Track Leader Information

This page is your one-stop destination for all the information you need as a Track Leader (TL) for the 2026 Mission Leaders Conference.

Conference Dates & Location

The conference begins at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, September 23 and concludes at 12:00 PM on Friday, September 25 and will be held at Caribe Royale, 8101 World Center Drive, Orlando, Florida. Be sure to book your room using the book link that will be provided here in the coming weeks.

Tracks 365

You should have received an email from Michael VanHuis about Tracks 365. This initiative is designed to extend collaboration and shared learning beyond the conference, continuing throughout the year.

Tracks 365 is a pilot program that we’re gradually expanding for track leaders who are interested in participating. The concept is simple: as the Track Leader, you bring the content, voice, and leadership—while Missio Nexus provides the platform, promotion, coordination, and support. Some tracks are already doing this through webinars, regional gatherings, research projects, or other forms of engagement such as through online groups which provide a space for discussion, strengthen relationships across agencies, and networks, and more.

We know that not everyone has capacity for this. Even if you’re not directly involved in Tracks 365, we would be grateful for your support in promoting and encouraging Tracks 365 in the track you lead at the conference. To that end, we want to gift every track leader an individual Missio Nexus membership (for those not already a part of a member organization or church). Membership will enable you to access resources, such as research reports and peer groups, that are otherwise unavailable. If you do not already have a membership, please contact Events@MissioNexus.org and we will get you signed up.

Our Theme

DEEP – Shaping Global Disciples. After a year devoted to the topic of evangelism, our journey brings us to the heart of what truly sustains faith: deep discipleship. Evangelism ignites the spark, but it is deep discipleship that fans that spark into a lasting flame, nurturing believers to grow roots and bear fruit in every season of life. 

Deep discipleship calls us beyond the surface into a relationship with Jesus that is rich, authentic, and ever-growing. It is a commitment to spiritual maturity, where questions are welcomed, doubts explored, and faith becomes a living, breathing reality. This pursuit is not just about learning more, but about becoming more—more loving, more courageous, more like Christ.

Today, the most powerful approaches to discipleship are marked by intentional community, personal mentorship, and practical engagement. Small groups thrive when they create honest discussions about struggles and victories. Digital resources are connecting believers across distances, but face-to-face relationships remain irreplaceable for accountability and encouragement. Theology plays a significant role in shaping this important life journey. The best ideas are those that move beyond simple information to transformation. Many of these are to be found in ancient practices. 

Conference Agenda

A more detailed schedule will be available in the conference program and in the app.

Track Leader Responsibilities

Please refer to this document for the TL Job Description. Thank you for serving as a Track Leader. In appreciation for your role, all TLs receive one complimentary conference registration and a $100 honorarium, which will be provided at the conference.

Planning Workshops

• There will be no virtual conference, nor will we be recording workshops. This will enable you to concentrate on in-person attendees.
• As you select workshops and presenters, aim for a healthy balance between expert-driven content and meaningful table discussion. Attendees value opportunities to collaborate with peers, but they also expect fresh, challenging material from seasoned practitioners.
• Workshop Master. It is essential that you use this worksheet to collaborate with other Track Leaders. As you begin to confirm your workshops, please enter them in the Workshop Master and be sure to refer to it to see what other workshops are being planned to avoid redundancy, competing topics, and other potential issues. Sheets 2 and 3 on this spreadsheet contain the TLs and their emails.
• Diversity. Please make an effort to place diverse presenters in your line up and to the extent that you are able, seek to incorporate the conference theme in your track.
• Workshop Submissions. Anyone is able to submit a workshop proposal using this form which can be found on the Missio Nexus website. Each year we receive about 60-70 proposals. Once received, they are forwarded to the appropriate Track Leader for consideration. These should be carefully vetted. Please notify the submitter whether or not you plan to utilize their submission.
• Workshop Information Form. Once workshop descriptions and presenters have been finalized, your presenters will need to submit the Workshop Information Form. The primary audience for each workshop must be clear and concise. The workshop description should include an accurate description, learning objectives and key takeaways. (Make sure your presenter knows in which track he/she is presenting. They will be asked this question which will determine the routing of the form to the correct TL.) Your presenter will also receive a copy of the submission. Once you approve the submission, I will publish the workshop on the website. Once published, edits can be made in the Speaker Resource Center. Final submissions must be received no later than Tuesday, April 14.
• Workshop Presentations. All workshops should include a PowerPoint presentation. These presentations should be approved by the TL before being uploaded by the presenter in the Speaker Resource Center. The deadline for this is September 3. We ask that you review each PowerPoint for clarity and quality.
• For those interested, a list of all workshops offered between 2016-2025 can be found here.

Speaker Resource Center

In April, all presenters will receive an email invitation to visit the Speaker Resource Center where they will complete assigned tasks such as upload their bio, headshot, and read other helpful information. This includes how to receive their complimentary presenter registration. Remind presenters to wait until they receive this information before registering. This year, TLs will also be added to the Speaker Resource Center. This will allow you to receive task reminders from me. (Please remember to mark tasks complete or you will continue to receive these reminders.) This will also allow you to understand the process for presenters. If you want to monitor your presenters’ progress or make edits to their content, let me know. You can be added as an Admin on their profile.

Pre-Conferences

If you would like to host a pre-conference, indicate that on the Workshop Master. If you choose not to, that space will be given to another. Workshop Information Forms must be submitted for these as well by April 15. Those hosting a pre-conference are entitled to 1 complimentary conference registration, and in some cases 2.

Networking Forums

Please let me know if you or someone you know would like to facilitate a Networking Forum on Thursday morning from 10:30 – 11:45am. Attendees tell us that networking is the most beneficial part of the conference! Networking forums are not workshops. They are structured sessions that give attendees space to connect around a shared topic in an informal, conversational setting, while still offering enough organization to support meaningful interaction. We have space for up to 10 forums.

Registration

Conference Registration will open on March 12. Information on registration is found in the Speaker Resource Center. Each track receives 5 complimentary registrations. If you have more than 5 presenters, you will have to decide who will receive the complimentary conference registrations. Using a presenter for more than 1 workshop and/or in another track is a great way to maximize those complimentary registrations. Generally, panelists do not receive a comped registration unless they are presenting in another workshop. Those leading a pre-conference will automatically be registered for their session.

Conference Bookstore

As in the past, the 2026 Mission Leaders Conference will include an online bookstore. If you are an author and would like to offer your book for sale at the conference bookstore, contact Events@MissioNexus.org. Space is limited.

Important Dates