Outcomes
Conference

Breakthrough Workshops

These 30-minute presentations are high-impact recorded sessions. The Conference Schedule on the event site will list the times of 45-minute meetings with the faculty that will occur throughout the event.

Personal Leadership Track

Understand how to strengthen your mind, body, and soul for a more significant Kingdom impact. Learn how to lead from the center of God’s will.

PL | Invited by the King: Your Party Posture

We have each been given an invitation to the King’s table, seated at places uniquely and purposefully prepared for us. At times, we need a fresh reminder of the goodness of this blessing and the posture Jesus said would serve us best. This session offers that reminder. Outcomes: 1) Understanding the posture of humility, 2) Renewed focus on contentment, and 3) Developing a discipline of praise.

Faculty: Dr. Courtney Veasey, Founder, Brunch Ministries; Teaching Fellow with The Alexandrian Institute and Union Theological College, Belfast

PL | Good News About Soul Care

Let’s be honest: most of us think of massages, steam baths, face masks, and indulging in a special treat while binge-watching Netflix. But is that really the kind of self-care that will sustain us in the long run? The truth is, it’s a shallow, temporary fix at best. In this session, you discover the good news about how to do it! Outcomes: 1) Self-care as a Christian practice, connected to our relationship with God, society, and creation, 2 ) Tangible steps for integrating self-care into a thriving, guilt-free Christian lifestyle, and 3) Questions to help you reflect for deeper learning and healing.

Faculty: Rev. Dr. Benjamin Espeinoza, Lead Pastor,  Riverstone Church in Rochester, New York

PL | R.E.S.T. You Need for the Life You Lead

Christian leaders are burning out at an alarming rate. R.E.S.T. changes everything. This workshop will share practical ways to change the narrative in life, love, leadership, and legacy. Outcomes: 1) Retreat away with God, 2) Find encouragement in God’s presence, God’s promises, and with God’s people, and 3) Find safety in a vulnerable community and steps towards transformation.

Faculty:  Nathan Lagrange, Executive Director, Oasis Rest International

PL | Difficult Conversations: Move Toward the Funk

This workshop helps leaders transform challenging relationships through biblical principles and practical tools. Discover how Jesus’ command to love becomes your pathway to deeper connection and more effective leadership. Outcomes: 1) Discern how loving God with heart, mind, and soul transforms how we relate to others, 2) Practice ways to respond from wisdom rather than react from wounds, developing self-awareness during conflict, and 3) Apply next steps for transforming one challenging relationship.

Faculty: Andrea Leigh Capuyan, CCNL, Executive Director and Board Member, the LPC (Laurel Pregnancy Center) and Center for Steward Leader Studies

PL | Decision Making that Supports Biblical Unity

As leaders, we make important decisions daily. This workshop explores various types of decisions we make and questions about when, who, and how to make decisions that encourage biblical unity and leverage the gifts of those around us. Outcomes: 1) Recognize the connection between our decision-making processes and workplace culture and engagement, 2) Identify the types of decisions we face and how they are unique, and 3) Follow a decision-making process that supports biblical unity and effectiveness.

Faculty: Jay Bransford, President and CEO, Best Christian Workplaces

PL | Spiritual Attunement for Workplace Flourishing

Experience spiritual attunement and assessment tools that cultivate personal and team flourishing in everyday leadership. Outcomes: 1) Practice spiritual attunement for your real-life leadership challenges, 2) Recognize the relevance of the Human Flourishing Index for your workplace leadership, and 3) Explore the connection between flourishing and attunement.

Faculty: Tracy Mathews, Executive Director, Attune

PL: Running on Empty, Cultivating the Heart

Sustainable ministry flows from a heart rooted in Christ. We will explore the signs of burnout, as outlined in Leading on Empty by Wayne Cordeiro. What are your soil conditions? (Path, Rocky, Thorny, Good) Outcomes: 1) Identify personal signs of burnout and depletion in ministry, 2) Examine the condition of their heart soil considering Luke 8 and Leading on Empty principles, and 3) Commit to one sustainable rhythm or practice to cultivate good soil for lasting fruitfulness.

