2025 Workshops

Presenters: Joe Williquette and Joseph Rukavina

This workshop will explore the strategic ministry needs required for the rural church to impact future generations. To reach the church of tomorrow you need to develop a strategy, a team, and a vision that can be clearly seen, maintained and passed on. Come learn how your church can impact your community for years to come and avoid ministry drift. We will also look at strategies to encourage and build unity and mission within the church.

Presenter: Bruce Dick

Sharing the gospel raises fear within the 90% not gifted in evangelism. But we are called to do it. What does this mean for our friends and neighbors in rural areas who don’t yet know Jesus personally? For individuals and churches looking to become intentional in building real friendships to share Christ, what shifts are required to help people live as effective witnesses in their daily lives.

Presenter: Chaplain Glen Bloomstrom

Suicide is a challenging social issue in ministry. It is filled with stigma and beliefs about people with suicidal thoughts. This session will introduce essentials for suicide prevention, to increase awareness on how to recognize invitations to ask about suicide, know what to do if a person says “yes”, responding in the aftermath of a suicide or suicide attempt, conducting suicide funerals, and supporting parishioners as they process their own suicide grief. This is an important topic in rural ministry where suicide rates are 2 to 3.5 times higher than in urban areas.

Presenter: Brian A. Thorstad

This workshop will explore the need for church revitalization and God’s desire to participate in it. In addition, bottom-line essentials for revitalization will be highlighted along with strategies that churches can employ in their pursuit of greater health and missional vitality. Come discover how God may be preparing your congregation with the possibility of God breathing new life into your church for the sake of His Kingdom in your community.

Presenter: Chanda Winkels

In this presentation you will be exposed to Gen Alpha kids. Who is Gen Alpha? What relational challenges come with this generation of kids? How can faith best be integrated into the discipleship of this generation through church and home? How can we be thoughtful and relevant as we serve today’s kids?

Come for encouragement! We will also spend time in small groups sharing kid ministry wins and challenges. The session will conclude with shared prayer for one another.

Presenter: Dr. Ryan O’Leary

This workshop will consist of three parts: 1) a look at historical/present day challenges of First Peoples groups in North America and consider such challenges in light of Biblical truth. 2) consider the present context related to First Peoples groups and how they can overcome historical trauma and live triumphantly through Christ, and 3) discuss the missional future of First Peoples groups related to our own Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria’s.

Presenter: Rev. Dr. Mary Hendrickson

What do math and leadership have in common? What types of leaders ADD to the effectiveness of the church, and what types of leaders SUBTRACT? How do you MULTIPLY leaders in the church? Finally, how do toxic leaders DIVIDE the church? See, leadership is all about math! This workshop experience is about effective leadership, as well as how to develop leaders in your church.

Presenter: F. Remy Diederich

This workshop will examine the causes of stress in congregational ministry - some you might not expect - and offer practical and challenging advice to help pastors/leaders find rest in their work. Pastor/leader participation in the discussion will be encouraged.

Presenter: Paul Klassen

In this space we will take a close and honest look at the state of pornography in the church. We will see how we’re addressing it (or not addressing it), what are best practices and what our greatest needs are. We will consider addressing porn as a discipleship issue to walk through, not just a sin issue to get through.