September 19, 2024
SUWANEE, Ga. — The Georgia Baptist Mission Board will hold its annual SPARK church-strengthening in six locations across the state this year. At SPARK, attendees will gain insights into how churches can grow disciples and reach their communities for Christ.
“We believe that the 2024 SPARK conference will have a bigger impact this year than ever because of the association missionaries and pastors who are excited to train their people,” said Scott Sullivan, the state board’s discipleship catalyst.
Last year, more than 2,000 people attended the conferences and nearly 300 churches sent delegations to the conferences.
For 2024, the team has pulled together a notable cast of speakers, including Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler, North American Mission Board National Director of Pastoral Leadership Ken Whitten and former Lifeway Christian Resources President Thom S. Rainer, and Georgia Baptist Convention President Josh Saefkow.
Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. has served as president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky for over 30 years. He is a theologian and an ordained minister, having served as pastor and staff minister of several Southern Baptist churches. A native of Lakeland, Florida, Mohler holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Samford University, as well as a master of divinity degree and PhD from Southern Seminary.
Dr. Ken Whitten is the North American Mission Board National Director of Pastoral Leadership. Whitten has served in various local, state, and national capacities including the SBC International Mission Board, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Florida State Board of Missions, Florida Baptist Witness Board and Guidestone. Whitten served as Senior Pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church for 33 years and has served on mission with God in West Africa, China, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Romania, England, Paraguay, Panama, and Guatemala.
Thom S. Rainer is a renowned church leader, author, and consultant, currently serving as the founder and CEO of Church Answers, an online resource platform for church leaders. He previously held the positions of President and CEO at LifeWay Christian Resources and was the founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His expertise in church health led him to establish the Rainer Group, a consulting firm that has guided numerous churches and organizations. A prolific author, Rainer has contributed more than two dozen books to the field, including influential works such as I Am a Church Member and Autopsy of a Deceased Church.
Other keynote speakers include Nathan Finn, professor of faith and culture and directs the Institute for Transformational Leadership at North Greenville University in Tigerville, SC., Mac Brunson, senior pastor of Valleydale Church in Birmingham, Ala. , and the state mission board’s Sullivan.
In addition to main speakers, attendees will have opportunities to attend breakout sessions on topics such as evangelism, discipleship, church growth, children and youth ministries, collegiate ministry, missions, counseling, disaster relief, and church administration
The regional sites, along with registration links, are:
Northeast Region
Level Grove Baptist Church in Cornelia on Aug. 11.
Speaker: Nathan Finn
Southwest Region
Wynnbrook Baptist Church in Columbus on Aug. 18.
Speaker: Scott Sullivan
East Central Region
Abilene Baptist Church in Augusta on Aug. 24
Speaker: Ken Whitten
West Central Region
Glen Haven Baptist Church in McDonough on Aug. 25.
Speaker: Al Mohler
Southeast Region
First Baptist Church in Brunswick on Sept. 8.
Speaker: Mac Brunson
Northwest Region
West Rome Baptist Church in Rome on Sept. 22.
Speaker: Thom Rainer
“The beauty of the SPARK conference is that if you miss something in person you can view it in the SPARK vault, which has all the breakouts from the past 3 years,” Sullivan said
The SPARK vault is an online portal where the recorded sessions are archived for on-demand access. Those unable to attend the conferences in person may purchase access to the Vault. Sullivan said, “This hybrid approach makes in-person and on-demand digital training available to every Georgia Baptist.”
