Facts and Trends

Along with having the Word of Christ, it is helpful to have the data to assist in the advocacy and awareness of Correctional ministries.

The Distribution of Carceral Harm: County-Level Jail Incarceration and Mortality by Race, Sex, Age
In this study, Anneliese N. Luck (University of Pennsylvania) exam­ines the rela­tion­ship between county-level jail incar­cer­a­tion and age-spe­cific mortality for nonHispanic Black and White men and women, uniquely leveraging race spe­cific jail rates to account for the unequal racial dis­tri­bu­tion of jail expo­sures.

Undocumented Immigrant Offending Rate
An NIJ-funded study examining data from the Texas Department of Public Safety estimated the rate at which undocumented immigrants are arrested for committing crimes. The study found that undocumented immigrants are arrested at less than half the rate of native-born U.S. citizens for violent and drug crimes and a quarter the rate of native-born citizens for property crimes.  

Incarceration in the U.S.–the Big Picture
This is a summary of several reports released in 2024 by the Prison Policy Initiative.  Reports include: Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie, States of Incarcerations: Global Context 2024, as well as several reports with individual state data.  

Mass Incarceration Trends
This publication is part of The Sentencing Project’s public education campaign, 50 Years and a Wake Up: Ending The Mass Incarceration Crisis In America. The campaign raises awareness about the dire state of the criminal legal system in the country, the devastating impact of incarceration on communities and families, and proposes more effective crime prevention strategies for our country.

Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2024
This report by the Prison Policy Initiative offers some much-needed clarity by piecing together the data about this country’s disparate systems of confinement. It provides a detailed look at where and why people are locked up in the U.S., and dispels some common myths about mass incarceration to focus attention on overlooked issues that urgently require reform.

Women’s Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2024
This report by the Prison Policy Initiative provides a detailed view of the 190,600 women and girls incarcerated in the United States and how they fit into the even broader picture of correctional control.

How Many Women & Men are Released from each State’s Prisons and Jails Every Year?
The Prison Policy Initiative is a research and activist organization focused on issues related to mass incarceration. This briefing is based on 2019 data to show prison and jail releases by sex in each state to derive best estimates of how many women and men were released from prisons and jails nationwide in 2022.

Prisoners in 2022–Statistical Tables
This report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that at yearend 2022, correctional authorities in the United States had jurisdiction over 1,230,100 persons in state or federal prisons, an increase of 2% or 25,100 persons from yearend 2021 (1,205,100 persons). This rise erased the 1% decline reported in 2021 and marked the first increase in the combined state and federal prison population in almost a decade (since 2013). Ninety-six percent of persons in U.S. prisons in 2022 (1,185,600) were sentenced to more than 1 year.

55 Facts about Mass Incarceration
The Prison Policy Initiative is a research and activist organization focused on issues related to mass incarceration. The list below reports some of the most important statistics about the U.S. criminal legal system. (All data below are the most recent statistics available as of April 2023. Statistics before 2018 are noted.).

Press Release for Recidivism of Females Released from State Prison, 2012-2017
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) is announcing the release of Recidivism of Females Released from State Prison, 2012–2017. During the 5 years after their release in 2012, more than half of females (55%, compared to 66% of males) who were serving time for a violent offense were arrested for another offense, while more than a third (38%, compared to 49% of males) had a new conviction for any offense, and about a fourth (27%, compared to 43% of males) were returned to prison.

Capital Punishment 2021 – Statistical Tables
This report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics presents statistics on prisoners who were under sentence of death in 2021, a summary of state and federal death penalty laws in 2021, and historical trends in executions

What do Americans think about the U.S. Prison System?
Recent YouGov polling on this topic found that Americans are fairly split on whether or not the level of incarceration is a problem in the U.S.: 36% say the U.S. incarcerates too many people, 21% say about the right number of people are incarcerated, and 24% say too few people are incarcerated. 

Preliminary Statistics on Incarcerated Populations in 2022
This press release dated September 20, 2023 by the Bureau of Justice Statistics provides summary statistics for local jail populations as well as state and federal prison populations from 2021 to 2022.

Probation and Parole in the United States, 2021
The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that an estimated 3,745,000 adults were under community supervision at yearend 2021, a 4% decline from the 3,881,600 who were supervised in the community on January 1, 2021. This decline is attributed to a reduction in both the number of persons on probation, who made up 79% of the community supervision population, and the number on parole. During 2021, the number of persons on probation decreased from 3,032,400 to 2,963,000 (down 2%). The number of persons on parole fell from 864,200 to 803,200 (down 7%) during 2021, the largest annual change in the population in almost 30 years and its lowest point since 2006 (798,200).

Number of Persons in Indian Country Jails Increases for Second Year
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) is announcing the release of Jails in Indian Country, 2022. A total of 2,250 persons were held in 80 Indian country jails at midyear 2022, a 3% increase from the 2,180 persons held in 80 facilities at midyear 2021.

Employment Statistics of State and Federal Prisoners Prior to Incarceration, 2016  
The Bureau of Justice Statistics conducts face-to-face interviews with a national sample of persons in state and federal prisons to generate statistics on specific topics, including employment prior to incarceration. The most recent Survey of Prison Inmates was fielded in 2016 and is a key source of national data on prisoner characteristics.

