On February 22nd and March 1st, Florida Baptists will have the opportunity to sharpen their ministry skills by attending one of the multiple Sharper! Ministry Conferences being hosted across the state by Florida Baptist churches.
“Sharper! provides an amazing opportunity to learn from practitioners in ministry,” said Convention Executive Director-Treasurer Tommy Green. “Sharper! enables us to grow in ministry through observation and conversation as churches share best practices and worst mistakes in ministry.”
Here’s a region-by-region look at some of the topics being covered.
West
At First Baptist Church Panama City, for example, speakers and workshops will center on current issues churches are facing today like:
- attendance,
- worship styles and changing culture as well as
- how to engage the community with the Gospel and
- how to connect people to the church.
First Panama City Pastor Craig Conner said he is looking forward to being sharpened by the other leaders attending.
“We are excited to host this year’s Sharper! Conference,” he said. “I hope you will join us for some discussion on the hot topic issues facing us in today’s church.”
“This will not be a time where we will try and tell you how to do ministry, but a time where we can learn from one another,” Conner said. “We all have something to contribute to helping one another fulfill the Great Commission.
‘Revitalize’ is the theme at the conference being held at Olive Baptist Church where breakout sessions will look at
- revitalization in children’s ministry and
- worship as well as
- the cost of revitalizing a church.
North
Roundtable discussions at Thomasville Road Baptist Church will drive the training and learning during their conference. Throughout the day there will be separate roundtable discussions for
- pastors’,
- pastors’ wives and
- worship leaders.
Tommy Green will be the keynote speaker at Westside Baptist Church’s Sharper! Conference.
Topics discussed at this location will include:
- communication to the choir and the community,
- expressions in worship,
- creativity and stage design on a budget among others.
Pastors will also have the opportunity to participate in two roundtablediscussions through the day, one of which will be led by Westside Pastor David Chauncey and the other by Green.
East
North Jacksonville Baptist Church will be hosting staff-led breakout sessions on ministry topics like:
- Children’s ministry,
- Preschool ministry,
- Student ministry,
- Singles ministry,
- Ministry to married Adults,
- Music/Sound/Video,
- Administration/Facilities/Food Service, and
- Life Groups/Missions/Pastoral Ministries.
Anastasia Baptist Church will guide pastors and leaders through sessions focused on discipleship.
In the breakout sessions, leaders will learn about:
- disciple-making through worship,
- mentoring and discipling the next generation of women leaders,
- small group growth strategies and even
- marriage discipleship.
Freedom Church in Vero Beach is focusing on living missionally. Their breakout sessions will cover topics such as:
- developing public school partnerships,
- simple ways of sharing the Gospel as well as
- brand process among others.
The schedule also includes a panel discussion on missions.
Central Baptist Church in Sanford will hold workshops on revitalization as well as
- church planting,
- church security and a
- brand new women and ministry track.
“Because of a high demand we’ve created a ‘women in ministry’ track, said pastor Alan Brumback. “We are going to have a special luncheon for all women in ministry and then a time of question and answer as an opportunity for women to sharpen each other.”
Central
Bell Shoals Baptist Church conference topics include:
- engaging exposition,
- staff leadership,
- worship ministry and fundamentals,
- pastoral care ministry and even
- campus safety among many others.
At Calvary Church in Clearwater leaders will have four tracks to choose from:
- multisite ministry,
- church planting,
- church ministries and
- Christian school
The theme at First Baptist Orlando will be ‘Be Renewed…Be Equipped’ and it will be developed through worship, panel discussions and breakout sessions. Spouses are invited and free childcare will be provided. Pre-registered attendees will also receive lunch.
Southwest
Sarasota Baptist Church is going to train attendees to “share Jesus on the next level.” Alvin Reid will be the keynote speaker.
Reid, senior professor of evangelism and student ministry at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, will be speaking on the subject of revival and missional ways to reach North America.
Southeast
New Life Baptist Church in Carol City will be offering a wide array of session options including:
- Music Ministry,
- Security Ministry,
- Usher & Greeter Ministry,
- Senior Adult Ministry,
- Student Ministry,
- Children’s Ministry,
- Discipleship,
- Sports Evangelism, and
- Social & Community Ministry
Family Church Downtown in West Palm Beach will feature topics such as
- Front Door,
- Family Ministry,
- Worship,
- Production Arts,
- Prayer,
- Seed Sowing,
- Discipleship,
- Church Planting and
- Leadership
A Special Day
On February 24th, Hispanic ministry leaders will gather at Iglesia Bautista Northside in Hialeah for Evento “Afiliado” and Haitian ministry leaders will gather at Redemption Baptist Church in Pompano Beach for Plus tranchant.
By Keila Diaz, Florida Baptist Convention, February 20, 2018