2023 CHURCH PLANTERS RETREAT

SUSTAIN

“Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.” —Psalm 54:4

If you are a church planter, network leader, Presbytery leader, pastor with a heart for planting churches—or married to any of these—don’t miss the EPC Church Planter’s Retreat. Join us for three days of refreshment, spiritual renewal, fellowship, and practical support for church planters and spouses, October 16-19, 2023 at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Each day provides opportunity for corporate worship, contemplative time, table conversations surrounding current church planting topics, individual and couple counseling, great food, and fresh Rocky Mountain air!

Our theme this year is Sustain as we explore ongoing spiritual health and well-being for church plants and church planters. Teaching and discussion groups will cover topics related to active church planters as well as specific helps for church leaders wanting to begin or grow church planting in their local church, presbytery, or region.

Hospitality is a huge part of church planting. It is more caught than taught. Nightly at our conference you will enjoy a totally immersive experience of hospitality in a beautiful home, with delicious food and drink, and conversation that says—“Welcome!”

Keynote speakers will be our own Tim Johnson, Mike Moses, and Annie Rose. Rufus Smith and Mike Moses will lead our “Senior Leader Cohort” for pastors, church planting networks, and Presbytery church planting leaders.

Use these quicklinks to navigate to the appropriate section:

Main Session Leaders
Worship Leader
Senior Leader Cohort
Registration

MAIN SESSION LEADERS

Annie Rose serves as the EPC’s Director of Ministerial Support & Development, as well as Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of the Rivers and Lakes. Her passion is to encourage and equip healthy leaders for the church. Annie has previous experience as an Executive Pastor, Discipleship Pastor, and in both jail and crisis pregnancy ministries. Annie and her family live in Chicagoland and are a part of Immanuel Presbyterian Church. She will speak on “Sustainable Self Care” on Tuesday, October 17.

Tim Johnson serves as Lead Pastor of The Avenue Community Church, an EPC church plant in Memphis, Tennessee. Tim is a military brat from Mobile, Alabama, where he learned ministry working and serving at his father’s inner-city church. He’s spent the last eight years in Memphis where he planted The Avenue Community Church and still serves as the Lead Pastor. He and his wife, Gina, have two sons and a daughter. He will speak on “Sustainable Motivation” on Wednesday, October 18.

Mike Moses serves as Lead Pastor of the Lake Forest Family of Churches in Charlotte, North Carolina. Planted in 1998 in partnership with Forest Hill Church in Charlotte, the original group of 42 met in a skating rink where Mike preached under a disco ball. Lake Forest now is a family of churches that serves 3-4,000 people in four congregations that are known for their mission activity in the community and around the world while maintaining a singular focus on following Jesus. The Lake Forest Family of Churches is committed to planting a new daughter church every 1-2 years, as well as partnering with several denominational church plants annually. Mike also is an adjunct professor of church planting at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary’s Charlotte campus. He will speak on “Sustainable Leadership” on Thursday, October 19.

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WORSHIP LEADER

Terrell Huntley has spent the past decade serving in different capacities in non-profit organizations, such as Civil Gatherings in West Charlotte, North Carolina. While attending UNC-Charlotte, he embraced his unique life with a speech impediment. It has allowed him to view life differently and speak from that, hence the opportunity to present a TED Talk about how “Vulnerability Saves.” Terrell loves to walk people through life as a Certified Life Coach, and has also launched multiple organizations. Terrell accepts the challenge to push people past themselves. He passionately uses himself, by being vulnerable, as an instrument to bring hope to all people.

Terrell has been married for 8 years to Kemi Huntley, a licensed mental health therapist, and together they have a son named Roman.

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SENIOR LEADER PEER COHORT

Mike Moses and Rufus Smith will host and convene a learning experience for Presbytery leaders, network leaders, and pastors of churches that are currently a church planting church—or are planning to. The group will explore biblical, historical, and practical rationale for being a multiplying church. He will share best practices with discussion on how to form a vision for church planting in an existing church, how to lead a Session to unify around such a vision, and methods of organization and funding for long-term church planting out of an existing church.

The Senior Pastor Peer Cohort will meet Tuesday and Wednesday, and are encouraged to join the Church Planters for Thursday’s sessions. Cost for the cohort is $750 per person ($900 for couples).

Capacity is limited for this Senior Leader Peer Cohort, so register early to ensure your spot.

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REGISTRATION

The cost for active church planters is $100 and $200 for active church planters with spouses for three nights lodging at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs including all meals. Presbyteries are encouraged to scholarship the travel costs for the planters in their presbyteries.

Lodging and meal cost for network leaders, Presbytery leaders, Senior Pastor Peer Cohort participants, and all others interested in attending is $750 per person.

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