Church conferences have the power to inspire and motivate members of your church staff. There’s just something about gathering together with people in similar roles with similar beliefs with the intention of growing, connecting, and becoming a more effective worker for the Kingdom. In fact, an attendee of a recent Hillsong conference even said, “I was inspired to have a bigger vision of what God can do in my life,” while another person said, “I was equipped to be a more effective leader.”

However, without planning and intentionality, church conferences can become spiritual highs that amount to little more than a fun week. Here is a step-by-step plan you can implement to make sure your church staff gets the most out of upcoming church conferences.

Step One: Select the Right Church Conference

It may go without saying, but not every church conference is right for every person. A church communicator probably won’t get much out of a church business administrator conference. Consider your role, your goals, and the mission of the conference before making plans to attend.

Be a Good Steward

Keep in mind that as a church leader you have a responsibility to be a good steward of the position God’s placed you in and the gifts you’ve been given. Attend conferences that will help you grow, push you in areas in which you are weak, and encourage you in areas in which you are strong.

Connect Ahead of Time

One of the best things you can do to select the right church conference is to connect with other attendees ahead of time on social media or in person. They can often offer insight into what to expect, which may help you solidify your decision.

Do Your Research

There are many church conferences out there. Take some time to do your research and look up the ones you find most interesting. Check out this list of the Top 30 Christian Conferences to get started.

Step Two: Be Intentional While Attending the Church Conference

Here are a few things you can do to be intentional and get the most out of a church conference.

Make a Plan

Never attend a church conference or church training blind. Even if you aren’t a planner, it’s a wise decision to look at the schedule ahead of time and know what sessions, breakouts, and church conference workshops you want to attend. This will ensure that you end up in the right place.

Be Flexible 

While you should have a plan, it’s also important that you don’t overschedule yourself. Leave room to make changes, attend different breakouts than planned, and rest when needed.

Find Time to Recharge 

Church conferences can be amazing times for growth, but they can also be exhausting. Use the break from your normal schedule to recharge and refocus on your role. A few ways to do this include grabbing coffee with a friend, taking the time to read or study by yourself, and sightseeing if you’re in a new city.

Bond With Your Church Staff

Hopefully, you are able to attend church conferences with other leaders and staff members at your church. If so, this is a great time to deepen those relationships and create unity within the team.

Don’t Skip the Vendors and/or Bookstore

Lastly, make it a point to visit the vendors and conference bookstore. This is a great place to learn about new software, ministry tools, and methods that may work at your church. Plus, everyone loves freebies and this is usually the place to stock up!

Step Three: Reflect and Act on What You Learned

Church conferences lose their purpose if you return home unchanged and unaffected. Every church conference should encourage you to do something better, start something new, or work to improve an area under your leadership.

Write Down Takeaways

After the conference, look through your notes and compile them into key takeaways. These should be straight forward, big-picture ideas that you want to implement in your role at the church.

Get Started Right Away

Once you have your takeaways, don’t wait to get started. Your to-do list will be waiting for you back in the office, and it’s easy to put your takeaways on the back burner. However, if you make it a priority to create a plan and work towards it right away, you will likely see the biggest impact.

Next Steps

Hopefully, you’re already looking for the next church conference you should attend. In the meantime, be sure to check out Preaching Rocket. This is a revolutionary, step-by-step system designed to take the stress and worry out of creating powerful sermons each week.