Information


Our mission is to create a high-quality training event that equips pastors, board members, teachers, and lay leaders to deepen their walk with Christ while expanding the reach of their ministry. This year’s theme, “Rooted in Faith – Growing Deeper, Reaching Wider,” will inspire us to discover the depths of devotion and the joy of outreach.


We are excited to welcome Sam Barber, NDI Global Director for the Church of the Nazarene, as our guest speaker. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to choose from 16 dynamic workshops led by experienced ministry leaders, offering practical tools, fresh ideas, and encouraging insights for every area of church life.


Our goal is simple: that you and your team will walk away with one or two God-given ideas that spark passion and transformation in your congregation and community—not just more notes for the shelf.


A complimentary catered lunch will be provided to all registered attendees, giving you and your team time to connect, process your takeaways, and begin shaping your action steps for ministry.


Join us on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Columbia First for a day of growth, connection, and inspiration. Come ready to be equipped!


LOCATION

Columbia First Church of the Nazarene

901 St. Andrews Road
Columbia, SC 29210


SCHEDULE
8:00am-8:30am: Doors Open/Registration
8:30am-9:55am: Worship & Plenary Session with Sam Barber

9:55am-10:05am: Break
10:05am-10:55am: Session A Workshops

10:55am-11:05am: Break
11:05am - 11:55am: Session B Workshops

12:00pm: Catered Lunch (Must Register by 9/17)


COST

Registration Fee - $10

To expedite registration on the day of the event, we recommend you make payment in advance.


There are three options for payment:

1. Pay Online (Equip Designation)

2. Pay by Mail

SC NDI Treasurer

804 Atlantic Commons Drive

Surfside Beach, SC 29575

3. Pay at the Event


Make checks payable to "SC NDI".


CHILDCARE AVAILABLE - NURSERY & PRE-K

Email Pastor Shannon Mangicaro (pastorshannon@columbianaz.com)

by September 15th to reserve a spot for your child.


REGISTRATION DEADLINE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH

CLICK TO REGISTER


If you have additional questions regarding the event, please contact Pastor Anthony Bryant: akbryant@columbianaz.com

SAM BARBER

NDI GLOBAL DIRECTOR

Church of the Nazarene

Dr. Sam Barber was elected Global Nazarene Discipleship Director in July of 2024. Sam most recently served the church as District Superintendent of the South Central Ohio District. He and his wife, Jill, have served four churches as lead pastor for 32 years. Their ministry

has taken them from Ohio to North Carolina and to Kansas before returning to South

Central Ohio.


Dr. Barber holds a Doctor of Ministry from Nazarene Theological Seminary as well as

master’s degrees from Malone and Duke Universities, and a Bachelor of Arts in

Psychology from MVNU. In addition to pastoral ministry, Dr. Barber has served as

adjunct professor, guest speaker, trustee, and author, most recently publishing, “A

People of Grace: Becoming Disciples Together,” along with articles for Holiness

Today. He was elected to the General Board of the Church of the Nazarene in 2023.


Sam is passionate about discipleship and believes that the Great Commission is not

reserved for the spiritually elite but is instead, the very heart of the gospel and

interwoven with the decision to follow Jesus.


Sam is married to Jill who has served in ministry and leadership roles across the years

in the local church, the business world, and the denomination. She has served Mt.

Vernon Nazarene University, Nazarene Theological Seminary, and the United States

Canada Region of the Church of the Nazarene. She currently serves on the staff of Nazarene Discipleship International. Jill is also a writer having been published in both Grace and Peace and Holiness Today. 


The Barbers have one son, Ross. He and his wife, Kassi, live in New Albany, OH, where he serves as the Director of Audio for The Columbus Vineyard churches. 


Sam and Jill have loved serving the church across their years of ministry.

WORKSHOPS


SESSION A (10:05am-10:55am)


Full Steam Ahead: Rooted in Discipleship, Growing Deeper and Wider – Sam Barber

Like a steam locomotive, discipleship growth can be slow to start—but once moving, it’s nearly unstoppable. In this session, we’ll explore how following Jesus and including others in our journey of grace creates the kind of lasting, Kingdom-building growth our churches need. You’ll leave with practical ways to align your ministries with the Great Commission and mobilize every believer to make disciples.

 

Synkakopatheo: Leading in Adversity – Joe McLamb

Leading, especially in adversity, is not for the weak or faint-hearted.  If you have ever noticed the sharp contrast between the way leadership experts talk about the joys of leading and the rather traumatic experiences of leaders in the Bible (or maybe in your own church, workplace, or family), this is the workshop for you.  We will take a clear-eyed look at what God requires of a leader, how fear and discouragement erode a leader’s effectiveness, and how God does not lighten a leader’s burdens – he gives leaders the strength to bear the load.

 

Prioritizing Mission: Church Revitalization Through Missional Outreach – Jeremy Reese

A practical, real-world workshop designed to help pastors and church leaders re-center their ministries around the mission of God. Through biblical insight and hands-on strategies, participants will explore how prioritizing outreach—especially to the marginalized and unchurched—can breathe new life into declining congregations. This session emphasizes sustainable, community-based engagement that reflects the heart of Jesus, equipping churches to move beyond maintenance mode into transformative ministry.

 

Making Discipleship Fun and Engaging: Ignite Faith in Children's Hearts – Laureen Rupert

Do you long to see children not just attend church, but truly own their faith? This interactive workshop equips children's ministry leaders with practical and creative strategies to cultivate a vibrant, lifelong faith in children. Methods that ignite their imagination, foster genuine relationships, and empower children to actively live out their faith will be explored.

