W O R K S H O P S
Thursday June 25 at 2:30 p.m. EST
Bricks and Mortals Emily Hull McGee, Chris Gambill
Emily Hull McGee is pastor of First Baptist Church on Fifth in Winston-Salem, N.C. Chris Gambill is the Director of the Center for Congregational Health in Winston-Salem, N.C. and a member of First Baptist Church on Fifth.
Is your church grappling with facilities burdening bold vision for the road ahead? Hear reflections from leaders of FBC Winston-Salem on their significant reduction in the building’s footprint so as to ensure future sustainability for its ministries. The story of one church creating nimble, flexible space through which to cultivate beloved community will encourage participants to reimagine their own.
Engaging bold conversations in challenging times Rev. Beth Kennett
Beth Kennett serves as Coach and Consultant for the Center for Congregational Health in Winston-Salem, N.C. The division in our country is heartbreaking. Society, politics, culture and many churches are divided. Join Beth as she offers practices to help in creating compassionate conversations and participants will leave with concrete tools in how to structure healthy conversations.
Laughter is Contagious, too! Susan Sparks
Susan Sparks is the senior pastor Madison Avenue Baptist Church in New York City, N.Y. as well as a professional comedian, award-winning nationally syndicated columnist, and the author of three books. Laughter reduces the effects of stress, promotes physical healing, alters our perspectives, defuses negativity and conflict, and bridges human differences. Join Baptist preacher and comedian Rev. Susan Sparks to learn how to change the world – your world – one smile at a time.
One Church's Journey Towards Racial Justice Preston Clegg, Jeremy and Shantell Hill
Preston Clegg is pastor of Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark. Jeremy and Shantell Hill serve together as the co/Minister of Young Adults at Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark. Second Baptist Church in Downtown Little Rock has a long history of striving for racial justice. Of late, the congregation has taken more creative and public approaches towards creating a justice -oriented congregation.
Respecting Religion in the Supreme Court, Congress and White House Holly Hollman, Amanda Tyler, Jennifer Hawks
Jennifer Hawks is the BJC Associate General Counsel. Holly Hollman is the BJC General Counsel and Associate Executive Director, and Amanda Tyler is the BJC Executive Director. BJC staff members discuss recent religious liberty developments, including opportunities for engagement. They examine current Supreme Court cases that impact faith freedom for all, including those addressing employment law and limits on government funding of religion.
Rural America: Right Next Door Stephanie Vance, Jason Coker, Keith Stillwell, Rachel Gunter Shapard, L. Nicole Stringfellow
Stephanie Vance is the Together for Hope National Manager and the Area Coordinator for the Rural/Urban Americas Team for CBF Global Missions and lives in Athens, Ala. Keith Stillwell is the Together For Hope Regional Vice President, Appalachia and lives in Danville, Ky. Rachel Gunter Shapard serves as the Together for Hope Regional Vice President for the Black Belt, is a co-founder of Pastors for Florida Children and lives in Jacksonville, Fla. Jason Coker serves as Field Coordinator for CBF Mississippi and as National Director of Together for Hope. Jason lives in Jackson, Miss. L. Nicole Stringfellow serves as the Together for Hope Regional Vice President for the Delta Region in Cleveland, Miss. Together for Hope staff talk about the expanding coalition and the work of practitioners in rural America. Learn how you can engage rural communities near you.
CBF Field Personnel – Being the Presence of Christ
Educational Advocacy for Migrant and Minority Children in Asia Pacific Kirk Persons
CBF field personnel Kirk and Suzie have served in translation, literacy and education projects in Asia since their 1995 appointment by CBF. Did you know that 617 million children will never become literate—many because they do not understand the school language? In this workshop, learn how faith-based groups, UN agencies and governments are working to include minority and migrant children’s languages at school.Harvesting Fruits of Bold Faith Seeds Gennady & Mina Podgaisky
CBF field personnel Gennady and Mina Podgaisky have been serving in Kyiv, Ukraine since their 2002 appointment by CBF. As the quarantine has changed all of lives in various ways, there are still positive outcomes. Hear from CBF field personnel serving in Ukraine who are reaping fruits of bold faith that were sowed in their home Bible study group and their counseling ministry for the past few years.
Thursday June 25 at 4:00 p.m. EST
Faith Based Advocacy for Public Education Sharon Felton, Rachel Gunter Shapard
Rev. Sharon Felton is the Coordinator of Pastors for Kentucky Children and the Student Minister at Faith Baptist Church in Georgetown, Ky. Rachel Gunter Shapard serves as the Together for Hope Regional Vice President for the Black Belt, is a co-founder of Pastors for Florida Children and lives in Jacksonville, Fla.
Pastors for Children are ministries that serve neighborhood public schools through prayer, service and advocacy. They support public schools by initiating school partnerships with local congregations and advancing pro-public schools legislation that puts the needs of children first. Learn how you can be a part of this network to advocate for public education.
Mercy: A Conversation with Imam Imad Enchassi Mitch Randall and Imam Imad Enchassi
Imam Imad Enchassi is the senior imam at the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, Okla. Mitch Randall is the CEO of Good Faith Media and lives in Norman, Okla. Imam Imad Enchassi will join Mitch Randall to discuss how his life, ministry and commitment to interfaith engagement have been shaped by the kindness, compassion and mercy of a Catholic nun in Beirut who cared for him as a child.
