EXPONENTIAL Central: Chicago

AI 101: Get Up To Speed With The Basics of Artificial Intelligence For Ministry – Hosted by Exponential AI NEXT

Learn how artificial intelligence can support your ministry in practical ways. This workshop is designed for pastors and church staff who are new to AI and want to learn how it can be applied in a church setting. We’ll cover the basics, demystify the technology, and provide simple, actionable steps to integrate AI tools into your daily work. Join us to gain confidence and start using AI to enhance your ministry’s impact.

Speakers: Kenny Jahng

Building Your Church for the Digital Future – Hosted by Exponential Digital Church NEXT

Join the team from Lux Digital Church for a 2.5-hour deep dive into the ecclesiology, ideology, and practical strategies needed to prepare your church for an increasingly digital future. Whether your weekend attendance spans thousands across multiple campuses or you lead a small, close-knit community under a hundred, we all face the same challenge: reaching and discipling emerging generations of digital natives with the gospel. This session will equip you with insights and tools to help your church thrive in a hybrid world.

Speakers: Mark Lutz, Andy Mage

Effective Church Planting – Hosted by Outreach

Pre-launch or post-launch, God has the people for your church – but you have to reach them. In this session, we will show you the best cutting-edge marketing techniques to reach your community and grow your church. Marketing from a 360 spectrum. Using a multi-channel approach, reaching out and making use of all the tools available to you. from social media to direct mail to community events to servant evangelism.

Speakers: Tim Speweik

How Can We Do the Greater Things Without the Holy Spirit? – Hosted by Dandelion Resources

If our great ideas, skills, and plans could have got us there, they would have got us there by now! But what we haven’t gone all in on is intentionally embracing the Holy Spirit’s empowering in all things. And what if the stories of the Spirit’s power and activity that we read about in Scripture are meant to be regularly recurring in the life of your church? We think those aren’t just encouraging tales from the past, but are God’s direction for today!

This pre-conference will show you how to expect and experience the naturally supernatural activity of God. You’ll learn diagnostic tools (for yourself and your ministry), ways to begin to transform your culture, wisdom on what not to do, and practical next steps. The goal is to help you expand your church’s expectation and experience of the supernatural activity of God.

Speakers: Alex Absalom, Hannah Absalom

Live a 100X Life: Pursing the Life of a Multiplier Without Losing Your Soul – Hosted by Exponential

Discover how to become a “healthy disciple-making leader who champions reproduction” and maximize your Kingdom impact. Explore practical strategies and Biblical principles for fostering leadership reproduction in your church and ministry, while prioritizing your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.

Speakers: Jason Stewart, Drew Hyun

Refined and Redefined: Navigating Your Calling as a Woman in Leadership – Hosted by Exponential Women NEXT

We know that Jesus called women to be messengers of the Good News! But we know the pathway into that calling isn’t always straight. Our yes to Jesus often includes delays, detours, and divine redirection. Join other women as we have a sacred and honest conversation about some foundational truths about our calling, trusting when it’s hard, and stepping forward in faith. Through scripture and personal testimony we’ll explore how God clarifies, redefines, and sometimes redirects our calling. Whether you’re walking in clarity or in a season of transition, you’ll leave reminded that His call is not only irrevocable, it’s redemptive!

Speakers: Katrina Boatright, Denette Schaer, Sue Ferguson

From Jerusalem to Antioch: How the Global Diaspora is Changing Church Planting – Hosted by Exponential Multiethnic Church Planting NEXT

Very few American church movements understand the push and pull factors of why, in our lifetime, there is such a large and powerful movement of people emigrating throughout the world. Some who pay attention tend to see it as global missions or “ethnic” and “immigrant” church planting. Others see it as “the nations are coming here so we can reach them.” We are on the cusp of a fundamental shift in thinking how church movements will happen in the United States. The speakers in this pre-conference will help participants understand this missiological and practical shift that aligns justice, global missions, and North American church planting models.

Speakers: Daniel Yang, Keith Draper

Unleashing Kingdom Impact Through Collaborative Church-Planting Networks – Hosted by Exponential

Leaders often strive for independence and autonomy in Kingdom work, but this rarely leads to Kingdom success. Many feel tired and frustrated, seeking ways to amplify their efforts. Collaboration brings greater Kingdom impact, connection, and enjoyment, much like the early church did through networks.

This pre-conference will highlight the power of collaboration for Kingdom impact. You’ll gain insights from speakers, case studies, discussions, and have opportunities to learn now to start, sustain, and scale small networks for Kingdom multiplication.

Speakers: Patrick O’Connell, Jon Ferguson