2026 Leadership Summit
PROCLAIM HIM: Bearing Witness to the Good News of ChristWe are looking forward to gathering at Crossway Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for the 2026 Leadership Summit, November 11–13. We are praying and planning for this time to be a joyful season of life-giving fellowship and refreshment in the Lord's presence as we gather around this year's theme: Proclaim Him: Bearing Witness to the Good News of Christ.
Isn't it true that we do what we do because we believe we are who we are? Jesus made it clear in his final words before his ascension—we are his witnesses.
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
One of the church's greatest privileges and responsibilities is to bear witness to God's saving work through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Every follower of Jesus is a witness. Every pastor is called to "do the work of an evangelist" and to faithfully “equip the saints for the work of ministry.” Empowered by the Holy Spirit and sent by Christ, we proclaim him—from the pulpit, around the dinner table, in the marketplace, and in our neighborhoods. We proclaim him because he alone is the hope of salvation.
If we're honest, we all know there is room to grow in shepherding our churches toward a culture of joyful, confident evangelism.
Many members of our churches carry a deep burden for lost friends, family members, neighbors, coworkers, and classmates. They long to see them come to Christ but often struggle to know how to begin the conversation. There is frequently a gap between the desire to be Christ's witness and the confidence to speak as his witness. They need our help—and we need one another's help as we seek to equip them faithfully.
That is the aim of this year's Leadership Summit.
Together we want to renew our own passion for evangelism, deepen our confidence in the power of the gospel, and become better equipped to lead our churches in "always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you."
I know this is what we all long to see: congregations that know the gospel, delight in the God of the gospel, are transformed by the power of the gospel, and boldly bear witness to the saving message of Jesus Christ.
We are excited to learn from several of our own TFC pastors, and we are especially honored to welcome missiologist, author, and professor J.D. Payne as our guest speaker. His teaching will be drawn from his outstanding book, Understanding Evangelism: Biblical Foundations, Historical Developments, and Contemporary Issues.
We are also delighted to welcome Dr. Nathan Sasser, who will deliver this year's Phil Sasser Lecture on Pastoral Theology, titled "The Defense of the Faith," focusing on the vital role of apologetics in Christian witness.
We're also grateful to have Tom and Robyn Scott from The Center for Biblical Living with us again. They will be available throughout the Summit for on-site counseling and will lead their exceptionally practical marriage refresher sessions. We encourage you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity for care and encouragement. Sign-ups will be available as we get closer to the event.
As you make plans to attend, I hope your wife will join you. One of our goals is for this Summit to refresh and strengthen both pastors and their spouses.
J.D. Payne - Guest Speaker
J. D. Payne serves as the Thomas Welby Bozeman Chair of Christian Ministry, Professor of Christian Ministry at Samford University. Prior to this, he was the pastor for church multiplication with The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama. Before moving to Birmingham, he served for ten years with the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and as an Associate Professor of Church Planting and Evangelism in the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also directed the Center for North American Missions and Church Planting.
Learn more about J.D. on his webite.
Nathan Sasser - Guest Speaker
Nathan Sasser will be bringing the 2026 Phil Sasser Lecture on Pastoral Theology. Nathan currently serves as Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Head of the Humanities Department at Greenville Technical College.
Schedule
Check-in will open at 4 PM with a Fellowship Dinner to start at 5:30 PM. The conference will conclude on Friday at Noon. A fuller schedule will be relased in October.
Registration
Registration for the 2026 Leadership Summit is required for those who are attending.
- Registration: $200/person
- Early Bird Discount of $25/person if registered before October 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Lodging
There are several hotels in the greater Lancaster area, as well as Airbnb options.