We’re excited to announce that the online “call for speakers” application is now open for our February 2010 national conference in Dallas. The gathering features more than 30 education sessions, led by church leaders and professionals much like you.

Our strong education platform brings together a diverse group of teachers and topics. Last year, we welcomed author/visionaries including Leonard Sweet and Will Mancini and pastors Larry Osborne and John Bishop.

We’re looking for speakers who are avid troubleshooters, passionate lovers of the Body of Christ, cultural diagnosticians, if you will. Those who aren’t afraid to re-examine traditional models based on fresh methodologies, or try something new – even if it means failing. In a nutshell, if you love the Church and have revelation to share regarding its vibrancy and future, this is your chance.

Some sessions will touch on familiar topics such as finances, legal matters, human resources, change, technology, facilities and volunteer programs. But the sessions that will really capture our attention are the hot topics not commonly discussed at traditional church conferences. For instance, what do you do when your church is operating without an articulated vision? Is it important to market to every generation, and how is it done well? When is it time to bring a change agent onto your leadership team? When is it time to move such a leader out?

If you have a teaching gift and think well on your feet (all sessions have an interactive Q&A component), we encourage you to apply. The opportunity is available through July 15, 2009. Give me a holler if you want to bounce some ideas around; I’d be happy to help you narrow in on the topic I feel has the best chance of standing out to our selection committee.

God bless,

Karen

They say you shouldn’t mess with Texas, so we figured it was the perfect no-nonsense place to hold our third annual Church Solutions Conference & Expo.

In its first two years, the conference was held in downtown Phoenix. But this year when we surveyed the church community, many respondents asked us to bring the show to the midsection of the country in 2010. The Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, will play host for the event, scheduled Feb. 16-18.

Known for its strong education platform, the conference will feature keynote presentations, an exhibit hall and more than 30 interactive learning sessions led by some of the church world’s most gifted leaders. Past teachers have included Pastor Larry Osborne, Leonard Sweet, Pastor John Bishop and Will Mancini.

The conference welcomes new and well-seasoned church leaders for a time of shared learning opportunities. “I have been in the ministry for 30 years and have both attended and planned numerous conferences,” says Mike Osborne, administrative pastor of Colonial Heights Baptist Church and 2009 conference attendee. “From a practical and encouraging standpoint, the Church Solutions Conference was, without a doubt, the best and most helpful conference I have attended.”

More details will be available in the coming months, including an open call for speakers. Applications will be accepted from June 15 to July 15. For more information, visit www.churchsolutionsconference.com.

As we head into the summer, conference-planning for February’s Expo has taken center stage here at Church Solutions. In the next few months, you can expect to see more information about the event, including our call for speakers. It will specify what you need to do to apply, as well as the types of sessions we’re looking for – and we’re always open to new ideas! The application window will be open from June 15 to July 15.

Stay tuned for more details!