Breakout Classes
There are 3 Breakout Sessions (1 Hr each) with each session running 5-6 simultaneous classes.
Please see below to choose your class for each session.
Sessions
(Select for more description)
1. Re-Enchantment: Engaging the Imagination as We Read the Bible
- Dr. G. Steve Kinnard -
2. Putting Work to Task - Discerning Vocation as Teachers
- Samuel Youngblood -
3. Re-Digging the Wells: Going Below the Debris
- Steve Staten & Talia Laing -
4. Lessons from the Open Sky: David and the Transforming Power of the Outdoors
- Peti Szabad -
5. What Does a Spiritual Director Actually Do? How This Biblical Practice Helps Us Discern God's Voice in Everyday Life
- Shirley Desmond Jackson -
(Select for more description)
1. Here I Am: Teaching from Presence, Not Just Preparation
- Jeanie Shaw -
2. The Spirit-Empowered Teacher: How the Spirit Reproduces the Life of Christ in His Followers
- Ben Hutchins -
3. The State of the Union: Soul Awareness and its Connection to the Almighty
- Karen Morrison -
4. Let The Stones And Papyri Speak: Israel In History And History In Israel
- Jeff Kiel -
5. God and Immigrants: Migration as a Means of Spiritual Formation and Gospel Expansion
- Dr. Robert Carillo -
(Select for more description)
1. Intellect, Impact, Integrity
- Douglas Jacoby -
2. The History of the Women’s Role in the Restoration Movement
- Dr. Jennifer Konzen -
3. Sword, Plowshare, or Tower of Babel: What does AI do, and what does AI do to us?
- Patrick Morrison -
4. Fun & Faith – Spiritual Growth Through Play
- Corina Espejo -
5. Lessons about Grief from the Death of Lazarus
- Steven Collier -
6. Leaving Stuff Behind: Abraham’s Encounter with God as Elohim and Yahweh
- John Iiames -
Session 1
Dr. G. Steve Kinnard has served as an evangelist and teacher in Stone-Campbell churches for over five decades. He is the Educational Director for CHORD Leadership Center. He is the Dean of Bible and Ministry at Mountain Theological Seminary. He is part of the ICOC global Teachers Service Team. He has authored over 25 books, including his own translation of the Greek New Testament into English. He is the editor of Teleios, a journal of holistic Christian spirituality and the director of the Teleios Conference. His latest deep dive is into the theological imagination of the fiction of the Oxford Inklings.
Session # 1
Re-Enchantment: Engaging the Imagination as We Read the Bible
Dr. G Steve Kinnard
This is a lesson on hermeneutics, which is the art of discerning meaning from a text (we will focus on the biblical text). This lesson will go several directions. First, we will explore enchantment, dis-enchantment, and re-enchantment with the goal that we begin to read the Bible with a new lens— the lens of enchantment. Second, we will define Aesthetic Theology and speak to its role in reading the text and thinking theologically. Next, we will also explore our current reading (or non-reading) culture in the church. How do we get our current readers (or non-readers) to embrace enchantment in the text? And, since this is a church building-teachers conference, we will suggest ways teachers can help with this training. Finally, we will answer some questions as to how we can become re-enchanted readers and build an enchanted culture of reading.
Session # 1
Putting Work to Task: Discerning Vocation as Teachers
Samuel Youngblood
This class explores insufficient theological approaches to work common to North American evangelicalism and develops the theological concepts of inaugurated eschatology, the powers, and cruciformity to ignite reflection on work as a significant aspect of the teacher’s spiritual life. The teacher’s alignment of profession with who God is and His plans for creation serves as an example and starting point for teaching others how to patiently and thoughtfully consider work so that the church together may proclaim the inbreaking of God’s kingdom through its diverse vocations.
Samuel Youngblood serves on the teaching team of Jax Church and is co-author with Brett Kreider of His Story: Finding Jesus in Church History.
Steve Staten is married to Tricia, and they have three adult daughters. His education and career span
engineering, theology, twenty-six years of ministry, and consulting for churches and charities since 2014.
Talia (married to Jonathan) Laing is a mother of four, a Social Studies teacher, and a student of Hebrew,
archaeology, and history. At Wheaton College, she was president of the debate team and co-hosted a
radio show. During the summers of 2006-2007, Talia participated in excavations in Ashkelon and Gath.
