2026 IBSA
ANNUAL MEETING

WOMEN: Insider’s Exclusive…. Arrive early and get an insider’s update on what is happening in the Illinois Baptist Women Community. There’s a special takeaway waiting for you!

From Drift to Discipleship – Practical Tips to Re-engage Women in the Local Church –

Speaker: Jill Finley, Director of Women’s Ministry/Director of Administration – Bethel Baptist Church, Troy

Women don’t always make a conscious decision to disengage from church life. Often, life transitions, busy schedules, and a lack of meaningful connection can gradually lead to drift. This breakout will explore why women may be disconnecting and offer practical strategies for strengthening relationships, increasing Bible engagement, and creating discipleship environments where women feel known, connected, and challenged to grow.

How to Have Local Impact

Speaker: Eric Marquez

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How to look at your community and help create momentum to reach your community for the gospel

Partnering with the International Mission Board

Speakers: Lane Jones and Chris Martin, IMB staff

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Learn how your church can connect with our missionaries around the world.

You Can’t Lead Alone

Speaker: Jason “Bubba” Stewart, Worship & Music Ministry Consultant, Kentucky Baptist Convention

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Many churches don’t struggle with heart—they struggle with help. In this session, we’ll talk about how to identify, recruit, and develop worship leaders and team members—even when resources are limited. You’ll learn how to cultivate a pipeline of leaders, create a culture of ownership, and build a team that lasts beyond you.

Designing the Handoff: The Healthy Transition Between Kids and Student Ministry

Speaker: Matt Flanagan, Children & Student Ministry Consultant, Kentucky Baptist Convention

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One of the earliest , and most overlooked ,  exit points in the church’s NextGen discipleship is the transition from children’s ministry to student ministry. In this breakout, leaders will explore how to design and align a healthy, relational handoff that involves children’s ministry, student ministry, parents, and volunteers working toward shared discipleship outcomes. Drawing from ministry experience and research, this session will help leaders move beyond a simple “graduation moment” toward a thoughtful, shepherded transition process.

Shepherding the Shepherd: Caring for Your Soul in Ministry

Speaker: Jared Pryer, LCPC, Pathways Counseling Therapist

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Ministry leaders spend much of their lives caring for the spiritual and emotional needs of others, but how are they allowing the Lord and other trusted believers to shepherd their souls? What are boundaries to soul care for those in ministry? This session will explore practical and biblical ways ministry leaders can cultivate the care of their own souls, recognize signs of spiritual and emotional depletion, and cultivate a healthy, sustainable life of ministry.

Bringing Jesus into the Conversation

Speaker: Dr. Jeff Iorg, SBC Executive Director

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Sometimes, it is hard to know when and how to introduce the gospel into daily conversation – particularly with people we interface with often in work or social settings.  This seminar focuses on a practical strategy to initiate more frequent and more effective gospel conversations on those contexts.

Tune Up Your Teaching: Practical Ways to go from Good to Great

Speaker: Ken Braddy, Lifeway Director of Sunday School & Strategic Partnerships

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What if a few small adjustments could dramatically increase participation, discussion, and life change in your group? In this session, you’ll discover 10 game-changing teaching strategies used by effective Bible study leaders. Learn how to read the room, adapt on the fly, draw quieter members into the conversation, and create engaging learning experiences that keep people coming back week after week.

Beyond the Campus: Every Church’s Role in Reaching College Students

Speaker: Daniel Good

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Every local church—regardless of size or location—has a role to play in reaching college students across our state. We’ll unpack strategic ways your congregation can join the mission, equipping you with hands-on evangelism tools to reach college students in your community. The harvest is plentiful; will you answer the call?

Disaster Relief 101

Speaker: Glen and Sharon Carty, IL Baptist Disaster Relief Training Coordinators

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Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief offers hope, healing, and help through sharing the Gospel and offering assistance during people’s time of crisis.  The first step in becoming a Disaster Relief volunteer is to take DR 101.  This is an introductory class providing the basic information needed to respond to a disaster callout.  This information is both spiritual and practical.  Once an individual has completed this class, passed a background check, and paid a $50.00 three-year membership, they are qualified to go on a callout.  Also, after completing this class, they may continue their DR training with other concentrated classes that are offered during the year.

