Huddles Information

What is a Spire Huddle?

It’s a 2.5-hour conversation
Led by an expert speaker
With 4-8 people at your table
Discussing a vital ministry topic. Pick one below…

What’s in it for me?

Networking and connecting with ministry leaders
Excellent teaching you can use now
Get and give counsel – More than 50% of the time is a discussion with your table group. We are better together!
An action plan specifically designed for your church

When?

All Huddles are on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 from 2:00 PM PM to 4:30 PM.

How do I join a Huddle?

You can select only one Huddle to attend.
You must reserve your place below to guarantee your space and to help us plan the best experience.
Your spot will be reserved until 2:00 PM. Please show up early!
After 2:00pm, walk-ins will be accepted until all the tables are filled. Once the tables are filled, the room will be closed. Space is limited so please sign up asap.

2023 SpireConference Huddles

The Power of Strategic Rhythms and Routines - Christian Nelson

The week to week of church leadership can create nearsightedness and confusion about what to do next. Discover how to develop a strategic calendar and rhtythms that keep your head above the water and your church on track day after day.

Christian is a Church IT consultant. He was the CIO at Traders Point Christian Church in Indianapolis, IN. For the last 15 years, Chris has led ministries for children with special needs, safety and security, first responders, veterans, technology, digital ministry, and strategic operations. Christian loves solving complex organizational problems and pastoring those dealing with trauma and PTSD. Christian is a recognized speaker on digital ministry, PTSD, and strategic operations.

Developiong Lifechanging Community in a Post-Covid Church - Erin Johnston

You've probably experienced the difficulty of creating and maintaining vibrant community via small groups especially now in our post-Covid world. It's time to re-think our strategies while focusing on key principles that will always be true to matter the size, context, or format of your church. Join us as we re-think this together and hear from leaders that are re-inventing this pivotal aspect of church. Our breakouts will feature huddles for various size churches, contexts and capabilities.

Erin Johnston is the Pastor of Coaching and Family at Canyon Ridge Christian Church in Las Vegas. Part of her role is helping Canyon Ridge to strategically plan and implement a viral movement of disciple makers across the city of Las Vegas and beyond. She desires to multiply meaning in all different kinds of communities in her city. In her free time Erin loves Dodger baseball, her black lab Sophie, a good burrito, and almost any outdoor activity!

Discover Future Leaders: They are Already at Your Church - David Miller

In the face of the great resignation, now is the time to install your church's residency ministry. Join us as we walk through the principles and process for devleoping future church leaders.

Dave Miller is the Founder of Leadership Pathway. He served as a Worship and Creative Arts Pastor at churches in Las Vegas, Central KY, and Western MI has also spent the last fifteen years on the go helping churches on a variety of topics from strategy to technology and facility redesign. He’s most passionate, however, about helping young leaders take their healthiest first steps into ministry. He’s an avid cyclist, Cincinnati Reds fan, and Jameson’s “Poppi.”

Reigniting Personal Evangelism in Your Church - Garry Poole

A church that wins in the future is one that trains every believer to develop frienships and simply share their faith. Join us as we practicly walk through a simple framework any church can use to reignite this fundamental aspect of Christ's Great Commission.

Garry is the founder and lead advisor at www.OneLifeAdvisors.com, an organization designed to walk alongside church leaders to inspire, equip and mobilize believers to a lifestyle of effective spiritual influence. He’s a skilled outreach specialist, training facilitator, and strategic planning consultant for churches and organizations around the world. Garry is the author of numerous discussion guides and books, including the award-winning Seeker Small Groups. In the past, he planted and led an outreach-oriented church for 5 years in Indianapolis. And Garry also served on staff as Willow Creek’s Evangelism Point Leader in South Barrington for 18 years.

Soul Care: Friends Required - Alan Ahlgrim

It's known among pastors that we are often the loneliest people in the church. Why? Because there's just some things you can't talk about with anybody else at the church. And that's why we need to be in a group with other pastors. Let's discuss together how this can really work. Your soul is at stake.

Alan Ahlgrim was the founding pastor of Rocky Mountain Christian Church in Colorado. With more than 50 years in ministry he now serves as the Chief SoulCare Officer of Covenant Connections for Pastors. Alan invests heavily in the hard work of heart work, helping other leaders serve well and finish well by connecting them in soul enriching Covenant Groups. Alan is the author of Soul Strength - Rhythms for Thriving published in 2022. www.covenantconnections.life

Total Team Alignment: Put Your Team on the Same Page Today - Bart Rendel and Doug Parks

Does your team sometimes feel like each team member does what is right in his or her own eyes? Join us as we work to align your team and show you how to do the same for every team in your church.

Bart Rendel, cofounder and CSO, Intentional Churches: Bart has dedicated his life to helping churches reach more people for Christ. His passion for serving churches comes from his upbringing as a pastor’s kid and learning from his parents about the intentionality of reaching and growing people in Christ. His conviction runs deep. Bart served as an executive leader for over eighteen years at Crossroads Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky, and Central Christian Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he and his family remain deeply connected. He and his wife, Catherine, have two children. Bart occasionally plays a round of golf, but he always takes in Kentucky Wildcats games.