Federal Prisoner Statistics Collected Under the First Step Act, 2022
The First Step Act of 2018 (FSA) requires the Bureau of Justice Statistics, through its National Prisoner Statistics program, to collect data from the Federal Bureau of Prisons on specific topics and to report these data annually.  The statistics in this report are for calendar year 2021, which represented the third full year of reporting under the FSA, and were collected in 2022.

Jail Inmates in 2021-Statistical Tables
This summary put out by the Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that the number of persons held in local jails in the United States increased 16% from 2020 to 2021. Local jails held 636,300 persons on the last weekday in June 2021, up from 549,100 at midyear 2020. That population had decreased from 2019 to 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prisoners in 2021-Statistical Tables
This summary put out by the Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that the number of persons in prison in the United States decreased 1% from 2020 to 2021. This was the eighth consecutive year that the number of persons in U.S. prisons declined, dropping from 1,221,200 at yearend 2020 to 1,204,300 at yearend 2021. Over the 10-year period from 2011 to 2021, the adult imprisonment rate declined 30%.

Impact of COVID-19 on State and Federal Prisons
This summary put out by the Bureau of Justice Statistics reveals COVID-19 infection rates, COVID-19 related deaths and the effects of COVID-19 on prison population size.

Correctional Population 2002
At yearend 2020, an estimated 5,500,600 persons were under the supervision of adult correctional systems in the United States, 11% fewer than at the same time the previous year (figure 1). This was the first time since 1996 that the total correctional population dropped to less than 5.6 million.  This report by the US Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics summarizes data on populations supervised by probation or parole agencies and those incarcerated in state or federal prisons or in the custody of local jails.

Mass Incarceration:  The Whole Pie 2022
This report by the Prison Policy Initiative pieces together the data about this country’s disparate systems of confinement. It provides a detailed look at where and why people are locked up in the U.S., and dispels some modern myths to focus attention on the real drivers of mass incarceration and overlooked issues that call for reform.

A Church Without Walls: How Evangelicals are Transforming American Prisons
This essay is adapted from the new book by Dr. Michael Hallett and Dr. Byron Johnson (co-authored with Sung Joon Jang), which describes the rapid spread of peer-based ministry programs in U.S. prisons and is titled The Restorative Prison: Essays on Inmate Peer Ministry and Prosocial Corrections (Routledge 2021).

Census of State & Federal Adult Correctional Facilities
This report by the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics provides statistics based on the 2019 Census of State and Federal Correctional Facilities.

Probation Parole 2020
This report by the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics provides probation and parole statistics for 2020 and comparison of adults on probation and parole between 2005 and 2020.

Federal Justice Statistics, 2019
This report by the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics describes cases processed by the federal criminal justice system during 2019.

Few Americans Blame God for Pandemic
The Pew Research Center conducted a survey of 6,485 U.S. adults from Sept. 20 to 26, 2021.  The survey found that Americans largely blame random chance – along with people’s own actions and the way society is structured – for human suffering, while relatively few believers blame God or voice doubts about the existence of God for this reason.

What Makes Life Meaningful?  Views from 17 Advanced Economies
The Pew Research Center conducted a survey of 16,254 adults from March 12 to May 26, 2021, in 16 advanced economies.  Respondents were asked the following open-ended question: “We’re interested in exploring what it means to live a satisfying life. What aspects of your life do you currently find meaningful, fulfilling or satisfying?”

Understanding Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD)
This report by the National Center for PTSD describes PTSD and outlines different therapies and medications that are proven to help people with PTSD.

Recidivism 10 year Follow-Up Study (2008-2018)
This report by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) is the first BJS recidivism study with a 10 year follow-up period.  Among persons released from state prisons in 2008 across 24 states, 82% were arrested at least once during the 10 years following release. The annual arrest percentage among persons released from prison in 2012 declined over time, with 43% arrested at least once in Year 1 of their release, 29% arrested in Year 5, and 22% arrested in Year 10.

Justice Counts Unveils New 50-State Scan of Criminal Justice Data
As part of the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Justice Counts initiative, researchers from Recidiviz and The Council of State Governments Justice Center conducted a 50-state scan of publicly available, aggregate-level corrections and jails data.

Report on Mass Incarceration Rates State by State  
This webpage provided by the Prison Policy Institute (PPI) reveals information current incarceration rates and covid impact on prisons and jails in each state.

Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 34 states in 2012 (5 year follow up report) 
A special report published by the U. S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, indicates that among state prisoners released in 2012 across 34 states, 62% were arrested within 3 years, and 71% were arrested within 5 years.

Probation and Parole in the U.S. in 2019
This report by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics presents findings on data collected on adults placed on supervision or removed from supervision during the reporting year.  The data reveals that from 2000-2019 the adult probation rate fell 25% while the adult parole rate remained stable. In 2019, probation exits outpaced entries for the 11th consecutive year.

Capital Punishment, 2019 
This report by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics presents statistics on the death penalty. It discusses the number of states that have authorized the death penalty, the methods of execution, and the number and demographics of prisoners who were under sentence of death during 2019. The report also provides data on the number of prisoners executed in 2019 and advance counts of executions in 2020.

