Are you a youth leader who wants to see your small group get more involved on Sunday morning? Are you teaching in Sunday School and wanting to help your kids find where they belong in big church? Do you dream of ways to help your young people find their place in the family of God? We’ll explore together what opportunities might exist in your context, encourage each other, share stories, and discover how we can invite young people to find their place and grow to be more like Jesus.

The church of tomorrow will not look like the church of today. As our communities grow more diverse across cultures and generations, pastors and volunteers need new skills to connect meaningfully and lead wisely.

This elective introduces Cultural Intelligence (CQ) as a practical framework for ministry. Participants will explore one sneaky aspect of CQ that will help us bridge cultural/generational differences, read the changing context around us, and build ministries where all people feel seen, valued, and welcomed. Come ready to be stretched, challenged, and encouraged as we explore what it means to lead God’s people with curiosity, courage, and cultural intelligence.

Des Ong is a Project Consultant for The 2035 Project at Baptist Churches SA & NT (BCSANT) and a trusted guide for leaders navigating a complex, fast-changing world. He brings more than 25 years of experience across ASX-listed companies, education, private enterprise and the faith-based not-for-profit sector, alongside 15 years in pastoral ministry, including church planting and service on Baptist boards.

Drawing on Emotional, Cultural and Generational Intelligence (EQ, CQ and GQ), Des helps leaders and organisations move beyond surface-level change toward lasting transformation. Whether facilitating a board retreat, shaping culture or coaching a leader, he is known for his warm presence, intuitive listening and future-focused lens. His conviction is simple: leadership is about stewardship, not status, and the best leaders cultivate environments where people and communities flourish.

If you’re an elder, deacon, or member of church council or board, this elective is for you. How do compliance, strategy and risk management serve the heart of ministry rather than compete with it? How does good governance enable our churches to keep loving Jesus, caring for His people, and following His mission? Tim and Melinda will lead an interactive conversation, including plenty of opportunity for Q&A, about how good governance can fuel good ministry, including what we can learn from governance experience in the not-for-profit sector, as well as the unique challenges and opportunities of governance in a local Baptist church.

Tim Farren is the Chair of the board of BaptistCare, now a national organisation with over 14,000 employees serving over 80,000 clients. Tim’s career is in the financial services industry, and he has been on the board of several church and not for profit organisations. He is a member of Crossway Baptist Church in Melbourne.

Melinda Cousins, BCSANT’s Director of Ministries, is also a member of the BaptistCare board.

Thinking about a future building project, property purchase or refinancing? Join Stuart Campbell and Glen Thornley for an interactive discussion on what it takes to prepare your church for a successful loan application. Rather than a formal presentation, this workshop will be an extended question-and-answer session shaped by the needs and experiences of those attending. Whether you are just beginning to plan or have already been through the process, come ready to share and learn. To help focus discussion on the most relevant topics, attendees are encouraged to email their questions in advance.

Stuart Campbell and Glen Thornley represent Christian Finance Australia Ltd, bringing extensive experience in supporting churches, ministries and faith-based organisations across Australia. As Head of Client Engagement, Stuart leads client relationship strategy and engagement initiatives, while Glen, Relationship Manager for South Australia and the Northern Territory, works directly with organisations to help them achieve their growth, property and funding objectives. Together, they are passionate about equipping ministries with practical financial solutions and insights that enable them to focus on their mission and long-term impact.