Event Info
We will continue to update the information below as more details about the conference become available.
Schedule
Pre-Conference
Sunday, May 3
(Optional by Location)
Monday, May 4
Topic-Based Conversations
Topic-Based Conversations
Travel to North Point Community Church
Day 1 • Monday, May 4
Evening
Day 2 • Tuesday, May 5
Morning
Trusted Vendors • RSVP Required
Afternoon
Evening
Day 3 • Wednesday, May 6
Morning
Trusted Vendors • RSVP Required
Afternoon
Speakers
Our main session and keynote breakouts will feature leading voices in our network along with some fresh outside voices to inspire and challenge us.
Andy Stanley
Author, communicator, and pastor Andy Stanley founded Atlanta-based North Point Ministries in 1995. Today, it consists of eight churches in the Atlanta area and a network of more than 225 churches globally that collectively serve hundreds of thousands of people each week. He is considered one of the most influential pastors in America.
Joel Thomas
Joel Thomas is the executive director of NPM, providing point leadership for the NPM Directional Team. Joel began his ministry career as the first intern of North Point Ministries in 1998, then served in college, singles, and married adult ministries before becoming the lead pastor of North Point Community Church in 2011.
Joe Suh
Joe Suh is an engineer with over 25 years in Silicon Valley, spanning big tech and his own startups. In 2023, Joe started Pastors.ai as a side project to explore how AI could practically serve the Church; it now provides free AI tools to over 3,000 churches each week.
Julie Bullock
Julie is a senior generosity consultant with Generis, a team of professionals who coach and influence churches and other faith-based organizations across the country in generosity development. She has led over 450 major giving initiatives for churches and organizations of all sizes and worship styles all across the country.
Phil EuBank
Phil EuBank serves as the Lead Pastor of Menlo Church, guiding campuses throughout Silicon Valley, in the heart of the Bay Area. With over two decades in ministry, Phil helps the church navigate the digital frontier without losing its human soul. He writes and speaks on the ethics of AI, exploring how we can use technology without being used by it.
Ryan Burge
Ryan Burge is professor of practice at the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis. Before that he was an associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University for 13 years. He has authored over thirty peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, along with six books about religion and politics in the United States.
Steele Billings
Steele Billings is the President of Gloo AI. Steele's team at Gloo is responsible for fostering innovation across the faith ecosystem by investing in and incubating next generation faith technologies.
Steve Cuss
Steve is the author of Managing Leadership Anxiety: Yours and Theirs and The Expectation Gap and also a columnist and host of Christianity Today’s Being Human podcast. Steve founded Capable Life to help people lower anxiety, break stuck patterns and increase wellbeing in the work place, home place and in your faith.
Pre-Conference
Sunday, May 3 • Tours
Kick off ICC with a behind-the-scenes experience built to ignite your creativity. Tour a campus, sit with staff, see ministry in motion, and walk away with fresh ideas you can apply back home. Each Sunday tour includes lunch and intentional conversations with the team. Please choose one of the five locations below you want to explore.
Monday, May 4 • Group Discussions
Come ready to engage in customized, next-level conversations with leaders who understand your world. We’ve designed this experience as a smaller, more intimate setting where you can ask hard questions, share ideas, and discover practical ways to move your ministry forward.
Morning Discussions
Featuring: Joel Thomas, Frank Blake (Former CEO of Home Depot), Sean Morgan (The Ascent Leader), Tim Tassopoulos (Retired President and COO of Chick-fil-A)
Because how you leave determines what you leave behind.
Every leader eventually hands off the mission. Hear from pastors and marketplace leaders who have observed, facilitated, and lived through succession. Learn what makes transitions healthy, strategic, and legacy shaping.
Featuring: Rick Holliday, Sean Seay, Annette Harvey, Matt Johnson
Growing generosity by utilizing both vision and discipleship.
Wondering whether it’s time for a capital campaign? Hear leaders explain how to know when it’s time, what they’ve learned, and how it’s changed their approach to generosity. This session will give you clear, honest, actionable takeaways you can apply as you build a culture of generosity in your church.
Featuring: Brice Thurman, Eli Thurman, Kevin Kubandi, Beth Brady, Ian Sullivan
The best ideas spread when leaders share what’s actually working.
Student ministry is shifting fast. This session takes an unfiltered look at the practices, environments, and strategies producing real engagement as well as the ones leaders need to rethink, reinvent, or retire.
Featuring: Kendra Fleming, Gina Ragsdale, Zach Tinner, Billy Phenix, Darren Swift
Change doesn’t stall because people dislike new ideas. It stalls because of the fear of the unknown.