The State of the BIBLE, USA 2021–research from the American Bible Society  
The 2021 State of the Bible, contains scientific research about America, the church, the Bible. We will discuss how gender, race, faith tradition, relationships, and access to technology influence Americans’ experience with God. The data will paint a picture of how COVID-19 has shattered families, emptied bank accounts, taken jobs,and distanced relationships. That picture is vivid and sometimes challenging, but it is not hopeless.  Millions of Americans face these challenges with hope that they find in the Bible

Mortality in State and Federal Prisons, 2001-2018 
This report released in April 2021 by the Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that In 2018, a total of 4,135 state prisoners died in publicly or privately operated prisons, and an additional 378 federal prisoners died in facilities operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).  In state prisons, the number of deaths rose 5% from 2017 (3,943) to 2018 (4,135), the highest level since the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) began collecting information on mortality in state prisons in 2001.

Mortality in Local Jails, 2000-2018 
This report released in April 2021 by the Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that in 2018 a total of 1,120 inmates died in local jails, an increase of nearly 2% from the 1,099 deaths reported in 2017 and the highest number of deaths reported in local jails since the BJS began collecting mortality data in 2000.

Time Served in State Prisons, 2018  
This report released in March 2021 by the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that two-thirds of offenders released from state prison in 2018 served less than 2 years in prison before their initial release.

Disabilities Reported by Prisoners: Survey of Prison Inmates 2016  
This report released in March 2021 by the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that nearly 2 in 5 (38%) state and federal prisoners had at least one disability in 2016.

Veterans in Prison: Survey of Prison Inmates in 2016  
This report released in March 2021 by the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that an estimated 107,400 veterans were serving time in state and federal prisons in 2016.

What the data says (and doesn’t say) about crime in the United States 
This research (released 11/20/20), from the Pew Research Institute, analyzes data from the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).  This research study uses information from these sources to obtain a good picture of U.S. violent and property crime rates and how they have changed over time.

The Sentencing Project Fact Sheet:  Incarcerated Women and Girls  
Over the past quarter century, there has been a profound change in the involvement of women within the criminal justice system. This is the result of more expansive law enforcement efforts, stiffer drug sentencing laws, and post-conviction barriers to reentry that uniquely affect women. The female incarcerated population stands over seven times higher than in 1980. More than 60% of women in state prisons have a child under the age of 18.

Global Prison Trends, 2018 
Every year, Global Prison Trends by Penal Reform International (in collaboration with the Thailand Institute of Justice) provides us with a global view on the state of prisons.

2018 Update on Prisoner Recidivism: A 9-Year Follow-Up Period (2005-2014)

Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2015-2016 (released January, 2019)
This report describes the annual activity, workloads, and outcomes of the federal criminal justice system from arrest to imprisonment.

NIC Myths & Facts: Why Incarceration Is Not the Best Way to Keep Communities Safe

International Statistics on Crime and Justice

NIC Jail Incarceration Trends

Incarceration Trends

Long-Term Sentences: Time to Reconsider the Scale of Punishment by Marc Mauer
Unduly long prison terms are counterproductive for public safety and contribute to the dynamic of diminishing returns as the prison system has expanded.

Time Served: The High Cost, Low Return of Longer Prison Terms 
The length of time served in prison has increased markedly over the last two decades, according to a new study by Pew’s Public Safety Performance Project. Prisoners released in 2009 served an average of nine additional months in custody, or 36 percent longer, than offenders released in 1990. These extended prison sentences came at a price: prisoners released from incarceration in 2009 cost states $23,300 per offender–or a total of over $10 billion nationwide. More than half of that amount was for non-violent offenders.

5 Facts About the Death Penalty
A Pew Research Center survey showed an uptick in the share of Americans who favor capital punishment for those convicted of murder. Over the long term, however, public support for the death penalty has declined significantly, as has the number of executions in the United States. As the debate over the death penalty continues in the U.S. and worldwide, read about five facts about the issue.

First Step Act 2018
On December 21, 2018, President Trump signed into law the First Step Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-391). The act was the culmination of several years of congressional debate about what Congress might do to reduce the size of the federal prison population while also creating mechanisms to maintain public safety. This report provides an overview of the provisions of the act..

Top Trends in States Criminal Justice Reform
The United States is a world leader in incarceration and keeps nearly 7 million persons under criminal justice supervision. More than 2.2 million are in prison or jail, while 4.6 million are monitored in the community on probation or parole. More punitive sentencing laws and policies, not increases in crime rates, have
produced this high rate of incarceration. Ending mass incarceration will require changing sentencing policies and practices, scaling back the collateral consequences of conviction, and addressing racial disparities in the criminal justice system. In recent years most states have enacted reforms designed to
reduce the scale of incarceration and the impact of the collateral consequences of a felony conviction. This briefing paper describes key reforms undertaken in 2019 prioritized by The Sentencing Project.

