.
Workshop ECasting vision in ministry: how leaders discern, articulate, and steward a Scripture-shaped vision that mobilizes a congregation.
Workshop EEffective preaching requires both faithfulness to Scripture and an awareness of how people receive and engage with biblical truth in a changing world. This session is designed for new, seasoned, and aspiring preachers and teachers who desire to strengthen their communication of God's Word.
Workshop EHow the shepherd gets fed: a candid session on personal soul care, sustainable rhythms, and the spiritual disciplines that keep ministry leaders nourished for the long haul.
Pastors and ministry leaders often serve on the frontlines of grief, crisis, emotional pain, conflict, and spiritual distress while simultaneously carrying the weight of leadership expectations, caregiving responsibilities, and personal pressures. This session explores how trauma, chronic stress, emotional exhaustion, and repeated exposure to the struggles of others impact both leaders and congregational life. Drawing from pastoral leadership, veteran care, chaplaincy experience, and the ORRHE™ (Operational Resilience in Repetitive High-Exposure Environments), participants will strengthen emotional awareness, reduce burnout, cultivate healthy boundaries, and develop sustainable rhythms for long-term ministry effectiveness. Designed for pastors, ministry leaders, chaplains, caregivers, and faith leaders seeking to cultivate emotionally healthy, spiritually grounded, and resilient ministry environments.
A practical workshop on how to prepare a sermon or message — moving from biblical text to faithful, clear, applied proclamation.
As women of faith, we are called to move without fear, led by the Spirit and commissioned for ministry. Join this class to uncover God's specific purpose for your life, following Mary's powerful example. Let's learn to drop offense, conquer fear, and give God absolutely everything we've got!
Workshop EThe mission has never changed, but the methods continue to evolve. In this practical and forward-thinking workshop, participants discover how to leverage technology, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence to expand their ministry's reach while remaining faithful to biblical foundations and the Great Commission. Whether you're a pastor, ministry leader, communicator, or volunteer, this session explores proven strategies for engaging people online, creating meaningful digital discipleship pathways, and using AI-powered tools to enhance communication, content creation, and ministry effectiveness. Attendees leave equipped with practical tools, actionable strategies, and a renewed vision for using technology to connect more people to Christ.
Workshop EThis session examines the theological and practical relationship between obedience to God and financial stewardship in the life of the believer. Drawing from John 2:5 and supported by biblical narratives, the class contends that financial obedience centers on trust, surrender, and alignment with God's will rather than monetary concerns. Through examples such as the widow at Zarephath and the early church in Acts, the session demonstrates that God employs financial decisions to cultivate spiritual maturity, reveal the disposition of the heart, and further His kingdom purposes. Participants will be equipped to teach, exemplify, and practice financial obedience with integrity, clarity, and conviction.
Building a Christ-centered singles ministry — connecting singles to Christ, community, and purpose.
04 · My Conference PlanOptional
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Tap the bookmark on any session above to add it here. Saving is optional — you can register at any time, with or without selections.
November 3 – 5, 2026
Thousands of pastors and ministry leaders will gather in Southaven for three days that will mark the next decade of their ministry. Your seat is waiting.
Register for Contending 2026Group rates available · Limited seats