Faculty: Ramona Davis, CCNL, CEO, Woman to Woman

PL | The Overflow Effect: Fruitful Leadership

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul describes becoming a servant to all to reach many. This workshop explores its relevance for today’s leaders, offering insights, real-life examples, and practical applications for effective leadership. Outcomes: 1) Apply biblical principles of effective leading to foster disciples and followers, 2) Explore multiplicity through servant-leading, and 3) Implement strategic and effective serving of all for maximum outcomes.

Faculty: Dr. Linda Cunning, CEO, New Horizons of SWFL

PL | Built to Last

This is a wellness–driven approach to leading with purpose. Built to Last is a transformational guide for leaders ready to pursue excellence through holistic wellness. Outcomes: 1) To examine our lives across the interconnected dimensions of body, soul, and spirit, 2) To lead with clarity and conviction while maintaining mental and emotional well-being, and 3) To discover how to align your personal health with your professional purpose.

Faculty: Dr. Vicki Harris, Senior Vice President, People & Culture, Mel Trotter Ministries

PL | An Invitation to a Deeper Place

Life is unpredictable, and leaders are forged in challenging times. Is the faith we lean on when we feel confident and secure any less real when we experience hard seasons of uncertainty? This workshop provides tangible practices to transform hard seasons into opportunities to seek a deeper encounter with God. Outcomes: 1) Discover how God uses our pain for good, 2) Discern why praying God’s promises is our way to victory, and 3) Find joy in God’s presence.

Faculty: Gina Holm | Navigators Life & Leadership Coaching

Executive Leadership

Learn to positively influence others’ thinking, behavior, and development for greater kingdom impact.

Executive Leadership

EL | The Secret to Sustainable Growth

You want your ministry to sustain growth, but you discern that worldly strategies and steps cannot deliver it. Participants get a biblical pathway and practical tools for establishing order and oversight that fosters organic growth. Outcomes: 1) Discern factors that contribute to sustainable growth according to the world and from God’s Word, 2) Discover how standards and peer accountability position ministries for sustainability and enduring opposition with agility, and 3) Depart with biblical and practical tools to enhance order, enliven oversight, and encourage organic growth.

Faculty: Dr. Gary Hoag, GTP Founder & GTP Trust Fund Council President, Global Trust Partners

EL | Stop the Spread of Toxic Culture

Toxic workplaces cause lasting damage. But there is an antidote – a curative culture. Ex lore practical steps to transform your organization from toxic to thriving. Outcomes: 1) Discover key elements of a curative culture and top ways to establish a healthy culture at your ministry, 2) Identify how toxic patterns are rooted and established in a culture, and why we fall into such patterns, and 3) Discern the inevitability of conflict and how to manage it in a curative culture.

Faculty: Douglas K. Shaw, Chairman of the Board / CEO, Douglas Shaw & Associates

EL | Learning to Lead through Others

Leaders feel the weight of all the responsibilities and challenges that drive their organizations. Having multiple leaders within your team creates an empowered, engaged culture that reduces stress and advances your strategy. Outcomes: 1) Discover how to recognize leadership potential in your team, 2) Understand how delegating is the best tool to develop others to reach their full potential, and 3) Apply practical tips and tricks to multiply leaders in every organization, regardless of title or position.

Faculty: Lauren Vanaman, CCNL, Executive Director, Aspire Leadership

EL | A Transfer of Trust

Learn how effective succession planning requires more than passing the baton—it demands a strategic transfer of trust across leaders, boards, donors, and mission stakeholders to ensure lasting organizational continuity. Outcomes: 1) Discern how trust drives sustainable leadership transitions, 2) Identify risks when trust is not transferred beyond a key leader, and 3) Apply strategies to align succession with trust across all stakeholders.

Faulty: Dr. Mark L Vincent, CCNL, Executive Advisor

EL | Build Flourishing Leadership with Trusted Feedback

Discover how biblically grounded 360-degree feedback multiplies flourishing leadership. Explore how trust—rooted in Christian character, competence, and chemistry—nurtures transformation, fuels team growth, and strengthens executive influence for kingdom impact. Outcomes: 1) See how trusted feedback multiplies flourishing leadership, 2) Use biblically grounded feedback to develop self-aware, Christ-centered servant leaders, and 3) Build a trust-filled leadership culture rooted in biblical values and servant-hearted collaboration.

