conference extras
This year we are offering Pre-conference Workshops, a P.E.A.C.E. Briefing, an IT Forum, Breakout Sessions and Casual Q&A's. Browse the various options below to get a feel for what you can expect and how to fit them into your schedule during the conference.
Wednesday, September 17, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Lunch and snacks provided.
First Impressions // Mark Waltz & Shelley Arredondo
How do you take guests from “not dissatisfied” to “really impressed?” Creatively, deliberately and with a team of people who are gifted “wow-makers.” In this workshop, you’ll walk through the process and get the inspiration to create your own brand of “wow.”
Student Ministry // D.C. Curry
What does it take to love and lead students without losing yourself in the process? An open mind, for starters. And a way to balance your priorities. Learn and see examples of how to program creative series and events for students.
Web // Kem Meyer
For a successful Web site, you need a successful strategy—for the front-end and back-end. This workshop is for anyone responsible for making decisions for their church’s online existence. You’ll learn how to ask the right questions and eliminate roadblocks regardless of your budget or tech skills.
P.E.A.C.E. Briefing // Rob Wegner & Mike Constantz
This workshop is a one-day briefing for local church outreach leaders to interact on how to more effectively mobilize, equip and send ordinary church members into their own communities and to the ends of the earth to do what Jesus did.
Briefing Cost: Standard workshop rates and discounts apply
Information Technology Forum // Jason Powell
If you’re a volunteer or ministry leader in the IT field, you won’t want to miss this peer-learning event where the participants are both teachers and learners. Discuss topics like: backups, best practices, budgeting, network security and more.
Forum Cost: $49 per person.
We know. You like options. Us too. So during the Breakout Session each day, pick from several focused sessions led by leaders from Lifechurch.tv, Seacoast, Elevation Church and Granger.
Thursday
Communications // Kem Meyer, Communications Director
Learn some simple ways to clear away the clutter and help people understand your message in everything they touch, click or read at your church.
Groups // Kathy Guy, Director of Community
How does Granger connect people? Get a practical breakdown of all the ways we offer for people to connect in relationships.
Kids // Georgia Fawcett, Children’s Ministry Director
Learn how to inspire volunteers and capture kids’ attention to learn about Jesus.
First Impressions // Mark Waltz, Pastor of Connections & Shelley Arredondo, Experience Specialist
Wondering how to keep guests from coming back to your church? Enforce the rules, create another program, assume stuff, cater to everyone and set no expectations. So this breakout will deconstruct those methods and we’ll look at ways to help people connect and keep coming back.
Leading Worship // Jason Miller, Pastor of Worship & College-age Ministry
What’s new or on the cutting edge? What songs are being sung by other churches? Those aren’t bad questions but they aren’t the most important. The question you should be asking is: What will help grow my church into a body of worshipers? Learn a few new strategies to help make sure that question stays the focus of your worship.
Missions // Jack Magruder, Director of Life Mission
How can your church impact the world? The local community? The neighborhood? We’ll share some strategies that aren’t conventional, but should be.
Leveraging New Technology // LifeChurch.tv Directional Leadership Team
LifeChurch.tv will share innovative and practical ways to use Web promotions, video and more to reach people for Jesus.
FRIDAY
Carving Pomegranates // Shawn Wood, Teaching Pastor at Seacoast Church
200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One, a new book by Shawn Wood draws on the story of obscure Old Testament figure Huram of Tyre, an artist putting the finishing touches on Solomon’s temple. Shawn will talk about how we may not all be artistic in the traditional sense, but we are nonetheless creators, made in the image of God the Creator and endowed with skills and talents that can honor God and impact our world.
Lasting Impressions // Mark Waltz, Pastor of Connections
Wondering how to keep people from feeling like they don't belong in your church? We’ll look at barriers to entry, like: responsibility, space, pace, programs and the availability of choice.
Creating Media: Best Practices // Jeff Petersen, Director of Media and Production
Everyone has different resources when it comes to creating media. Hear about some best practices that apply to any church with any budget at any level of experience.
Staff Culture That Rocks // Tim Stevens, Executive Pastor
How do you find and keep great people? How can you empower both paid and unpaid staff no matter what your church size is? Learn practical ways to create a staff culture that keeps growing.
Leading Multi-Site Operations // LifeChurch.tv Directional Leadership Team
How does a multi-site church function? What about staffing, resources and ways to keep people connected when you’re spread out? Hear the basics of how LifeChurch.tv is doing it in this practical session.
