Join a Table Discussion Group to Network around a Common Topic

Table Group Discussions provide a fantastic way to connect with peers and colleagues over dinner while conversing on specific issues relevant to your role or ministry. We have slated the following discussions for dinner on Wednesday and Thursday.

Location: You’ll find these tables in the Grand Ballroom. Follow the signs for Table Discussion Groups and grab a seat at the table. Seating is limited so be sure to arrive early.

Wednesday Evening Table Discussion Groups

Table 1	Mobilizing the Latino Church Facilitator: John Lewis, Pioneers	Engaging Spanish speakers in the US and the Global South has unique challenges and opportunities. By sharing similar cultures and a goal to fulfill Christ’s Great Commission, our hope is to learn from each other.
Table 2	Discovering My Next Chapter Facilitator: Rob Wassel, Pioneers	Between ages 40-65, most leaders will experience a mid-grade fever – something is off, but they don’t know why. We’ll meet to discuss how leaders discover continuity between who you are and what you do – for your next chapter of life.
Table 3	Shifting from Reactive to Proactive Member Care Facilitator: Donny Vanker, Life Action Ministries	Given best efforts at member care are playing defense, what is your offense game for member care?
Table 4	Evangelizing Africa through Bible Translation Facilitator: Isaac Sinkolongo, The Word for the world Bible Translation	Africa is ripe for the Gospel through the translated scriptures in their heart language. Bible translation is the game changer in ensuring that Africa is fully evangelized and that they fully understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Table 5	Working Together in Strategic Ways Facilitator: Susan Perlman, Jews for Jesus	Whether it’s geographic in nature, pooling expertise or sharing people, how can we advance the gospel further in working partnerships?
Table 6	The Gradual Decline of Ministry Partner Development Facilitator: Richard Mendola, International Friendships	One of the main models for many mission organizations has been the ministry partner development model.  It has been a staple of “faith missions.”  With changes in culture and church life, is this model in decline?  How can we pivot?
Table 7	Engaging Gen Z in Missions Facilitator: Mark Matlock, Urbana	Explore the unique challenges and opportunities in mobilizing Gen Z for global missions. Let’s discuss strategies to connect, inspire, and equip this hyper-connected generation for impactful mission.
Table 8	Missions Awareness in the Local Church Facilitator: Christopher Joseph, The Met, Ottawa	One of the main models for many mission organizations has been the ministry partner development model.  It has been a staple of “faith missions.”  With changes in culture and church life, is this model in decline?  How can we pivot?
Table 9	Missional Information, Data, and Research Facilitator: Lara Heneveld, Team Expansion	Data, research, knowledge, wisdom: all is needed for global mission support and advancement. This is for all power users and practitioners who gather, store, utilize, visualize, and provide data and information to the body of Christ.
Table 10	Parallel Structures for Creative Access Areas Facilitator: Grant Haynes, Global Frontiers Missions	Let’s share stories and best practices concerning parallel structures with regards to LLCs, security, payroll, online presence, tax implications, etc. with regards to our folks working in creative access areas.
Table 11	Global Research, Regional Realities Facilitator: Duane Frasier, Joshua Project	At a global level, how do we listen to and understand regional people group realities? Let’s discuss.
Table 12	The Transformative Power of Gospel-Centered Leadership Facilitator: Daniel Drewski, International Leadership Institute	Discuss how authentic Christian leadership rooted in the Gospel transforms society, focusing on Christ-like character to fulfill the Great Commission beyond just skills and techniques.
Table 13	Mobilize your Church Virtually for the Great Commission Facilitator: Scott Elequin, Switchboard	This session will show your church members how to co-labor with missionaries in the field using the Switchboard platform.  Attendees will receive the (in development) church mobilization “kit” that will be finished in December of 2024.
Table 14	How Are Mission Trips Changing? Facilitator: Tory Ruark, MissionWorks	Communication, ease of travel and, most significantly, the spread of the gospel to the global south and east is changing mission trips. Let’s talk about what we see that’s changing so we can be change agents for the good.