Faulty: Al Lopus, Co-founder, Best Christian Workplaces

EL | Leader Care is Ministry Care

The need for increased attention to leader care is difficult to miss. Join leaders from ECFA as we provide practical steps boards must take to care for the well-being of their top leaders. This isn’t just about caring for the leader but also about caring for the ministry’s mission. Outcomes: 1) Understand the 7 essentials for excellence in leader care, 2) Create an annual care plan, and 3) Apply insights gleaned from brainstorming with leaders through roundtable discussions.

Faculty: Jake Lapp, VP of Member Accountability, ECFA

EL | Building Culture the NASA Way

NASA was named “Best Place to Work in the Federal Government” for eleven straight years—due to intentional efforts. Informed by Ephesians 6, these methods have proven to work in nonprofit organizations, too! Outcomes: 1) Measure your organization’s culture and focus on the critical elements that drive success, 2) Engage your leadership to model and drive cultural change, and 3) Build a culture that prioritizes inclusion and innovation.

Faculty: Brady Pyle, Founder & President, Out of This World Leadership

EL | Future-Present: Megatrends Changing the World

What will the world look like in the future? Explore how God’s work is revealed by clear megatrends that will shape the world over the next 50 years. In this session, explore how megatrends in demographics, labor, and religion will impact your ministry. Outcomes: 1) Discover megatrends that will impact ministry work now through 2100, 2) Adapt your long-term strategies for greater kingdom impact, and 3) Develop principles to apply to work you are doing today immediately.

Faculty | Robert Yi, Chief Operating Officer, Global Leadership Network

Board Governance

BG | Boardroom EQ: Strengthening Governance from Within

Discover how emotionally intelligent leadership transforms board culture. Learn to navigate conflict, foster unity, and build resilient governance by strengthening the internal muscles, relationally and structurally, needed for effective, Christ-centered decision-making. Outcomes: 1) Develop internal leadership skills that foster healthy board culture and differentiated leadership, 2) Identify and overcome relational and structural obstacles to board effectiveness, and 3) Use emotional intelligence and communication to resolve conflict and build unity.

Faculty: Dr. Dee Dee Mayer, Sr. Director, Relate Strong, Interim Chaplain, Pepperdine University, Boone Center for the Family

BG | Board Alignment, Culture, and Impact

Discover how board alignment shapes culture, multiplies mission, and builds momentum. Discover practical metrics and a proven tool to measure success and deepen your impact in the community. Outcomes: 1) Identify key signs of board alignment and understand its influence on organizational culture and mission multiplication, 2) Explore a practical leadership tool to build momentum through relationships, communication, alignment, capacity, and execution, and 3) Define meaningful metrics to assess board effectiveness and measure mission impact in the community.

Faculty: Jennifer Boubel, Co-Founder, Managing Partner, ConneXtion Worldwide

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The Stewardship Track

Cultivate the resources and talent God provides with transparency and excellence.

Stewardship of Financial Management

FM | Multiply Financial Access Behind Borders

Lead boldly through the complexities of financial operations in hostile environments. Master FX strategy and tactical compliance methods to safeguard resources and confidently deliver critical funds to frontline teams under pressure. Outcomes: 1) Comprehend foundational legal and compliance steps for operating in restricted or high-risk countries, 2) Implement proven practices to reduce payment rejections and improve international fund deliverability, and 3) Protect your people and organization while maintaining legal and ethical integrity in difficult environments.

Faculty: Brian Divine, Head of Sales & Partnerships, Pangea

FM | Host Your Own DAF Program? y?

Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) continue to grow rapidly and are becoming an increasingly large portion of charitable giving. Nevertheless, many organizations aren’t actively entering the DAF space. In this session, we articulate the benefits of DAFs and steps to starting one. Outcomes: 1) Gain insight into donor benefits of and growth in DAFs, 2) Discover advantages of hosting a DAF program over relying on gifts from outside programs, and 3) Ascertain keys to starting a DAF program for your organization.

