NOBA Summit 2025 Show Notes

Ken Whitten

Title: National Director of Pastoral Leadership 

Organization: NAMB 

Website: https://www.namb.net/pastors/  

About: Dr. Ken Whitten serves as the National Director of Pastoral Leadership at the North American Mission Board, where he encourages and equips pastors and churches toward gospel-centered health and impact. He spent 33 years as Senior Pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church in Florida and has served in numerous national SBC leadership roles. A passionate mentor and expository preacher, Ken is known for his heart for pastors and his deep partnership with his wife of 48 years, Ginny. 

Presentation Title: “Running on Empty” 

Presentation Description: Discover how God uses the enemy’s attacks to refine and strengthen our faith. Though sifting brings hardship, it’s a powerful tool God uses to shape us for His purpose. This session will encourage and challenge you to trust God’s process, even in the toughest times. 

Presentation Recording: https://youtu.be/5LUPf3tM7J8?si=vTEWq84nH1K7GfXo 

Contact & Social Media:   

Ken Braddy

Title: Director of Sunday School & Network Partnerships/Lifeway Christian Resources 

Organization: Lifeway 

Website: https://kenbraddy.com/ken-braddy/  

About: Ken Braddy is the author or co-author of 13 books on Sunday School and group ministry, and he hosts the Disciple-making in Community podcast. He writes at kenbraddy.com, the largest blog focused on ongoing group ministry in the U.S. A seasoned trainer and consultant, Ken also served as director of Lifeway’s 42-member adult ongoing curriculum team from 2010 to 2020. 

Presentation Title: “Time-Preneurship” 

Presentation Description: Learn to make wise decisions about how to calendar our time using time blocking, time boxing, and time batching. Everyone seems to need help in organizing their priorities and calendars! 

Presentation Recording: https://youtu.be/DhoC0e5wxgM?si=mJVzfBaBPrdOjXVw 

Contact & Social Media:   

Resources & Links:  

Mark Dance

Title: Director of Pastoral Wellness 

Organization: Guidestone 

Website: https://markdance.net/ 

About: Dr. Mark Dance leads pastoral wellness initiatives for GuideStone Financial Resources and the Care4Pastors Network. He previously served as a lead pastor for 30 years and as Associate Vice President at Lifeway. Mark is the author of Start to Finish and lives in Dallas with his wife, Janet. 

Presentation Title: “Taking Sabbath Seriously” 

Presentation Description: Sabbath is still as relevant today as it was at the dawn of creation when God modeled it for us and gifted it to us. Mark will share biblical and compelling reasons to take Sabbath seriously.  

Presentation Recording: https://youtu.be/BC7UZjuhRaA  

Contact & Social Media:   

Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-Dance/author/B0C6L1D1S7?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1746712902&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=556e895a-450b-4798-850a-a58e3db3e167

Mark Clifton

Title: Executive Director of Church Replanting & Rural Strategy 

Organization: NAMB 

Website: https://www.namb.net/church-replanting/ 

About: Mark Clifton serves as the executive director of church replanting and rural strategy at the North American Mission Board and is a visiting professor of Church Ministry at Midwestern Seminary. With ministry experience dating back to 1978, he has led church planting and replanting efforts across North America, including Canada and the U.S. South and Midwest. Mark is the author of Reclaiming Glory, cohost of the Revitalize and Replant podcast, and a frequent contributor to ministry publications. He and his wife, Jill, have two sons and four grandsons. 

Presentation Title: “Reversing Church Decline” 

Presentation Description: Discover the key reasons that churches experience drastic decline and learn how God determines to reverse that decline and give these churches the best future they’ve ever had. 

Presentation Recording: https://youtu.be/NH0F7SIhXro  

Contact & Social Media:   

Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-Clifton/author/B01LXV92KO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1744910370&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=6bc25c94-27ec-4b10-bf84-e4b2cc8abdf5 

Neal Hughes

Title: Director of Missions 

Organization: Montgomery Baptist Association 

Website: https://mgmbaptists.org/speaker/nh/ 

About: Dr. Neal Hughes serves as the Director of Missions for the Montgomery Baptist Association, returning to the role after eleven years with the North American Mission Board as South Region Director. He has pastored churches in Alabama, Georgia, and Texas and holds degrees from Samford, Southwestern Seminary, and Liberty University, where he earned his D.Min. with distinction in Church Revitalization. Neal is passionate about leadership development, church history, and SEC football, and he and his wife, Mary, have three adult children and two grandchildren. His life verse is Philippians 3:10. 

Presentation Title: “Transitioning Churches” 

Presentation Description: There’s no single formula for guiding a legacy church forward. Neal will share five unique transition stories from the Montgomery community, highlighting creative strategies an AMS might consider for church revitalization, repurposing, and replanting. 

Presentation Recording: https://youtu.be/2FDO-lYGAc8 

Presentation PowerPoint  

Contact & Social Media:   

Ed Stetzer

Title: Dean and Professor; Teaching Pastor 

Organization: Talbot School of Theology, Biola University; Mariners Church 

Website: https://edstetzer.com/ 

About: Dr. Ed Stetzer is the Dean of Talbot School of Theology at Biola University and serves as Scholar in Residence and Teaching Pastor at Mariners Church. A prolific author and global ministry leader, he has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches, trained leaders on six continents, and written extensively on church and culture. He is also the Regional Director for Lausanne North America and Editor-in-Chief of Outreach Magazine. Ed frequently contributes to major media outlets, including USA Today and CNN. 

Presentation Title: “State of the Church” 

Presentation Description: In his session on the state of the church, Ed Stetzer will analyze current trends, challenges, and opportunities for growth, offering practical insights for leaders navigating today’s complex ministry landscape. 

Presentation Recording: https://youtu.be/YDY3Rdzi22Q  

Contact & Social Media:   

Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ed-Stetzer/author/B001JP8EUI?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1746712828&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=98857e55-4754-45d3-aee7-f368d9f21ca4