 

Nones and Dones: Inviting Those Who Are One Ask Away – Haydn Miller

Many in our communities are either “done” with church or have never been connected at all. Using insights from You Found Me by Rick Richardson and The Great Dechurching by Jim Davis, this seminar explores current trends, why people disengage from church, and practical ways to reach them. Come discover how to connect with those who may be only one genuine invitation away from taking a next step toward faith.

 

Basic Bible Studies for New and Growing Christians – Greg Pressley

The Great Commission calls us to make Christlike disciples. This seminar introduces an 8-week Bible study designed to guide new and growing Christians on a path of spiritual growth. Participants will receive an overview of each lesson, practical training on how to lead the study effectively, and a complete leader’s guide for every session. Whether you're preparing to lead your first group or looking to strengthen your teaching, this session will equip you to confidently guide others in their walk with Christ.

 

The Ministry of Music: It Ain't Just Pickin' Songs – Michael McAdory

Weekend hack musician? Volunteer? Full-time? Bi-vocational? What if we could elevate our worship services from pickin' a few songs at the last minute to powerful encounters in the Lord's presence? In real-time, we will pick a topic and plan a worship service with pro-tips and a lengthy list of helpful planning resources. And... we'll do it through the lens of a pastoral perspective with ministry to people in mind!

 

NMI: Rooted in Best Practices – Libby Newman

In this interactive session, participants will learn the foundational values of NMI. New and seasoned presidents, councils, and pastors will especially benefit from learning the best practices for the local NMI. Anyone who wants to be better rooted in global and local missions will find help from the conversation. Resources for local churches will also be shared.

Session B (11:05am-11:55AM)


Preaching to Form a Holy People – Michael Jackson

One of the most important tasks of preaching, especially in our current cultural context, is to form a people who reflect the attitude, character, and mission of God, the God revealed in Jesus and the gospel. We are all storied people – our lives are shaped by the stories (narratives) we embrace and embody. In this workshop, we will explore the multitude of narratives that compete for the affections and the imaginations of our congregations. We have the best story to tell – the story of grace, love, salvation, and hope. We must narrate this story well, and in ways that will shape our imaginations and lives in the cruciform way of Jesus. In this workshop, we will explore the essential elements of narrative that have the power to invigorate our preaching, along with tools and traditions, such as the Christian calendar, which can aid us in our sermon planning and development.

 

Understanding Burnout and How it Affects Pastoral Ministry – Tony Lupton

As rewarding as ministry can be in so many ways, it also has a tendency to take a toll on Pastors and Laypersons. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged or excessive stress, often stemming from work and/or demanding situations. It is characterized by feelings of being overwhelmed, emotionally drained and unable to meet ongoing demands. Burnout can significantly impact productivity, motivation and overall well-being.

 

Burnout is very real and many times is unable to be detected by those who are in it. The Weary Leaders Guide To Burnout is a book written by Sean Nemecek teaches principles that lead us on a journey from exhaustion to wholeness. This seminar is to show Christian leaders (Pastor's and Laypersons) who find themselves exhausted, damaged and empty that there is a better way. The 3 areas we will cover is understanding burnout, recovering from burnout and resilience against burnout.

 

Revitalization: What Matters Most – Rod Walley

Every church feels the pressure to change—but real revitalization comes from knowing what to change, how to change it, and when to act. This breakout will equip you with a practical framework, rooted in church and community exegesis, to discern God’s direction, focus on the right priorities, and lead Spirit-led transformation that lasts.

 

Discipling the NOW generation – David Olshine

It’s been a myth over the decades that teenagers are the church of the future but that’s not true. They’re the church now. What do we need to do to equip and motivate and disciple this generation? Why do teenagers sit on the sidelines looking bored? What can we do to stop this and empower true discipleship? Come discover five practical ways to start NOW!

 

The Disciples’ Compass – Scott Wade

This workshop will unpack how the following six actions/traits "mark" a follower of Jesus Christ:

 

1. To know God in worship

2. To show love in relationship

3. To grow up in discipleship

4. To go out in citizenship

5. To sow seeds of partnership

6. To flow on in leadership

 

I will engage the group in a brainstorming activity to come up with ways that a Christ-follower can nurture these activities in their own lives and how a church can structure ministries to enhance their development.

 

Prayer: "The Heartbeat of Discipleship” – David Nixon

Discover how prayer can transform your personal journey and strengthen your church community. This workshop will inspire you to make prayer the cornerstone of your life, be it in your Journey of Grace or within your Sunday School class or Connection Group. Don't miss this chance to connect, learn, and grow in your discipleship through the power of prayer!

 

Generational War – Kevin Sprague

The average age for church members is 60. How can the 60 and older members serve and worship together with those younger than 60? We have seen, heard, or even experienced the generational war in churches. Not only does this affect church growth, it also affects Kingdom growth. In order to grow the Kingdom of Heaven and the church, the different age groups must unite, but how?

 

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries: The World Is Waiting for Your Help! – Roxianne Snodgrass

Looking for creative ways to engage your church families—and especially children—in missions? This interactive session is designed for both children and teen ministry workers who want to cultivate a heart for compassion in the next generation and NMI leaders who want to inform the WHOLE church in the amazing work of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. Explore hands-on ideas for involving families in global outreach through child sponsorship, creative fundraising, intergenerational prayer guides, and culturally themed learning activities. Whether you're leading children, teens or coordinating missions, this workshop will equip you with fun, meaningful ideas and resources to connect your congregation to the work of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries around the world.