Session # 1
Re-Digging the Wells: Going Below the Debris
Steve Staten & Talia Laing
Steve and Talia explore important spiritual subjects that have been obscured, covered, or forgotten over
the centuries. Drawing on Talia’s archaeological experience for both biblical insights and metaphor, and
on Steve’s fascination with spiritual lessons from church history, they will examine esteemed figures and
their devotional practices that can inspire our walk with God. This father-daughter duo will also introduce
reflective practices.
Session # 1
Lessons from the Open Sky: David and the Transforming Power of the Outdoors
Peti Szabad
A series of spiritual experiences in the outdoors reshaped my relationship with God, especially as I was studying how David - though a violent warrior - maintained a tender, God‑centered heart. I argue that one key to David’s spiritual depth was the formative power of time in nature, which served as a sacred classroom shaping his understanding of God, himself, and the world. Following his example has profoundly deepened my own spiritual formation, and I hope to inspire you to step into God’s creation and allow it to transform your heart for His glory.
Peti Szabad is a dedicated evangelist with a passion for practical, real‑world learning and biblically grounded teaching and training. He grew up in Hungary and came to faith from an atheist background. He is married to Virag and has two adult children, Robi (25) and Eni (23). Over the past three decades, he has served churches in Budapest, Hungary; Boston, MA; Vancouver, BC; and now leads a new church planting effort in Fitchburg, MA. Peti holds a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Budapest, a Master’s Degree in Bible and Theology from Lincoln Christian University, and is currently completing a Doctor of Ministry at Harding School of Theology. An avid hiker and backpacker, he also leads men’s backpacking trips focused on spiritual formation.
Shirley Desmond Jackson has been a disciple of Jesus for over forty years and serves in the Shepherding and Teaching Ministries of the Roanoke Valley Church in Virginia. She earned her certificate as a spiritual director through Lipscomb University's Institute for Christian Spirituality and is passionate about helping others discern the presence and movement of the Holy Spirit.
Session # 1
What Does a Spiritual Director Actually Do? How This Biblical Practice Helps Us Discern God's Voice in Everyday Life
Shirley Desmond Jackson
Growing in biblical knowledge is vital, but how do we deepen our daily awareness of God’s presence? This session demystifies the spiritual director's role by examining key biblical examples, clearing up common misconceptions, and exploring how a director helps us discern the Spirit's voice. This is ideal for anyone seeking a richer, more contemplative walk with God.
Session 2
Jeanie Shaw is an author, teacher, Christian life coach, and Spiritual Director with more than four decades of ministry experience. She holds a doctorate in Spiritual Formation and Discipleship and a master’s degree in Christian Spirituality and Formation. Her work focuses especially on helping Christians experience deeper life with God and live from that relationship. She is the author of numerous books, including the most recent, The Shared Life of God: How the Trinity and Atonement Invited Us into Healing and Transformation and The Inside of the Cup: Spiritual Formation from the Inside Out.
Session # 2
Here I Am: Teaching from Presence, Not Just Preparation
Jeanie Shaw
Faithful teaching requires careful study and clear explanation, but teachers also need their own living encounters with God. Through biblical examples and reflection practices, this session explores how the teacher’s interior life—attentiveness, humility, dependence, and openness to the Spirit—shapes not only what we teach, but how we listen, discern, and respond to God and those we serve in the moment.
Session # 2
The Spirit-Empowered Teacher: How the Spirit Reproduces the Life of Christ in His Followers
Benjamin Hutchins
The Father sent his Son and Spirit to recapitulate, redeem, and empower humanity for life and ministry with God. This class will examine how the Spirit of God empowered the Son of God, and how the same Spirit empowers the lives of Teachers today.
Benjamin has been recognized as an Evangelist and Teacher and currently serves in the Piedmont Triad Church in Greensboro, NC. Over the last ten years Benjamin has served in campus ministries and church planting in Virginia before moving with his family to NC in the summer of 2025. Benjamin and Melina Hutchins have 2 beautiful boys in the home and a daughter who is with Jesus. Benjamin holds a Bachelor's from UVA, a Master's from RCU, and is a doctoral candidate at Lipscomb University.
I was baptized in what is now the Broward Church in April 1989 as a freshman in college. From 1998–2001, I had the honor of serving with the São Paulo, Brazil church in the Youth and Family Ministry. It was during my time in Brazil that I discovered my love for working relationally with teens, which led me back to school to earn a Master’s degree in School Counseling. I have now served as a high school counselor for 17 years.
