news about the denomination The following news items apply to (or affect) the Free Will Baptist denomination scattered across the nation and around the world.To read more about Free Will Baptists and the various departments that make up the national organization, visit www.nafwb.org. Read a brief history of Free Will Baptists in the United States.

Thom Rainer Returns to Leadership Conference

Nashville, TN—Dr. Thom Rainer will return to the 2021 meeting, December 6-7, at Sonesta Nashville Airport (formerly Marriott). Pastors and church and ministry leaders from across the denomination will gather to explore the theme “Equipped for His Work,” with an emphasis on church health.

Dr. Rainer will speak during the Monday and Tuesday evening keynote sessions. The founder and CEO of Church Answers, an online community for church leaders, Rainer also served as president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Before LifeWay, he was a member of the faculty and administration at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he was the founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism.

Rainer is a 1977 graduate of the University of Alabama and earned M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has authored more than two dozen books, including I Am a Church Member, Breakout Churches, Autopsy of a Deceased Church, Simple Life, Simple Church, Raising Dad, The Millennials, Essential Church, and Who Moved My Pulpit?

On Tuesday, a wide range of seminars (see sidebar) will offer practical instruction for 3 for 30: Reach, Train, and Give. A Tuesday evening panel discussion will additionally explore the challenges and opportunities facing Free Will Baptist pastors and churches.

Find regular updates on the conference at www.nafwb.org/leadershipconference.