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2023 BCI Annual Meeting
November 3, 2023 @ 12:00 pm - November 4, 2023 @ 1:30 pm
Free
2023 BCI Pastors Conference & Annual Meeting
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd & SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4th • First Family Church, Ankeny
Iowa Southern Baptists will be gathering on November 3rd & 4th for the 2023 BCI Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting is an important opportunity for Iowa church leaders to celebrate what God is doing and partner together to reach more people for Christ.
Pastors Conference & Banquet
(For Pastoral Staff & Spouses)
• FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd
• 12:00pm-7:30pm
• Free for BCI Pastoral Staff
• Registration Required
• Register by Friday, October 27th
BCI ANNUAL MEETING
(For all BCI Church Leaders & Members)
• SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4th
• 8:00am-12:30pm
• Free for Messengers & Guests
• Registration is Required
• Register by Friday, October 27th
Registration & Food Information
• Separate registration is required for both events.
• There is no cost for registration for either event.
• Lunch & Dinner will be provided on Friday for no cost for BCI church staff and their spouses.
• Lunch will be provided on Saturday morning for no cost for all attendees, both Messengers and Guests.
• All other meals will be on your own.
Childcare Information [NEW!]
• Childcare will be provided for children ages 5th grade and under.
• Registration will be required for all children. NOTE: Please register for childcare separately for both events (since not all attendees will attend both events).
• Lunch and Dinner will be provided during the Pastors Conference. Lunch will be provided during the Annual Meeting.
• Deadline to Register for Childcare is October 27th.
Lodging Information
• Lodging will be on your own this year.
• For hotel accommodations, we recommend Holiday Inn Express, 2502 S Hulsizer Rd in Ankeny.
• If your church does not have funds set aside for hotel expenses, financial scholarships are available. Email annualmeeting@bciowa.org for information.
Pastors Conference • Friday, NOVEMBER 3rd
SCHEDULE
12:00 pm – Lunch
1:00 pm – Introduction
2:00 pm – Breakout Session 1
3:30 pm – Breakout Session 2
5:00pm – Reception & Exhibits
6:30 pm – Pastors & Wives Banquet Start
8:00pm – Banquet End
BREAKOUT SESSION 1 • 2:00PM
1-1) Church Websites: Necessary evil, or outreach power tool? — Matt Heerema
- Dealing with your church website is annoying. Keeping it up to date with current information, let alone with technology and design trends feels like a real drain on time and resources. Wouldn’t it be better to just not have one? However, we also know that almost every visitor is going to take a look at your website before stepping foot in your front door. It’s your new lobby, and your first impression. What impression are your sending your community?
- Come hear from a panel of churches who are thinking through this challenge, and share your thoughts and challenges on your situation, and come away with some practical ideas for bolstering this important ministry opportunity.
1-2) Becoming a Multiplying Church — Chase Abner
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Join us for an inspiring and practical breakout session led by Chase Abner, leader of Send Network Iowa. In “Becoming a Multiplying Church,” Chase will discuss the transformative power unleashed when churches commit to multiplying disciples and sending out leaders. You will leave this session with a template for how to multiply your own impact while empowering others to make disciples who make disciples.
1-3) Navigating the Hardships that Face a Pastor’s Wives — Kari Minter [Women Only]
- Note: Thank you for honoring our request for women only to attend this breakout.
- Loneliness, disappointment, and discouragement are just a few of the realities of being a pastor’s wife that many don’t always see or understand. Rarely does a pastor’s wife have a safe environment to meet other women who can understand the role, offer encouragement, and pray with empathy and understanding. This workshop is designed to fill that gap. Join Kari Minter and have an honest conversation in community with other pastor’s wives about the hardships and joys of being a pastor’s wife.
1-4) The Pastor, Church, and Plurality: Pursuing Proper Eldership — Todd Stiles
- NOTE: This cohort requires an advance indication of your interest. Email Todd Stiles no later than October 31st. You’ll receive a confirmation along with a short questionnaire which will be helpful in familiarizing the cohort’s leader with your situation.
