Synergy

Synergy 2026 - Joseph and a Heart for Chaplaincy (Rev. Terry D. Hunt, Dr. John Hembree)

This session will focus on the biblical example of Joseph to examine perspective in chaplaincy. A chaplain is thrust into the broader spectrum of ministry, where the challenges of relevance and compromise, biblical truth, and respectful connections enrich the chaplain’s heart. Explore what it means to be a Chaplain and how you can support our frontline workers.

Synergy 2026 - Starting a Boys Ministry in Your Church (Kyle Zeid, Bill Black, Steve Hill)

In this session, we will discuss a practical and flexible way to start mentoring the next generation of boys in your church and community.

Synergy 2026 - Life as a Worship Leader: Offstage Rhythms that Sustain Onstage Ministry (Garrett Gitchel)

Worship doesn’t start and stop on the platform. In this session, we will explore how to guard against burnout and spiritual dryness with personal rhythms and healthy offstage habits that can sustain your onstage ministry.

Synergy 2026 - Loving and Leading Immigrants in Today's American Culture (Petros Yefru)

How do we approach loving our immigrant neighbors in today's American culture? What does the Bible say about the immigrant, and how do we apply those principles practically? Join us in navigating the complexities of this issue and the call we have as Christians to put Kingdom culture first.

Synergy 2026 - Helping Your Young Staff Navigate Conflict (Heather Erickson, Andy Erickson)

This session will explore practical and Christ-centered ways to help emerging leaders navigate conflict, handle feedback, and build resilience in ministry relationships. We’ll discuss generational differences in communication and conflict styles, and equip you with tools to coach your young team members toward maturity and accountability. The second half of the session will be dedicated to open Q&A, allowing you to share real situations and gain insight from others in ministry.

Synergy 2026 - implifying Communications: Tools to Save You Time, Money, & Stress (Tara Zimmer)

You don’t need a big budget or a full-time staff to communicate with excellence. In this practical session, we’ll explore tools available today that can help you streamline your church or ministry communications to save you time, money, and stress. Whether you’re creating social media content, sending emails, editing video, launching a new website, or starting a podcast, you’ll walk away with tools you can start using immediately to multiply your impact without multiplying your workload.

Synergy 2026 - Soul Care for Youth Leaders (Luke Burt)

This session will help youth pastors and leaders discover the freedom and strength that come from being with Jesus before doing for Jesus. We'll explore practical rhythms and habits that ground you, refresh you, and keep your soul aligned with Jesus in every season. 

Synergy 2026 - The Intersection of Biblical Discipleship & Biblical Justice (Al Yanno, Paris Yanno)

True discipleship shapes not just what we believe but how we live - especially how we treat the "least, last, and lost." In this class, we will look at the heart of God and His priorities to care for the overlooked & underserved throughout the Old Testament, the life of Christ, and in the early Church. The challenge is for every follower of Jesus and every church to have a Mission Action Plan (MAP) to make disciples who are forgiven, healed, and whole amongst "the least of these."

Synergy 2026 - Instilling the Great Commission in the Next Generation (Randy Young)

Are you ready to help instill the Great Commission in the next generation of World Changers? This session will share the potential of our emerging generations and the vast global need for them to be engaged. It will include practical tips on preparing the next generation as they work through hinderances to being engaged.

Synergy 2026 - Reaching Unreached Neighbors (Jared Sizemore)

God has brought the mission field to our own backyard. Whether we live abroad or in America, there are unreached people living all around us. How do we most effectively make use of this amazing opportunity before us? This is the question we will attempt to answer in this session.

Synergy 2026 - Defining Success in Youth Ministry Beyond a Service (Isaiah Board)

Youth services matter. This session will provide practical tools for excellent youth gatherings while re-centering leaders on the real “win” of youth ministry: forming disciples.

Synergy 2026 - Keeping Senior Adults in Your Church (Christa Lund)

For years, the church has been trying to understand why our younger generations leave the church, but now there is a new exdous. It is the quiet departure of our senior adults. In this session, we will explore (1) why this is happening, (2) what we can do to stop it, and (3) how we as seniors, in this season of life, continue to make an impact on all generations for GOD'S GLORY!

Synergy 2025 - Planting a Church in Ohio

Are you ready to learn more about planting a church in Ohio? This session is for planters, parent churches, and anyone who wants to discover more about the church planting process. It will give you information about resources, training, conferences, best practices and provide you the opportunity to ask questions.

 

Tom Baxter
Assistant Church Multiplication Director

and Men's Ministry Director, Ohio Ministry Network

Synergy 2025 - A Tale of Two Gods: Reconciling the Jesus of the New Testament with the God of the Old

How can a humble, compassionate, forgiving Jesus say, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father,” yet the Father of the Old Testament seems to be a pro-slavery, jealous, genocidal, misogynistic God? This is a legitimate question with a legitimate answer. In this session, we will explore this topic equipping you and the leaders in your church to respond to this question with confidence.

Steve Brannan
Great Lakes Regional Director, Chi Alpha

Synergy 2024 - Social Media Roundtable: Creating Content, Current Trends, & More

Ask questions about current trends, best practices, and get clarity as you start or grow your social media presence.

 

Tara Zimmer, Communications Director, Ohio Ministry Network

Courtney Jones, Owner/Designer, Little Creative Company

DeAndre Patrick, Youth/Young Adults Pastor, Calvary Assembly of God

Derrick Smith, Creative Pastor, Simple Church

Jackie Kibby, Media & Communications Director, Faith Church, Sandusky

Synergy 2025 - Building & Empowering Youth Ministry Teams

Learn practical ways to identify, train, and empower leaders in your church for
youth ministry.

 

Ron Bolden
New Life Community Church, NextGen Pastor

Synergy 2025 - Strengthening Families: Keeping Kids Out of Foster Care

Learn about My Village Ministry and CarePortal which are resources that can help your church minister to fragile families and provide support so children don't end up in foster care.

 

Aaron Earlywine

CarePortal, Area Director for Ohio

 

Phil Krause

My Village Ministries, Co-Director

Synergy 2025 - Ministering to the Whole Person as an International Church

How do international churches position themselves to effectively make disciples amongst their own people group as well as their neighbor? How can pastors of International churches effectively care for the many needs of 1st generation immigrants? Learn best practices for ministering to the whole person and whole world.

 

Petros Yefru

Peoples Church, 220 William Taft Rd

Synergy 2025 - The Why & How of Foster Care Ministry

Learn why we should be involved in foster care ministry, what is involved in it, and how to start it.

 

Paris Yanno

OMN Father's Heart, Director of Father's Heart

Synergy 2025 - Raising a Missional Generation

How can we cultivate a heart for missions in our entire family? This session will explore practical ways to engage your whole family in missions, whether through prayer, giving, or going. From BGMC (Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge) and Speed the Light to family missions trips, we will discover how to inspire a shared passion for reaching the world with the Gospel. Learn how to foster a missional mindset in every family member and create meaningful opportunities to serve together. You'll leave equipped with ideas for praying as a family, supporting global missions, and incorporating missions into everyday life. Let's raise a generation of families with a heart for missions!

 

Stacy Petty, Ohio Ministry Network, Ohio Missions Director

Lynna Mooney, Lima First Church, Children's Pastor

Matt Sullivan, Radiant Life Church, Youth & Missions Pastor