Aspiring pastors currently enrolled in seminary or college are invited to the Weekend Workshop to supplement their classroom learning with immersive hands-on mentorship in a vibrant local church.

Established pastors already serving in full-time ministry are invited to the Weekend Workshop to sharpen their convictions and skills necessary for enduring ministry faithfulness.

We are living in days of unprecedented ministry challenges. Younger pastors are inheriting older ministries with outdated ministry models, impractical facilities, and a timeless gospel message more at odds with our culture than ever before. We know our ministries must change to be effective, but what must those changes look like and how can we communicate them effectively? This workshop will focus on how to assess ministry weakness, engage in effective strategic planning, and care for, communicate to, and lead our congregations into future effectiveness.

Heath Lambert (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves First Baptist Church Jacksonville as the Senior Pastor. He is the Lead Mentor for the First Baptist Center for Ministry Training track on Leadership and Revitalization.

Theology is meant to be practical, and rightly understood should be the center of our church’s discipleship efforts. Biblical counseling is a part of the Great Commission of Jesus and involves teaching others to obey everything Jesus taught. The Bible is relevant for the smallest and greatest problems of humanity. Nothing is too hard for the Lord. This track will include a biblical explanation and defense of historic biblical counseling, an exploration into the methods of discipleship, and practical advice on how to deal with typical problems that arise. It is our prayer that you will walk away from this time with a total commitment to the Bible and be further equipped to help others grow in their sanctification.

Ernie Baker (DMin, Westminster Theological Seminary) has served First Baptist Church Jacksonville as the Pastor for Counseling and Discipleship, and now is the Director of Training for Biblical Counseling Ministries Worldwide. He is the Lead Mentor for the Counseling and Discipleship track of the First Baptist Center for Ministry Training.

Today’s worship practices in the church are more varied than they seem and demonstrative of some remarkable opportunities and serious pitfalls. This Weekend Workshop will provide the opportunity to collaborate with others and inquire about better ways to navigate the YouTube-driven musical landscape in the church today. Why something is done is as important as what is done, yet many worship leaders today react to the latest email or social media post with short-sighted decisions to “do” things without asking “why?”. This very special weekend will provide the privilege of joining a small worship leader cohort to engage, interact, and consider a better way to do what matters most.

Scott Connell (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves First Baptist Church Jacksonville as the Pastor of Worship and Music, and also as the Lead Mentor for the Worship and Music track of the First Baptist Center for Ministry Training.

All of the main sessions will be at the downtown campus of First Baptist Church Jacksonville: 125 W. Ashley St., Jacksonville, FL 32202.

The cost for the Weekend Workshop is only $100. That includes all of the sessions, materials, lodging, food, activities, and transportation throughout the event. All you need to do is get yourself to the hotel in Jacksonville by 6:30pm on Thursday, January 16^th, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Because the cost of the Weekend Workshop is so heavily subsidized, we have a simple application before you register for the event. Please answer a few basic questions to make sure this Weekend Workshop is a good fit for you.