2025 Preaching Workshop – September 12th
Friday, September 12 @ 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
$35
Preaching Workshop
DATE: Friday, September 12th
TIME: 8:00am–1:00pm (concludes with lunch)
LOCATION: First Family Church, Ankeny, Iowa
COST: $35 (includes materials & lunch)
“Preaching: The Pastor’s Greatest Leadership Tool”
We’re thrilled to announce an upcoming workshop dedicated to the art of preaching! BCI’s Preaching Workshop is a one-day event on Friday, September 12th. This is a state-wide event hosted by First Family Church in Ankeny and sponsored by the Baptist Convention of Iowa (BCI). If you are looking for hands-on help and tools you can use in any realm of preaching, whether it be preparation or delivery, this workshop is for you!
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to enhance your preaching skills and connect with fellow pastors who share your passion for preaching God’s Word!
About Our Speaker
Russ Barksdale,
– Founder, Next Level Leadership
Russ has been active in ministry for over 50 years, first as a layman at FBC Houston and then on staff at churches in Albuquerque, NM and Jackson, MS. He pastored FBC Carthage, MS for 5 years and retired in 2019 after 25 years as Lead Pastor of the five-campus Rush Creek Church in Arlington. Russ has been an adjunct professor at Southwestern Seminary, Liberty Seminary, and Dallas Baptist University. He is the founder of Next Level Leadership, a coaching and consulting ministry to pastors, planters, and churches for over a decade. He brings a wealth of experience and encouragement to church leaders and is a consultant for the SBTC and NAMB.
Full Bio
Russ was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He graduated from The University of Oklahoma with a B.B.A., working in the oil industry beginning in 1972. Active in ministry as a layman at Houston’s First Baptist, God called him and his wife, Sue, into career ministry in 1981. He served on staff at Hoffmantown B.C., Albuquerque, N.M. and FBC, Jackson, MS from 1984-89. His first pastorate was at FBC, Carthage, MS from 1989-94. While in Mississippi, Russ graduated from New Orleans Seminary with an M.Div. and a Ph.D. (homiletics) before moving to Arlington, TX as pastor of Rush Creek Church in 1994. Under his leadership, Rush Creek grew from one campus of 250 to 6 campuses of over 4,500 in attendance. He retired in October, 2019 after 25 years as Lead Pastor.
Russ and Sue, married in 1981, have three children, who are all married to godly spouses—and 10 grandchildren! Sue has authored and published 3 children’s books that have helped and encouraged parents teach their children about Jesus, Christmas, and prayer. Russ has authored 2 books on spiritual formation and writes daily devotionals from the Bible and a weekly blog on social issues that intersect with the Imago Dei.
Russ has been an adjunct professor at Southwestern Seminary, Liberty Seminary, and Dallas Baptist University. He is the founder of Next Level Leadership, a coaching and consulting ministry to pastors and churches.
He has served on various boards at the association and state level including personnel committee for the Tarrant Baptist Association, Resolutions Committee for the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention, Chairman of Trustees for the Southern Baptist of Texas Foundation. He also works with SEND Texas church planters.