Winnable Criminal Justice Reforms
A Prison Policy Initiative briefing on promising state reform issues for 2020

Mobilizing GenZ to Reach Their Peers

Join us for a practical, hands-on experience that will help you understand more about what defines Gen Z and their views on evangelism, learn about strategies that God is using to introduce Gen Z to the gospel, and apply proven principles for mobilizing this generation for mission.

Kathy Kurda Petrash
Bill Kollar

Kathy Hurda Petrash is the Director of Strategic Partnering, Christian Colleges with Cru. Bill Kollar is the Director of Evangelistic Initiatives for Cru.

John Jenkins

First Baptist Church of Glenarden

Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr. is senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Glenarden and the Chairman of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center African American Church Evangelism Institute. Pastor Jenkins also serves as the chair of the National Association of Evangelicals and is on the board of World Vision, U.S., Denver Seminary and GlocalNet.

Fundraising and Church Economics: Why Tithes and Offerings are No Longer Enough and What You Can Do About It

In this breakout, Mark will tackle the growing challenge facing pastors and ministry leaders around finances and resources. As economic models in North America change, churches that will thrive are those who are thinking innovatively and creatively about how to leverage their assets and resources to sustain effective ministry. Drawing upon his work with the Mosaix Institute, Mark will offer leaders practical insights into how to build effective and healthy financial models as well as what leaders should expect in the coming decades.

Mark DeYmaz

A thought-leading writer and recognized champion of the Multiethnic Church Movement, Mark DeYmaz planted the Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas in 2001 where he continues to serve as directional leader. In 2004, he co-founded the Mosaix Global Network with Dr. George Yancey, and today serves as its CEO/president. Mark has written seven books including The Coming Revolution in Church Economics (Baker, 2019) and Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church (Jossey-Bass, 2007). He is a contributing editor to Outreach magazine.

Joe Boyd

Grace Fellowship

He is a small town guy with God sized dreams. Even as Grace Fellowship grows larger, you can always find Joe hanging out before and after services. Joe believes that we are not a church with a mission, rather a mission that has churches! Before coming to Grace, Joe started one of the fastest growing churches in America and was recognized as a John Maxwell Top 100 Transformational leader. Joe and his wife, Michelle, are passionate about adoption and love their kids, Dre, Koehn, Robin, Ryan and Hannah.

Leadership RoundTable: Pastoring a Multi-Ethnic Church

In this Leadership RoundTable, learn from four pastors as they walk through their experience shepherding congregations and communities through the journey of multiethnic leadership. Each pastor brings unique leadership perspectives and convictions, sparking a conversation about what they see as opportunities and challenges for other pastors to learn from as they seek to lead a church that welcomes the full breadth of God’s Kingdom.

Aubrey Sampson
Greg Armstrong
Joyce Dalrymple
Daniel Kim

Aubrey Sampson is the co-planter and teaching pastor at Renewal Church in Chicagoland and teaching pastor at Timberlake in Seattle, as well as the author of several books including her upcoming release, Big Feelings Days.

Greg Armstrong is the founding and lead pastor of Renew Church, a multiethnic church community in Chicago’s western suburbs. Greg also serves as the Director of Renew Collective, a community of songwriters, musicians and artists, and the host of The Gospel and Race Podcast. 

Joyce Koo Dalrymple is a pastor, speaker, and podcast host. She leads Refuge for Strength, is on the teaching team for Church360, and regular speaker at churches and retreats Joyce received a BA from Stanford University, a JD from Boston College, and an MDiv from Metro Atlanta Seminary.

Daniel Kim is the Student Pastor at Gospelife Church. As a third-culture kid born and raised in Korea and Japan, he has been deeply influenced by multiple cultural experiences. Daniel earned his MA in Intercultural Studies from Wheaton College and is currently pursuing a DMin at Southern Seminary.

Troy Gentz

Freshwater Community Church

Troy is the Lead Pastor of Freshwater Community Church in the small town of Paw Paw, Michigan.  He planted Freshwater in 2005 with a passion to see unchurched people reached with the gospel.  Troy has been married to his wife Carrie for 29 years.  They have 3 grown children, live on a gravel road with free range chickens.  In his spare time, Troy loves cheering on his Chicago Bears, eating fried chicken, building things, and lumberjacking on his property. 

Election-Year Politics: Navigating Faithfully in a Season of Division

In this season of division, this breakout offers a guide to navigate the rocky waters of politics. Avoiding the pitfalls of partisan hyperbole and demonization, Dr. Amy Black will provide insights for pastors and church leaders striving to understand how to lead their people amid such turmoil. This breakout will emphasize non-partisan and gospel-centered strategies for leaders, fostering dialogue in how to lead faithfully.

Amy Black

Amy E. Black is Professor of Political Science at Wheaton College (IL). She earned her Ph.D. in Political Science at M.I.T. A specialist in American Government, her research interests include religion and politics, the Presidency, and Congress. She is a past president of Christians in Political Science and served as an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow in the office of Representative Melissa A. Hart.