Faulty: Bryan Taylor, Chief Investment & Executive Officer, Cornerstone Management

FM | Accelerating Ministry Effectiveness with FP&A

Discover the core components and strategies of financial planning and analysis (FP&A) to propel your nonprofit forward. Using software like Power BI and OneStream, learn how Cru is elevating its finance function. Outcomes: 1) Cover the principles of budgeting, reporting, analysis, and forecasting, the building blocks of FP&A, 2) Discover how Cru utilizes OneStream to expand and modernize its budgeting and forecasting, and 3) Survey simple strategies any nonprofit can implement for data collection, storage, analysis, and dashboarding.

FACULTY: Andy Brown | Director of Financial Planning & Analysis, CRU

Stewardship of Legal and Risk

LR | Fraud Prevention Best Practices Study

This focus group session will cover the results of a national survey of nonprofits and churches relating to fraud within Christian ministries, conducted as part of a Gordon-Conwell doctoral project on Fraud Prevention Best Practices. Outcomes: 1) Analyze the latest data trends specific to fraud in Christian nonprofits and churches, 2) Gain insight from a focus group study of participants relating to the Gordon-Conwell national survey results, and 3) Apply best practice controls for fraud prevention.

Faculty: Nathan Salsbery, Partner and Executive Vice President, CRI CapinCrouse | Chairman of the Board for Christian Leadership Alliance

LR | Management for Christian Organizations

Christian organizations that don’t manage risk limit their potential and allow fear to guide decision-making. Participants get a risk management framework to navigate uncertainty, preserve integrity, ensure sustainability, and turn challenges into opportunities. Outcomes: 1) Explore enterprise risk management (ERM) principles for Christian organizations: risk, purpose, strategy, compliance, and resilience, 2) Be empowered with an ERM framework to manage financial, reputational, operational, and institutional risks, and 3) Apply practical steps for boards and administrative teams to turn uncertainty into opportunity.

Faculty: Dr. Trevor Lui, President & CEO, Global Trust Partners

Stewardship of People Management and Care

PMC | Multiply Resilience Amid Always-On Change

In this interactive session, based on Dr. Armstrong’s original research, participants will challenge outdated change models and discover how the Resilience Quad can multiply leaders’ capacity to navigate, sustain, and apply resilience amid always-on change. Outcomes: 1) Identify how outdated change models no longer meet the needs of leaders and teams, 2) Explain the Resilience Quad as a new, practical framework for navigating today’s environment of always-on change, and 3) Apply the Resilience Quad to your current organizational change environment.

Faculty: Dr. Julie Armstrong, Founder and Principal Consultant, 3H Leadership Consulting, LLC

PMC | Ministry Transitions Without The Wreckage

Terminations, restructuring, and poor-fit hires can wound entire ministries. Th s workshop provides nonprofit leaders with a biblical, strategic, and humane framework for managing employment decisions while preserving unity, clarity, and purpose. Outcomes: 1) Identify key risks and blind spots in common ministry employment decisions, 2) Apply a redemptive process for releasing staff, and 3) Preserve mission momentum through relationally wise decision-making.

Faculty: Matt Davis, President, Ministry Transitions

PMC | Psychological Safety for Trust and Courage

Explore the biblical foundations of psychological safety—truth in love, humility, and mutual care. Build high-trust, high-challenge teams where voice and correction are welcomed and mission-driven accountability leads to effective, flourishing workplace cultures. Outcomes: 1) Explore the biblical basis for psychological safety, including trust, truth in love, and humility, 2) Recognize how safety fosters resilience, feedback, and voice without sacrificing challenge or accountability, and 3) Gain tools to assess and increase psychological safety and voice within your team culture.

Faculty: Aimee Hodges, Consultant and Coach, Best Christian Workplaces

PMC | The 6 Types of Working Genius

The Working Genius model identifies six types of work essential to any project: Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, and Tenacity. It helps individuals and teams maximize productivity by aligning tasks with natural strengths. Outcomes: 1) Identify your Working Geniuses to increase energy, productivity, and job satisfaction, 2) Diagnose team misalignment and reduce frustration by understanding all six types of Working Genius, and 3) Apply the Working Genius model to delegate tasks and lead more effectively.