Preaching During a Pandemic: A COVID-19 Shaped Sermon Outline Brett Younger
Brett Younger is the Senior Minister of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, N.Y. How should preachers address the pandemic? How do we admit despair while offering hope? How do we proclaim good news during a pandemic? In this workshop we will discuss a modest proposal and share our questions.
Racial Justice: Moving from Conversation to Action Kim Brown
Kimberly Freeman Brown is a transformational change consultant who specializes in working with organizations across the country on racial equity, inclusion and justice.
Six Spiritual Practices for Forming Bold Faith Blake Kendrick
Blake Kendrick is the Minister for Adult Discipleship at Providence Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C., as well a member of the national Leadership Team and a Regional Mentor for the Upper Room Academy for Spiritual Formation. How do we partner with God in creating a life that sustains us through the highs and lows of everyday living? This workshop will explore six spiritual practices for times like these: 1) Be Still, 2) Marvel, 3) Say “no”, 4) Say “yes”, 5) Play, and 6) Give it away.
Three Keys to Embrace the Gifts of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Forming Bold Faith in Changing Times Dr. Elizabeth Tamez Mendez
Elizabeth Tamez Mendes is the founder and director of New Generation3 in Atlanta, Ga. This workshop examines our personal and congregational commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Explore three keys towards putting our faith in action in becoming a more inclusive community of diverse individuals with equality of voice.
CBF Field Personnel – Being the Presence of Christ
Being the Presence of Christ in Miami, Florida Angel Pittman
CBF field personnel Angel Pittman serves as Vice-President with CBF Legacy Partner Touching Miami with Love. Join Angel Pittman as she shares an update of Touching Miami with Love (TML), advocacy, and her work as CBF field personnel. TML celebrates 25 years of being the presence of Christ in the community.The CBF Global Missions Story Sam Harrell
Sam Harrell serves as the CBF Associate Coordinator for Global Missions. Sam grew up in Kenya and served there as CBF Field Personnel. Want to know what is going on in the area of Global Missions? Want to learn more about the work of our CBF field personnel? Sam Harrell will share with us an update and personal stories of work, ways to participate in CBF missions, and our Global Service Corp ministry.
Friday, June 26 at 1:15 p.m. EST
The Baptist Future: Is there one? (If so, Bold Faith needed!) Dr. Bill Leonard
Bill J. Leonard, Founding Dean and Professor Emeritus, School of Divinity, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C. This breakout explores the nature of and reasons for religious decline in the US and proposals for responding.
CBF Podcast Presents: International Religious Liberty – Why it Matters and What you can do? Shane McNary, Scott Stearman, Tori Crook, Andy Hale
CBF field personnel Dianne and Shane McNary serve among the Romani people in Slovaki and Czechia since their 2004 appointment by CBF. Shane represents the Baptist World Alliance as permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland with a particular focus on Freedom of Religion or Belief for All (FORB). He is the current chair of the European Baptist Federation’s Freedom and Justice Commission. Scott Stearman is the pastor of Metro Baptist Church of New York, N.Y., and a representative to the United Nations in New York for the Baptist World Alliance and the CBF. Tori Crook is a second-year student at Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Conn., and currently serves with Sowing Seeds of Hope in Perry County, Ala. Andy Hale serves as host of the award-winning CBF Podcast and as senior pastor of University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, La.
Chaplain Response During COVID-19 Pandemic: Finding Ways to Stand in the Gap Will Runyon
CBF-endorsed Chaplain Will Runyon serves as Director of Chaplaincy Services at Phoebe Putney Health System in Albany, Ga. Join Will as he discusses not just offering pastoral care during the COVID crisis but strategies for follow-up after the crisis for both the hospital setting and the church.
Just Food Jason Coker
Jason serves as Field Coordinator for CBF Mississippi and as National Director of Together for Hope. Jason lIves in Jackson, Miss. COVID-19 has functioned as a magnifying glass for so many of our social ills in America. Food insecurity is one of the most dramatic areas that the pandemic has affected. We will look at food justice in rural America. In the most powerful and wealthiest country in the world, why do we have anyone in our country that goes hungry? Well, there are real reasons behind that question. We will explore food access, food costs, and food policy.
Perspectives from the Southern Border: Humanitarian Crisis, Gospel Opportunity Marv Knox, Jorge Zapata, Elaine Hernandez
Marv Knox is coordinator of Fellowship Southwest and a member of Valley Ranch Baptist Church in Coppell, Tex. Elaine Hernandez is regional director of the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty and lives in McAllen, Tex. Jorge Zapata is associate coordinator of CBF of Texas and associate pastor of Iglesia Nuevo Vino in LaFeria, Tex.
The southern border of the United States continues to be a humanitarian crisis. Join CBF leaders on the frontline of this crisis as they examine the push-pull factors prompting refugees to seek asylum in the United States. Encounter the network of pastors who meet refugees’ physical and spiritual needs. Explore possibilities for ongoing ministry on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Racism in the United States: What does this mean for me, a white person? K Scarry
K Scarry is the Community Director of The People’s Supper and a member of First Baptist Church, Herndon, Va. Racial reconciliation is vital. In this affinity space for white clergy, we will build racial awareness of what it means to be white in the United States and explore questions about racial justice. Based off of work that The People’s Supper has done on dialogue across lines of race and ethnicity, here we will dive into what racial inequity really means and what the work of white clergy is in the midst of it.