September 10th, 2026
9 AM – 3 PM
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
EQUIPPING PASTORS & LEADERS
The Southwest Ohio Leaders Conference is a one-day conference that exists to equip pastors and leaders within the church to overcome the unique obstacles and challenges of ministry leadership in the 21st century. In an age of social media-fueled conflict, competing cultural narratives, and increasing hostility towards a Christian worldview, our churches need Christ-centered, Gospel-formed leaders who will stand together as we engage the world with the hope of the gospel and the glory of Jesus. Join us as we worship together in unity, hear from kingdom-minded leaders from around the country, and collaborate with local pastors and ministry leaders familiar with the unique nuances of ministry in Southwest, Ohio.
ABOUT THE THEME
LEADERS CREATE URGENCY.
Confusion about evangelism has left the church with a lack-luster approach to reaching the lost. There is a solution! We must be about the mission of Jesus: “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). That means we must revive missional engagement. A church with a culture of missional engagement will hold the Biblical values of evangelism, share the compelling narratives of God’s story in our lives of change and redemption, and live out the white-hot faith behaviors of an evangelistic church.
Through engaging keynote speakers and thought-provoking breakouts, participants will gain practical tools and theological insights on how every Jesus follower in your church can share the gospel effectively in their community. And we think they all should come if they can with YOU! Key themes will include conversational evangelism, hospitality, sharing a testimony, overcoming barriers to talking about faith, every day evangelism, and creative missional engagement ideas fo your community . Attendees will learn how to integrate gospel-mindedness into their daily lives — at work, with family, and in social settings — while addressing common fears and cultural challenges that can make evangelism feel daunting.
Whether you’re a pastor, small group leader, member, or missionary, or simply someone who wants to share your faith more naturally, this event is for you.
Join us on September 10th, 2026 from 9 AM – 3 PM, as we hear from nationally known speakers who will equip and encourage you and your team to be leaders who raise up leaders. This is a perfect conference for you to bring your ministry leaders (Student leaders, Children’s leaders, Worship leaders, future leaders, and other key leaders) with you as you work to create urgency for the Gospel in the leaders within your church.
Meet Our Speakers
Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr. has faithfully served as the President of The Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary and Boyce College for over thirty years. Under his leadership, Southern
Seminary and Boyce College have risen to the forefront of Christian theological education. Dr.
Mohler is a distinguished theologian and a respected leader within the Southern Baptist
Convention. Beyond his presidential role, Dr. Mohler is the host of three programs: The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview; “Thinking in Public,” a program dedicated to intelligent conversation about frontline theological and cultural issues with the people who are shaping them, & “In the Library,” a longform, in-person conversation with the people creating, shaping, and understanding the culture. He also serves as editor of WORLD Opinions, editing or writing daily commentary on the moral and cultural challenges facing our world today.
Theological Seminary and Boyce College for over thirty years. Under his leadership, Southern
Seminary and Boyce College have risen to the forefront of Christian theological education. Dr.
Mohler is a distinguished theologian and a respected leader within the Southern Baptist
Convention. Beyond his presidential role, Dr. Mohler is the host of three programs: The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview; “Thinking in Public,” a program dedicated to intelligent conversation about frontline theological and cultural issues with the people who are shaping them, & “In the Library,” a longform, in-person conversation with the people creating, shaping, and understanding the culture. He also serves as editor of WORLD Opinions, editing or writing daily commentary on the moral and cultural challenges facing our world today.
As an author, Dr. Mohler has written several influential books, such as The Conviction to Lead; Recapturing the Glory of Christmas; The Gathering Storm, and served as the general editor of the Grace and Truth Study Bible. He and his wife, Mary, reside in Louisville, Kentucky, and are blessed with two children and four grandchildren.
Dr. Stephen Rummage is the Executive Director-Treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention. Stephen has pastored churches in Florida, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Louisiana. He received the Ph.D. in preaching at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and the M.Div. with a specialization in biblical languages from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served on the faculties of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also has authored several books and founded a daily nationwide broadcast ministry which aired from 2010 to 2024. Stephen and his wife, Michele, have one son and daughter-in-law, and a beautiful granddaughter.
Dr. Heath A. Thomas became the 16th President of Oklahoma Baptist University on Jan. 1, 2020. He joined the OBU faculty in 2015, serving as dean of the Hobbs College of Theology and Ministry and the associate vice president for church relations. Thomas also served as interim dean of the Divisions of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Language and Literature, and the Floyd K. Clark Chair of Christian Leadership. Before coming to OBU, he served as director of Ph.D. studies and associate professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
A 1998 OBU graduate, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English literature with a religion minor. He then earned a Master of Arts in Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in Old Testament from the University of Gloucestershire (UK). He also earned a certificate for leadership in higher education from Baylor University in 2016.
He is the author of numerous books, including the newly released, “Reading the Old Testament as Christian Scripture” with Mark S. Gignilliat. Thomas’ books also include, “Habakkuk: A Commentary” (Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary Series) and co-author of “The Minor Prophets: A Theological Introduction” and “The Gospel of Our King: Bible, Worldview, and the Mission of Every Christian.” Passionate about opening up the Scriptures for today, he preaches and teaches regularly, and he has served on staff at churches in Oklahoma, Texas, North Carolina and the United Kingdom.
Dr. Thomas is married to Jill and they have four children: Harrison, Isabelle, Simon and Sophia.
SCHEDULE
8:30 AM
Registration & Check-In
9:00 AM
Session 1
10:05 AM
Breakout #1
11AM - Noon
Session 2
Noon - 1PM
Lunch & Panel Discussions
1PM - 2PM
Breakout #2
2PM-3PM
Session 3
3:00 PM
Dismiss
OUR PARTNERS
“You have heard it said that if you want to go fast, go alone. However, if you want to go far, go together. I say to you this is more than a leadership line, but a leadership truth. Come join us on September 10th and let’s grow together!”
– Jeremy Westbrook, SCBO Executive Director
Now more than ever is a time for pastors and church leaders to stand together. To learn together, grow together, serve together, worship together, and lead together. Don’t miss a chance to join our leaders across Southwest Ohio as we do just that!