Equip Conference
The Equip conference is a two-day series of events designed to empower Christians to grow and strengthen their local congregations. Equip will feature church leaders from Nebraska, Tennessee and Texas. Equip derives its name from Ephesians 4:12, “...to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up..”
Date: March 11-12, 2024
Theme: Hope for Churches
Theme Verse: “I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2)
Time: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. (See 2024 Schedule)
Location: York University
Registration Fee: $50 (covers breakfast, lunch and resources)
Ides of March Dinner Ticket: $25
Keynote Speaker: Scott Lambert
Scott Lambert
Scott is Co-Founder of The Conversation Group, an organization that mentors leaders to courageously transform their slice of God's world. Scott's career includes Executive Director of Let's Start Talking; Co-Founder and Network Director for Kairos Church Planting; and Campus Minister at Pepperdine University. Scott, and his wife Kim reside in North Richland Hills, TX. They have three married children and four grandchildren. Scott graduated from York College (AA 1979) and Pepperdine University (BA in Communications 1985; MA in Ministry 1990).
“...to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up..."- Eph. 4:12
2024 Schedule
10:00–10:30 The Well (York University’s Chapel)
10:45–11:45 Hope For Churches Panel Discussion
- Moderator: Garrett Best
Panelists: Carlus Gupton, Scott Lambert, Justus Coppinger, Kendall Fike
11:45–12:45 Lunch
- Breakout Lunch Sponsored by Hope Network Ministries with Grady King: “Help, We Need a Preacher! Facing Reality and Exploring Possibilities”
1:00–2:00 Breakout Session 1
- Student Lecture: Simeon Tremaine (Men’s Chaplain Chi Rho) and Reagan Branum (Women’s Chaplain Chi Rho)
- Carlus Gupton, “Healthy Church Leadership Pt 1: Perspective”
- Mike Case, “Paul as a Resource for Ministry in the Thessalonian Letters”
- Marvin Bryant, “Jesus’ Strategy for Reaching a Broken World”
2:00–3:30 Dedication of the John Clayton Library with snacks/coffee reception.
3:45–4:45 Breakout Session 2
- Carlus Gupton, “Healthy Church Leadership Pt. 2: Practice”
- Lance Hawley, “Wisdom in the Old Testament”
- Brent Johnson, “The Storied Community: The Word Became Flesh and Moved into the Neighborhood”
- Kevin Knight, “All in the Family: How Every Generation Can Assist the Spiritual Formation of Teens and Young Adults”
5:00-6:30 Dinner hosted by York University President Sam Smith
7:00 Musical Event with Sean Algaier
7:30–8:25 Breakfast
8:30–9:00 Morning Worship
9:00–9:45 Keynote: Scott Lambert, “Hope for Churches”
10:00–10:30 The Well (York University’s Chapel)
10:45–11:45 Breakout Session 3
- Carlus Gupton, “Hope for Small Churches Pt. 1: Unique Characteristics of Small Churches”
- Lance Hawley, “Book of Job Pt. 1: Testing God and Job in Job 1–2”
- Jeff Hill, “Getting Past Guilt”
- Kendall Fike, “Practicing Intergenerational Faith Formation in the Local Church”
11:45–12:45 Lunch
- Breakout Lunch Sponsored by Hope Network Ministries with Grady King: “Will the Church be the Church?”
1:00–2:00 Breakout Session 4
- Carlus Gupton, “Hope for Small Churches Pt. 2: Strategies”
- Lance Hawley, “Book of Job Pt. 2: Faithful Protest in Job 3–37”
- Darrel Sears, “A Gentle Whisper: Engaging and Equipping the Church in the Battle Against Minister Burnout”
- Trevon Buchanan, “James: A Book of Practical Wisdom”
2:00–2:30 Coffee and Snacks
2:45–3:45 Breakout Session 5
- Carlus Gupton, “Hope for Small Churches Pt. 3: Strategies”
- Lance Hawley, “Book of Job Pt. 3: Meeting God in the Whirlwind: Job 38–42”
- Glenn Dallmann, “What My Cancer Journey Has Taught Me About Ministering to People in Pain"
- John Telgren, “Junk Wisdom vs. Godly Foolishness: Acquiring Inaccessible Wisdom that Builds a Faithful and Effective Church (1 Corinthians 1–4)”
4:00–5:30 Clayton Museum of Ancient History Open (guided tour with Garrett Best and Lance Hawley)
6:00–8:00 Ides of March Dinner (Lance Hawley: “Echoes of the Gilgamesh Tablets in Genesis”)