This will be a first-class event unlike anything we’ve seen in our area. Whether your church is flourishing, feeble, or about to close the doors, you will be equipped and encouraged by some of the best revitalization practitioners in the SBC.
Mark, Bill, and Rusty aren't big city mega-church guys. They speak the same language we do. They’re not trying to sell a program “guaranteed” to grow your church from 15 to 5,000 overnight. These men don’t just talk and teach about church revitalization—they’re living it and have the scars to prove it. Based on their experiences, they will simply show us how God can bring new life to our churches.
In addition to the fantastic speakers, we are blessed to be led in Appalachian Worship by Chosen Road. Having led worship in hundreds of churches, from tiny country churches to multi-site mega-churches, God has given Chosen Road a heart for church revitalization. Every year, they spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ across America and around the world through their Bluegrass/Americana music. You will be blessed by their love for Jesus and His churches.
On Friday evening, you will enjoy a catered meal and a continental breakfast on Saturday morning. Because of Parkview’s limited seating, we will cap registration at 120—so register early to ensure your spot. Registration is FREE—which is made possible because of the generous contributions of SBC of Virginia.
Join me in praying that God will bless this conference to spark a wildfire of church revitalization and revival throughout our Appalachian region and beyond!
Senior Director of Replanting, North American Mission Board
Mark Clifton is the Senior Director of Replanting at the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Mark has served as a pastor, church planter, church revitalizer, mission strategist, coach, and mentor to young leaders. He has planted and replanted numerous churches and has also served as a national and regional leader for church planting and missions.
His experience includes serving as the lead mission strategist for the Kansas/Nebraska Southern Baptist Convention, leading church planting efforts in the regions of North Metro Atlanta, GA, serving as a church planter in Montreal, Quebec, as a Southern Baptist National Church Planting Missionary for eastern Canada, and has led Southern Baptist church planting projects west of the Mississippi. Mark has been planting, replanting, and providing strategic mission leadership since 1978.
Mark and his wife Jill live in Kansas City, Missouri and have two sons, two daughters in law and three grandsons.
Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Athens, TN
Adjunct Professor, Southern Seminary
Bill Henard was called into the ministry when he was a senior in high school and served his first paid staff position at age 18. Henard pastored his first church while in college at age 20 and has been pastoring ever since. Bill and Judy got married while in college. He thoroughly enjoys his family and is extremely proud of his children and grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf, writing, and serving on the faculty of Southern Seminary.
At Southern Seminary, Bill has been teaching classes on Church Revitalization for several years, both at the Master’s and doctoral levels. It is through his research and teaching that he has published 2 books on church revitalization. He also has developed a desire to consult with churches regarding this important task.
Lead Pastor, Liberty Baptist Church, Appomattox
Revitalization Strategy Leader, SBC of Virginia
Rusty Small serves as Revitalization Strategy Leader for the SBC of Virginia. He also has served as lead pastor at Liberty Baptist Church in Appomattox, VA for over 10 years. Rusty has served in Christian education, Christian counseling and in local church ministry. In Christian education, he has taught introductory classes in New Testament and Theology and has also taught in the graduate program. His passion area is the use of the Old Testament in the New Testament (especially in the Gospel of Matthew). He is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Chosen Road was established in July of 2009 when a group of friends came together to do more than just make music. Being raised in the mountains of southern West Virginia and western North Carolina each member has developed a profound love for the music they were raised on. From this love has stemmed a sense of responsibility to share bluegrass music with potential fans around the world. Most importantly, the guys developed a love for Jesus Christ the day they trusted in Him as their Lord and Savior. The realization of the saving grace offered by Jesus Christ is what keeps these young men on the road. Traveling full-time, Chosen Road presents the Gospel of Jesus Christ through bluegrass music in churches, fairs, festivals, and other venues over two hundred and fifty times per year. Their approach to sharing Christ through the music they love is quite different than most. The only reason Chosen Road travels is to bring glory to Jesus Christ. Their presentation of the Gospel though song is stripped of entertainment value and presented in a genuine heartfelt manner that places the focus on the only one who deserves it, Jesus Christ. Throughout their 10 years of ministry, Chosen Road has shared the message of Jesus Christ to millions as they have traveled across the United States, Scotland, France, and Ireland.
Sponsored and supported by:
SBC of Virginia, West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists, Mountain State Baptist Association, and East River Baptist Association