Whether your team is struggling, leadership is shifting, or you’re trying to become more outward facing, navigating change is never simple. This session unpacks how to diagnose the real issues, rebuild trust, communicate clearly, and create momentum when everything feels stuck. You’ll leave with a 90-day game plan for leading through uncertainty with courage and clarity.
Afternoon Discussions
Featuring: Dennis Latimer, David McDaniel, Jim Gallagher
When leaders feel supported, vision accelerates.
Come for a “nothing off limits” conversation with seasoned elders who understand your world. Learn how you can champion an outward-facing mission, support pastors under pressure, and lead through challenging seasons.
Featuring: Rick Holliday, Lane Jones, Chris Patton, Jeff Jones
There’s more than one way to expand your reach—what’s the best path for your church?
Church expansion isn’t a formula; it’s a discernment process. Hear from leaders who have planted churches, launched campuses, merged, hit pause, and even reconsidered their models. They’ll share what shaped their decisions, the surprises and challenges they faced, and the lessons they wish they’d known sooner.
Featuring: Gina Ragsdale, Tracy Stonecheck, Dane Viker, Mandee Young
If you want to reach new families, experiment like your mission depends on it.
Families want connection, but finding the right on-ramp can be tricky. Join us for this discussion as leaders trade real-world outreach ideas, share what’s working (and what isn’t), and explore simple environments that open the door for new families.
Featuring: Kendra Fleming, Bekah Kirby, Kevin Starner, Andy Jones
Real ministry gets messy, so let’s talk about the stuff you shouldn’t have to navigate alone.
From tough parent conversations to volunteer issues, sensitive cultural topics, and student crises, family ministry leaders carry a lot. This interactive session creates space to name the hardest issues you’re facing and learn from the wisdom of others. Submit your topics in advance and come ready for honest dialogue and practical, field-tested solutions.
Breakouts
Our breakout sessions will feature key leaders inside our network, along with thought leaders outside our network, to encourage and equip you and your team in the important work we’re doing together to create irresistible churches.
Breakout registration is open! Download the ICC 2026 App and select your breakouts.
Breakout Session 1
Tuesday, May 5 • 9:00–10:00 a.m.
Speakers: Bill Willits, Todd Baughman, Lisa Alvino
How do you create a strategy that helps adults effectively and meaningfully connect, grow, and change? We will look at the core principles and practices for creating a strategy that helps adult attendees do just that.
Speaker: Billy Phenix
Everyone wants a healthy staff culture, but not everyone has a plan to build one. Learn the systems we use to survey, onboard, equip, and train staff.
Speaker: Steve Giddens
In today’s world, ministry is happening everywhere, all week long. Come explore the best opportunities gained from digital connection, and hear what we’ve learned.
Speaker: Tracy Stonecheck
Look behind the scenes and learn more about the logistics, curriculum, safety procedures, and highly engaged leaders that help us create an experience that preschoolers and their parents love.
Speaker: Steve Cuss
Steve Cuss is a pastor, former chaplain, and founder of Capable Life which helps people lower internal and relational anxiety in the work place and home place.
Speakers: Brice Thurman, Jean Sohn
Explore the strategies and environments that reach, connect with, and develop middle and high school students.
Speakers: Joel Thomas, Sean Morgan
Point leader succession is never easy. If you are considering, living through, or recovering from a transition, these success stories may provide much-needed answers.
Speakers: Phil EuBank, Josh Robertson
If you're currently multi-site or just considering it, these 10 principles will help you avoid pitfalls and raise your level of effectiveness.
Speakers: Reed Moore, Jamey Dickens
Point-leaders are responsible for the focus of the organization. How do you keep it outward facing? These principles will help build a culture that's always pointed in the right direction.
Breakout Session 2
Tuesday, May 5 • 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Speakers: Brad Bretz, Meaghan Gowland, Nick Asolas, Payton Feathers
From idea to execution, the creative process can be challenging. Learn more about the process we use and how it will help fill the gaps and smooth the path to an excellent and effective product.
Speaker: Gina Ragsdale
Learn more about the impact of small groups and caring leaders, the power of teaching truth in a way that connects, and how we create an experience for kids that is never boring.
Speakers: Rick Holliday, Holly Goddard, Jason Robertson, Audrey Eisenberg, Heather Carl, Derek Adye
Gather with North Point and ICN Church administrators for an open conversation around systems, priorities, and strategies for a healthy church. Bring your questions!
Speaker: Vernon Gordon
In Leading Beyond Fear, pastor Vernon Gordon will confront the fears that have hindered your leadership for far too long and show you how to become exceedingly brave in a worry-filled world.