Daniel Im

Beulah Alliance Church

Daniel Im is a dedicated pastor, Bible teacher, writer, and podcast host with a deep passion for the local church. He currently serves as the Lead Pastor of Beulah Alliance Church in Edmonton, Alberta, and has authored several impactful books. His latest work, The Discipleship Opportunity: Leading a Great-Commission Church in a Post-Everything World, reflects his commitment to equipping churches for effective ministry. His other books include No Silver Bullets: Five Small Shifts that Will Transform Your Ministry, Planting Missional Churches: Your Guide to Starting Churches that Multiply (2nd Ed), and You Are What You Do: And Six Other Lies About Work, Life, and Love.

With an M.A. in Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary, Daniel has served in various church contexts, from church plants to multisite churches, across cities such as Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, Korea, Edmonton, and Nashville. His podcasts have garnered over 3 million downloads, and he co-hosts the IMbetween Podcast with his wife, Christina, where they provide tools for building strong marriages and families. Together, they also speak at FamilyLife Canada’s Weekend Getaway Marriage Conference.

In addition to his pastoral and writing ministries, Daniel is a Bible teacher for 100 Huntley Street, Canada’s longest-running daily television show. Married to Christina since 2006, they are blessed with three children.

Transforming Church Evangelistic Culture for Lasting Change *CEI Alumni Exclusive*

AACEI and CEI alumni, please join us for an inspiring workshop focused on empowering churches to maintain and amplify their evangelistic impact long after completing our cohort programs. We will delve into successful strategies for sustaining momentum and explore ways the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center Evangelism Institutes can further equip and support your journey towards a dynamic and enduring church culture. Be ready to engage and share, as we learn together how to drive lasting change in your ministry!

Sean McDowell

Sean McDowell is the Director of the Church Evangelism Institute and an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Free Church of America with over 27 years of ministry Experience.

Rick Richardson

Wheaton College

Rick Richardson is a Professor of Evangelism and Leadership at Wheaton College and directs the Church Evangelism and Research Institutes for the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center. He founded the Church Evangelism Institute, working with hundreds of pastors to revitalize churches through conversion growth. With 25 years in campus ministry and experience as InterVarsity’s National Coordinator of Evangelism, Rick is also an ordained Anglican priest. He has published six books, including Evangelism Outside the Box and You Found Me, and is passionate about evangelism, prayer, and racial reconciliation. Rick and his wife, Mary Kay, have three boys, and he enjoys fly fishing, tennis, and writing a science fiction novel in his spare time.

The Digital Sanctuary: Creating Sacred Spaces on Social Media

In this breakout, we will focus on how to maximize a local church’s limited resources to minister on social. I’ll highlight some best practices that have come out of the research (a bit on the spaces and places paper), some research I’ve done since then on practical best practices, and then I’d like to reach out to Sarah Dawes, who is the Communications Director for Calvary Church of Naperville, to have her and some of her team participate in a group discussion. They have a really strong sense of how to use social well so I think having a church that is doing it well but still very much in progress would be a good way to add flesh to the concepts for those in attendance.

Todd Korpi

Dr. Todd Korpi is a pastor, missiologist, and researcher, currently serving as the Church Planting Commission Coordinator for OneHope and Lead Researcher of the Digital Mission Consortia at the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center.

D.A. Horton

California Baptist University

D.A. Horton, Ph.D. serves as an Assistant Professor and Program Director of the Intercultural Studies program at California Baptist University. He is also humbled to serve as an Associate Teaching Pastor at The Grove Community Church in Riverside, CA. D.A. and his wife Elicia have been married for 21 years and are blessed to have two daughters and one son.

The God of Props: Seeing the World through the Lens of Redemptive Need

In this breakout, Pastor Steve will lead pastors and ministry leaders through a session on how to communicate effectively the deep truths of God’s redemptive story. Drawing upon his experience as a leader at Willow Creek Community Church during its season of upheaval, Steve will outline how the grief, trauma, and pain of those around us are compelling opportunities for gospel healing. This opportunity requires critical and nuanced skills, yet offers untold potential for preachers to engage their community afresh with the gospel of Jesus.

Steve Carter

Steve Carter is a pastor, speaker, author, podcast host, the former lead teaching pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, and the author of several books including The Thing Beneath the Thing.

Mindy Caliguire

Soul Care

Mindy Caliguire is the co-founder and president of Soul Care. As an organization, Soul Care cultivates soul health among leaders by providing pathways, practices, and guides to help them personally flourish and achieve missional impact. Mindy serves as the collaboration lead for leadercare.us, and in the past served in executive leadership both in marketplace and ministry. Soul Care serves ministries and organizations across the US and beyond including ECFA, C-12, Compassion International, The Navigators, Christ Church of the Valley, Dallas Theological Seminary, Plum Creek Church, and many more. Mindy’s most recent book is Ignite Your Soul: When Exhaustion, Isolation, and Burnout Light a Path to Flourishing.

Welcome at the Table: How to Mobilize Families your Church Reach your Community

In this breakout, Kelli will draw upon the extensive and substantive work of MomCo in mobilizing the whole church for mission throughout North America. This breakout is designed specifically for pastors ready to revolutionize their approach to church engagement, drawing out innovative strategies and actionable insights that foster a vibrant, engaged community within your congregation. This workshop is your gateway to not only mobilize the untapped resources of your church but to enhancing the sense of unity and purpose among every member. Whether you’re dealing with declining attendance or looking to energize your congregation, this breakout will offer the tools and inspiration you need to drive meaningful engagement and build a thriving church community.