- Convene with Pastor Todd to dialogue about the most helpful structure for a pastor’s long-term health: biblical eldership This breakout cohort is for vocational, bi/co-vocational, and non-vocational pastors/elders who deeply desire to discuss and implement its theological and practical aspects, such as vetting, responsibilities, meetings, training, and structure.
BREAKOUT SESSION 2 • 3:30PM
2-1) Developing a Disciple Making Culture in your Youth Ministry or Church – Jonathan Meyer
- With intentionality, strategy and purpose, it took Jesus three years to make disciples. Have you ever wondered what that process looked like? Have you ever considered implementing that in your local context? If you have ever wanted to take literally the words of Jesus to “Make Disciples” join Jonathan and others for this open conversation about the ups and downs of developing a disciple-making culture. Bonus: Yes, we will have free resources. And yes, you will have to opportunity to dialogue with others at the breakout.
Jonathan Meyer is the Founder of Ignite Youth Leadership Conference, local Youth Pastor at Grace Church in Des Moines, and loves to help Youth Workers Gather together for mutual encouragement and accountability.
2-2) Next Steps in Church Planting — Chase Abner
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Every church is a multiplying church in the making. There are ways for every BCI church to be involved in church planting to reach every inch of Iowa—from river to river and from Minnesota to Missouri. In this session, Chase Abner will share about Send Network’s Church Planting Pathway and help you see how you can take your next step in helping missionaries engage new places, make disciples, and plant healthy churches.
2-3) Understanding Your Calling as a Pastor’s Wife — Kari Minter [Women Only]
- Note: Thank you for honoring our request for women only to attend this breakout.
- Ministry can sometimes feel all-consuming, and the pastor’s wife often picks up the pieces and fills in any gaps that need to be covered. But in trying to do everything the church needs, we often lose sight of the calling God has given us. Come join other pastor’s wives as we consider our calling from God, what it looks like to truly forgive those who have hurt us, and how to thrive in the role God has designed.
2-4) Upping Your Game in Local and International Missions — Tim Lubinus
- Join us for an interactive seminar designed specifically for church leaders who are passionate about local and international missions. This breakout session, titled “Upping Your Game in Local and International Missions,” will equip you with practical tools and strategies to enhance your mission efforts. Topics covered will include strategic volunteering and partnerships, missions education and promotion, local missions involvement, recruiting and improving your church giving strategy for missions. Whether you’re looking to expand your impact locally or globally, this seminar will provide valuable insights and resources to help you take your mission work to the next level. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to up your game and make a greater difference in the world!
- This session will be led by Tim Lubinus, Tim served with the International Mission Board (IMB) for six years leading student ministry in South Korea, ten years as team leader in Turkey, and as Missions Pastor at Cornerstone Church in Ames for eight years before starting his position with the Baptist Convention of Iowa.
Annual Meeting • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4th
SCHEDULE
8:00 am – Registration & Exhibitors Open
9:00 am – Annual Meeting Session 1
10:15 am – Break (Coffee, water, snacks)
10:30 am – Annual Meeting Session 2
12:30 pm – Lunch (Take and go lunch boxes)
Messenger or Guest?
There are 2 types of attendees for the Annual Meeting on Saturday: “Messengers” are approved by their home church to vote in the BCI Business Meeting. “Guests” includes any other attendees and they are not approved to vote during the Business Meeting. Find out how many Messengers your church is allowed by referencing the giving table in the Messengers Info Sheet (PDF).
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER:
Ben Mandrell
– Lifeway Christian Resources, President & CEO
Ben Mandrell leads Lifeway Christian Resources as president and CEO, but his pastor’s heart informs this leadership. One of his greatest passions is caring for the souls of pastors and their families and connecting with churches and ministries.
Ben was elected the 10th president of Lifeway Christian Resources on June 28, 2019. As president and CEO, he provides vision and strategic leadership to the nonprofit organization headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.