In the Triangle Church, I serve with the Mental Health Focus Group and recently had the privilege of leading a group of fourteen women on a three-day silent retreat at a local retreat center. I also serve in the Triangle church alongside my husband, Patrick Morrison, in what he describes as “whatever roles others find useful.” We live in Wendell, NC, with our 21-year-old special son, Daniel.
Session # 2
The State of the Union: Soul Awareness and its Connection to the Almighty
Karen Morrison
The Bible calls us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength—but how can we love God fully if we are disconnected from our own souls? In this class, we will explore what the soul is, consider the health of our “inmost being,” and reflect on how our habits, experiences, and cultural influences shape our connection with God. Through thought-provoking questions, quiet reflection, and a whole-brained reflection exercise, we will create space to listen to the Spirit, identify areas in need of healing and transformation, and cultivate greater awareness of God’s presence within us.
Session # 2
Let The Stones And Papyri Speak: Israel In History And History In Israel
Jeff Kiel
Please join us as we present multiple examples of archaeological finds that support the biblical narrative. We will discuss popular objections to the veracity of the story of Israel as presented in Tanakh and how various discoveries, including many recent ones, have clearly addressed those concerns. Attendees will leave with tools and information to use in their spiritual lives to strengthen their faith and the faith of those around them.
I became a Christian in 1988 as a student at UNC Chapel Hill and have pursued a deeper understanding and relationship with God's word ever since. Together with my wife Patti, we have led family groups in the Triangle Church for over 30 years, where we try to build family and foster a love for in-depth Bible study that helps keep our brothers and sisters rooted and secure in the truths of scripture as we share the wonders of the Bible with our friends. I have a keen interest in the historical aspects of the biblical narrative, and enjoy seeing how God has injected Himself into history time and again to call His people to Him.
Dr. Robert Carrillo was born in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and raised in California. He became a Christian at the age of 19 while attending the University of San Diego, where he also met his future wife, Michele Nabarrete. After earning his bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University, Robert and Michele were appointed to the mission field in Mexico City. Over the next 16 years, they served in a variety of international ministry assignments, helping to plant and strengthen churches in Miami, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Kingston (Jamaica), and New Jersey. Following their years abroad, they returned to San Diego, where Robert led the church for a decade. During this time, he earned a Master of Divinity from Pepperdine University. From 2015 to 2019, Dr. Carrillo served as CEO of HOPE worldwide, overseeing humanitarian initiatives in 53 countries. He later returned to local ministry, serving the Los Angeles church for six years while completing his Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Formation at Fuller Theological Seminary. Dr. Carrillo is an international Christian leader, seminary executive, and nonprofit strategist with more than three decades of global ministry and leadership experience. He currently lives in Madrid, Spain, and serves as Vice President and Professor at Mountain Theological Seminary and as President of The Way Ministry, where he equips leaders worldwide through teaching, spiritual formation, and leadership development.
Session # 2
God and Immigrants: Migration as a Means of Spiritual Formation and Gospel Expansion
Dr. Robert Carillo
Throughout Scripture, migration is more than a backdrop to God’s work. God repeatedly uses displacement, pilgrimage, exile, and cross-cultural movement as instruments of spiritual formation—loosening people from security, deepening dependence upon him, reshaping identity, and preparing them for mission. Those same movements then become vehicles through which God carries his presence,
his people, and ultimately the gospel across cultural and geographic boundaries.
Session 3
Session # 3
Intellect, Impact, Integrity
Douglas Jacoby
Consecrated intellect and genuine integrity are crucial elements in the spiritual constitution of teachers of God’s word. When these are present, we can expect a godly impact—on the local church, the community, and the world.
After 20 years on staff (in four countries), Douglas has been an independent theologian since 2003. He teaches theology, apologetics, and world religions at Mountain Theological Seminary. In addition, he is a writer, podcaster, consultant, and tour leader. During some 50 years as a Christian he has visited 140 nations, and his not-for-profit ministry, IBTM, has provided moral and financial support for thousands of brothers and sisters worldwide. His strong conviction is that when God’s Word is handled with integrity, the impact is revolutionary.
Session # 3
The History of the Role of Women in the Stone-Campbell Movement
Dr. Jennifer Konzen
As a fellowship, we have an important history, specifically from the early 1800s through the 21st century. A part of that history includes the beliefs and practices regarding the role of women. Were women leaders? And if so, in what manner? And what affected those beliefs, practices, and choices?
Jennifer Konzen, PsyD, MBS, LMFT, CST, CCDC.
