There will be three rounds of workshops. Each workshop will be an hour. The first will be for the whole assembly in the sanctuary from 2:00 pm - 3:00 PM. Rev. Ronny Nowell will present: Not If, But WHEN!

The second round of workshops will from 3:15 pm - 4:15 PM.

The final round of workshops will be from 4:30 -5:30 PM.

Note: Make sure to select the workshops of your interest for rounds two and three when registering so that we may adequately plan for space.

All Assembly Workshop

Not If, But WHEN!

Is your congregation prepared for not if, but WHEN a disaster hits your community? The church is uniquely positioned to serve in the difficult times after a disaster, offering help and hope in ways other organizations simply cannot.   This workshop will look at simple and practical things every church should do to be prepared and help its congregants be prepared for when disaster hits.

Rev. Ronny Nowell, Disaster Relief Coordinator for the Great River Region

Rev. Ronny Nowell has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and his Masters of Divinity from Brite at TCU. He was ordained in 1995. Ronny spent the first 29 years of his ministry focused on youth ministry. He has always had a passion for mission work and has planned, organized, and led trips all over the U.S. and to Mexico. Ronny came on staff with the Great River Region on March 1, 2024, as our new Regional Disaster Response Coordinator in partnership with Week of Compassion. Ronny continues to follow his passion of serving God, the Church, and people in need.

Road to ReMission

It’s no secret that our society and the Church are in a season of rapid and dynamic reformation. What is a secret is how the Church evolves (reforms) in this season so we can continue to bring healing and wholeness to our fragmented world.

Jesus said the primary way folks will be able to identify his followers is how they love. That begs the question: Is it that easy? Really? Do we simply "Just Love" people? We've been exploring that question for the past five years. We think it's not just the answer but the framework for how we can bring real and lasting transformation to folks, both inside and outside of the Church and to the Church itself.

Rev. Sam Hubbard, Just Love Your Neighbor and First Christian Church, Hammond

(M.Div, ATS, 2019) is the Movement Maker for Just Love Your Neighbor - Greater New Orleans. Sam 25-years experience in both the for-profit and non-profit business communities. Sam has launched and coached several businesses and churches and has a passion for reaching new people, in new places, in new ways. Sam, with partner Morgan, love experiencing new places and cultures, seeing God's thumbprints every where and in every one.

Rev. Zac Ritchie, Just Love Your Neighbor 

(M.Div, NOBTS 2012) is the Lead Visionary for Just Love Your Neighbor - Northshore in Louisiana. Zac is a board-certified chaplain with over a decade of experience in healthcare chaplaincy and former Pastor of Madisonville Presbyterian Church in Madisonville, La. Zac is married to Tiffany and they have three boys (Ezra, Levi, and Soren).

Finding the Sacred in the Everyday

Just as the shoes we wear keep us from feeling the ground, the world we live in produces inattention and distraction. The antidote to inattention and distraction is spiritual practice,  something done with regularity and intention. Spiritual practice doesn't have to mean doing yoga or praying the rosary, or any of the other ways people think of when they think of spiritual practice. A spiritual practice could be cooking, running, gardening, crocheting, or creating art. This workshop explores how to create the mindset to turn those activities into spiritual practice.

Carol Madere, First Christian Church, Baton Rouge, LA

Carol Madere, Ph.D., a member of First Christian Church in Baton Rouge and a lifelong Disciple, invites you to explore pathways to a deeper spirituality by connecting with the world around us, the environment in which we already live, in a different way.

Investing in Our Future Story

Explore ways that you can leave a legacy to the Congregation or Region where you came to know Christ. Learn how you can easily set up your accounts with the Christian Church Foundation. 

Rev. Dr. Bobby Hawley

Rev. Dr. Bobby Hawley is vice president of the Foundation’s South Central zone, which includes Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. He joined the staff of the Foundation in 1998.

A former congregational pastor, Bobby received his Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Texas Christian University, his Master of Divinity from Brite Divinity School, and his Doctor of Ministry from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He received his Certified Specialist in Planned Giving designation from California State University.

Bobby and his wife, Diane, are active members of University Christian Church in Fort Worth, where his office is located. They are the parents of three adult children.

Bobby can be reached at bhawley@ccf.disciples.org or at Office: (817) 923-0422; Cell: (817) 296-5218.

Vision/Mission - Round 2

Why a Church MUST Have a Vision and Mission 

Scripture: Book of Nehemiah

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"Evangelism" - Round 3

Not a Dirty Word!

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Rev. Vanessa Bostick

Vanessa is a Proud Texas Pastor who serves our Lord as Senior Minister at First Christian Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. Rev. Vanessa received her MDIV from Phillips Theological Seminary and her post-grad in Grieve Recovery. Her Passions are evangelism and Women’s Ministry!

Calamity, Catastrophe and Covid … Oh, my.

Are you a Master of Disaster?  Do you find that no matter the situation facing your church, you know exactly what to do? If so, that’s amazing and more than a little unbelievable. However, if you’re anything like the rest of us, mere mortals, it seems like there are new challenges popping up that you and your board have to deal with on the regular and you don’t always know where to start. Please join us as we talk about how best to prepare for and navigate the unexpected. 

Pam Jones, First Christian Church, Baton Rouge, LA

Pam Jones has been a member of First Christian Church of Baton Rouge (DOC) since 1998 and has served in a variety of positions and on various committees over the years. Most recently she held a position on the Board for five consecutive years - two as Vice Chair and three as Board Chair. During that time, FCCBR experienced the pandemic and introducing a live stream program, loss of both the minister and the church office admin, impact of Hurricane Ida, the search process and hiring of another minister as well as all the day-to-day things that pop up along the way. During this tumultuous but ultimately rewarding period, bonds were forged and insights were gained … not to mention more than a few grey hairs. But hey, that’s just providing a reason to be more colorful.

Retirement Readiness

Whether you are a seminarian, an active pastor, or a retired pastor, Pension Fund is ready to make sure you have a strong, smart, and secure retirement. We will cover all the programs and accounts Pension Fund provides in addition to our Ministerial Relief and Assistance programs.

Rev. Matt Shears, Area Director, Pension Fund

Rev. Matt Shears is a Disciples of Christ pastor who lives on his family’s farm in NC with his wife, Lauren, and son, Henry. He serves as the Pension Fund of the Christian Church Area Director for multiple regions, including the Great River Region. In addition to his work at Pension Fund, he has served in ministry in Tennessee and Indiana.

Property and Liability Insurance & Best Practices

Join the Insurance Board for an essential workshop tailored for congregations seeking to protect their community, assets, and mission against potential disasters. As we face an increasing number of natural and man-made threats, it’s vital for houses of worship to have a comprehensive understanding of their insurance needs.

Jennifer R. Perri, CIC, CISR

Jennifer R. Perri, CIC, CISR, is the Assistant Vice President for United Church Insurance Services (UCIS), the in-house agency of the Insurance Board. Jenn has been on staff since October 2009.

Jennifer leads all aspects of the IB’s internal agency, United Church Insurance Services (UCIS) delivering service, risk management guidance and education to IB participants and prospects. She is also responsible for planning and implementing new business strategies, and developing new accounts within territories that do not have local representation.

Jennifer earned a bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University in business administration with a specialization in marketing. She holds a Property & Casualty Insurance license as well as the Certified Insurance Service Representative and Certified Insurance Counselor designations. Jennifer is in the process of completing the Certified Risk Manager (CRM) designation as well. She is a member of The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research Society of CISR.