Kelli Smith

Kelli Jo Smith Vice President of Church Engagement and Marketing at The MomCo. For 17 years, Kelli has been a passionate advocate for growing Christian non-profits and empowering moms, driving initiatives that make a global impact.

Leadership RoundTable: Ministry and Mission in Secular Spaces

In this Leadership RoundTable, join Christian pastors and ministry leaders for a discussion on the central challenges and opportunities that churches face in ministering in secularizing communities. As secularization continues to take root in North America, churches are increasingly encountering a new society with its own distinct needs, questions, and spiritual motivators. Join these leaders as they discuss their own experiences, how they have found success in ministry in these spaces, and offer practical tools for pastors and ministry leaders rooted in similar secularizing communities.

Joel Zantingh

Joel Zantingh has over thirty years of Christian service in local, national, and international roles. His work with Lausanne is being done alongside his role as the Canadian coordinator for the World Evangelical Alliance’s Peace and Reconciliation Network, in partnership with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. He is also currently working on a Doctorate.

John Wentz

CEO Alpha USA

John Wentz has served as CEO of Alpha USA since May 2022. Previously, John served seven years as Alpha USA (Executive Vice President of Ministry) and Alpha International (Church Engagement and Training Strategy) where he led the expansion of Alpha’s engagement nationally and helped to design the core of Alpha’s engagement strategy, now being implemented globally. With over 25 years of pastoral experience, John has impacted many churches, ministry leaders, and college students across the world. He is a gifted communicator, trainer and coach, and has a heart for university students and people from different cultures.

Engaging LGBTQ Friends and Neighbors in Faith Conversations

In this breakout, we will tackle the challenge of engaging members of the LGBTQ community in our neighborhoods. Dr. Mark Yarhouse offers practical solutions and insights for Christians struggling with a pressing cultural issue of our society. This breakout is particularly encouraging and useful for pastors and ministry leaders seeking understanding and tools for addressing questions of sexuality and gender within their community and organization.

Mark Yarhouse

Mark Yarhouse (PhD) is the Rech Endowed Chair in Psychology and the Director of the Sexuality & Gender Identity Institute at Wheaton College, as well as the author of multiple books including his most recent Gender Identity & Faith.

No Longer Taboo: Mobilizing the Church to Reach and Heal Those in Porn Addiction

In this breakout, Immanuel Guarino will tackle head-on one of the central obstacles facing churches and a critical opportunity to reach out communities. Pornography affects 68% of men in the church yet is often undiscussed and even rarely addressed. In this breakout, you will learn the depth of this issue both inside the church and how it is affecting communities. Utilizing strategies and tools developed in equipping churches, Immanuel will offer church leaders and pastors practical insight in how to empower their congregations and communities to break free.

Emmanuel Guarino

Emmanuel Guarino is the Founder and CEO of Team Vulnerable, a ministry dedicated to helping people break free from porn addiction.

Irwyn Ince

Mission to North America

Rev. Dr. Irwyn Ince serves as the Coordinator of Mission to North America and Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary. A Brooklyn native, Dr. Ince transitioned from a successful engineering career to ministry, earning his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees. He helped plant City of Hope Presbyterian Church and has a deep passion for reconciliation in diverse churches. In 2018, he became the first African-American moderator of the PCA General Assembly. Dr. Ince is devoted to his family, ministry, coffee, and CrossFit, where he also coaches classes in DC.

How to Get Evangelistic Change in Your Church without Killing It

In this breakout, Pastor Jenkins will address the central challenge of how to lead your congregation to a culture of evangelism. Drawing upon his experience in pastoring Glenarden, Pastor Jenkins will walk through the central strategies that have proven effective in leading his congregation to become a conversion community. This breakout offers pastors practical skills and tools they can implement in their own contexts, utilizing many of the proven strategies deployed in the Church Evangelism Institute of the WCBGC.

John Jenkins

Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr. is senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Glenarden and the Chairman of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center African American Church Evangelism Institute. Pastor Jenkins also serves as the chair of the National Association of Evangelicals and is on the board of World Vision, U.S., Denver Seminary and GlocalNet.

Mandy Arioto

MomCo

Mandy Arioto is the President and CEO of The MomCo and is widely known for her unique takes on parenting, relationships, spiritual and cultural issues. Through MomCo, which influences millions of moms through thousands of groups internationally, Mandy serves as the voice of one of the most influential mothering organizations in the U.S. and around the world. She regularly speaks to national and international audiences. She and her husband, Joe, live in Denver, Colorado where they love rock climbing and adventuring with their three kids. Mandy’s most recent book, Have More Fun: How to Be Remarkable, Stop Feeling Stuck, and Start Enjoying Life, is available wherever books are sold.

