Black Church Leadership Conference Draws 600 Pastors and Leaders to North Carolina Mountain Retreat
More than 600 pastors, church leaders, and lay people gathered at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain, North Carolina, from July 20 to 24 for the annual Black Church Leadership and Family Conference. The 2026 theme, Renewed, focused on spiritual refreshment and leadership development for ministry workers.
More than 600 pastors, church leaders, and lay people traveled to the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain, North Carolina, for the 2026 Black Church Leadership and Family Conference, held July 20 to 24.
The conference, organized by Lifeway's Mark Croston, centered on the theme "Renewed," drawn from Colossians 3:5-11. Each night focused on a specific aspect of renewal: being refreshed, refocused, reinspired, and reengaged.
Jeff Iorg, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, opened the series by speaking on ministering in the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit, based on Ephesians 5:18.
Vernon Gordon, lead pastor of The Life Church, preached from 2 Chronicles 20, encouraging attendees to "look again" when faith is tested by difficult circumstances.
Andre Rogers, lead pastor of Concord Fellowship Baptist Church, focused on Colossians 3:5-17, urging attendees to shed the old nature and reflect Christ's character in daily life.
Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, closed the series with a message from Ezekiel 37:1-5, teaching on how to spiritually reengage after seasons of dryness.
The event also included youth programs through Centrifuge and CentriKid, as well as the Black Church Discipleship Talk Show, which covered topics including AI, next-generation discipleship, and legacy building.
The 2027 Black Church Leadership and Family Conference is scheduled for July 19 to 23 at the same location.
