You’re looking for powerful, relevant insights that can help you bring more people to Christ as you share the Gospel in your local church and community.
Be refreshed and revitalized in your ministry at the 2022 GARBC Conference
June 27-30, 2022
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Register TodayEngaging Sessions
Building Relationships
Forward Thinking

Are you seeking:
- Relevant sessions that speak to your specific challenges in ministry?
- Encouragement from other like-minded leaders?
- Applicable strategies you can take back to your church?
As a ministry leader, you need a time to be refreshed and get excited about what’s next.
Get refreshed and refueled at the 2022 GARBC Annual Conference.
At the GARBC Annual Conference, you’re more than just another attendee.
You’re part of a larger group of co-laborers who are striving to disciple others and bring people to Christ. Your participation plays a vital role in helping us move forward together.
At the GARBC Conference, you’ll experience:
Engaging Sessions
Hear speakers, teachers, and leaders provide valuable insight that’s relevant to your ministry context, church, and community.
Building Relationships
Network with other like-minded ministry leaders to build relationships, receive encouragement, and be reinvigorated in life and ministry.
Forward Thinking
Be equipped, build momentum, and become a part of what’s next as we make disciples through healthy local churches.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be equipped and refreshed in your ministry.
Register for the 2022 GARBC Annual Conference today!
Register Today
How to Attend
1. Register for the Conference
This year, registration is completely online.
2. Attend the Conference
Join us on June 27-30, 2022 in Grand Rapids, Michigan!
Calvary Baptist Church
1200 28th St SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
3. Be Encouraged and Transformed
Be equipped and revitalized in your ministry as you seek to share the Gospel and make disciples.
Why the GARBC Annual Conference?
For over 90 years, the GARBC conference has been transforming lives and motivating leaders to continue to make disciples in our communities and around the world. Your participation in the conference helps keep our organization strong as we move forward and seek God’s will.
Conference Speakers

Prior to serving in this role, David was a pastor for 45 years in four New York Churches (Bethel Baptist Church, Jamestown; Calvary Baptist Church, Lockport; Regular Baptist Church [now Maple Avenue Baptist Church], Elmira; and Calvary Baptist Church, Norwich) and at Ankeny Baptist Church of Ankeny, Iowa.
In addition to his pastoral roles, David has served on the GARBC Council of 18, the Northeast Fellowship Council of 10, and the Iowa Association of Regular Baptist Churches Council of 10. He currently serves on the elected council of Baptist Mid-Missions; and has taught at Faith Baptist Bible College as an adjunct faculty member.
David and his wife Debbie both hail from Newark Valley, NY and have three children, seven grandchildren, and two foster grandchildren.

A humorous aspect of God’s plan to have Ken and Sharon involved with Michigan churches is the fact that they are native Buckeyes and very committed fans of The Ohio State University. This has led to a lot of fun moments as they minister throughout Michigan – well, mostly humorous! Ken frequently finds himself having to encourage beleaguered Spartan and Wolverine pastors after another football loss to the mighty Buckeyes. He is blessed to join Spartan Clare Jewell and Wolverine John Scally as a conference speaker.
Their Floyds have one daughter, Allison, who was a yearly participant at GARBC Conferences growing up in the Floyd home. One of her favorite conference activities was to harass certain Council of 18 members, especially U of M grad Brad Quick. Allison is a member of a GARBC church in Canton, Ohio, along with her husband (Taylor Helmick) and five children.
Besides preaching weekly in association churches, Ken coaches pastors, conducts seminars pertaining to spiritual leadership, prayer, pastoral transition and search processes, and conflict resolution. He is the author of two ministry books published by Regular Baptist Press, several ministry-related articles featured in the Baptist Bulletin. Ken received his education at Cedarville College and Grace Theological Seminary. He is also certified as a ministry and church revitalization consultant through Church Consultation University. He enjoys assisting plateaued and declining churches to discover their God-given, biblical potential.