No Sweat Evangelism

Speaker: Mark Emerson, IBSA Associate Executive Director

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In this breakout session, you will be introduced to a practical and approachable witness training process designed for every believer. Whether you’re naturally outgoing or more reserved, experienced in sharing your faith or just getting started, you’ll discover simple, effective ways to engage others with the gospel. Learn how to equip and inspire your church to become confident, faithful witnesses for Christ.

Endurance: Leading for the Long Haul

Speaker: Dr. Jeff Iorg, SBC Executive Director

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Longevity in leadership is both a challenge and a goal.  Younger leaders can establish life patterns that contribute to sustained leadership.  This seminar is based on a thorough study of the New Testament concept of endurance and applied to Christian leadership contexts today.

Small Church, Strong Worship: Leading Well with What You Have

Speaker: Jason “Bubba” Stewart, Worship & Music Ministry Consultant, Kentucky Baptist Convention

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You don’t need a large band or big budget to lead meaningful worship. This session focuses on helping smaller churches maximize their people, plan with purpose, and create authentic, engaging worship experiences. Learn practical strategies to lead with confidence, steward your resources well, and strengthen congregational participation.

One Minister, Many Hats: How to Manage Multiple Roles

Speaker: Matt Flanagan, Children & Student Ministry Consultant, Kentucky Baptist Convention

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Most ministry leaders aren’t just leading one thing anymore. You’re planning events, teaching lessons, managing volunteers, answering parent texts, running social media, handling budgets, setting up chairs, the list goes on!  This breakout is designed for leaders carrying broad responsibility with limited time, energy, and support. You’ll learn practical systems for prioritizing what matters most, organizing your week, delegating effectively, and building sustainable rhythms that keep you from constantly living in survival mode. If you’ve ever felt stretched thin, scattered, or exhausted by the pace of ministry, this session is for you.

Calling Out the Called – Raising Up the Next Generation of Ministry Leaders

Speaker: Rob Millman, Follow the Call Ministries

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This session will provide ministry leaders with practical tools to identify, encourage and mentor emerging leaders.  We will provide a framework to walk alongside and shepherd men in multiple generations within your church and work together with leaders in your association to implement 2 Timothy 2:2 as a ministry lifestyle.

The Great Commission and Child Protection: Why it Matters

Speaker: Jeff Dalrymple, Director of Abuse Prevention & Response, SBC Executive Committee

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Child safety and abuse prevention are issues of Great Commission significance. If our goal is to make disciples, we must also be good stewards of the precious resources that God has entrusted to us, especially vulnerable image-bearers. Unfortunately, abuse is a problem in our culture from which the church is not exempt. The good news is that there are steps that ministry leaders can take to protect children under their care. In this session, we will cover the basics of creating a child protection program at your church including appropriate screening measures, children’s worker training, and response plans. Creating a child protection program can feel like a daunting task, but ministry leaders should leave this session with resources and simple, actionable steps to get started.

You Can’t Take it With, But you Can Send it Ahead!

Speaker: Doug Morrow, BFI Executive Director

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How adopting a Life Stewardship ethic changes your financial health and the wellness of your congregation. We’ll give some practical resources for teaching Biblical Financial Management — even within a multi-generational church — and include the critical elements of Christian Estate Planning.  We’ll also hear from a current Illinois Baptist pastor where this emphasis has been embraced.

What is Compassion Ministry and How Do We Identify Needs

Speaker: Q Mahmud, Director Send Relief, Chicago

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Why is the church commanded to be compassionate for the sake of the Gospel, and how do we know if we are doing ministry that addresses the needs in our community and context, and if they are effective and worth pursuing.

Meant for the Mission

Speaker: Sandy Wisdom Martin, WMU Executive Director

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God intentionally created every believer with unique experiences, gifts and opportunities to take their place in His mission. Through stories, interviews, conversation and practical reflection, participants will discover how ordinary faithfulness can make extraordinary Kingdom impact.

How to Ask Great Questions and Lead Engaging Discussion

Speaker: Ken Braddy, Lifeway Director of Sunday School & Strategic Partnerships

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Great Bible study discussions don’t happen by accident. They happen when leaders know how to ask the right questions at the right time. In this practical breakout, you’ll discover the art and science behind questions that spark conversation, deepen insight, and encourage participation. Learn how to avoid discussion-killing questions, engage quieter members, and guide conversations that lead to genuine spiritual growth. If you’ve ever asked a question and been met with silence, this session is for you.