Learning Labs

Session 1

Monday, November 9 @ 1:30 p.m.

Making Christians: Belonging, Believing, Behaving

Jesus calls the church to “make disciples” by “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that [he] commanded” (Matt 28:19-20). Yet discipleship does not just happen. As Tertullian, the second century African church leader contended, “Christians are made not born.” Led by Curtis Freeman.

Religious Liberty at 250: Baptist Principles for the Separation of Church and State in Contemporary America

This religious liberty lab addresses how to apply historical foundations to contemporary issues through discussions with panelists who have particularly relevant knowledge, experience, and insights regarding the importance of church and state separation in the present-day U.S. As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its founding, churches and Christian leaders face renewed questions about patriotism, religious liberty, public witness, political engagement, and the proper relationship between church and state. This lab will help participants move beyond slogans and partisan assumptions by examining contemporary church-state issues through the lens of Baptist history, theology, and religious liberty principles. Led by BGAV’s Religious Liberty Committee.

Preparing for the Inevitable: Succession

The Church in America is seeing a wave of succession as a generation of pastors begins to age out of ministry. How can we begin to prepare for the inevitable in a way that honors everyone involved? Led by Matt Steen.

Going First: Discerning God's Invitation to Lead with Courage and Joy

God is already at work preparing and calling leaders. In this interactive learning lab, participants will explore their calling, recognize the ways God has uniquely shaped them for leadership, and gain practical tools for cultivating leadership within their churches and communities. Led by Amy Hall.

Serving Together: Intergenerational Mission in the Church

When children, youth, and adults serve side-by-side, mission becomes a powerful tool for discipleship and community transformation. This learning lab will help churches move beyond age-divided mission models and build intergenerational mission cultures where every generation serves, learns, and grows together. Participants will gain actionable ideas, collaborative tools, and mission resources they can immediately use in their own congregational context. Led by Cadance Tyler.

Session 2

Monday, November 9 @ 3:15 p.m.

Unscripted Church: The Passing of the Script

Church leaders and congregations have been living out of scripts that have been passed down for centuries. Unscripted Leader Lab identifies the basic scripts of leadership and congregational life. This lab will explore what new scripts for leaders and congregations might look like as we lean into the future. Spoiler alert: the new scripts may look very ancient! Led by Brian Williams and Craig Harwood.

TBRI for Sunday Morning: Equipping Volunteers to Love Kids from Hard Places

Many church volunteers want to help but feel unprepared when a child’s behavior disrupts the classroom. This Learning Lab introduces the basics of Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI) in a way that fits real Sunday-morning environments. Participants will learn simple, practical ways to respond with connection and confidence so every child experiences church as a safe place. Led by Kristy Ayers.

Building for Hope: Unlocking the Potential in Your Facility

What percentage of your church building is used Monday through Saturday? Is facility maintenance draining your staff and lay leaders? Church buildings don’t have to be a drag on your ministry. Buildings can be instruments of hope for your broader community and catalysts for the revitalization of your congregation’s mission. This Learning Lab will lead you to consider your status quo, the untapped assets your congregation may have, and the potential for God to work through your congregation’s existing spaces. Led by Phil Faig and Brian Hoysa.

Beyond Programs: A Creative Lab for Missional Imagination

How do you open up imagination for connecting with people who are not already members of your church? This workshop will give you space to practice missional imagination, give you tools you can take back to your church, and help you kindle the spirit of mission through a guided creative practice. Through a series of prompts, images, and words, this arts-based exercise will open your eyes to new ways of engaging the “Not Yets” in your community. (No artistic talent required.) Led by Shannon Kiser and Amy Hall.

Busy is Not a Spiritual Gift: Helping Church Leaders Recover Rest, Renewal, and Sustainable Ministry

Church leaders often feel pressure to do more, move faster, and carry increasingly heavy ministry demands. This interactive Learning Lab will explore how biblical Sabbath practices can help pastors and ministry leaders cultivate healthier rhythms, prevent burnout, and build a more sustainable approach to ministry. Participants will leave with practical tools for fostering a culture of rest and renewal in both their personal lives and their congregations. Led by David Scafide.

Session 3

Tuesday, November 10 @ 1:15 p.m.

Ramping Up Family Ministry

Families and kids experience large transitional challenges as they move through the stages of elementary, middle, and high school into college. In this engaging session, Children’s Pastor Ivonne Polo and Youth Pastor Kaelyn Dasari will discuss a model and method for connection and collaboration between children’s and student ministry that creates more seamless transitions for families and their kids during critical years of spiritual growth. Led by Kaelyn Dasari and Ivonne Polo.

When the Ground Shifts: Helping Churches Find Clarity in a Changing Moment

Many churches are not lacking passion or faithfulness. They are struggling with clarity in a rapidly changing ministry environment. This Learning Lab will help pastors and church leaders explore how churches move through seasons of change, how leadership teams experience those changes differently, and how greater alignment and discernment can help churches move forward together with renewed focus and hope. Led by Michael Pumphrey.

Disaster Response in Your Community: Forming the Relationships that Help You Connect to the Community Before a Disaster and Serve Year Round

We know that disasters always begin and end locally, and knowing the people in your community that lead those responses is the best way to be able to serve your neighbors when a disaster happens. Establishing those relationships can be difficult because church leaders and emergency managers don’t know how to begin. In this breakout, you will learn how to form those relationships and create greater opportunities to serve both during disasters and in blue skies. Led by Glenn Maddox.

Session 4

Tuesday, November 10 @ 2:45 p.m.

Made to Become Good News: Discipleship and Identity Formation

Discipleship is the journey of identity formation, but most of us were never equipped to understand or support that journey. In this lab, we will explore the biblical and neurobiological foundations of identity formation and unpack a practical framework for helping people discover who God says they are. Communities that know how to form identity in Christ naturally become good news to those who are not yet in the room. Led by Jessie Cruickshank.

Activating Leadership in Our Churches for Maximum Impact

Many churches already have gifted leaders in their congregations, yet a significant amount of leadership capacity remains untapped. This learning lab will help church leaders examine the barriers that can keep people from being fully recognized, valued, and mobilized for Kingdom impact. Led by Paul Maconochie, Archie Bates-Mendoza, and Amie Burkholder.

Executive Board/Budget Discussion

You’re invited to join members of the Executive Board for an open time of dialogue. This is an opportunity to ask questions, offer input, and hear directly from board leadership about the priorities and stewardship reflected in our work together. All are welcome to attend and take part in the conversation. Led by David Washburn and BGAV’s Executive Board.

Learning Labs 2026