WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE!
The SENT Conference is more than just an event—it’s a shared moment for churches, leaders, and mission-minded believers to come together and be equipped for the work God is doing in our neighborhoods and across the world.
This event is our way of investing in you—leaders who are passionate about reaching people with the hope of the gospel. Whether you're just beginning to explore missions or are already leading thriving outreach efforts, our desire is that today would refresh, inspire, and challenge you.
Throughout the day, you’ll have the opportunity to hear from experienced leaders, engage in meaningful conversations, and join breakout sessions focused on local missions, global missions, and church planting. Each session is designed to provide practical tools and real-life insight to help you and your church take your next faithful step in living on mission.
CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Dr. John Mark Harrison
Dr. John Mark Harrison is the pastor of First Baptist Concord in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he leads with a passion for inspiring people to follow Jesus. He desires to make a lasting impact for Christ by building strong families, strong churches, and strong communities. Dr. Harrison and his wife, Brigitte, met in college and have two children, Cade and Mia. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Samford University, as well as a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. His ministry journey has included roles at Second Baptist Houston, Biltmore Church, and Apex Baptist Church. Additionally, Dr. Harrison serves on the board of Carson-Newman University and as a trustee of the North American Mission Board.
Dr. Matt Carter
Dr. Matt Carter currently serves as the Vice President of Mobilization for Send Network, the largest church planting network in North America. Matt was the Founding/Lead Pastor of The Austin Stone Church, that under his leadership grew to 8000+ active attendees and sent over 300 full-time missionaries unreached people groups. Matt holds a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Seminary and earned a Doctorate in Expositional Preaching from Southeastern Seminary. Matt is married to Jennifer who has been a source of strength and support throughout ministry. Together, they are proud parents to three adult children, all of whom walk steadfastly with Christ.
Dr. Paul Chitwood
Dr. Paul Chitwood was elected president of the IMB in November 2018. He previously had served as executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention since 2011. For 18 years prior to that, Chitwood served as the pastor of local churches of varying sizes in Kentucky. During his pastorates, he served as chairman of the International Mission Board’s trustees from 2008-10, part of his tenure as an IMB trustee from 2002-10. A native of Jellico, Tenn., Chitwood is a 1992 graduate of Cumberland College and earned the Master of Divinity and Ph.D. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a master’s degree in nonprofit administration from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame. He served as a faculty member of the seminary between 2002 and 2018. He and his wife, Michelle, have four children.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Conference Check-In
EXPO Hall Open
Location: Worship Lobby
Opening Session
Speaker: Dr. John Mark Harrison
Location: Worship Center
Break
EXPO Hall Open
Session 2
Speaker: Dr. Paul Chitwood
Location: Worship Center
Lunch
EXPO Hall Open
Location: Gathering Space
First Breakout Sessions
Location: Various
Break
EXPO Hall Open
Second Breakout Sessions
Location: Various
Break
EXPO Hall Open
Closing Session
Speaker: Dr. Matt Carter
Location: Worship Center
EXPO Hall Open
EXPO Hall Open
Location: Worship Lobby & Gathering Space
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Healthy Local Partnership
Led by: Michael Clark
Part of effective engagement in local missions is knowing how to be a great advocate, collaborator, and friend to local ministries in your area. Come learn about best practices as well as pitfalls to avoid as it relates to being a church that partners well with local missions ministries.
Neighboring as Mission
Led by: Brandon Kennedy
How do we help believers see their neighborhoods as mission fields? How do we help them overcome the garage-closed, backyard mentality of life in their communities and become people who live and minister among the lost that surround them? Join us as we explore the root causes of why so many don’t know their own neighbors, and what is being done to move Christians from being good neighbors that keep their lawns mowed to GOSPEL neighbors that love others well.
Disaster Relief as Mission
Led by: Terry Webb + Stanley Roach
Join us for a conversation between Terry Webb (Concord DR Director) and Stanley Roach (KCAB Director of Disaster Relief) on how churches can join the efforts of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and become churches with certified SBDR teams who are able to respond with immediacy to disasters around the country and what Gospel impacts these teams have in their work.
Churches that Plant Churches
Led by: Dr. John Mark Harrison + Trevor Lovingood
As Paul discipled young believers, developing them into leaders to plant new churches, so do we want to be churches that know the primacy of being churches that plant new churches and raise up new leaders. Join Dr. John Mark Harrison and Trevor Lovingood (Planter and Pastor of Ever Church-Denver) as they discuss the biblical call to be about kingdom expansion through church planting.
How to Partner Well with Church Planters
Led by: Austin Mathis
Being a church planter can be exciting, challenging, fulfilling, and isolating - all at the same time. As leaders in the local church, we have the opportunity to stand alongside these brothers and their families as they labor in the harvest fields. While financial support is certainly one of the ways we can (and should) do this, there are so many different ways we can support and partner with church planters, their families, and their teams to see communities and cities reached with the gospel. Join Austin as he shares his story and provides some of the ways Church Planters need other local churches as partners in this important work.
Mission Trip Planning
Led by: David Creswell
Many find the task of planning a mission trip for their people daunting. Questions buzz from “Who is handling logistics?” to “Who should be on this team?” to “How can this trip be gospel-centered and not just voluntourism?” Join us for this breakout as we discuss effective processes for developing and executing short-term mission trips as a church that blesses your body and the ones you go to serve.
Developing a Sending Pipeline
Led by: Chrissy Toth
When we have individuals and families in the bodies of our churches raise their hands and put their “yes” on the table to go. How should the church equip them? Is that the responsibility of the church, or is it the responsibility of the organization they go through? Join us to answer these questions and explore how the local church can become a greater partner in the development and sending of its people alongside mission-sending agencies.
Effective Care for Cross-Cultural Workers
Led by: Ryan & Natalie Polk
Missionaries sacrifice much for the sake of the calling God has put on their lives to go to the unreached of the world. They experience isolation, language challenges, persecution, spiritual warfare, family-adjustment challenges, and more all the while building relationship to share gospel hope with people in darkness. In this breakout, we will discuss how churches can minister in healthy, pastoral ways to their people (or those that they support) that can provide care leading to healthier lives on the field.
Global City Strategy
Led by: Zeth Hill
As we see large migrations of people to major urban hubs around the world, a door of access to unreached people groups continues to open wider and wider for the Western church that would otherwise be unavailable to us. Step into a conversation with missionaries practicing this very strategy of engagement to understand how the local church can be involved in reaching those from places we might otherwise have no access to.
Missions to the Muslim world
Led by: William King, Tony George, Youssef Edward, and Magee Mahani - TC Egypt
Become more educated on what is being done to bring the hope of Jesus to the Islamic world. This session will give you the chance to hear from field workers about how many are coming to faith, how the church is growing in these parts of the world, and how your church can engage Muslims here.
LOCAL ACCOMODATIONS
Staybridge Suites Knoxville, West
11319 Campbell Lakes Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37934
(865) 675-7829
Springhill Suites Knoxville, Turkey Creek
10955 Turkey Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37934
(865) 966-8888
Homewood Suites Knoxville, Turkey Creek