Thursday Evening Table Discussion Groups

Table 1	Local Church-Centric Missions Facilitator: David Meade, MissioSERVE Alliance	Join us as we discuss how and why the local church must reclaim its role in equipping, sending, and shepherding missionaries.
Table 2	Reaching Second Generation Immigrants for Christ Facilitator: John Yoder, Immigrant Ministry Connections	Join us for this opportunity to connect & network with fellow Missions Coaches or talk with others about becoming a missions coach or integrating coaching in your ministry.
Table 3	Church Planting Agencies and People Group Priorities Facilitator: Mike Yoder, Encompass World Partners	Does your organization highlight a people group emphasis? What terminology do you use – unreached, least-reached, unengaged, etc. and define them? How do you determine deployment decisions in that regard?
Table 4	Responding and Investigating Misconduct Allegations Facilitator: Bruce Sidebotham, Telios Law	Allegations of abuse or misconduct in a ministry often make the news, and the public expects a certain level of transparency. Let’s discuss lessons learned and best practices.
Table 5	Women and Leadership Facilitators: Wendy Wilson, Women’s Development Track, Jenn Williamson, Missio Nexus	What are you seeing or experiencing in your setting regarding the challenges women with leadership gifts face? What kinds of things do we most need to address for productive conversation and movement?
Table 6	Local Church Care Support Structures for Global Workers Facilitator: Leslie McMonagle, Heritage Baptist Church	Welcome to all local churches that desire to “send well,” an exploration of how the body can work together to meet practical needs beyond financial support—including communication, on-site visits, home assignment lodging and transportation, and more.
Table 7	Importance of Succession and Leadership Transitions Facilitator: Toni McEwan, Slingshot Group	Often times we don’t proactively think about preparing for a major leadership transition or succession planning until it is urgent. We will discuss the learnings and some best practices to proactively get ahead of this critical change.
Table 8	Sending and Partnering with Latino and Hispanic Missionaries Facilitator: Dave Matthews, Reflejo	The global south is an ever-growing mission force; this is particularly true for the Latin American church. We can be left asking, how can we partner, participate and support in the sending of Latin American missionaries?
Table 9	Honoring and Engaging our Returning and Retiring Workers Facilitator: John Lewis, Pioneers	We appropriately allocate resources mobilizing missionaries. But what about when they return? Care for aging parents? Address kids needs? Retiring workers? Come share and hear best practices of what’s being done to honor & engage Alumni.
Table 10	Mobilizing the Asian American Church Past the American Dream Facilitator: Paul Lee, International Project	Many Asian Americans have been raised to pursue the American Dream by immigrant parents who sacrificed everything. How can we begin to mobilize Asian American believers in the church to sacrifice everything to pursue the Kingdom?
Table 11	Funding Models for the Global South Facilitator: Grant Haynes, Global Frontier Mission	As we continue to see the missions world transition “from everywhere to everywhere”, what are some of the sending structures and funding models that are being tested or proven to help sustain workers FROM the global south?
Table 12	Unity in Diversity Facilitator: Sameh Hanna, Kasr El Dobara Evangelical Church (KDEC)	Join us as we discuss leveraging global church networks for transformative community impact, bridging cultures, and building community through strategies for engaging diverse populations in urban ministry.
Table 13	UPGs in India Facilitator: Chris Clayman, Joshua Project	Would love to discuss and learn from others on the complexity and progress of ministry among unreached people groups in India, as well as the complexity of UPG groupings and identities in India.
Table 14	Strategic Collaborations: Directing Resources & Partnerships Facilitator: Michelle Atwell, SEND International – US	Explore strategies for fostering collaboration within mission agencies to effectively direct resources and strengthen partnerships, ensuring greater impact in reaching unreached communities.