The Long Harbor Southern Baptist Association invites your church, ministry leaders and those interested in serving in Leadership positions to the annual “EMPOWER” Leader/Sunday School Leadership Training event on Saturday, September 27, 2025. We are so excited and blessed to be sponsored by The Baptist Foundation of California this year.
EMPOWER Conference Listing
· Keynote Speaker and Pastor’s Conference Leader: Dr. Brian E. Kennedy, the Pastor of The Mt. Zion Church of Ontario, California and Professor at Gateway Seminary Ontario, CA.
· Pastor’s Conference Leader (Asian Collective): Dr. Victor Chayasirisobhon, Director of Missions, Orange County SBA, Director of the SBC Asian Collective
· Pastor’s Conference Leader (Spanish Session): Pastor Victor Solorzana; CSBC Vice-President and Senior Pastor, Iglesia Vida En Victoria, Bell Gardens, CA
· Prayer is Responding to God’s Invitation to Come into His Presence: Dr. Thomas Bush, Director of Prayer Assist Ministries (Offered in Both Sessions)
· New Ministry Strategy: Dr. Jawane Hilton, Senior Pastor, Brister Baptist Church, Compton, CA, President, California African American Fellowship (CAAF)/ Growing as a Leader: Learning to Live at the Intersection of the Cross: Dr. Cliff Jenkins, Assoc. Prof. of Leadership, Gateway Seminary, Pastor Leadership & Church Planting, Mt. Zion Church of Ontario, CA
· AB506 Compliance and Legal Issues for Your Church to Avoid: Dr. Ralph Neighbour Church Compliance Consultant, for Church West /Financial Planning: Courtney Coates; Senior VP and Chief Legal Officer, The Baptist Foundation of California
· Connecting with the Next Generation - A Mandated Ministry: Pastor Dr. Gentre R. Adkins IV, EdD; Executive Pastor, Faithful Saint Mark Church, Los Angeles, CA /Connecting Youth with the Living Word: Josh Sanchez; Lead Pastor, First Southern Baptist Church Anaheim
· How Does God Use Cultural Collisions? A Discipleship Framework for Cultural Collisions in Complex Urban Settings: Pastor Tommy Forester; Assistant Pastor, One Church Lakewood, Lakewood, CA/ Empowered to Thrive: Pastor Terrance Brooks. Lead Pastor One Church Lakewood, Lakewood, CA
· English as a Second Language: Pastor Gil De La Rosa; Associational Mission Strategist for the Gold Coast Baptist Association; President of the California Director of Missions/ Engaging in Compassion Ministries/CA WMU & Missions - Focused Discipleship: Eva De La Rosa
· How to Teach the Bible: Dr. Gregg Watson; Professor at Gateway Seminary, Ontario, CA/ The Gospel of John: Stanley Evans Assistant Pastor, Christ Second Baptist Church, LB, CA
· Racial Reconciliation: Port Wilburn, Director of Missions Bridges Bay Association/ Navigating the Rainbow - Gender Fluidity: Marshelle Wilburn
· Equipping Women for the Church: Dr. Cathie Smith, Former IMB Missionary, Expert Wife and Mother/ Getting Your Church Back to Growing!: Roger Byrd; CSBC Church Matters Team
· A Conference for Widows and Widowers: Mary Egland, Bible Believers MB Church/ Supporting Families in Their Time of Loss: Pastor Dr. Gentre R. Adkins III, DTh, Senior Pastor of Faithful Saint Mark Church, Los Angeles, CA
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Time: 7:30am to 2:00pm
Location: Good Community Church of Torrance
19950 Mariner Avenue
Torrance, CA 90503
Cost: $25.00 which includes continental breakfast and catered lunch