Doug Parks, cofounder and CEO, Intentional Churches: Doug’s love and commitment to help churches comes from his own experience of being eternally impacted as a teenager by a committed church leader. He served for seventeen years as the executive pastor at Canyon Ridge Christian Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prior to Canyon Ridge, Doug was a Chick-fil-A owner/operator in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he won the coveted Symbol of Success award. Doug and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Las Vegas with their two children, but he still finds time to follow sports, including his beloved Ohio State Buckeyes.

Is Worship Just 3-4 Songs During the Service? - Andy Chrisman

Worship is the ultimate priority of life and yet many have reduced it's meaning to "three songs we do during service." Let's discuss how we can create a culture of worship in our churches.

Andy Chrisman is a worship pastor, consultant, radio show host and artist, who has dedicated his life to helping others follow Jesus and worship God forever. He’s a full-time worship pastor at a very large church in Tulsa, OK (Church on the Move) for 21 years and counting. He has the heart of a shepherd and helps other worship pastors via coaching, mentoring and consulting. He is also the host of the internationally syndicated radio show “Worship with Andy Chrisman.” And….he was one of 4Him, a group that sold 5 million records, had 25 #1 hits, multiple Dove awards and Grammy nominations. https://www.andychrisman.net

The Church You Always Wanted - Carl Kuhl

Jesus was a magnet for the broken; is your church the same? In this session, we're going to discuss a key distinction that will make your church look more like what Jesus had in mind when he said, "I will build my church," and the risky role you play in making it happen. Come ready to discuss and do the hard work of gospel-centered vulnerability.

Carl Kuhl is a pastor, entrepreneur, author, athlete, and adventure seeker who wants to help others find true freedom in Jesus. In 2008 he and his wife Lindsey started Mosaic Christian Church, which has twice been named one of the 100 fastest growing churches in America. He’s written two books on church leadership. In July of this year the Kuhl’s moved to Louisville, KY, as Carl accepted a role as an executive pastor at Southeast Christian Church. www.carlkuhl.org

The Indispensable Assistant: The Ultimate Sidekick - Executive Assistants to Kyle Idleman and Ashley Wooldridge

If you’re a pro at calendar Tetris, love administrative work and optimizing your leader’s time, this huddle is for you! We’ll explore 'leading up' to help your leader best leverage your partnership, championing the heart of the church and its leaders and how to go above and beyond in your role. This brand-new huddle is hosted by the Executive Assistants of Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY and Christ Church of the Valley, Phoenix, AZ, but we need your voice, ideas, and questions to help us all grow in our calling and strengthen your partnership with your leader! We promise three things if you attend: 1. It will be informative with resources and tools, 2. It will be engaging--offering ideas and inspiration to activate right away and 3. It will be fun, building new friendships and a community that goes beyond just an event!

Sheree Jablonski – Executive Assistant to Senior Pastor Ashley Wooldridge

Ilaya Brubaker – Executive Assistant to Executive Pastor Ben Gowell

Holly Stephens – Executive Assistant to Executive Pastor Jeff Osborne

Sara Whitbeck - EA to SP Kyle Idleman

Tessa Young - EA to XP Carl Kuhl

Jennifer Ballengee - EA to XP Steve Carter

Deedree Hall - EA to Associate Pastor Matt Reagan

Melanie Robb – Executive Assistant to Tony Burgarello (Executive Pastor)

How Mature Are You, Your Staff and Future Staff? - Charity Byers, Brian Stone & Greg Weins

Be part of this unique Spire Huddle where you can take a new clinical assessment that actually measures emotional and spiritual health. You’ll see your private results immediately then discuss what it means for you and your staff. This theologically and psychometrically sound tool will help your team uncover emotional and spiritual health, track growth progress over time, make better hires, increase staff retention, reduce team conflict and cooperate more fully with the Holy Spirit. You will need a device that connects to theinternet to take the instrument as part of this huddle. This Huddle will be led by Blessing Ranch Ministries and Healthy Growing Leaders:

Charity Byers PhD serves asthe CEO and Psychologist for Blessing Ranch Ministries. Charity provides counseling intensives to pastors, missionaries and Christian Leaders. Co-author of two books: Unhindered and Unhindered 30 Days, she loves continuing the mission that began with her father, Dr. John Walker, to help Christian leaders live well, lead well, and finish well.

Brian Stone is the Executive Director at Blessing Ranch Ministries. Brian also provides coaching and intensive services to pastors, missionaries and other Christian Leaders. He has over 25 years of local church leadership and coaching experience. Brian also leads retreats, housecalls and restoration teams for Blessing Ranch. Brian finished his PhD program and will graduate in October.

Greg Wiens PhD has been a creative assessment architect for over 30 years. He has worked with organizations that range in size and interest from Fortune 100 companies and public schools to non-profits. His passion is helping leaders understand how their unique wiring contributes to their productivity and sense of fulfillment. Healthy Growing Leaders grew out of Greg’s practice of helping leaders. He has authored or co-authored four books and developed twenty assessment instruments.