Synergy

Synergy 2026 - Missions Hot Topics (Jared Sizemore, Andy Erickson, Heather Erickson)

Join us for an open and dynamic Q&A session with experienced missionaries as they tackle the hottest topics in missions today! This is your chance to ask the questions you've always wanted to know about global ministry. From navigating cultural challenges and fundraising to leading effective mission trips and building long-term partnerships, no topic is off-limits. Whether you're a pastor, leader, or passionate about missions, come ready to engage in candid conversations and gain practical insights to elevate your missions efforts.

Synergy 2026 - How Your Church Could Get Sued Tomorrow (Josh Willaford, Amy Parsell)

Many churches have gaps in their policies and practices that could create major legal headaches. This breakout discusses the real-world issues that put ministries on the line—volunteers, safety, staff decisions, communication, and more. Come ready for real talk, practical fixes, and a game plan to protect your church before it’s too late.

Synergy 2026 - A Discipleship Pathway for Kids Ministry (Meghan Boyle)

Join us as we dive into the Discipleship Pathway (7 Dimensions of a Spirit-Filled Disciple) for kids ministry and discuss hands-on ways to lead kids in this pathway, whether it be a Sunday morning, Girls Ministries, Royal Rangers, or other midweek experiences.

Synergy 2026 - The Developer’s Mindset: Working Yourself Out of a Job (Jordan Biel)

Leaders aren’t successful until they’ve multiplied themselves. This session explores practical tools for mentoring, apprenticing, and empowering others so the church doesn’t depend on one person.

Synergy 2026 - She Leads: Biblical Models of Female Leadership (Danielle Dickerson)

Courageous women like Deborah, Esther, Priscilla, and Mary Magdalene didn't just make history; they modeled timeless leadership marked by wisdom, boldness, and faith. This session invites women to step into their stories, uncover practical leadership lessons, and discover how those same qualities can shape their own influence in ministry today.

Synergy 2026 - Disciple Making that Transforms (Cody Winkler)

The work of discipleship is the joy and calling of the local church. This session focuses on the importance of disciple-making and the power that is unlocked in the ministries of the church and the surrounding community.

Synergy 2026 - Real Talk About Church Planting - Church Planter Panel (Ammerah Lewis, Shane Huey, Anthony Johnson)

Are you exploring God's call to plant a church? Learn from experienced practitioners representing different models and methods of church multiplication. The panel will discuss what it really takes to establish a new church, including wisdom on what works and what doesn't.

Synergy 2026 - Creating a Culture of Worship & Prayer in Youth Ministry (Meghan Donohoe)

Students need to encounter God’s presence in authentic ways. This session explores how to lead youth experiences of various kinds that go beyond performance and cultivate a genuine hunger for worship and prayer.

Synergy 2026 - Building Multiplication into Your Church DNA (Corbin Huffman)

How do you build multiplication into the DNA of your church? Successful multiplication begins with preparing your church to be multiplication-ready. Learn principles and practices to help your church have a multiplication mindset.

Synergy 2026 - Responding to Self-Harm and Suicide Reports (Tasha Willaford)

Learn the essential steps to take when someone shares about self-harm or suicidal thoughts. This session equips leaders to respond with compassion, ensure safety, and connect individuals with professional help.

Synergy 2026 - Dinner Church: Feeding Faith, Forming Community (Larry Bogenrief, Carl Bauchspiess)

Dinner Church meets people at the table, where physical hunger and spiritual longing intersect. This class explores how shared meals open space for worship, conversation, and belonging. Discover how Dinner Church nurtures a deeper connection with God while building authentic community.

Synergy 2026 - Trauma-Informed Ministry: Understanding Impact & Cultivating Resilience (Jamie Baxter)

In this session, ministry leaders will gain foundational insight into the nature of trauma—how it affects the mind, body, and spirit—and how it manifests in the lives of those we serve. Through a compassionate and practical lens, we’ll explore ways to recognize trauma responses, offer safe and supportive spiritual care, and avoid common pitfalls that may unintentionally retraumatize individuals. Equally important, we’ll address the emotional toll of trauma-informed ministry and provide tools for self-care, boundaries, and spiritual renewal to help leaders sustain their calling without burnout. This session is designed to empower us to be both a healing presence and healthy as individuals.

Synergy 2026 - De-Chaos Your Weekend Kids Ministry (Cheyenne Trimbach)

This session will explore practical methods of room management, engaging your kids, lesson delivery, and other tools that you can use to de-chaos your kids' ministry, level-up your service times, lead more confidently, and connect deeper with your kids.

Synergy 2026 - Supporting & Discipling Fragile Families without Enabling Them (Melody Marshall, Ali Watson)

As God establishes a heart in us for families to be wholly restored whenever possible, it is important to build our skill set of relationally engaging with vulnerable families. Our goal is not to fix but to be faithful, not to cure but to come alongside, not to rescue but to teach resilience. Come join this workshop to walk through real-life scenarios and learn practical tools for engaging in relationships with the parents of kids we are serving.

Synergy 2026 - Leading in Seasons of Disappointment: Faith, Expectations, and the Gap (Ken DeChant)

Ministry is filled with God-given expectations—and moments when reality doesn’t align with them. This session addresses the often-unspoken experience of disappointment among pastors and ministry leaders. Using the story of John the Baptist in Matthew 11, we’ll explore how leaders can process disappointment with God in healthy, biblically grounded ways. Attendees will leave with practical practices for navigating discouragement, avoiding offense, and leading with hope and faithfulness in difficult seasons.

Synergy 2026 - Leading Change with Courage (Ken DeChant)

Change is inevitable. This session covers how to introduce and lead new strategies or structures in healthy, Spirit-led ways. Leaders will learn to navigate resistance and build momentum for change.

Synergy 2026 - Healthy Worship Leading (Lincoln Williams)

A workshop that provides tools and concepts for worship teams to grow and lead better!

Synergy 2026 - The Power of Corporate Prayer (Jonathan Taylor)

Corporate prayer can become the foundation upon which healthy service and outreach take place within and through the local church. Prayer is more than a casual conversation, but instead a deep time of connection with Jesus that results in consistency of service and outreach as well as fruitful and faithful lives in the local church.

Synergy 2026 - From Survival to Strategy: Leading Beyond Sunday (Donovan Reed)

Many local church leaders feel stuck in a weekly cycle of ministry prep, services, and putting out fires. This session equips leaders to shift from reactive ministry to proactive leadership by setting clear priorities, planning for growth, and aligning weekly decisions with long-term mission. Leaders will learn simple tools to move their church from “just getting through the week” to advancing a Spirit-led, strategic future.

Synergy 2026 - Community Integration: How to Build the Two-Way Bridge Between Your Church and Community! (Sarah Reed, Donovan Reed)

Have you ever felt like you are hitting every brick wall while trying to get your footprint into your community, or do you feel overwhelmed on where to even start? The goal of this conversation is to resource you and your team to develop a strategy and action plan to not just engage your community, but have community integration. Building bridges and digging wells that over time yield kingdom results and more changed lives by Jesus!