April 25, 2024
Houston Baptist Association in Cordele will serve as a host for the SPARK Conference, gathering at a local church to view sessions and keynote addresses. Screen grab from Google Maps.
DULUTH – Churches and associations alike are taking advantage of the opportunity to serve as a local host for the SPARK conference and provide training for leaders.
The conference’s goal is to equip churches and will do so through keynotes, breakout sessions, and live broadcast Q&As. As a host, groups can bring their people together in-person and provide safety precautions as they deem fit.
“We’ll probably have an evening conference where we can invite people to come in. We’ll have breakout sessions and provide another opportunity, and for some a better opportunity, to get the information,” Houston Baptist Association’s Associational Missions Strategist Gary Leutzinger shared.
His intention is for bivocational pastors and other leaders who work during the day and would normally not be able to attend to have the chance to do so. Houston Association plans to host SPARK at a local church to accompany the breakout sessions and technology needs.
“It’ll be a good opportunity and great information for our churches,” he said.
As of July 28, 86 hosts had registered, bringing the estimated total of participants to 3,500, Scott Sullivan, director of the conference and GBMB Discipleship catalyst, shared.
“I cannot over-emphasize the importance of our hosts,” Sullivan said. “They are the catalysts for exponential gospel impact that we are looking for through the SPARK conference.”
In order to be a host, simply go to thesparkconference.com, register, click on host button, and follow the instructions. Each host will get a series of emails with ideas and details. Everything a church or association needs to host is on the website once they register.
Individual access to attend the SPARK Conference is available as well, and will be available for free until Sept. 22.
With the necessary move to an online format, the SPARK Conference (formerly Go Georgia) is now accessible to those outside the state as well. In addition, the main sessions and select breakouts will be available in Spanish.
Pastor Tyrone Barnette of Peace Baptist Church in Decatur, the International Mission Board’s Paul Chitwood, and Long Hollow Baptist Church (Tenn.) Pastor Robby Gallaty will be the keynote speakers. Worship for the event will be led by Mark Hall with Casting Crowns. A list of breakout sessions and leaders can be found here.
