By M.N Fields
This year’s conference, inspired by Isaiah 40:31, will focus on the theme “Renewed to Serve.” Dr. Anessa Westbrook, Co-Director of the Equip Conference and Co-Executive Director of the Kite Center for Ministry, spoke on the reasoning behind the theme of the conference, “We have a lot of people coming in that are needing to be encouraged and refreshed because they are active in their churches.”
During each breakout session, Dr. Scott Laird, Co-Executive Director of the Kite Center for Ministry, will hold a Leadership Seminar. Other breakout sessions will be led by Michelle J. Goff, Dr. Kevin Youngblood, Sarah Renfro, Marvin Bryant, Michelle Ming, Craig Ford, Brent Johnson, and Dr. Darrel Sears. Morning worship will once again be led by Stephen Maxwell.
Attendees of the conference can anticipate many special events on Monday and Tuesday. Monday promises a keynote by Josh Ross, a church planting panel moderated by Mike Cope, and a dinner hosted by Center for Ministry Outreach at Pepperdine University, followed by trivia night with Jason Hawkins. Tuesday begins with an optional breakfast meeting with Dr. Clark Roush introducing his Spiritual Direction Ministry, the Clayton Lecture by Dr. Kevin Youngblood and wraps up with a keynote by Bruce Goodwin.
Dr. Darrel Sears, Co-Director of the Equip Conference and Chair and Associate Professor
of the Bible and Ministry Department at York University, said that he likes Equip
“because it is the conference built for small churches. This conference is a time
to take a step back from pouring into others, and be poured into."
Registration for the 2027 Equip Conference will start December 1. Visit york.edu/equip for more information.