Faculty: Aaron Stroman, Senior Consultant, Stroman & Associates

PMC | Multiplying effectiveness through the Generations

This presenter-driven discussion with representatives from each workplace generation will give you the insights you have been seeking! Join us as they share their experiences and expectations. Outcomes: 1) Understand what each generation desires to obtain from their ministry/professional experience, 2) Discover how to utilize the best of each generation to make your team stronger, and 3) Consider how each aspect of your organization (communications, benefits, etc.) is received by generations differently.

FACULTY: Vonna Laue | CCNL | Executive Director of Global Services/CFO | TEAM

The Relationship Track

Connect generous hearts to the ministry’s mission and purpose.

Relationships and Resource Development

RD | Accelerating Sustainable Giving Growth

Dave Raley, author of The Rise of Sustainable Giving, shares a proven 7-step blueprint to accelerate recurring giving. Learn how to increase Revenue, retention, and donor value by applying subscription-economy insights to fundraising. Outcomes: 1) Apply a 7-step blueprint to grow recurring giving revenue and donor long-term value, 2) Leverage subscription economy insights to improve donor retention and monthly giving performance, and 3) Identify and activate one quick win to accelerate recurring giving results.

Faculty: Dave Raley, Founder, Imago Consulting

RD | Using AI to Multiply Revenue

Learn practical AI tools and techniques to acquire new donors, engage existing supporters, and move people down the funnel to become monthly, midlevel, and major donors. Outcomes: 1) Gain hands-on experience with AI tools to create more personalized and effective donor experiences, 2) Apply practical advice from experienced fundraisers on how to increase staff productivity using AI agents, and 3) Use a roadmap to implement AI in your fundraising workflows, from email and donor research to campaign testing and segmentation.

Faculty: Jeremy Reis, President, Serving Orphans Worldwide, and Mike Meyers, Partner, Nonprofit DNA

RD | More than Enough: What Does it Take to Thrive as a Christian Fundraiser?

Thriving isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about fundraising. But what if it were possible to approach our work in resource development from a place of flourishing and to see it as a craft to which we have been called? My goal for you during this session is to encourage you. Outcomes: 1) To think biblically about your work in fundraising, 2) to operate as a fundraiser in the power of the Holy Spirit, and 3) to order your priorities to experience more effectiveness and impact in your work.

Faculty: Nathan Jones | President | Youth for Christ Foundation

RD | The Art of the Big Ask

Unlock the secrets of major donor cultivation! Ma ter the art of compelling asks and dive into the minds of generous givers. Supercharge your approach, conquer objections, and sharpen your skills through dynamic role-play. Outcomes: 1) Uncover hidden treasure: Discover techniques to identify prime prospects! 2) Build lasting connections: Master the art of engaging high-impact individuals! and 3) Inspire transformational gifts: Craft compelling pitches that resonate and motivate!

Faculty: Pat McLaughlin | Founder | The Timothy Group

PL | Grant Writing: Research to Results

Discover the basics of grant writing, what you need to get started, and how to research funders. Includes practical tools, a sample grant, and proven techniques to build successful proposals. Outcomes: 1) Understand the essential components needed to begin researching and writing effective grant proposals, 2) Identify funding sources that align with your mission using practical research tools and techniques, and 3) Analyze a sample grant to recognize structure, tone, and what funders look for.

FACULTY: Tammy Briggs | Grant Writer/Consultant | Visionworks, and | Kent Wallace | President/Founder | Visionworks

Relationships through Marketing and Communications

MC | Build a Marketing Dream Team

How should nonprofits structure their marketing functions? Th s session unpacks internal, external, and hybrid models—helping leaders assess capacity, cost, and clarity to choose the right mix and scale for maximum growth and efficiency. Outcomes: 1) Compare internal, external, and hybrid models, 2) Recognize and understand the cost implications of each, and 3) Identify the right model for your growth.

