| Dr. Leith Anderson's Keynote Address "Now What? Leading into Tomorrow" Dr. Francis Tabla's Keynote Address "Intergenerational Approach to Ministry"
Breakout Presentations in Children's Ministry Maureen Berger - KidZ at Heart "Children & Prayer" Be engaged in the practice of Scripture prayer, reflect and discuss a variety of prayer practices, and try out some age-appropriate tools designed to help children speak to and hear from God.
"Beyond Information to Transformation" Help kids get to know God, not just know about him. Learn to balance the knowledge-based focus of your curriculum with practices that help kids build a personal relationship with Jesus. Youth Ministry Nathan Miller, Friendship Church "Discipling Youth Toward Digital Discernment" The way we use our smartphones and devices shape us profoundly. If we are to live “in the world,” but not “of the world” as Christians, how do we monitor our digital diets? And how do we guide students on this journey, as they grow their discernment muscles? In this workshop, we’ll look at the concept of “digital liturgies,” or the way our digital habits form us. And we’ll explore ways to help youth honor God in their digital lives.
"Whole-Life Student Ministry" If our students never miss youth group, but are failing in school, it’s a problem! Effective ministry to students touches more than their “church life.” It addresses their “whole life.” In this workshop, we’ll examine our biblical call to minister to students in all aspects of their life and discuss ways we can live into that calling. Leadership Jeremy Bratcher, Cornerstone Church "Leading Beyond the Mission: Values-Based Leadership in a Post-Covid World" The post-COVID landscape didn’t just shift how we work, gather, or communicate. It reshaped how people think about meaning, connection, and leadership. In this new world, mission statements and strategic plans — while still important — are no longer enough. People don’t just want to know what we’re doing. They want to know who we are and why it matters. The future of leadership is not strategy-first. It’s values-first.
"Values-Centered Outreach" What if outreach wasn’t a program, but a posture? Values-Centered Outreach is a powerful, hands-on workshop for churches and leaders who want to move beyond event-driven evangelism and start engaging their communities in ways that reflect the heart of Jesus. Rooted in your unique values this session will help your team build authentic, relational, and sustainable outreach strategies. You’ll leave with practical tools, fresh vision, and a renewed conviction that people don’t need more noise… they need neighbors who live what they believe. Marriage & Family Natt E. Miller II--MCMA "Christian Marriage & Family in the Era of A.I." In this session, Natt explores the opportunities and challenges of AI integration, offering insights on setting boundaries, fostering emotional intelligence, and nurturing relationships to build stronger, more resilient and godly families in a technology-driven 21st century world.
"Getting Beyond the Permissible: The Benefits of '212' " Natt again considers the transformative power of exceeding expectations, generally, and in marriage and relationships, unlocking potential, and achieving greater impact through spirit empowered personal growth, innovation, and perseverance, inspiring individuals to make a lasting difference in others’ lives, particularly one's spouse.
MCMA ENGAGE 2025 - WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Future Direction for the Church October 4, 2025 Cornerstone Church - 5000 W. Broadway - Crystal, MN 8:00 - Registration and refreshments 8:45 - Welcome & Introdution to the Day 9:00 - 1st Plenary - What Now? Leading into Tomorrow - Dr. Leith Anderson 9:45 - Q & A on Dr. Anderson's presentation 10:00 - Resource Exhibit Break 10:30 - 2nd Plenary - Intergenerational Approach to Ministry - Dr. Francis Tabla 11:15 - Q & A on Dr. Tabla's presentation. 11:30 - Lunch & Resource Exhibits 12:15 - Breakout Session 1 for Children's, Youth, Leadership, and Marriage & Family Ministries 1:05 - Short Break 1:15 - Breakout Session 2 - With same tracks. 2:05 - Short Break 2:10 - Final Plenary - A Final Inspirational Word I SEE YOU! - Matt Stacey, MCMA 2:30 - Dismissal
MCMA ENGAGE 2025 FACULTY
LEITH ANDERSON Leith Anderson’s many interests have included pastoring, teaching, writing, speaking, and leadership. Anderson is the President Emeritus of the National Association of Evangelicals headquartered in Washington, DC, holding this office from 2001 to 2002 and again from 2006 to 2019. The NAE is a multi-faceted association of 40 denominations and many other evangelical organizations. He is also Pastor Emeritus of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, where he was Senior Pastor for 35 years from 1977 through 2011. Leith Anderson speaks frequently at conferences, has traveled to all seven continents and has often been interviewed and quoted by publications and broadcasts including The New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, TIME, Christianity Today, PBS, the BBC, NBC Nightly News, National Public Radio, CNN and others. He served for two years under President Barack Obama on the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. He is a graduate of the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago; Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois (BA in Sociology); Denver Seminary, Denver, Colorado (Master of Divinity); Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California (Doctor of Ministry); and holds honorary doctorates from Cornerstone University, Eastern University and the Moody Bible Institute. His articles have been published in many periodicals and he has authored or co-authored over twenty books including Dying For Change, A Church For The Twenty-First Century, Winning The Values War, Praying To The God You Can Trust, Leadership That Works and Faith In The Voting Booth. Leith and Charleen have known each other all of their lives and have been married to each other most of their lives. They have four children and make their home in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. FRANCIS