He received his B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Houston, Houston, Texas, his M.A. in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas, his M.A. in Biblical Counseling from The Masters University, Santa Clarita, California, his Doctorate of Ministry with a concentration in Biblical Counseling from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky and his PH.D in Biblical Counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.
Dr. Ellen is a certified Biblical Counselor with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC), a Fellow with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) and travels nationwide with the organization teaching biblical counseling principles. Dr. Ellen also teaches on a morning show called “Up With The Son” where he teaches various topics from God’s Word. In addition, He is also a Senior Member of the Biblical Counseling Framework Association. Dr. Ellen and his wife Dr. Venessa Ellen have two children and four grandchildren.


Prior to joining with ABWE and the GARBC, Clare was the Senior Pastor of Lakewood Park Baptist Church in Auburn, Indiana for more than 20 years. From 1988-1993, He was the Administrator of Grace Baptist Christian School.
Clare completed his BA in Pastoral Studies at Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, PA. He also earned a Master of Arts Degree in Social Sciences from Eastern Michigan University. Currently, Clare is in the final stage of completing a Doctor of Ministry degree in Strategic Leadership at Corban University.
Along with preaching and teaching, Clare loves to golf, hike, ski and cheer for the Michigan State Spartans!

In 2017, Paul became the seventh President of ABWE. Today, Paul and Martha are working hard to meet, support and encourage the ABWE global team, striving to embolden gospel-centered churches to become sending and supporting churches, connecting God-enabled donors to the visionary projects of our fields, and humbly working to build, heal and reignite relationships with ABWE partners past, present and future.
The Davises have four adult children who are maturing believers in Jesus Christ. Landon works as an accountant, Kierstin is employed in private education. Rachael is working as a consultant and is in grad school, and their youngest son Ian is a recent college graduate who works in finance.
Schedule
Mon, 6/27 | Tue, 6/28 | Wed, 6/29 | Thu, 6/30 | |
9:00 AM | Council of 18 Meetings | General Session 2 – Nicolas Ellen | General Session 4 – Paul Davis | General Session 7 – Jon Scally and Nicolas Ellen |
10:30 AM | General Session 3 – Ken Floyd | General Session 5 – Clare Jewell | ||
11:00 AM | ||||
12:00 PM | Generate Luncheon | Cedarville Luncheon | ||
1:00 PM | Chaplaincy Training | |||
1:45 PM | Workshop Sessions: Jeff Halsted, Venessa Ellen, Clare Jewell, Knute Larson | Workshop Sessions: Knute Larson, Nathan Archer, Matt Papa, Venessa Ellen | ||
3:00 PM | Business Meeting | |||
7:00 PM | General Session 1 – David Strope | Matt Papa Concert Ministry | General Session 6 – Nicolas Ellen | |
8:30 PM | Faith Baptist Bible College Reception | Clarks Summit University Reception | ABWE Reception |
Session Details
General Sessions
General Session 1 – June 27, 7:00 PM
What Is Truth: Abstract Idea or Incarnate Grace, David Strope
General Session 2 – June 28, 9:00 AM
Training and Transformation through the Truth of God’s Word, Nicolas Ellen
2 Timothy 3:16
General Session 3 – June 28, 10:30 AM
Truth in Advertising: Why Truth Matters — It Walks the Talk, Ken Floyd
2 John 1:1-13
General Session 4 – June 29, 9:00 AM
Truth to the Nations, Paul Davis
Acts 26
General Session 5 – June 29, 10:30 AM
Do the Truth, Clare Jewell
Matthew 7:24-29
General Session 6 – June 29, 7:00 PM
Quieting a Noisy Soul through Truth Incarnate, Nicolas Ellen
Matthew 11:28-30
General Session 7 – June 30, 9:00 AM
Dynamic DNA: Truth Matters — Holding Our Ground, Jon Scally and Nicolas Ellen
Workshop Sessions
Tuesday Workshop 1 – June 28, 1:45 PM
Sharing Our Faith in a Brave New World, Jeff Halsted
Tuesday Workshop 2 – June 28, 1:45 PM
The Life of the Ministry Leader’s Wife, Venessa Ellen
Tuesday Workshop 4 – June 28, 1:45 PM
Church Advance, Clare Jewell
Tuesday Workshop 5 – June 28, 1:45 PM
55 Years of Analyzing the Three Types of Groups in the Church, Knute Larson
Wednesday Workshop 1 – June 29, 1:45 PM
Major Concerns for a Pastor, Knute Larson
Wednesday Workshop 2 – June 29, 1:45 PM
Civil Obedience and Disobedience: Navigating the Authority of the State and the Church, Nathan Archer
Wednesday Workshop 3 – June 29, 1:45 PM
Songwriting, Matt Papa
Wednesday Workshop 5 – June 29, 1:45 PM
Perceptions and Expectations of Others, Venessa Ellen
Concert & Worship
led by Matt Papa
As a veteran songwriter and Christian musician, Matt Papa has carved an even more unique space for himself as one of the world’s top modern-day hymn writers. With songs like “His Mercy Is More,” “Christ Our Hope In Life And Death,” and “Come Behold The Wondrous Mystery,” Matt tours regularly across the U.S. as a songwriter with Getty Music and frequently performs on their tours. A two-time Dove Award nominated artist, Matt is on a mission to write songs that are singable, beautiful, and timeless. He serves as an artist-in-residence at Cedarville University and Marco Presbyterian Church, and most of all, is a husband as well as a father to 5 beautiful children.
Registration Rates
Entire Conference (includes conference handbook) | Early Bird (through May 15) | Online after May 15 | On-site |
Husband & wife | $150 | $175 | $200 |
Individual | $100 | $125 | $150 |
One child, grades 1-12 (children ages 0-5 free) | $50 | $60 | $60 |
Two or more children (children ages 0-5 free) | $90 | $100 | $100 |
First-time attendee – husband & wife (vocational ministry personnel; includes children) | $0 | $50 | $75 |
First-time attendee – individual (vocational ministry personnel; includes children) | $0 | $25 | $50 |
College student (must be a full-time student with valid student ID) | $40 | $50 | $75 |
Church planter (in church or mission church listed in the GARBC Directory, includes children) | $0 | $25 | $50 |
Workshop sessions | Included | Included | Included |
Luncheons (for more information click here.) | TBA | TBA | TBA |