Faculty: Mike Farag, CEO + Chief Strategy Officer, Fervor LLC

MC | Stories That Stick: Why Narrative Moves People

How do you move audiences from content-informed to action-inspired? The power of story. Craft narratives that inspire generosity, deepen engagement, and invite people into God’s unfolding redemptive story. Outcomes: 1) Recognize how neuroscience and theology explain the story’s unique power to engage hearts and inspire action, 2) Apply a practical framework for crafting compelling, emotionally resonant stories that reflect your ministry’s mission, and 3) Create compelling narratives of impact to mobilize donors, foster long-term engagement, and expand influence.

Faculty: Shelley Komoszewski, Sr. Director of Development, Sightline

Relationship through the Internet and Technology

IT | Digital Giving Strategies That Deliver

Discover the latest donor research in online giving trends among faith-based nonprofits. Learn actionable strategies to improve conversion rates, engage digital donors more effectively, and grow your impact through smarter, data-informed online fundraising practices. Outcomes: 1) Get a pulse for the state of online fundraising today for faith-based nonprofits, 2) Discover ways to improve performance of donation forms and monthly giving asks, and 3) Evaluate “upsell” methods to determine whether they’re a good fit for your organization.

Faculty: Amy Sewell, Executive Vice President of Creative Services, Douglas Shaw & Associates

IT | Artificial Intelligence – Productivity & Risk

A former Microsoft Azure Corporate VP and current Bible Study Fellowship CTO will share his perspectives on the impact of AI on ministry productivity, and more importantly, on societal trends that should inspire our work. Outcomes: 1) Apply best practices in using commercially available AI tools in ministry knowledge worker scenarios, 2) Develop a framework for reasoning about technology and societal trends related to advances in AI, 3) Obtain perspectives on the impact of AI on future generations.

Faculty: Tad Brockway | Chief Technology Officer | Bible Study Fellowship’

IT | AI, Data and Governance

​Data and AI facilitate informed decision-making, but only when people and algorithms can access and trust AI-ready data. Learn from our experiences at Compassion in maturing data and AI governance for ministry successes. Outcomes: 1) Recognize why effective data and AI governance is essential and beneficial for ministry impacts, 2) Determine considerations for planning and implementing effective data and AI governance, and​ 3) Increase interactions and shared discernment, and determine ways to measure success.

Faculty: Dr. Jeffrey Collins | Senior Director of Data & Analytics | Compassion International

Multi-Session Learning Experiences

Select multi-session experiences for a more comprehensive learning and application.

The Shepherd as Leader with Holly Culhane | Founder and CEO of Presence Point Ministry (Seven sessions)

Believing the need to shepherd well is universal, and this godly leadership principle applies everywhere we influence, these plug-and-play experiences allow small groups to explore this biblical responsibility in a highly interactive setting. The seven-part video series will enable you to proceed at your own pace. Outcomes: 1) Position shepherding as a biblical leadership approach, 2) View provision, protection, and presence as critical responsibilities of genuine shepherding, and 3) Establish absolute surrender to the Father as a requirement to be an effective, godly shepherd leader.

Downloadable resources available in 13 Languages : English | Amharic | Spanish | French | Portuguese | Bangla | Arabic | Swahlli | Russian | Ukrainian | Hindi | Korean | Farsi 

The Multiplication Factor (Five Sessions)

Christian Leadership Alliance presents five Christian ministry leaders who describe the multiplication factor that comes as we seek God’s best plans. Outcomes: 1) Learn from the stories of challenge and victory, 2) Understand the path to thriving, 3) Discover what leaders do to stay centered on God’s will for their life and ministry.

Alliance Insight Module (AIM) Employee Development: Equipping Your Team

Do you want to equip your teams for success? In his Alliance Insight Module, you will gain insights into developing people to maximize their potential and help them fulfill their purpose. Explore ways to get to know your team well and equip team members for success. Consider what we can learn from Jesus’ model for developing potential. You will also discover why leadership coaching is an integral part of a staff development program, and how to do it well.

More coming soon!

Note ther may be program updates- the final list will appear in the click-and-go event program.

Special Live Presentations

We offer live experiences throughout the two-month event. The event will be listed on the Conference Schedule inside the Event Experience. You can view the entire calendar and save events you want to join directly to your calendar.

We also record these presentations and will make them available to you inside the event platform. No one ever has to miss anything. Of course, when you attend the live events, you will have an opportunity to engage with the presenters and ask questions!