Pastors & Leaders Conference 2026 - Don’t Miss the Discount
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Benjamin Kreps:
Hey everyone, and welcome to the podcast, where our aim is to connect our global family of Sovereign Grace churches with our Executive Director. Mark, we are very much looking forward to this November, when we will gather once again for our yearly conference — November 11th - 13th. But this is unlike recent Pastors Conferences we've enjoyed, because it's expanded. Talk to us — for those who aren't aware — about the different kind of conference we're having this year.
Mark Prater:
Thanks for asking, because I would love to. The leadership team and I have actually been planning this particular conference, probably for a couple of years. We've put a lot of thought and work that goes into it because, as you mentioned, Ben, it's an expanded conference — meaning it's not just a Pastors Conference. It is a Pastors and Leaders Conference.
We just recognize that there are members of our churches who faithfully serve their church week after week — many of them are behind the scenes. And that is, in many ways, the strength of the church. It's what new people encounter when they walk into a Sovereign Grace church: the service of others. It's how people are cared for. It's how the church functions. We're just so grateful for the leaders in our churches.
This is a Pastors and Leaders Conference where we're really encouraging pastors — and hear my encouragement, guys — bring your leaders to this conference. I know that costs some money, but it will be worth it. And it gives you a chance to be with your leaders on a trip, to experience a conference with them, and then to have them benefit not only from being cared for and encouraged, but also from being equipped. It's something we're very much looking forward to. That's the purpose of it.
And I'm mentioning this today because I want to remind everyone that the early bird discount registration fee — which is a significant discount, and if you're bringing leaders you're going to want to take advantage of this — ends on May 31st. This podcast episode will drop either on Memorial Day or the day after, which gives you five or six days left to take advantage of the early-bird discount. It makes the conference more affordable if you're bringing leaders. Please register, and bring your leaders.
And the benefit is that leaders will realize they are serving their churches alongside like-minded people in other churches throughout the world. I think that will be one of the net effects — and I think they'll be encouraged, strengthened, and built up. So take advantage of the early discount and get registered.
Benjamin Kreps:
We are very excited over at Living Hope, and we've got a bunch of folks we're bringing with us. We're looking forward to having them experience something of what we get to experience as pastors and wives each year.
But as you said, you've been working on this for a couple of years — the leadership team has been thinking, praying, and planning. And so this conference is unlike a normal Pastors Conference, which is really geared more toward pastors and pastoral ministry. There's a lot more going on here. So, what do you have planned for those attending?
Mark Prater:
As you plan and pray, you get very excited about the conference. So I'm very excited for a number of reasons.
First of all, the main session speakers will benefit all of us. We just can't wait to be with John Piper, our guest speaker. He will preach in the last main session on Thursday. By the way, the conference is different this year — it's Wednesday through Friday, because we felt that was better, as leaders have to take time off work. It will start on Wednesday night. CJ will do a Q&A with him after he preaches in that session. If you experienced that last year — whether you were at the conference or watched it online — you're not going to want to miss that.
We've got Piper speaking. We have C.J. preaching again, and we're obviously so excited about it. It's one of those unique opportunities where you have Piper and C.J. preaching at the same conference — I just don't think it's something people want to miss. Other main session speakers: Jeff Purswell, Jared Mellinger, and Jon Payne. That's our main session speaker lineup, and I just can't wait to benefit from those guys.
And then we have several breakout sessions. We haven't had this many breakout sessions in quite a long time — probably not since the Small Group Leaders Conference decades ago. We're really excited about what we've got lined up. Our breakout sessions are in categories of just caring for leaders — like investing in their marriage or parenting. I'm going to do a breakout on spiritual gifts. It's soul care and equipping in some ways.
And then we've got a list of breakout sessions on each of our shaping virtues. Since we build with those, we want our folks to understand them and be equipped in them. And then the third category is ministry-specific breakout sessions — whether you're a small group leader, a worship leader, or in college, youth, or children's ministry. Again, there's a full lineup you'll see when you register online. All of those were specifically thought through and created with our leaders in mind. And we're just really excited about the ways they will serve and encourage them.
Benjamin Kreps:
Well, I'm certainly looking forward to experiencing the fine teaching at the conference — and to the folks I'm bringing to experience it as well. But anyone who's been to one of our conferences knows that the Pastors and Leaders Conference, in this case, will be about much more than just teaching. Talk to us about what people who may be interested in coming can hope to experience.
Mark Prater:
I think there are several things that, again, you plan for and you pray for, but I believe only God can really bring about.
One of those is just getting a glimpse of Sovereign Grace as a family of churches — the bigger view of what God is doing throughout the world. And that is typically experienced through updates we'll have throughout the conference, which we specifically choose and have people share, because they reflect God's goodness toward us and how He is at work through our family of churches throughout the world. It gives you just this bigger vision of what you're a part of — something you can't experience just in a local church alone. You can experience it to some degree there, but this is on a different level, I would say, because we're all there together and we're hearing these live updates together. That's a common experience.
I think the other thing our pastors experience every year — and our leaders will as well — is a sense of unity in gospel ministry and mission. What I mean by that is you return home knowing that there are people just like you, like-minded in terms of gospel centrality, who are doing what you do each and every day. And you're linked with those people because we're part of a partnership, a family of churches committed to doing gospel mission together. And I just think that expands your vision for what you do each and every day — meaning that when you serve in your church each week, nothing you do is mundane. It's very extraordinary in the sight of God, and it's strengthening an entire denomination.
And then lastly, I think the effect of just singing together — with pastors and their wives and leaders and their wives together — there's something just wonderful about that. You experience it every week, every Sunday, in your church. It is a taste of heaven that we experience when we sing to Jesus together. And I think the local church is the pinnacle — don't get me wrong — but a conference setting like that, with other brothers and sisters in Sovereign Grace churches, just strengthens your soul and makes you happy in Jesus, I would say. You leave with a wonderful joy as well. So those are some other ways you benefit from a conference.
Benjamin Kreps:
Wonderful. I'm certainly looking forward to the folks I'm bringing experiencing, in that first session, that first song — when just the roof blows off as we, with one voice, glorify Jesus through our singing. Can't wait for that.
And again, if you've been thinking about registering or signing people up, don't delay. Why would you make things more expensive for yourself? Does that make sense, Mark?
Mark Prater:
No, it doesn't make sense.
Benjamin Kreps:
So sign up for the early bird by May 31st if you want to save a little money. Of course, there are sign-ups after that as well, but save some money and sign up. So thank you, Mark, for your thoughts and for your encouragement. And thank you everybody for checking out the podcast. We'll see you here next week, Lord willing. Bye for now.