2026 Elder/Pastor Conference:
Saturday, January 31, 2026

Three Essential Conversations for Forward-Thinking Leaders:

Gerry Breshears shares hard-won wisdom from decades of leadership development. Real stories about the seasons of preparation, the failures that teach, and the moments when you realize someone is truly ready to lead. The kind of insights only leaders who've walked this path can offer.

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D.H. Shearer reveals the biblical blueprint that guided leaders across the ages. Scripture reveals a consistent pattern of how faithful leaders raised up the next generation. What does this ancient wisdom teach us about modern discipleship? How did the early church think about succession?

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Mike Miller addresses what visionary leaders need to know about the digital age. Technology and AI are reshaping ministry faster than we're preparing leaders for it. What digital wisdom are we passing down? Who understands not just the tools, but their proper stewardship?

 

Every good leader knows this question: What happens when I am gone?

It's the thought that surface in quiet moments, when you're honest about the weight of your calling. Because true leaders don't just think about the next Sunday, they think about the next decade.

You understand that leadership isn't just about your own ministry, but about what endures beyond it. The people you've baptized, married, and buried. The vision God entrusted to you. Stewardship that extends beyond your tenure.

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Here's what wise leaders recognize: The person who could carry your church forward is likely already in your congregation. But potential isn't preparation. Character takes time. Wisdom requires mentoring. Spiritual authority develops through years of faithfulness.  

Consider the pattern: Moses spent decades preparing Joshua. Elijah mentored Elisha through seasons of ministry. Paul invested deeply in Timothy's development. They understood what every faithful leader knows—the greatest legacy isn't what you build, but who you build.

Why are thoughtful pastors and elders gathering on January 31, 2026? Because there is a critical conversation that only leaders who think in generations need to have.

The Northwest Christian Network invites you to wrestle with these questions alongside fellow pastors and elders who share your burden. This isn't about crisis management—it's about the Living Legacy of Jesus and our sacred responsibility to prepare those who will serve long after we're gone.

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The Question That Defines Us

Are you preparing someone to lead the church you love?

The answer to that question reveals how we view our calling. The churches that thrive through transitions aren't lucky—they're led by pastors and elders who saw succession as spiritual stewardship, not administrative afterthought.

Join the conversation about the next decade.

Questions: call or text Mike RJ Miller, 541-639-9992

The Living Legacy of Jesus requires leaders who think in generations.