Discipleship is of first importance to Jesus and His Church, and discipleship programs are myriad.  But unfortunately, real change is still elusive and unpredictable?  Why is that?  Why are so many people stuck?  Why do so many discipleship programs stall out or produce lackluster results?  How can my church truly become a people who are Found in Jesus – those through whom Christ lives His life (Gal 2:20)?  Join us for this vital conversation and a fresh perspective on Christian Identity, how people grow, and what might really move the needle in discipleship.

Presenter: Jeff Block is the Discipleship Pastor at Wellspring Family Church in St. Louis, MO.

No matter how sound our theological understanding of gospel compassion, challenges arise in dispensing it. In this intensive, we will diagnose sticking points--and brainstorm to arrive at remedy measures--on the pastoral side, the lay leadership side, the general membership side, and the cultural context side.

Presenter: Robert W. Yarbrough is professor of New Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis.

Discover how to utilize the latest sermon prep tools and features such as AI to be more efficient and impactful in your sermon prep study and research using Logos!

Presenter:  Rob Fleshman has been with Logos since 2021 and serves in Church & Ministry Relations.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines compassion as “sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it.”  It is more than sympathy for a situation; it is a desire to help.  In today’s world, we hear about so many needs thru the news and social media.  And there are so many requests for our physical presence as well as our financial presence.  But what about spiritual compassion?  Do we have the same desire to “alleviate the spiritual distress” of others.  In this intensive, we will spend time looking at Jesus’ compassion for the “lost sheep.”  We’ll talk about how we can serve women within our churches and communities without becoming overwhelmed. Are we called or do we feel obligated?  

Presenter: Mary Lou McDowell and the EFCACentral Women in Ministry Leadership Team

Church leadership is a shared responsibility, but working as a team involves both risk and reward! How can lead leaders better equip staff and elders to accomplish what God has called them to do together? Regardless of church size or ministry context, here is some practical guidance based on Biblical wisdom.

Presenter: Doug Corlew is the Senior Pastor at Summit Evangelical Free Church in Alta, Iowa.

Sexuality is one of the broadest, complex, and most volatile issues of our lifetime. So how do we make sense of it as followers of Jesus, you might ask? By recognizing that sexuality is at the very core of Imago Dei (male & female being made in the image of God). This workshop is a bird's eye view of the vast and wonderful purpose that God created us with, and intended for us as the pinnacle of creation. The workshop material and approach also seeks to offload the deep shame and hurt caused by the purity culture of the late 90s and early 2000s. Come receive insight into the cultural obsession with identity, a healthy perspective of sexuality that surpasses dating and marriage, how to distinguish between sexuality and gender, and how our sexuality ultimately points to the hope we have in Christ.

Presenter: Jeff Harding is the Family Ministries Pastor at Calvary Church; St. Peters, MO.

Churches are often full of people who want to care for vulnerable children in our communities, but don't always know how. Learn proven, sustainable ways to support foster & adoptive families, entirely with volunteer leadership. When churches rally around those who are caring for vulnerable children, we help provide what kids desperately need – strong families.

Presenter: AJ Doyle leads the Wildwood Collective, a movement of churches caring for the most vulnerable children in their own zip codes.

Are you feeling stressed out or burned out? Blending Scripture and neurological principles, this workshop will unpack the effects of stress on your nervous system and how this impacts your physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and mental health. You will also learn how to better love and serve those in your family and area ministry. This workshop will equip you with practical tools, assessments, and ideas for steps you can take to make a difference in your life today. 

Presenters: Dr. Laura Whitson has over two decades of experience as a physical therapist, doctor of naturopathy, and functional neurologist.  Dr. Ryan Whitson is the Lead Pastor of New Hope Church in Adel, IA.

Are you interested in obtaining a ministry license or being ordained through the EFCA?  Find out more information and ask your questions to our Credentialing expert, Todd Brooks.

At a time when division, factions and anger is not only the norm but the expected, our unity is paramount to our success in Doing Good For All. Serving the marginalized, advocating for the foreigner, and empowering all people (young, old, disabled, immigrant, haves and have nots) is the foundation needed to take the focus off division and put on our unity in “His kingdom come, His will be done.” Together we will look at Isaiah 58 as the blueprint for not only bringing unity but empowering the church and share practical, proven ways to use the focus of “God’s Kingdom” to bring us together and begin to end the disunity that is destroying our witness.

Presenter: John Gerhardt is the Executive Director of Urban Impact Ministries whose vision is to create a neighborhood in Central City New Orleans where kids can ride their bikes to schools of excellence, a safe place to gather, a church that cares and a transformed household.

This intensive will help you strengthen your children’s ministry leadership team with a clear and shared commitment to making disciple makers. Learn to foster a team culture of discipleship by learning and implementing Jesus’ model of purposeful discipleship with your adult leaders, equipping them to become disciple makers for the children in your church ministry.

Presenter: Laura Santiamagro has served as Director of Children's Ministry at Grace Evangelical Free Church in Huxley, Iowa since 2022 and serves with the EFCA Central Women in Ministry Leadership Equipping Team

Wildfires, floods, tornados, wars, and earthquakes continue to happen. These events and others leave people unsure of what to do.  In the aftermath of a crisis there is always a mission field; a chance to come alongside someone, build a relationship with them, and share the love of Christ.

Crisis is anything that disrupts the normalcy of people’s lives. Besides natural disasters, people experience all kinds of crises (divorce, loss of a job, loss of a loved one, and many others). God works in all of these moments - He is the answer because He is sovereign over even the most difficult situations.

ReachGlobal Crisis Response helps churches prepare to serve those impacted by crisis events. They help people by ministering in word and deed, using access-based ministries to build relationships and share the gospel.  Join us as we discuss how to incorporate holistic crisis related ministries into your church and be ready to serve in this dynamic mission field.

