March 14–15, 2025

Friday 5:00 PM - Saturday 1:00 PM

Westside Baptist Church

900 Bellaire Blvd • Lewisville, TX

The Leading Up conference is designed to give tools, training, and techniques to pastors and parishioners to be effective leaders in the local church.

Participant registration Sponsor registration

Keynote Speakers

Bryan Carter

Oscar D. Epps, Sr.

Brooklyn Williams

Facilitators

Patrick Bradley

Michael Mainer

Krystle McDonald

Phil Miller

Robert Purvey

Schedule

Friday, March 14

5:00 – 7:00 pm  Registration/Exhibit Hall Open
7:00 - 8:10 pmConference Kick Off - Worship Session #1

Saturday, March 15

8:00 – 8:30 amRegistration/Exhibit Hall Open
8:30 – 10:00 am Plenary Session
10:05 – 10:55 am  Breakout Sessions #1
11:05 – 11:55 amBreakout Sessions #2 
12:05 – 1:10 pmWorship Session #2

Breakout Sessions

Faith without Borders: Reaching and Retaining Beyond the Church Walls

Krystle McDonald

This course is curated to equip church leaders with practical tools to engage and grow their online presence so that more people are reached, and their church membership is expanded. In this session, you will learn how to create interactive worship experiences during your livestreams and build strong hybrid connections beyond Sunday services. Completion of this course will ensure you have the knowledge to help your congregants, both in-person and online, feel valued and connected to the church community.

Kingdom Business

Michael Mainer

Join us for an in-depth session on Kingdom Business, where attendees will gain practical insights and best practices in:

  • Financial Record Keeping: Learn to maintain organized, accurate and compliant financial records.
  • Payroll Do’s and Don’ts: Understand the essentials of payroll management, including proper employee classification and tax compliance.
  • Exempt vs Non-Exempt: Clarify the differences between these employee classifications to avoid costly errors.
  • Housing Allowance: Discover how to structure and document housing allowances for ministers effectively and legally.
  • Retirement Planning: Explore strategies for securing your financial future with tax-advantaged retirement plans.

Equip yourself with the tools and knowledge to manage church finances with excellence and integrity.

Worship Experience Toolbox

Patrick Bradley

This class will focus on some guidelines for the Worship and Creative Arts Ministry. It will offer fresh ideas for the worship experience and will focus on how the music and message should tie in together.

Training and Deploying the Troops

Phil Miller

Conference attendees will learn how to assess, plan and implement a training strategy for church leadership. Highlighting the value of an annual training event in the life of your church. 

WAVE Student Conference Synopsis

Robert Purvey

The WAVE Student Conference is a dynamic gathering designed for students and adult youth leaders from predominantly African American churches. Its purpose is to inspire and equip participants with strategic tools, innovative concepts and renewed hope to empower the next generation. Through engaging sessions and impactful discussions, WAVE fosters collaboration and leadership development for a brighter future.

NextGen Leaders Class Synopsis

Robert Purvey

The Next Gen Leaders Class at the African American Leadership Conference is a transformative experience for emerging leaders. This class provides practical strategies, mentorship and vision-focused guidance tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities within African American leadership contexts. By cultivating innovation and fostering collaboration, it prepares the next generation to lead with excellence and purpose.