Equip Sessions

Friday, May 30 | 10:30am

  • Re-Awaken Initiative Movement Ready Day Part 1

    JAGGER EASTMAN & VICK GREEN
    Room 415 & 416

  • Ministry Myths: The five fatal assumptions that stall disciple-making movements

    JEREMY SMITH
    Seabrook Hall

    Many churches unintentionally build their ministries around assumptions that feel right but ultimately stall true disciple-making movements. In this breakout, we’ll expose and replace the five most common ministry myths with a clear, culture-shifting vision that aligns with Jesus’ original call to make disciples. You’ll receive an assessment that equips your leadership to identify the unique challenges and opportunities in their culture.

  • Lead with Prayer

    CRISTEN BARNARD
    Chapel

    Move from asking God to bless your plan/agenda to actively seeking God’s guidance, listening to His voice, and following His lead.

  • Building Taller Lamp Stands: How to maximize the mission potential of your church

    BRIAN SCOTT, NATHAN COOK & JAMES LOFTON
    Room 407

    Explore effective strategies to enhance your church’s mission outreach and impact, both locally and globally.

  • The Importance of Developing Generosity, Tithing & Stewardship Within the Church Body

    TODD MARION
    Room 405

  • Safe Sanctuary Training

    TAMMY MULLINS
    Room 403

    Safe Sanctuary training is essential for all staff, volunteers, and leaders who work with children, youth, and vulnerable adults.

  • Staff and Pastor Parish Relations Training

    BARRY MALE, WESLEY PEPPER & ROBERT WILSON
    Room 409

    We will explore the duties of the Staff and Pastor Parish Relations Committee and how the SPRC/PPRC is to function and relate to the church at large.

  • Reframing Contemporary Worship: A Healthy Way Forward

    KYLE HOLDER
    Room 401

    Hesitant to implement “contemporary” worship at your church? Convinced that “contemporary” = lights, smoke, and tearing out the pews? Discover a better framework for “contemporary” that doesn’t involve tearing out the pews or throwing out the hymnal. There’s a better way forward that can lead to a renewal of passionate worship in the hearts of people of every age in your congregation.

Friday, May 30 | 1:OOpm

  • Re-Awaken Initiative Movement Ready Day Part 2

    JAGGER EASTMAN & VICK GREEN
    Room 415 & 416

  • Three Story Evangelism

    CHARLIE HARPER
    Room 409

    Three Story Evangelism is a framework for relational evangelism that explores the intentional connection of three stories that count: God’s Story, our own personal story, and the story of those with whom we share the good news.

  • The Shepherd's Fund for GMC Retirees, Spouses, & Surviving Spouses

    DEREK MCALEER
    Chapel

    Learn about this fund that assists retired clergy, their spouses, and surviving spouses with medically related expenses, now for GMC retirees. It is NOT financially based.

  • When Therapy Helps (Not Hinders) the People in the Pews

    COLBY CUEVAS
    Room 405

    Rediscovering Jesus’ healing ministry as a collaborative effort between churches and good therapists who work hand-in-hand for the metanoia of head, heart, and life.

  • Worship & Sacraments for Supply Pastors Only

    JIM GENESEE & GARY KNIGHT
    Room 401

  • Clergy Compensation Sheets 101

    ROBERT BURFORD, CPA
    Room 403

    Clergy: Methodist clergy compensation sheets and taxes are complicated. Learn about paying self-employment taxes but also make sure you are taking advantage of all of the tax shelters designated for clergy.

    Financial secretaries, Treasurers, and Finance Committee Members: learn how to navigate the complex clergy compensation sheet, when to file taxes for employees, and when to issue a W-2, 1099, etc.

  • More than Plans and Programs: Discipleship with Young People

    EDDIE & ALLUSON WILLIS
    Room 407

    Join us as we dig deep into sharing the love of Christ through making discipleship the foundation of your ministry plans with young people.

  • The Marks of a Movement in a Global Methodist Church

    PAUL LAWLER
    Seabrook Hall

Friday, May 30 | 3pm

  • Re-Awaken Initiative Movement Ready Day Part 3

    JAGGER EASTMAN & VICK GREEN
    Room 415 & 416

  • Changing Your Church's Scoreboard for Success: From Program Activity to Personal Transformation

    JEREMY SMITH
    Seabrook Hall

    How do you measure success in your church? Most churches measure success by attendance and program activity, but Jesus measured success by personal transformation. In this breakout, we’ll explore how to change the scoreboard of your church from program activity to personal transformation. We will share how you can create your Dream Disciple-- a vivid picture of personal transformation that tells you when you are successful. Once you have a clear picture of the Disciples you are developing, you can begin to activate your disciple-making movement.

  • Aiming for the Mark: The Real Potential for Your Music Ministry

    KYLE HOLDER
    Room 403

    Is Sunday morning the end of the potential for your music ministry? Does it really all come down to 30 minutes of music once a week? Maybe it does now, but it doesn’t have to moving forward. What if the musicians in your church began to influence the young people in your community by providing them with musical instruction coupled with discipleship? Learn a strategy your church can use to reach the community around you with the Gospel by being excellent in their craft of music.

  • Worship and Sacraments for Supply Pastors Only Part 2

    JIM GENESEE & GARY KNIGHT
    Room 401

  • Background Checks 101

    SAM KING, MINISTRY SAFE
    Room 405

    Background checks – we need them, but how do we run them? Bring your laptop or tablet to this session and you’ll be provided step-by-step instructions on how to run background checks just in time for summer camps and VBS.

  • GuideStone: Clergy Retirement 101

    JEN WEBSTER
    Room 407

    Jen from GuideStone will answer all your questions about pension and clergy retirement.

  • How to Launch a Church Safety Team

    BILL JONES
    Room 309

    This presentation will offer the process involved with planning, developing, training, and executing the launch of a Church Safety Team.

  • Five-Minute Family: Equipping Busy Parents through the Church for Intentional Family Discipleship

    BEN BUTLER
    Chapel

    Busy parents need tools to grow personally in discipleship and foster discipleship in their own children with the local church’s support.

Saturday, May 31 | 9:30am

  • Re-Awaken Initiative Movement Ready Day Part 4

    JAGGER EASTMAN & VICK GREEN
    Room 415 & 416

  • Developing a Powerful Prayer Ministry

    CRISTEN BARNARD
    Chapel

    Become a church for whom prayer is a dynamic and intentional part of church life, church ministry, church growth, and being and making disciples!

  • How to Discuss and Promote Legacy Giving in Your Church

    TODD MARION
    Room 401

  • GuideStone: Clergy Insurance 101

    BECCA FULLER
    Room 403

    Becca from GuideStone answers all your questions regarding health, disability, and life insurance.

Annual Conference 2025 | Mississippi-West Tennessee Conference