Looking for a place to stay while you attend the GARBC Conference?
The DoubleTree hotel has generously offered a group rate for conference attendees.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Grand Rapids Airport
4747 28th Street SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512-1915
Looking for other hotel options?
There are many good hotels within a few miles of Calvary Baptist Church.
Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Rapids–Airport
2.9 miles away from conference
See Details
Tru by Hilton Grand Rapids–Kentwood
4.5 miles away from conference
See Details
Staybridge Suites Grand Rapids–Airport
3.1 miles away from conference
See Details
Fairfield Inn & Suites Grand Rapids–Kentwood
See Details
Holiday Inn Grand Rapids–Airport
3.1 miles away from conference
See Details
Hilton Garden Inn Grand Rapids East
2.7 miles away from conference
See Details
Exhibitors
Exhibiting at the conference allows you to connect with pastors and churches from across the country. Share how God is at work through your ministries and the ways local churches can benefit by networking with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should attend this conference?
This conference is designed for pastors and their wives, ministry leaders, Christian college staff, and anyone who is a part of a GARBC church.
Are meals included?
The conference does not have daily meals, but some of our ministries may sponsor an on-site luncheon at a low cost to give you an opportunity to hear about ministry news and fellowship together. Check garbcconference.org in the coming weeks as we continue planning this year’s events!
Can I bring my family?
Families are welcome at the GARBC conference! We have activities and programs for all ages.
What’s the dress code?
Most attendees dress in business casual attire, but we invite you to dress to your comfort level.
Can I attend the conference if I’m outside the U.S.?
Yes, attendees from outside of the U.S. are welcome.
Can I register on-site at the conference?
While online registration in advance is highly preferred (to let us prepare to host you), you can also register on-site at the conference. There is a $25 fee in addition to regular rates for on-site registration.
Can I attend the conference virtually?
Virtual options will not be available for the 2022 GARBC conference.
How can I change my workshop session?
Just email registration@garbc.org, and our conference registrar will be happy to update your session.
I have another question - who can I contact?
For other questions, please email registration@garbc.org.