Social Networks in Ministry // Kem Meyer, Communications Director
How do you use stuff like blogs, Twitter, Facebook and more to have an impact and help people connect? We’ll discuss practical ways to get started.
Vision Casting 101 // Steven Furtick, Lead Pastor at Elevation Church
Vision leaks – so how do you keep your people connected to the big picture? Steven Furtick will discuss the basics of casting vision and keeping people engaged in the mission God has for your church.
Also available during lunch and Breakout Sessions each day will be Casual Q&A groups with Granger leaders. They’re limited to 10 people for each group so sign up at the conference information center Thursday morning. IMPORTANT! By electing to attend a Casual Q&A Thursday morning or Friday afternoon, you will be missing out on the Breakout Sessions happening at that time. You cool with that? If not, Casual Q&As will be offered a second time at lunch. We got ya covered with plenty of opportunities.
THURSDAY
Student Ministry Programming // DC Curry, Director of Student Ministry
Got questions on: developing creative series for students and making medias to grab attention?
Finance // Dave Moore, Finance Director
Got questions on: online giving, managing contributions, systems to keep everything organized?
Facilities // Melanie Rosander, Director of Operations
Got questions on: teams, facility turnover, systems, keeping spaces looking like new?
Drama Teams // Kristin Baker, Creative Arts Project Manager
Got questions on: using drama effectively, original writing vs. borrowed material, managing actors and drama in video?
Web Streaming // Daryl McMullen, Web Director
Got questions on: copyright issues, the technical side of starting to stream, media players and best practices?
IT Best Practices // Jason Powell, IT Director
Got questions on: budgeting for new technology, how to support your growing staff team and cool new resources?
Leading Artists // Butch Whitmire, Pastor of Creative Arts
Got questions on: finding and keeping quality musicians, encouraging and empowering the artistic personality, bringing together staff and volunteer teams for effective weekend programming?
Super Team (Back Office System) // Jeanna Miller, Web Services Coordinator and Matt Metzger, IT Project Specialist
Got questions on: how Granger manages a growing database, how staff and volunteer leaders access and use the database and how to empower ministry leaders to own their stuff?
Cafe/Bookstore // Susan Chipman, Director of Retail Services
Got questions on: having a café, bookstore management and finding volunteers to manage them both?
Assisting Pastors // Julie Smies, Assistant to Mark Waltz
Got questions on: how to protect your pastor’s time and manage the ever-increasing demands on his or her schedule?
book publishing // George Watkins, Tad Long, ThirtyOne Press
Got questions on: how to publish a ministry-related book you've written, or how to get started with the book idea you have bouncing around in your head?
FRIDAY
Security // Shelley Arredondo, Experience Specialist
Got questions on: keeping guests and children safe, emergency procedures and finding the right volunteers to do it all?
Leading Artists // Butch Whitmire, Pastor of Creative Arts
Got questions on: finding and keeping quality musicians, encouraging and empowering the artistic personality, bringing together staff and volunteer teams for effective weekend programming?
Promotions Process // Jami Ruth, Communications Manager
Got questions on: how to promote a series or event from start to finish, how to use mass media like advertising to your advantage and how to develop relationships with your local news media?
Kids Ministry: Elementary Age // Brian Davis, Elementary Director
Got questions on: programming for K-5th grade and how to incorporate music, movement and media into your program?
Kids Ministry: Early Childhood // Amy Rembold, Early Childhood Director
Got questions on: infant-toddler care, how to train qualified volunteers and how to start engaging them?
Student Ministry Programming // DC Curry, Director of Student Ministry
Got questions on: developing creative series for students and making medias to grab attention?
RSS & Podcasts // Daryl McMullen, Web Director
Got questions on: setting up a podcast of your weekly services, working with RSS feeds and teaching people how it all works?
Turning Point (Counseling) // Kathy Guy, Director of Community
Got questions on: how to help people help themselves and build support relationships in a safe environment?
Pastor's Wives // Sheila Beeson, wife of Granger’s Senior Pastor and Michelle Wegner, wife of Granger's Pastor of Life Mission
Got questions on: boundaries between your private life vs. the church life and how to support your spouse through the challenges of day-to-day ministry?
Merge (College Ministry) // Jason Miller, Pastor of Worship and College Age Ministry
Got questions on: how to engage this transitional age group, how to create serving opportunities to help them stay involved in the church?
book publishing // George Watkins, Tad Long, ThirtyOne Press
Got questions on: how to publish a ministry-related book you've written, or how to get started with the book idea you have bouncing around in your head?