by Jamie Lynn
SPRINGFIELD, IL – More than 100 Michigan pastors and church leaders headed to Springfield the week of Jan. 18-20 for the 2022 Midwest Leadership Summit. The Summit happens every other year and includes 9 Midwest state conventions and 12 states, Dakotas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas/Nebraska, Michigan, Minnesota/Wisconsin, Missouri, and Ohio. The Leadership Summit always drew 850 participants across the Midwest.
This year was not a disappointment. We were thrilled to have so many of our Michigan church leaders and pastors. The schedule was packed full of amazing speakers during the plenary sessions: Shane Pruitt (NAMB), Ben Mandrell (Lifeway), and Willie McLaurin (SBC Executive Committee). The worship team led as the room overflowed with people singing their hearts out in worship to God. The speakers were open, real and vulnerable as they shared the vision for reaching the Midwest (and the world) with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
A favorite and relevant part of the plenary session is when the Midwest Practitioners speak. These are men who are doing ministry in the Midwest, share their ideas, and tell what is working, and where they are struggling. We heard from Kirk Kirkland, the pastor at Revive City Church in Cincinnati Ohio, David Martinez, Associate Pastor for Spanish Ministries at Northern Heights Baptist Church in Norfolk, Nebraska and Lead Ethnic Church Planting Catalyst for KNCSB and NAMB, and Jeff Mueller, Church Planter at Restore Church, Yankton, South Dakota. After these practitioners shared, there were many people who came up to encourage and pray over them.
There were 72 Breakout sessions. They fell under categories like: Current Issues, Revitalization, Leadership, Ministry Wives, Hispanic Ministries, Church Planting and Evangelism Discipleship. We had 6 session opportunities to attend the Breakout groups that would most help us in our ministries back at our home churches. The training was top notch and inspirational. To watch and listen to many of the sessions at mwadvance.com.
A special time of camaraderie among the Michigan attenders was had as our pastors and church leaders gathered on Tuesday evening after the session for a time of dessert, fellowship, and prayer. It was encouraging to know that these leaders came to the Summit to grow in their ministry skills and be heartened in their work at their church. Thank you to all the Michigan church leaders that came.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jamie Lynn is the Communications Director for the BSCM.