Dr. Konzen is a licensed marriage and family therapist, has a Master of Biblical Studies, and is the Dean of the counseling program at Mountain Theological Seminary, where she teaches in both the counseling and bible programs. Jennifer is also the director for the Center for Sexuality in San Diego, CA, a certified sex therapist, and a certified chemical dependency counselor. She is a two-time nationally award-winning researcher and an international speaker. Dr. Konzen is the author of The Art of Intimate Marriage, Redeemed Sexuality, The Ransomed Journey: Couples Recovery from Addiction, a contributing-author to Journey of the Soul, and author of articles in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy and the journal Teleios.
Pat (or, Dr. Morrison, when necessary) called Jesus Lord and was baptized in the Orlando Church in 1989. After a career as a software developer, he went on to a PhD in Computer Science, and to teaching software engineering and conducting cybersecurity research. As a lecturer in software engineering and a cybersecurity researcher, he grapples daily with the uses and abuses of AI tools. As a disciple, he grapples with maintaining a spiritual perspective on all things, including technology. He and his wife Karen serve in whatever capacity others find beneficial in the Triangle church.
Session # 3
Sword, Plowshare, Tower of Babel: What does AI do, and What Does AI Do to Us?
Patrick Morrison
The technology of artificial Intelligence ('AI') is having a moment, with authors claiming everything from 'Superintelligence" to "Co-intelligence" to "If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies" for the tools. While some believe AI provides ‘will completely transform society’, others believe it 'more liable to confuse smart people and lead them astray’. In this session, my goal is to help us assess the effects of AI tool use on ourselves, our congregations and on our work as teachers.
Session # 3
Fun in Faith: Spiritual Growth Through Play
Corina Espejo
Discover how integrating play into spiritual development can transform your teaching ministry by reducing stress, preventing burnout, and deepening connections with God and others. This presentation explores play as a spiritual practice—not a distraction—showing how fun enhances Bible learning, strengthens faith, and sustains long-term ministry effectiveness. Learn the mental, cognitive, social, and spiritual benefits of play alongside practical strategies to help you teach more joyfully and effectively.
Corina is a Speech-Language Pathologist who uses play-based approaches in her work with school-age children, families, and multidisciplinary teams including teachers, administrators, psychologists, and OTs. She enjoys bringing insights from child development, social communication, and neuroscience when serving the church, such as her local congregation's teaching team. Corina recently presented at the Stone-Campbell Journal Conference on developmental insights for spiritual formation and shared Bible learning, and she's excited to explore with you how play can enrich church-building teachers and our faith communities.
Steven Collier (MTS) serves as the congregational teacher for the Church of Christ in Gwinnett in Atlanta, Georgia. He and his wife Barbara were trained to facilitate grief journey groups by Tim Summerlin in 2016. They have facilitated several grief journey groups since then. Steve also wrote and presented an exegetical paper on the death of Lazarus in theology school. His most recent personal loss was his mother in November, 2025.
Session # 3
Lesson about Grief from the Death of Lazarus
Steven Collier
Everyone experiences grief during their life (including Bible teachers). The death of Lazarus in John 11 shows us how Jesus responded to the different ways Martha and Mary grieved the loss of their brother. We also see how Jesus wrestled with his own deep feelings. These examples provide guidance for our own grief journey.
Session # 3
Abraham’s Encounter with God as Elohim and Yahweh (Can we expect the same?)
John S. Iiames, PhD
Genesis 1 portrays Elohim as transcendent, powerful, purposeful, and sovereign, while Genesis 2–3 portrays Yahweh-Elohim as immanent, relational, compassionate, and personally engaged with humanity. Jewish interpretation recognizes the importance of holding these dimensions together: reverence for God’s authority and purpose alongside intimacy, empathy, sacrifice, and relationship, since emphasizing either alone can distort spiritual formation. Today we will explore how these perspectives shaped Abraham's life, assess our own tendencies, and consider how we might partner with God in transformation—especially in our roles as teachers and disciples.
John S. Iiames, PhD, is a scientist, teacher, writer, and longtime servant of the church. He spent 25 years as a research biologist with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, studying the effects of natural and human activity on air and water quality. His scientific work has appeared in numerous peer-reviewed journals and academic books. He continues to serve as an adjunct associate professor at North Carolina State University and as an Air Resource Advisor for the United States Forest Service during major wildfire events. Alongside his scientific career, John has served in full-time ministry and in many teaching and leadership roles within the local church. His theological writing has appeared in the Teleios journal. His study of Scripture is shaped by a lifelong desire to understand how God’s justice and mercy, obedience and relationship, truth and grace belong together in the life of faith.