TABLA Rev. Dr. Francis Tabla is a native of Liberia, West Africa. He Pastors Ebenezer Community Church in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, which he and his wife planted in 2000, and has grown from eight to over seven hundred members. They led the congregation to build a multi-million dollar building. He holds the Doctor of Ministry degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Master of Divinity degree, Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, Bachelor of Theology degree, Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Diploma in Electronics from the Booker Washington Institute in Kakata, Liberia. Dr. Francis Tabla is gifted by God as an evangelist, pastor, preacher, and teacher. He formerly served as Pastor of the Grace Baptist Church in Barnersville, Liberia, taught at the Monrovia Bible Training Center, and Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary. He was also Director of Living Way Baptist Bible Correspondence Course (ministry of the Southern Baptist Mission in Liberia). A West African missionary to the USA, Dr. Tabla preaches across the United States and does revivals, leadership workshops for churches and Para-church organizations. He has been featured in numerous articles and newspapers and on a few television and radio networks. He is author of the book: My Golden Rule (How Men Should Treat Women). In recognition of the impact God has enabled Dr. Tabla to have on the lives of many people at home and abroad, the First Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia, set up the Francis O.S. Tabla Scholarship Fund at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, which is granted yearly to students pursuing the Masters of Divinity degree. Dr. Tabla is married to his high school sweetheart, Pastor Christine Jallah-Tabla. Their union of twenty-seven years is blessed with five children: Francis, Jr., Joshua, Christie, Elijah, and Edward Messenger.
MAUREEN BERGER My lifelong walk with Jesus Christ began shortly before I turned 5 years old through praying parents, faithful Sunday school teachers, and traveling children’s ministers. Since then, God has developed in me passions for kid's ministry, discipleship, missions and training. All these areas of interest are linked as I serve with KidZ at Heart! Though not the longest KidZ recruiting story, my journey took 16 years. God was preparing me with personal and professional skills through many experiences during those years by serving with CEF and in my local church as well as taking numerous trips overseas to visit and encourage missionaries. I was warmly welcomed into the KidZ community in January 2020. As VP of Programs (North America), I oversee the ministry of KidZ in the United States and Canada. It is my joy to train and encourage the North American church to see their kids deeply love Jesus. Home to me is many things! The building I call home is in Minneapolis (Bloomington), Minnesota, USA. The people I call home are my family including my parents and my brother’s family (2 nephews, 1 niece). The church I call home is Berean Baptist (Burnsville) where I worship, serve and fellowship. Two spiritual practices I feel at home in are silence/solitude and scripture prayer. NATHAN MILLER Nathan Miller is the Lead Youth Pastor at Friendship Church, located in Prior Lake and Shakopee, Minnesota. He grew up in Owatonna, Minnesota, and graduated from Crown College. He has served at Friendship Church since 2017 and has had impact on youth and family ministry, in preaching, teaching, and leadership training. Nathan values culture, leadership development, and effective communication in his pastoral work. He comes to the ENGAGE program with the recommendation of senior youth leaders who see him as a model for excellence in his generation. JEREMY BRATCHER Jeremy Bratcher is the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Church, serving since 2019. He holds a masters degree in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Formation from BIOLA University. He is a strategic leader, pastor, and author with over 25 years of experience in Christian leadership and community engagement. He has led revitalization efforts, launched multicultural church plants, and created city-wide initiatives bridging faith, civic, and nonprofit sectors. Passionate about empowering communities and mentoring emerging leaders, Jeremy helps people and organizations move from survival to significance through intentional, transformational strategies rooted in faith and action. Dr. Bratcher has been featured on the ENGAGE program over the last several years with very warm appreciation from the attendees. NATT MILLER Natt Miller in the MCMA Associate Director and is pastor of the House of Wisdom in Philadelphia. He leads the Leadership Empowerment Forum and the Marriage School along with his wife Veronica. Rev. Miller ministers in MCMA Africa, as well, travelling with Executive Director Timothy Johnson. His strengths in teaching, preaching, mentoring, and networking prepare him well as he ministers powerfully in many different kinds of settings. He and Veronica are parents to three outstanding children. He comes with great perspective on marriage and family as he leads his sessions at ENGAGE!
MATT STACEY Matt Stacey is Lead Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Long Prairie, MN – and serves as MCMA Associate Director for Ministry Development. Along with his wife Lori, they are parents to ten children: Luke, Katie, Ted, Paul, Julianna, Jack, Dan, Emily, and the twins Rosie & Josie. Matt is responsible for overseeing the whole ministry at First Baptist with a personal emphasis on leadership and the leadership teams as well as his passion of teaching the Word. His desire is to see everyone grow in a Real Active Personal Relationship with the God of the Universe. Outside of family and ministry he enjoys coaching wrestling, wood working, esp. turning, IH Scouts, and the wild places of the world whether that is hiking, camping, photography, or following a bird dog through the fall cattails.
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