New Innovations for Evangelistic Church Culture Change

In this breakout for CEI and AACEI alumni, Rick will outline the recent innovative strategies and tools developed by the WCBGC. Through Rick’s tenure, CEI has grown dramatically to an international movement across multiple denominations, cultures, and regions. Central to this growth has been its adaptation to the needs of churches and their pastors, incorporating leading research and cross-cultural expertise into a cohort strategy that is generating substantive transformation. This breakout is an opportunity for CEI and AACEI alumni to hear about these new and innovative tools, incorporating these tools into their evangelistic and missional strategies.

Rick Richardson

Dr. Rick Richardson, Executive Director of the Research and Church Evangelism Institutes, the Luis Palau Chair of Evangelism, and Professor of Evangelism and Leadership. Rick is a Professor of Evangelism and Leadership at Wheaton College and consults widely with churches on Evangelism, healing, reconciliation, the emerging generation, and contemporary missional churches and missional movements.

Rick Warren

(via video)

Rick Warren is an innovative pastor, renowned author, and global influencer. The various ministries Pastor Rick has created are a multi-faceted expression of his heart to bring the whole Gospel to the whole world.

Digital Shepherds: Leading the Church into the Tech Era

This workshop offers a comprehensive understanding of the church’s role in embracing and leading technological advancements. It begins with an exploration of the historical evolution of church technology, followed by insights into current trends and innovations relevant to ministry. Participants will discuss strategies for proactively responding to tech advancements, including overcoming resistance to change. Practical steps for integrating technology into worship, administration, and other aspects of church life will be provided. Emphasizing the importance of fostering a tech-savvy church culture, this workshop will equip participants to lead their congregations in leveraging technology for enhanced ministry impact.

Hunter Guy

Hunter Guy, a product designer from Dolton, IL, is the Co-Founder and CEO of Study Aloud, where she innovates in the Christian education-tech space. She holds a BFA in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and blends her spiritual beliefs with her tech expertise to create award-winning mobile apps and SaaS applications. Hunter has played vital UX leadership roles for major firms, including Office Depot. Beyond her tech career, she has directed several Christian nonprofits, focusing on organizational enhancement and community impact. Currently, she is advancing her education with a Master of Divinity at Liberty University and mentors high school students through LINK Unlimited Scholars.

Steve Carter

Forest City Church

Steve Carter is the best-selling author of The Thing Beneath The Thing and is the host of the Craft and Character podcast. He is a personal coach to communicators who are discovering their unique voice and desiring to take their skills to the next level. He currently serves as a teaching pastor at Forest City Church and teaches regularly at churches, conferences, and various businesses worldwide. Steve lives outside Chicago, Illinois, with his wife and two kids.

Compelling Preaching in a World Tuned Out

In this breakout, Dr. Hill will walk pastors and ministry leaders through the ways our communication strategies and rhetoric must adapt to meet an emerging audience in our pews and communities. Just as it is up to every new generation to reexamine and refine the ways we preach to a new generation of hearers, this new world of online communication has revolutionized both the challenges and opportunities for the pulpit. This breakout will offer critical strategies to communicate the timeless truths of the gospel in ways that our people will tune-in and respond.

Theon Hill

Theon Hill, a Ph.D. of Communication, is an associate professor of communication at Wheaton College with published works and presentations on the intersection of race, civil rights, and religion in America. Dr. Hill serves as the co-Director of the Center for Faith and Innovation as well as on the Advisory Council for the WCBGC Preaching Institute.

Lisa Fields

Jude 3 Project

Lisa Fields is a highly sought-after Christian apologist known for her dedication to biblical literacy and her passion for sharing God’s love. Initially planning a career in finance, her life took a transformative turn during a New Testament course at the University of North Florida, where her faith was deeply challenged. This experience led her to pursue a Master of Divinity at Liberty University and ultimately launch the Jude 3 Project, an initiative aimed at equipping the Black Christian community with tools to understand and defend their faith. Through the Jude 3 Project, Fields has made significant contributions, including hosting the Courageous Conversations conferences, developing apologetic curricula, and addressing critical issues through her YouTube series and podcast. Her work has earned her recognition from Christianity Today and other honors. Beyond her apologetic efforts, Fields has ventured into production, contributing to documentaries like Unspoken and Juneteenth: Faith and Freedom, which explore the Christian heritage of Africa and African descendants. Despite her accolades, Fields remains committed to advancing the gospel and empowering others in their faith journey.

Churches of Welcome for the World That’s Arriving

We’re living amid the greatest humanitarian crisis in human history: the mass global displacement of more than 120 million people. That number continues to grow daily. And while God isn’t the author of conflict, disaster, and war, he is sovereign in how people are scattered all around the world for the purpose of the gospel. Join Daniel Yang as he unpacks how you and your church can welcome the most vulnerable from around the world as your neighbor to show and share the love of Jesus.

Daniel Yang

Daniel Yang is the National Director of Churches of Welcome, an initiative of World Relief. Prior to that he was the director of the Church Multiplication Institute at the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center. Pursuing his Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies at TEDS, Daniel has been a pastor, church planter, engineer and technology consultant.

Mark DeYmaz

Mosaic Church

Mark planted the Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas in 2001, a multi-ethnic and economically diverse church in the urban center of Little Rock where he remains the directional leader. In 2004, he co-founded the Mosaix Global Network and continues to serve as CEO and convene its triennial national conference in Dallas, TX. Mark has written eight books including Building a Healthy Multi Ethnic Church; Disruption; and The Coming Revolution in Church Economics.

