Our keynote speaker is Rev. Dr. Lisa Baroody Culpepper.

Lisa lives with her husband Dr. David M. Culpepper in Lexington Kentucky. Lisa and David have two young adult children, Lauren Cohn and Daniel Culpepper.

Lisa is a graduate of Furman University (BS, 1979); Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Master of Divinity (2007); Doctor of Ministry, Mission and Cross-Cultural Studies (2013).

Lisa has pastored several churches in New Harmony Presbytery, South Carolina. She has also served as a conference presenter and speaker for Wee Kirk and the Association of Small Membership Church conferences. As a trustee of The Outreach Foundation, Lisa has traveled annually to Lebanon and Syria, from 2014-2019.

Her cross-cultural exposure includes growing up in a Lebanese family and being surrounded by the Arabic language and hospitality. She has followed her great-grandfather in ministry as he served as a Presbyterian minister in Lebanon in the early 20th century. She has been involved cross-culturally for many years through participating in and leading short-term mission teams to Latin and Central America, Eastern Europe, and most recently Lesvos Greece, where she served in Moria refugee camp.

Since moving to Lexington in January 2020, Lisa has been affiliated with Kentucky Refugee Ministry and Peace Catalyst International and serves on the Church Development and Revitalization Ministry of Transylvania Presbytery.

Meet Dr. Phyllis W. Sanders.

Phyllis is the Vital Congregations Coordinator and Commissioned Pastor Evangelist for Trinity Presbytery in Lexington, SC. She is also an experienced educator, mediator, and arbitrator; Licensed Professional Counselor, National Board Certified Counselor, and Board Certified Coach. She served as the Associate Director for SC’s Office of AdvancED International Systems and School Accreditation. She has served as national and international trainer and consultant. She loves to play golf.

She has her own personal “Wisdom Club,” with members ranging from ages 80-102 years old. They give her wisdom, love, and much laughter. She founded a prayer ministry 17 years ago called PAWS4Prayer, An Annual Prayer Breakfast Retreat. She loves to write, and is the author of the book, “From Prayers to Peace: It All Begins with Faith.” She is a member of Northminster Presbyterian Church PC (USA); serves on the Synod of Atlantic Permanent Judicial Commission and serves on the Board of Self Development Of People for PC (USA). Her greatest love: God! Her greatest fear: God! She and Maurice Sanders have two adult children, Maurice, Jr. & Phylisha, and two granddaughters, Tiara & Lily Isabell Sanders.

Meet Phillip Morgan.

Phillip serves as Director of Music at Central Presbyterian Church in Louisville, KY. Recently, Phillip has been invited to lead music in worship and present seminars on African American sacred music at several national gatherings of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) including the Presbyterian Women Annual Gathering, the Association of Presbyterian Christian Educators Annual Event, Big Tent, the Presbyterian Youth Triennium, and the Music and Worship Conferences at Montreat sponsored by the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, an organization of which he has served on the Executive Board of Directors. Dedicated to preserving the music traditions of African-Americans in both worship and concert, Phillip is the President of the Kentuckiana Branch of the National Association of Negro Musicians. He is also a member of the Louisville Chamber Choir and has performed as a soloist with the Louisville Orchestra, the Choral Arts Society, and the Kentucky Opera.

Meet Gad Mpoyo.

Gad was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is the Organizing Pastor of Shalom International Ministry, a cross-cultural New Worshiping Community led by immigrants and refugees located in Clarkston, Georgia, perhaps the most ethnically diverse city in the United States. He is also the Southeastern Associate for 1001 New Worshiping Communities in the Presbyterian Church USA. Gad is currently pursuing his DMin at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Meet Carlton David Johnson, a native of Atlanta GA.

He received his undergraduate degree from Emory University. Following a 25-year career in Project, Operation, and Client Services Management, Carlton returned to the academy to receive the Master of Divinity at Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary and, more recently, the Master of Theology (Homiletics) from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

Carlton serves as the Associate Director of Theology, Formation, and Evangelism for the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA). He previously served as Chief Operations Officer for Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary.

Carlton is an associate minister at the First Afrikan Presbyterian Church in Lithonia, GA. He is a board member of the First Afrikan Presbyterian Church Community Development Corporation, the Presbyterian Pastoral Care Network, and NEXT CHURCH (Strategic Planning Team). He is a regular contributor to the Presbyterian Outlook monthly magazine.

Carlton and his wife Cara split their time between Atlanta, GA, and Louisville, KY.

Seasons of Change: An Opportunity to Create and Re-Create; Think and Rethink Church Change

Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (NLT)

Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven… (NLT)

Change is inevitable—foreseen and unforeseen.   American singer and songwriter, Sam Cooke sang about it in his song, “A Change is Gonna Come.” Well, it has made its way to our churches. The pandemic, without our consent, extended an invitation to Mr. and Mrs. Change, and they accepted it. This interactive workshop is designed to introduce you to the Change family, equip you for managing change, and empower congregational leaders to participate in new ways to grow, glow and glorify God in Seasons of Change. Please come to this session with one area of ministry in mind that you desire God to create or re-create as a result of a need to serve, witness, and or worship with greater vitality.

Workshop led by Dr. Phyllis W. Sanders.

What Smaller Congregations Can Learn from the Work of 1001 New Worshipping Communities

“Using the lens of 1001 New Worshipping Communities, Rev. Gad Mpoyo will explore pathways to flourishing of small congregations as they rethink church in a new way.  Gad Mpoyo wonders, in these changing times, if small congregations can seize this moment as an opportunity to chart a new path and identify ways to engage in partnership, relationships, and cross-bridges as they participate in what God is going in the community.”

Workshop led by Gad Mpoyo.

Matthew 25: To Serve This Present Age

To serve the present age, my calling to fulfill;
Oh, may it all my pow’rs engage to do God’s will!

These lyrics from the hymn “A Charge to Keep I Have” remind us that God provides vision and provision for us to serve the age in which we are called.  Furthermore, God calls the church to respond with all of our power and all of our resources.  The Matthew 25 Vision is an invitation for Presbyterian congregations, mid-councils, and other related organizations and agencies to actively engage in the world around them. Both the 222nd and 223rd General Assemblies (2016 and 2018) called on the PC(USA) to act boldly and compassionately to build congregational vitality, dismantle structural racism and eradicate systemic poverty. Come learn more about how your congregation can truly be identified as vital in the eyes of your community.

Workshop by Carlton David Johnson.