EVENTS
ZOOM IN: Professional Development for Pastors
As a pastor, you're constantly on the go. You have a congregation to lead, sermons to prepare, and countless other demands on your time. It can be tough to find time to invest in your own leadership development.
That's why we created our one-hour Zoom call training events for pastors. These events are designed to help you learn new skills, refresh your knowledge, and connect with other pastors.
In just one hour, you'll learn from experienced leaders in the field and gain practical insights that you can implement in your own ministry.
Prayer Summit
There is no greater effort we can give ourselves than seeking God for direction and power. Prayer is often overlooked for strategic planning and problem-solving discussions when prayer is precisely what we need most. Often, pastors are pressed on every side for leadership and decision-making and can neglect corporate prayer as a means of God’s power being released.
Converge Great Lakes schedules one day every year where we challenge our pastors to disconnect from their normal pressures and schedule so we can gather together and pray for movement health. Would you set one day aside for this? Gathering with other like minded leaders to seek God’s will for our churches, for our movement, and for the health of the church overall.
We have identified 5 locations so you don’t have to massively rearrange your calendar. There should be a location near you so please plan on joining us at one of these 5 locations.
Summit for the Nations
Location: Faith Fellowship, Marshfield, WI
Cost: $25
Be part of what God’s doing across the street and around the world!
Join us at the Summit For The Nations, where pastors and ministry leaders from across Wisconsin and the UP will gather to discover how their churches can make a lasting, global impact. Hosted by Converge Great Lakes and International Ministries, this one-day event will equip you to spread the gospel cross-culturally in your community and beyond.
You’ll hear from Dr. Abraham Vema, Minister at the United Nations, alongside missionaries from Poland, Senegal, and the UK, as they share insights and strategies for effective international ministry. Together, we’ll explore how to align your church’s vision with global initiatives and send missionaries to the least-reached corners of the world.
Partner with a movement of churches to advance the gospel and gain the tools you need to inspire and lead your congregation into global missions.
Sign up today and take the next step in your church’s mission journey!
Refresh Retreat
Hilton Garden Inn - Wausau, WI
Designed specifically for couples in Converge Great Lakes church leadership. This two-day retreat offers pastors and their spouses a much-needed break to refresh their souls, strengthen their marriages, and build meaningful connections with others in ministry.
Hosted at the serene Hilton Garden Inn in Wausau, WI, the retreat provides a perfect setting for rest, renewal, and inspiration. In addition to insightful sessions led by a dynamic speaker (to be announced), you'll have time to unwind, share experiences, and leave feeling spiritually and emotionally rejuvenated.
Mark your calendars and get ready for a Christ-centered time of renewal, where you’ll leave spiritually refreshed and equipped to strengthen both your marriage and ministry!
Foundations Conference 2025
SAVE THE DATE!
Please mark your calendar to make sure you don’t miss out on this key annual gathering ofour movement churches and leaders to be equipped and challenged.
2024 Converge Great Lakes Annual Business Meeting
Join us online from wherever you are for our Annual Business Meeting!
Agenda:
Welcome
Approval of Minutes
Approval of Ballot
Affiliations/Disaffiliations
Financial Report
Budget Approval
Constitutional Presentation
Close in Prayer
Foundations Conference
The WHOLE gospel for the WHOLE family!
Pastors, Ministry Leaders, and all you wonderful families out there! Let's talk real talk – ever feel like your church is struggling to get the whole family engaged? We get it. It's not just about showing up to programs; it's about living out the gospel every day, together.
Join Us! October 10 - 11, 2024
Community Church
Fond du Lac, WI
Join us at 9am on October 10th before the start of the Foundations Conference to hear from solo pastor rural ministry expert, Karl Vaters!
Guidestone Retirement Webinars
For many years, the Converge Retirement Plan has helped Converge Pastors, church staff, and missionaries plan for their future and build added financial security for retirement. Unlike other plans, participants can enjoy the benefit of lifetime income through a pension, continued housing allowance (even in retirement) and a defined contribution plan to build additional savings. Unfortunately, only about 1 in 5 churches currently participate in this wonderful benefit plan we offer.
We believe that a key reason for our low level of participation by our churches is a lack of understanding of the plan. So, to educate nonparticipating churches, we will be conducting a webinar explaining our plan and the benefits thereof. The webinar will be offered on three different dates and will be open to any Converge church that is interested in learning more about what is currently available.
Meeting 1: Thursday, September 26th at 1 p.m. EST
Meeting ID: 222 890 441 305
Passcode: oGaNnF
Meeting 2: Friday, October 4th at 1 p.m. EST
Meeting ID: 267 926 784 028
Passcode: cjjJHp
Church Planting 101
Location: Northside Community Church in La Crosse, WI
Time: Friday 4pm- 8pm & Saturday 8am - 11:30am
Converge Church Planting 101 is two days of practical training where you will learn the basics of starting a church. This training is a great tool if you’re interested in church planting, starting a church, learning how to start a new campus of an existing church, or if you want to learn how your church can improve the way it ministers to your community. Cost is only $79/person and includes materials and lunches.
You'll learn how to:
Recruit and equip your launch team
Build a financial structure that creates sustainability
Maximize the guest experience
Design a weekend experience that connects with your community
Become a legal entity
Develop an effective marketing plan
Registration ends June 5th!
Find travel and hotel info here.
Refresh Retreat
Registration opens February 1st and goes through April 8th. Early Bird Pricing ends on February 14th, so don’t delay!
5 pm we will enjoy an appetizer gathering with a catered dinner at 5:30 and our first Main Session beginning at 7
Prayer Summit
The 2024 Prayer Summit is an opportunity for pastors in the Great Lakes region to gather together, slow down, and seek God for His power in ministry. Join us for a day of prayer near you!
Cost: $30/person.
Bethany Church - Schofield, WI
Faith Community Church - Hudson, WI
Community Church - Fond du Lac, WI
CrossBridge Church - Ishpeming, MI
Waukesha City Church - Waukesha, WI
Pastors and Boards: Partners in Ministry, Leaders for Transformation
Pastors and Boards set the tone and direction of your church. This partnership between the Lead Pastor and the Church Board defines the culture of decision making and spiritual vitality.
2023 CGL Annual Business Meeting
This meeting is for guests and delegates from Converge Great Lakes churches.
Foundations Conference
Spend two days in the beautiful Chippewa Valley connecting, learning, and getting re-energized around your church's mission and vision.