MARCH 1-2, 2027
WHAT IS MOVE CONFERENCE?
WHAT IS MOVE CONFERENCE?
MOVE Conference is a missions conference that brings together pastors, lay leaders, and ministry teams to learn how to engage in God’s mission and network with like-minded people and ministries.
MOVE Conference is back this year as A Missions Conference for the Whole Church, with a continued focus on the Next Generation! Join us as we begin building a missions culture that spans every generation and corner of the church.
The mission is global, and everyone has a part to play.
SCHEDULE
SCHEDULE
MONDAY, MARCH 1
Conference Day 1
9:00AM Registration
10:00AM Main Session 1
11:30AM Breakout Session 1
12:30PM Lunch
1:30PM Main Session 2
3:00PM Networking Time
4:00PM Breakout Session 2
5:00PM Dinner
6:00PM Main Session 3
TUESDAY, MARCH 2
Conference Day 2
8:00AM Breakfast
9:00AM Main Session 4
10:30AM Breakout Session 3
11:30AM Lunch
12:30PM Breakout Session 4
1:45PM Main Session 5
3:00PM Conference Ends
MEET OUR MAIN SESSION SPEAKERS
MEET OUR MAIN SESSION SPEAKERS
Dr. Chris Gnanakan
Meet Chris
Dr. Chris Gnanakan is a Professor of Theology and Global Studies at Liberty University, Director of Leadership Development for Christar, and the South Asia Catalyst for Church Planting for the Global Lausanne Movement. He and his wife, Dorothy, have two daughters, Alethea and Charis, both Liberty University graduates. Chris is passionate about equipping believers through God’s Word, mobilizing them for global missions, and mentoring the next generation of Christian leaders.
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Meet Amir
Hear stories about the persecuted church from a Muslim background believer.
Nathan Shank
International Mission Board
Meet Nathan
Nathan Shank has served with the International Mission Board (IMB) since 2000. He and his wife, Kari, serve as Senior Advisors for Strategy and Implementation. With a passion for seeing churches planted and multiplied among the nations, Nathan is committed to advancing the gospel and equipping others to make disciples among the unreached.
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Meet Heather
Heather is an associate teaching professor at Penn State, speaker, and author. She designs advanced writing curriculum for the English department and loves helping students thrive professionally. She has written eight books, including the bestseller Seated with Christ: Living Freely in a Culture of Comparison, and an award-winning book on evangelism (cowritten with her husband, Ashley Holleman) called Sent: Living a Life That Invites Others to Jesus. Her latest book, The Six Conversations: Pathways to Connecting in an Age of Isolation and Incivility (Fall 2022) helps fight the loneliness epidemic by inviting readers to enjoy better conversations.
Heather also serves with Faculty Commons, the graduate student and professor ministry of Cru. She has two daughters and three cats, and she blogs daily at heatherholleman.com. Her podcast is “The Verb with Heather Holleman.” When she’s not writing or teaching, Heather is growing a plum orchard, looking for turtles in the woods, or gathering with friends for dinner and a movie.
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Meet Edward
Edward Paz planted The Movement Church in Oakland, California in 2013. After 8 years of proclaiming the gospel, making disciples, and serving the city, Edward transitioned the leadership of the church to a new Senior Pastor, and took a role at Hope Church in Las Vegas as their Lead Pastor of Prayer and Teaching Ministries.
Edward has been married to his wife Rebekah for 18 years. His passions include creating/cultivating a culture of corporate prayer within a church, training the next generation of preachers, and encouraging pastors to be spiritually and emotionally healthy.
Edward also enjoys writing. He published “Only God – A Supernatural Church Planting Story” in 2020 and has written extensively at edwardpaz.com.
Dr. Clay Smith
Senior Pastor of Johnson Ferry
Meet Clay
Clay Smith is the husband of his high school sweetheart, Terrica, and is the proud dad of three daughters. The Smiths moved to Atlanta in 2019, wherein Clay became the Senior Pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, a thriving, multigenerational church on the north side of the city. A native of Greenville, SC, Clay’s passion for ministry revolves around the Great Commission, with a focus on three major areas: evangelism, relational disciple-making, and text-driven preaching. Clay loves to help people understand the Word of God so that they might know the God of the Word. He received his undergraduate education at the University of South Carolina and is a two-time graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, holding a Ph.D. in biblical preaching. He has served the Southern Baptist Convention in various capacities, including his role as President of the Board of NC Baptists, as well as serving as a current trustee at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. When time allows, he loves to read, lift weights, fish, find the best cheeseburger in Atlanta, and hang out with his Boykin Spaniel, Waylon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should attend?
MOVE Conference is a missions gathering for the whole church, and it starts with the next generation. Join us as we build a lasting missions culture that reaches every generation and corner of the church. MOVE Conference is for anyone passionate about sharing the gospel locally, nationally, and globally from pastors, church staff, college students, and leaders eager to grow in missions.
How do I pay my conference fee?
Payments are made through credit or debit cards during the registration process.
Can I cancel my registration?
We understand that plans sometimes change. While we cannot guarantee a refund, we will do our best to work with specific situations. All registrations are transferable to another individual. Please contact [email protected] for any questions about registration.
What is included in my registration fee?
Registration for this in-person conference includes access to all main and breakout sessions, MOVE swag, four (4) meals, and digital access to all sessions for 90 days after the conference.
If I attend Johnson Ferry, what part of the conference can I attend?
There are several ways you can be a part of the MOVE Conference. You can register for the full mission leaders conference or be a part of the JF family events. Contact [email protected] for more information.
How is the MOVE Conference connected to Johnson Ferry?
The MOVE Conference is an exciting part of Johnson Ferry’s annual MOVE missions week.
Don’t See Your Question?
Please contact us at [email protected]; we would be glad to help answer all your questions.