A Conference for BRN Church Leaders & Members
There has never been a better time to be bold.
A day to be inspired and equipped in the face of a challenging culture, incredible opportunity, and a faithful God.
BOLD IMPACT
Baptist Resource Network Annual Business Session and Gathering
Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
at Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel, 4650 Lindle Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17111
Prefer another hotel? Here is a list.
This year's conference will feature:
- Keynote presentations from Kyle Canty, North American Mission Board (NAMB) Send City Missionary for Philadelphia; T.J. Freeman, senior pastor of Christ Church in Wellsboro, Pa.; Brian Musser, Baptist Campus Missionary for Drexel University; and Zakk Roberts, NAMB Send City Missionary for Pittsburgh.
- 6 breakout session options that will challenge BRN churches and pastors to make BOLD IMPACT
- Worship by students at Lancaster Bible College
- Networking, vendors, and more!
2026 Accelerate Conference Main Session Replays
Pre-Conference Prayer Event
Session 1: Featuring Dr. Barry Whitworth
Session 2: Featuring Dr. Kyle Canty and Zakk Roberts
Session 3 and Annual Business Session: Featuring T.J. Freeman, Brian Musser, and Jason Hunter
2026 Accelerate Conference Breakout Session Replays
Breakout Session: Innovative and Adaptive Leadership, featuring Larry Anderson
Breakout Session: Partnerships that Multiply Impact, featuring Joe Velarde
Breakout Session: Capacity Expansion through Leadership Development, featuring David Ludwig
Breakout Session: Technology as a Ministry Partner, featuring Shannon Baker, Macala Mays, and Seth Benge
Breakout Session: Mission Expansion through Financial Priorities, Andy Weber
Breakout Session: Action-Focused Compassion, featuring Buff McNickle and Kenton Hunt
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Barry Whitworth
Baptist Resource Network Executive Director
DR. BARRY WHITWORTH has been in ministry for over 30 years, serving as a mission pastor, associate pastor, church planter, pastor, interim pastor, transitional pastor and planter, church planting strategist, lead church planting catalyst, church planting director, and now executive director.
Before his calling as Executive Director of the Baptist Resource Network in February 2017, he was a church planting missionary and served the Multiplying Churches Team Leader for the BRN.
Dr. Whitworth and his wife Beth have two daughters and six grandchildren.
Dr. Kyle Canty
North American Mission Board Send City Missionary, Philadelphia, and Assistant Pastor, Great Commission Church, Philadelphia
DR. KYLE CANTY, a native of Philadelphia, received a bachelors of science degree in Bible and pastoral ministry and a master of science degree in Christian counseling from Cairn University (formerly Philadelphia Biblical University). He also has a master of divinity degree in urban missional leadership and a doctor of ministry degree with a focus on urban missiology from Missio Seminary (formerly Biblical Seminary). He has over 40 years of ministry experience, including over 20 years as assistant pastor at Great Commission Church in Philadelphia. He currently works for the North American Mission Board as the Send City Missionary for the city of Philadelphia, where he oversees church planting efforts in the region. He and his wife Pamela, to whom he has been married for 26 years, have three kids, Micah, Karis and Shiloh.
T.J. Freeman
Senior Pastor, Christ Church, Wellsboro, Pa.
As the senior pastor of Christ Church (formerly Wellsboro Bible Church) since 2012, TJ has a passion for the rural church. Prior to his arrival at Christ Church he served as a church planter, biblical counselor, discipleship pastor, and history teacher. He enjoys the outdoors (but only when it’s hot out), and is passionate about sushi. TJ and his wife Katie have two daughters; Charlotte and Charity, and two sons; Hudson and Grant. TJ serves on the board at the Brainerd Institute for Rural Ministry and can be heard on the Rural Pastors Talk and the Back to Rurality Podcasts.
Brian Musser
Campus Missionary, Drexel University; BRN Next Gen Consultant
BRIAN MUSSER is the Baptist Campus Missionary at Drexel University, where he has served in this role since 2005, and a Next Gen Consultant for the Baptist Resource Network. He is a commissioned self-funded (support-raising) missionary through the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in partnership with the Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey and is appointed to Drexel University through the former Greater Philadelphia Baptist Association. Brian was ordained to the Gospel ministry though the First Baptist Church of North East, Maryland on June 6, 2010. At Drexel, Brian serves as a University-recognized campus chaplain in the office of Spiritual and Religious Life, a part of Student Life. Although not an employee of Drexel, he has earned the respect of the University administration. In the larger Christian community, Brian speaks often on topics that connect churches with young adults, missional engagement, and academic institutions.