Speakers: Libby Hempen, Curt Trotter
Leaders of adult small groups often find themselves managing tensions. We’ll discuss a variety of common tensions and ways we equip our leaders to handle them.
Speakers: Debbie Causey, Shanda Gunter
Care Ministry is the backbone of effective churches, especially when life is tough. Discover all the ways our Care Ministry serves our church family.
Speakers: Joel Thomas, Phil EuBank, Joe Suh, Steele Billings
AI is reshaping ministry, transforming how congregations connect and engage. It challenges traditional ministry roles, pushing leaders to adapt and redefine church in a rapidly evolving landscape. Will you keep up?
Speakers: Julie Simmons, Angelica Sudduth, Matt Adkins, Angie Weaver, Mike Koslowsky
Sunday is always coming, even if creative ideas are not. We will explore innovative ways to engage, inspire, and challenge the adults in your Sunday services. Come prepared with your questions!
Speakers: Zach Tinner, Deniel Sewell, Stas Williams, Matt Youngstrand, Beth Brady, Larissa Negreiros
More than ever, students are asking challenging questions that deserve good, wise, theologically sound answers. Discover how we’re building a healthy approach to giving them the answers they need.
Breakout Session 3
Tuesday, May 5 • 2:30–3:30 p.m.
Speaker: Ryan Burge
Ryan Burge is an American political scientist, statistician, and former pastor. His insights on trends in the church can help you navigate the road ahead.
Speaker: Cory Lebovitz
We always say the Sunday message begins in the parking lot. Explore the strategies and practices that make great Guest Services teams which are vital to each gathering.
Speakers: Brenda Albright, Amanda Peccora, Angela Parker, Yavonda Johnson
Come explore the world of Human Resources with experts from a variety of church sizes and contexts. Bring your questions about the systems and processes needed to effectively support church staff.
Speaker: Matt Johnson
Inspiring people to follow Jesus remains the mission. Getting people started on the journey requires a strategy. Explore the necessary steps in this incredibly helpful presentation.
Speakers: Kendra Fleming, Jeff Johnson
Great content is what changes Sunday from a fun event into something purposeful. Come explore the faith milestones and strategies designed to grow a child's relationship with Jesus.
Speakers: Beth Brady, Darren Swift
Students change a lot from middle school through high school, and they need a content strategy that changes with them. We'll unpack an approach that is small group centered and designed to help students develop and grow a personal relationship with Jesus.
Speakers: Chad Ward Sr., Chad Ward Jr.
Healthy churches run on great volunteers. We’ve been reengineering how we recruit, onboard, support, and inspire them. We’ll download it all to you.
Speakers: Bill Willits, Lacy Wagler
All churches want to see their attendees grow and change. Clearly defining what that looks like is an essential first step. In this breakout we will identify and discuss key questions to consider in adult formation.
Speakers: Ryan Flora, Josh Bayne
Many churches want a leadership development pipeline but struggle to know where to start. This workshop will help you clarify your needs and build a clear strategy to attract and develop future leaders in your church.
Breakout Session 4
Wednesday, May 6 • 9:00–10:00 a.m.
Speaker: Julie Bullock
Learn biblical principles and effective generosity strategies to help people grow in their journey of giving as they partner financially with what God is doing in and through your church.
Speaker: Brooklynn Warren
Reaching your community means building brands and creating compelling events inside your church as well as out in the community. Hear our strategy for both.
Speakers: Katelynn Moon, Dalton Guynn
It can be challenging to create camps and events that are catalysts for life change and growth while also safe, organized, and smoothly run. Here are the strategies that work for us.
Speakers: Chris Kim, Reece Mashaw
Want to create equipping environments that make an impact? Come see four ways we equip our adult attendees biblically and theologically based on their stage of faith.
Speakers: Adam Johnson, Josh Crain, Jenn Williams, Chris Patton, Matt Noblitt
Join North Point and ICN Lead Pastors for an open conversation around leading a healthy and outward-facing church. Bring your questions!
Speaker: Ryan St. John
Marketing to your raving fans is easy. Convincing the skeptic that you have something to offer is not. Learn great tips for crafting an outward-facing message.
Speakers: Holly Delich, Mandee Young
To reach the next generation, you must reach their parents. Learn how we guide, support, equip, and cheer parents on through every season of parenting.
Speaker: Samer Massad
There are tried and true principles in preaching, but at the end of the day, every communicator has to find their own voice. Come explore how to teach timeless truths in an authentically personal way.