2026 NPD Conference Workshops
3:00 PM Friday
Resilient Ministry for Solo Pastors: Matthew Dehnert
Spiritual formation that informs civic engagement: Steven Eng, Advocacy director for NAE
Supporting and Encouraging the Pastor’s Family – A view from Pastor’s Kid: Sarah Nielson and Anne Wright
Missions Focus: Steve Austvold
Pastor’s Wives – Kim Trouten (Pastors wife and counselor at Great Oaks Counseling Center Bozeman MT)
How Credentialing Supports Resilient Ministry: Greg Strand
In the EFCA, credentialing is critical because it is one of the primary ways of safeguarding doctrinal/theological integrity and denominational alignment. Additionally, credentialing is also one of the ways of ensuring accountability of pastors and ministers, especially in today's culture where doctrinal integrity is questioned, and misuse of the pastoral role has caused harm. In this session, we will learn about credentialing, the process, and its importance, both for pastors and ministers and the church.
10:30AM Saturday
Small Group Ministry: Donald C. Guthrie
Financial Planning and Ministry Resilience: Jerry Rich FCMM
Resilience in Christ: Keeping Your First Love, First: Carey Green
Discouraged. Tired. Weary. Burned Out. Stressed. Done.
It’s interesting how often those serving in volunteer or paid ministry roles can feel these things, when what we WANT to feel (and expected to feel, back when we started) is joyful, confident, full of faith, satisfied, and content. In this session you won’t learn the newest approach to spiritual vitality and effective ministry. You’ll be taken back to the beginning. Reminded who has promised to be your life. Encouraged to re-connect with Jesus.
Right Perspectives on Church Conflict – Mark Underkofler, RHMA
Student Ministry: NPD Student Ministry Team
Your Word Is Truth” Vs. truthiness, post-truth, misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and conspiracy theories – Greg Strand
We live in a day marked by a crisis of truth and a crisis of trust, a crisis of content and a crisis of character. This is not only reflected in society, but it is also manifested by Christians and in the church. Our task is to preach and teach the truth of the Scriptures. Part of that also consists of debunking and refuting lies. We will not live by lies, nor will be allow lies to be perpetuated without addressing them. In this breakout we will address the significance of truth, as spoken and lived, contrast it with the various worldly alternatives to truth, and address how we love God and how we love others at this moment in this cultural context by speaking the truth, living/modelling the truth, and encouraging one another to live by the truth.