Zakk Roberts
North American Mission Board Send City Missionary for Pittsburgh
Zakk is passionate about empowering church planters, pastors, and ministry leaders to plant and multiply churches throughout the Pittsburgh region. His ministry journey began in 2010 as a collegiate missionary at Michigan State University, embedded with a local church. Since moving to Pittsburgh in 2012, Zakk has been instrumental in leading diverse ministries across three different church plants in the city. Alongside his role with NAMB, he serves as one of the pastors at Steel City Church. Zakk and his wife, Leah, have been married since 2013 and are the proud parents of two boys, Felix and Archer. Zakk is an avid news reader, coffee connoisseur, soccer player, and devoted supporter of Pittsburgh sports teams.
Conference Emcee:
Dr. Ryan Day, Pastor,
Wrightsdale Baptist Church, Peach Bottom, Pa.
Worship Leaders:
Students from Lancaster Bible College
Bold Impact Breakout Sessions
Innovative & Adaptive Leadership: Leading Boldly in a Changing World
Culture is changing rapidly, but the mission of the Church never changes. Bold leaders learn how to adapt their methods without compromising biblical truth. This session will help pastors and ministry leaders develop the courage to evaluate what is working, let go of what isn’t, and embrace innovative approaches that better engage their communities. Participants will discover practical strategies for responding to cultural shifts, learning from failure, launching new initiatives, and leading change with wisdom and confidence.
Focused Skill: Leading through changing culture without compromising truth
Exercise: Next Level Blueprint — Identify one ministry that needs to be reimagined and create a practical action plan for greater kingdom impact.
Speaker: Dr. Larry Anderson, BRN Director of Church Advancement and Evangelism
Mission Expansion Through Financial Priorities: Funding What Matters Most
Every budget tells a story. What story does your church budget tell? Does yours reflect your mission? Bold impact requires churches to align financial resources and management practices with their highest ministry priorities. This session will equip leaders to build mission-first budgets, strong financial management practices, cultivate generosity, eliminate unnecessary spending, and invest strategically in ministries that transform lives and reach communities. Discover how financial management becomes a catalyst for greater gospel influence.
Focused Skill: Aligning budgets and practices with impactful missional priorities
Exercise: Triage Spending — Evaluate current expenditures and practices by identifying what is mission-critical, supportive, and non-essential.
Speaker: Andy Weber, BRN Director of Finance and Operations
Partnerships that Multiply Impact: Building Kingdom Collaboration in Your Community
No church was called to reach its community alone. Bold impact grows when churches intentionally partner with schools, nonprofits, civic leaders, and other congregations to serve together. Learn practical ways to build trust, share resources, establish community credibility, and become a recognized force for good. When churches collaborate instead of compete, kingdom influence multiplies.
Focused Skill: Building strategic community partnerships
Exercise: Community Partnership Mapping — Identify existing relationships and discover new opportunities for collaboration in your ministry context.
Speaker: Joe Velarde, Pastor, Riverbend Community Church, Bethlehem
Action-Focused Compassion: Moving Beyond Problems Toward Lasting Transformation
Meeting immediate needs is only the beginning. Bold impact happens when churches move beyond temporary assistance and intentionally help people experience restoration, growth, and lasting life change. This session explores a biblical pathway from relief to empowerment, helping leaders develop ministries that don’t simply respond to crises but create sustainable transformation for individuals and communities.
Focused Skill: Developing Ministries that move from crisis management to transformational change
Exercise: Compassion Pathway Design — Build a ministry strategy that guides people from immediate help to long-term transformation.
Speakers: Buff McNickle, BRN Director of Compassion Ministries, and Kenton Hunt, BRN Director of Disaster Relief
Capacity Expansion Through Leadership Development: Multiplying Leaders, Multiplying Ministry
Healthy churches don’t just grow—they reproduce leaders. Bold impact depends on developing people who can lead, serve, disciple others, and launch new ministry opportunities. Learn how to identify emerging leaders, delegate with purpose, mentor consistently, build leadership pipelines, and create a culture where leadership multiplication becomes part of your church’s DNA.
Focused Skill: Developing leaders who multiply ministry
Exercise: Leadership Pathway — Design a practical pathway for identifying, recruiting, training, and releasing new ministry leaders.
