Pastors & Church Leaders

Join other leaders in this special mini-track designed specifically for pastors and church leadership. Hear wisdom from years of experience in ministry and orphan care.

These sessions are led by pastors, designed for pastors & church leaders and open to all attendees. To join these sessions, sign up for these sessions when registering.

Download this invitation to invite your pastor

The Biggest Challenges Facing the Orphan Care Movement

Dr. Russell Moore, Southern Seminary

The number and energy of Christians to “defend the cause of the fatherless” continues to grow, from adoption and fostering to global orphan care. But alongside this good news also come major challenges that threaten both the long-term viability and the Christian integrity of the movement. If the Christian orphan care movement is to continue to thrive, we address these vital issues boldly with both truth and grace.

Growing a church that Mirror’s God’s Heart for the Orphan

Dr. Russell Moore, Southern Seminary

A pastor’s desire should go much deeper than simply seeing more families foster, adopt or support orphan care. Ultimately, we want to see God’s heart for the orphan reflected in the very culture of our church. For this, we need to pair practical ministry opportunities with compelling teaching, stories, and theology that touch every aspect of our church’s life. Hear in personal and practical ways how one senior pastor has sought to make this vision a reality.

Orphan Care Adoption and Abortion – Developing a whole life culture

Johnny Carr, Bethany Christian Services

It is impossible to separate the issue of abortion from adoption and orphan care. We will discuss balancing grace and truth when preaching on abortion and creating an environment that women with unplanned pregnancies feel like they will be able to receive grace and support when choosing life and not abortion.

The Forgotten Part of James 1:27

Dan Cruver, Together for Adoption

This breakout session will consider how the gospel creates and sustains orphan care ministry. Without the gospel, the danger is that orphan care ministry will be a mere flash in the pan & not a permanent movement. It’s through the gospel that God does his redemptive work. So, the gospel must be central to the orphan care movement. Join us as we explore the Gospel’s power to sustain orphan care ministry.

Discipling and Orphan Care in the Local Church

Rick Morton, Faith Baptist Church (Barlett, TN)

How do make orphan care and adoption a focus of your local church and avoid it becoming an “add-on” ministry that for only a select few passionate individuals? How can we seek to integrate care for the fatherless into strategy for helping people to follow Jesus through the local church? Join Discipling Pastor and co-author of the popular orphan ministry book Orphanology Rick Morton to explore this topic to discover practical ideas for you and your church to make orphan care and adoption an integrated part of the discipling strategy of your local church.

Biblical Counseling and a Successful Orphan Care Ministry

Daniel Bennett, Bethany Community Church

You’ve begun an orphan care ministry in your church! Orphan Sunday was a smashing success! Children have been adopted. Foster kids have been placed in your church! And now things are falling apart. Moms are in tears as they struggle with loving their new children. Dads are struggling to keep their frustrations in check. Children are reeling as they adjust to their new families and past traumas. The pastoral staff can’t keep up with the demand on their time. …..This breakout session explores how a strong and vibrant Biblical Counseling Ministry strengthens a church’s ability to minister to families who are caring for the fatherless. The basics of how to develop a Biblical Counseling Ministry and train lay counselors will be a primary focus.