The Sustainable Pastor: Dealing with Burnout in your Organization and in Yourself

In this breakout, addresses the growing issue of pastoral and ministry leader burnout. Few issues have hindered and even destroyed the effectiveness of church or ministry leadership than unsustainable practices and expectations. An emerging voice on the intersection of effective gospel mission and sustainable and health patterns of leadership, Dr. Horton will outline some of the underlying causes that are driving organizations and their leaders towards burnout before turning to how healthy leadership can catalyze long term effectiveness.

D.A. Horton

D.A. Horton serves as an Assistant Professor and Program Director of the Intercultural Studies program at California Baptist University. He is also blessed to serve as an Associate Teaching Pastor at The Grove Community Church. He has authored multiple books including G.O.S.P.E.L., DNA: Foundations of the Faith, and Are You Good with God?

David Kinnaman

Barna

David Kinnaman is the author of the bestselling books Faith For Exiles, Good Faith, You Lost Me, and unChristian. He is CEO of Barna Group, a leading research and communications company that works with churches, nonprofits, and businesses ranging from film studios to financial services. Since 1995, David has directed interviews with more than two million individuals and overseen thousands of U.S. and global research studies. He lives in Fort Worth, Texas and has three children.

Leading your Church to Mission

In this breakout, Pastor Kevin Harney will join a collection of leading pastors for a focused session on the critical leadership challenges facing pastors in generating cultures of evangelism and outreach in their congregation. An opportunity to hear how pastors have created, transitioned, or expanded their evangelistic culture, this breakout will offer practical case studies for leaders seeking to make substantive impact within their own people. As mobilizing churches to evangelism is a monumental leadership challenge, join Kevin for this breakout to discern practical strategies and innovations.

Kevin Harney

Kevin Harney is the Lead Pastor at Shoreline Church in Monterey, CA as well as the author of multiple books on evangelism and leadership including Organic Outreach, and No is a Beautiful Word.

Sean McDowell

Constance Free Church

Sean McDowell is director of the church evangelism institute (CEI) at Wheaton College. Previously, he served as a CEI coach and as a network developer and catalyst coach on the leadership team. Sean has 27+ years of ministry experience and has led his church to grow the new believer conversion rate from –3% to 10%+ of average annual attendance.

Eight Principles to Reach GenZ

This workshop equips pastors and church leaders with actionable strategies to effectively engage Generation Z, a tech-savvy and diverse group that values authenticity. Participants will explore research-based recommendations for revitalizing church outreach, fostering conversion communities, and creating inclusive environments that resonate with Gen Z. By implementing these strategies, churches can bridge the generational gap, build meaningful connections, and create a more relevant and impactful ministry for young adults in today’s rapidly changing world.

Brandi Williams

Brandi Williams is the Director of the WCBGC’s African American Church Evangelism Institute, leading a dynamic institute dedicated to equipping churches and pastors for catalyzing conversionary communities.

Great Evangelists in Church History

In this breakout, Drs Timothy Larsen, Jennifer McNutt, and Vince Bacote will explore some of the most significant evangelists from history, drawing out key lessons and inspiration for how pastors and church teams can impact their communities today. In learning how to communicate the timeless gospel in a new era, we can look to our collective past for surprising, inspiring, and convicting lessons for how the Church has responded to similar contexts. Joined by distinguished faculty of Wheaton College’s Litfin Divinity School, this breakout will offer the unique opportunity to discover new stories, explore historical case studies, and think beyond our time for how to be effectively on mission today.

Tim Larson
Jennifer McNutt
Vincent Bacote

Timothy Larsen is McManis Professor of Christian Thought and Professor of History in the Litfin Divinity School at Wheaton College. He is the current president of the American Society of Church History and has written or edited over twenty books on church history.

The Rev. Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt is the Franklin S. Dyrness Associate Professor in Biblical and Theological Studies in the Litfin Divinity School at Wheaton College. A leading scholar on John Calvin and the Reformation, Dr. McNutt is widely acclaimed for both her scholarship and work in the classroom through integrating the Christian faith and learning.

Vincent Bacote is the Professor of Theology and Director of the Center for Applied Christian Ethics in the Litfin Divinity School at Wheaton College. He has published several works including Reckoning with Race and Performing Good News (2020) and The Political Disciple (2015) in addition to his work being featured in magazines such as Christianity Today and Think Christian.

Ed Stetzer

Talbot School of Theology

Ed Stetzer, Ph.D., is the Dean and Professor of Leadership and Christian Ministry at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He also serves as Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University, where he teaches twice a year. Stetzer has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches; trained pastors and church planters on six continents; earned two master’s degrees and two doctorates; and he has written hundreds of articles and a dozen books. He is Regional Director for Lausanne North America, is the Editor-in-Chief of Outreach Magazine, and regularly writes for news outlets such as USA Today and CNN. His national radio show, Ed Stetzer Live, airs Saturdays on Moody Radio and affiliates. Stetzer serves his local church, Mariners Church, as Scholar in Residence & Teaching Pastor.