Speaker: David Ludwig, BRN Director of Discipleship and Leadership Development
Technology as a Ministry Partner: Using AI & Technology to Expand Your Ministry
Technology will never replace relationships, but it can strengthen ministry and free leaders to focus on people. Discover how churches are using artificial intelligence and digital tools to streamline administration, improve communication, analyze ministry opportunities, strengthen follow-up, develop discipleship pathways, and equip volunteers more effectively. Learn how to embrace innovation while keeping people and the gospel at the center of every decision.
Focused Skill: Leveraging technology to expand ministry effectiveness
Exercise: Ministry Technology Audit — Identify processes that technology could simplify, automate, or scale so your church can increase its impact without increasing complexity.
Speakers: Shannon Baker, BRN Director of Communications; Macala Mays, BRN Communications Associate; and invited guests
Affinity Lunch Gatherings
During the lunch break, consider joining others from your particular region or affinity. Women are free to choose any session, but women’s ministry leaders and ministry wives are especially invited to join Woven Women.
Central
Region
Greater Philadelphia Region
South Jersey Region
West
Region
Ethnic
Churches
Woven
Women
Special Pre-Conference Events
Pre-Conference Session on Prayer
Monday, October 5, 7 p.m., followed by a dessert social
Join WES WINEBARGER, lead pastor of Travelers Church in Pittsburgh, Pa., who will lead us in a Scripture-fed, Spirit-led, Worship-based time of prayer.
Wes and his wife Lexi knew of their call to church planting many years ago. In 2019, Pittsburgh caught their eye because it was last on NAMB’s list of Send cities. Pittsburgh had the least amount of active church plants, the greatest failure rate of church plants, and the highest population to church ratio.
Pittsburgh also moved from only 7% of people unsure of their beliefs in 2000 to nearly half unsure by 2020, making it the fastest growth of irreligion anywhere in North America during this time.
These challenges lined up with Wes and Lexi’s calling perfectly. Statistics brought them to Pittsburgh in 2020, but it is a great love for the people that truly established them in Pittsburgh for the long haul.
Since planting Travelers Church with only 3 adult followers of Jesus, a couple dozen people have come to faith in Christ. Several thousand have gained respect for our reputation as a church that is a safe place both for those who have never been taught the truth of the Scriptures or been in a church and also for those who have history with Jesus but have never been discipled and learned how to live on mission.
Wes and Lexi have four children, ages from 9 to 1 year old!
Pre-Conference Breakfast with Church Ambassador Network & Communio
Tuesday, October 6,
7 - 8 a.m.
Join the Church Ambassador Network in a special breakfast featuring Communio, a nonprofit ministry that trains and equips churches to share the Gospel through the renewal of healthy relationships, marriages, and the family.
Communio’s shared goal with a church is Christ-centered. Their objective is to help you bring more souls to Jesus Christ by evangelizing and discipling relationships and marriages. Marriage has been central to God’s plan for humanity from the beginning. Communio serves you to make marriage central to your church.
Communio is not another program. Rather, they equip your church with a proven strategic framework, 21st-century data tools, and a ministry game plan that helps you put members of your church – and those in your surrounding community – onto a growth journey toward healthier and holier relationships. Communio helps you and your leadership team select, promote, and run large, attractional community outreach events that flow people into ongoing engagement, and ultimately into skill-based relationship ministry.
This event is generously sponsored by the Pennsylvania Family Institute.
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
― 2 Timothy 1:7
Conference Schedule:
How to Register
Early Bird and Pre-Register
Early Bird registration closes at 11:59 pm on Sunday, September 13. You may still pre-register until 11:59 pm on Tuesday, September 29. After that, you may register at the door starting at 8 a.m. on the following Tuesday morning.
Pre-Registration Link
Messengers
Each church is granted a number of messengers, predetermined by Cooperative Program giving, Annual Church Profile completion, and church size. Messengers will receive ballots and will vote during the business sessions.
Guests
Visitors are welcome to attend all sessions but cannot vote during the business session.
The Baptist Resource Network extends a hearty thank you to our Accelerate Conference sponsors and vendors.
Accelerate Conference Vendor Opportunities
The BRN is pleased to provide high quality vendor packages for our annual gathering of churches. Do you or someone you know want to an exhibitor for the conference? If so, check out our vendor package, which details all the many ways we can acknowledge you before our many churches. (Please note: Approved SBC vendors receive a discount.)