Presenter: Steve Smeltzer & Dan Holman are missionaries with ReachGlobal Crisis Response.  Dave Clarke is the EFCA Central Crisis Response Champion.

God has given the EFCA Central a vision to have a Life-Giving Church within driving distance of every person in our district.  In addition to this, many pastors in our district are committed to handing off the baton well when they retire.  To prepare for these opportunities we must raise up new pastors.

This workshop is designed to give a bird’s eye view of how your church can help equip aspiring pastors and planters with the convictions, character, and competencies necessary for faithful and resilient pastoral ministry.

Presenters: Todd Brooks and Mike Coffman of the EFCA Central Team and Brandon Levering - lead pastor of Stonebridge Church in Cedar Rapids, IA.

How many times have you concluded a time of prayer with others and felt dry and empty, wishing the prayer experience could be so much more than just a recitation of needs/requests followed by a few brief minutes of actual time spent in prayer?  How many times have you wished to hear something like this from others at the conclusion of a prayer gathering, “What a blessing to experience the presence of the Lord in our prayer time together!”?  Prayer experiences don’t have to be monotonous, boring, or stale, or something people shy away from.  In this workshop we’ll talk about how to both experience and to lead prayer times that are actually life-giving in nature and something people will look forward to being a part of.

Presenter: Pastor Rob Jones is the Senior Pastor of Fellowship Community Church in Norwalk, a church he planted in 1995. He is also the North Midwest Regional Director of the 6:4 Fellowship, a multi-denominational ministry dedicated to assisting pastors and leaders in pursuing the twin vital priorities found in Acts 6:4: prayer and the ministry of the Word.

Every five years the EFCA conducts a doctrinal survey of all Sr./Lead pastors (not all are credentialed) and all credentialed in the EFCA (not all are ministering in the EFCA). We have now conducted this survey three times, with the last one completed a short time ago. Results of our doctrinal survey (posted October 2024) do not carry the same weight as the Bible, as God’s Word is the absolute and final authority, sola Scriptura. Biblical truth is not determined by a majority perspective. But doctrinal surveys can be helpful as a data point regarding the beliefs of survey respondents. 

In this breakout, we will consider the results, assessments, and comments of the doctrinal survey, what we can learn about the doctrinal beliefs of the EFCA through the survey, and how you and the church where you serve reflect the survey respondents

Presenter: Greg Strand is EFCA executive director of theology and credentialing, and he serves on the Board of Ministerial Standing as well as the Spiritual Heritage Committee.

In this session, Pastor Nat dives into the art of "Everyday Outreach," where evangelism extends beyond church walls and into our daily lives. We'll tackle common myths that hold believers back and explore how every Christian—regardless of experience or personality—has a role in sharing the gospel. Drawing on practical biblical insights, we'll discuss ways to leverage ordinary interactions at work, in neighborhoods, and social spaces to build connections that naturally point to Christ. Attendees will leave equipped with practical steps to foster an inviting, missional culture in their churches, emphasizing that outreach isn't just for pastors or evangelists—it's for everyone, in everyday moments. Come ready to be encouraged, challenged, and inspired to make a two-degree shift towards intentional, gospel-centered living

Presenter: Nat Crawford currently serves as the Lead Pastor at Living Life Church, south of Lincoln, and is the President of Stand Firm Ministries.

Description: The church needs leaders who are biblically and theologically equipped to serve the needs of the 21st-century church. In response to the changing landscape of theological education and the need for more trained leaders, through our fully accredited Certificate Programs, churches can partner with TEDS to prepare the Body of Christ for deeper engagement and participation in the mission of God. We work with churches, current staff, and emerging leaders to combine TEDS online classes with the formation, community life, and hands-on experiences that come through their local church and their pastoral leadership.

Presenter: Bill Yaccino is the Director of Church Relations at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS).

In 2020 a Lifeway poll found that 99% of protestant pastors and churchgoers who participated in the poll believed someone with a disability would feel welcome and included at their church. Yet 86.5% of special needs families who attend church and completed the poll said that their churches need more education and training about disability inclusion. This intensive workshop provides assessment tools that can be used to evaluate how disability-inclusive and accessible your church is. You will be able to practice using the tools, discussing them, and customizing the tools for every area of ministry. Compassionate strategies for supporting and including people with disabilities in the life of a congregation will also be discussed.

Presenter: Jolene Philo grew up in a caregiving family and raised a son with medical special needs and serve with the EFCA Disability & Special Needs Ministry.

The next generation needs more than just a youth pastor’s plan—it needs a church-wide vision for spiritual growth, discipleship, and mission’s engagement. Too often, adults in the church feel disconnected from the youth ministry or believe it isn’t their responsibility because of paid staff. However, long-term discipleship and effective mission’s planning require the involvement of adults who see the bigger picture and are equipped to act.

Many adults see the need but don’t know how to get involved or feel uncertain about their role. That’s where Apex Missions comes in—we provide the resources, training, and support to bridge the gap and help adults lead students toward lifelong gospel impact. Statistics show that most adults currently serving in missions or ministry were encouraged by a trusted adult who saw potential in them and invited them to take the first step. Your involvement could be the key to unlocking the next generation’s call to ministry.  Join us as we discuss the role of adult leaders in guiding students and young adults into meaningful experiences. Whether you're an elder, deacon, volunteer, or a parent with a heart for young people, this session will equip you with practical tools and a framework for partnering with your youth pastor to help students grow into gospel influencers.

Presenter: Travis Holtan serves as the Director of Advancement for Apex, the student missions and ministry arm of the EFCA.