Crestwood Baptist Church | Louisville | April 25
Crestwood Baptist Church | Louisville | April 25
April 25, 2026
9am - 4pm
Crestwood Baptist Church
Louisville, Kentucky
Your worship and media teams will walk away from this conference better prepared for the next church service!
Event Schedule
A one-of-a-kind conference for worship and church technology teams to enhance skills, learn new ideas, and network with other ministry leaders.
9:00 am
Registration Opens
9:30 am
Opening Plenary Session
10:45 am
Breakout Session 1
11:45 am
Lunch
12:45 pm
Breakout Session 2
2:00 pm
Breakout Session 3
3:15 pm
Closing Plenary Session
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION
$35 until March 1
REGISTRATION
$45 from March 2 - April 25
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Joseph Crider serves as dean and professor of church music and worship in the School of Church Music and Worship at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also occupies the McKinney Chair of Church Music. He is passionate about training the next generation of worship leaders and encouraging pastors and worship leaders to embrace the Bible as their guide for corporate worship.
Prior to serving on the faculty at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Crider taught at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Liberty University, Southwest Baptist University, and Westmont College and served on pastoral staffs of nearby churches.
Dr. Crider is a frequent speaker and clinician at worship conferences and churches. He has contributed articles to various publications and seminars. Dr. Crider is the author of Scripture-Guided Worship: A Call to Pastors and Worship Leaders (Seminary Hill Press, 2021). Dr. Crider has been married to Amy for 36 years and they have four children and three grandchildren.
Dr. Joseph Crider
WORSHIP
BAND
We are thrilled to announce that Vessel will be performing at the upcoming Worship and Technology Conference in Kentucky, bringing their uplifting sound to an audience of church leaders, technical artists, and worship teams.
Vessel, Liberty University’s premier modern worship band from the School of Music, is a dynamic ensemble of talented vocalists and musicians dedicated to leading heartfelt, contemporary worship. Featuring drums, bass, guitars, keys, and powerful vocals, Vessel regularly inspires audiences on campus, in churches nationwide, and at special events, modeling a lifestyle of worship both on and off the stage. Their passionate performances encourage the body of Christ, blending skill and spiritual depth to draw people closer to God.
Vessel
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Breakout sessions will cover topics such as audio, building a worship team, children’s worship, social media, video, worship choirs, worship planning, and much more.
Session 1 • 10:45 am
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God has assembled an amazing team of worshipers. Now how do we help equip them functionally while digging in spiritually? In this class we’ll cover the sonic relevance of each band and vocal member; how to prepare and listen well as well as how to shepherd the hearts of those under your care while pursuing musical excellence unto the glory of Jesus.
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Analog or digital? That's the question! In this class I will be disscussing the advantages and disadvantages of each type of audio console and will have both on hand to demo. The goal of this class is to help you decide how to use thew money God has provided in an effective way, while allowing your team flexability and usability.
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Serving as a worship leader in a small-town church is both a privilege and a calling. This class will equip lay leaders to confidently plan, prepare, and lead a Sunday morning worship service from start to finish. We’ll cover what needs to be planned, what needs to be done, and how to lead with both excellence and humility. Whether you’ve been filling in from time to time or you’re stepping up for the first time, this session will give you practical tools and biblical perspective to help your church worship well — right where God has planted you.
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Learn why over 30,000 ministries worldwide choose FreeShow every week as their presentation platform. This hands-on workshop will help you understand how FreeShow actually works in real ministry environments. We’ll answer your questions on how it supports confidence monitors, lyrics and chords, motion backgrounds, looped videos, multiple Bible translations, lower thirds, media playback, and remote control—all in one flexible system. Walk away understanding how to use FreeShow effectively for your ministry’s specific needs.
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Building a Pipeline for Multi-Generational Worship: It takes commitment and intentionality to build a multi-generational pipeline for worship leadership in our churches. This class discusses practical steps and encouragements to building and maintaining that pipeline in your ministry context.
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Breakout session details coming soon.
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Many worship leaders carry a hidden weight: pressure to deliver, anxiety about expectations, and the quiet loneliness that comes from pouring out more than you receive. Psalm 115 offers a path toward relief. Through its vivid contrast between lifeless idols and the living God who speaks, sees, hears, and rescues, the psalm helps worship leaders to breathe again. In this encouraging session, you will explore how true worship steadies your heart, restores your sight, and anchors your identity in God. This workshop will encourage anyone who plans services, leads teams, or steps onto a platform feeling emptied. You’ll leave with a renewed vision of worship not as a task to perform, but as a grace that renews the soul.
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Every church has a story worth sharing, and this breakout will help you communicate your story effectively to your community and prospective guests. We’ll focus on best practices for outward-facing communication, including social media strategies, visitor-friendly website design, videos and clear written messaging.
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This breakout session, geared toward intermediate church pianists or keyboardists, will cover a wide variety of techniques relevant to playing a keyboard in a church worship setting. Drawing on almost thirty years of experience as a church pianist and worship leader, he’ll cover topics like rhythm and feel, modulations and turnarounds, voicing and chord colorings, modernizing hymns, and a variety of other topics. A video projection of the keyboard will be shown to help attendees better grasp techniques.
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Great ministry doesn’t just happen—it’s developed. Learn how to cultivate a culture of mentorship that multiplies your ministry and equips the next generation to lead with purpose. Discover how to develop and disciple young leaders who serve with passion and skill. Whether your team is large or small, you’ll leave with practical tools and fresh inspiration to raise up leaders who will carry the mission forward—for generations to come.
Session 2 • 12:45 pm
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Join Christian Naylor for a forward-looking session exploring how the latest advances in artificial intelligence intersect with worship, creativity, and ministry leadership. We will look at current tools that can support worship planning, media production, and communication, while also examining the broader trends shaping the future of AI. Together, we’ll consider how these emerging technologies can serve the church faithfully, ethically, and effectively.
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Blended worship brings the richness of historic hymns together with the accessibility and energy of modern worship music. In this session, we’ll explore practical ways to unify generations, build thoughtful setlists, refresh hymn arrangements, and create a cohesive sound that honors the past while engaging the present. You’ll leave with tools, examples, and a renewed vision for leading your church in worship that feels both grounded and alive.
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Analog or digital? That's the question! In this class I will be disscussing the advantages and disadvantages of each type of audio console and will have both on hand to demo. The goal of this class is to help you decide how to use thew money God has provided in an effective way, while allowing your team flexability and usability.
-
Serving as a worship leader in a small-town church is both a privilege and a calling. This class will equip lay leaders to confidently plan, prepare, and lead a Sunday morning worship service from start to finish. We’ll cover what needs to be planned, what needs to be done, and how to lead with both excellence and humility. Whether you’ve been filling in from time to time or you’re stepping up for the first time, this session will give you practical tools and biblical perspective to help your church worship well — right where God has planted you.
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Go from information overload to clarity and improved engagement with practical internal communication tips for church leaders and volunteers. Participants will explore crafting messages people are more likely to remember, creating engaging videos and graphics, and building your volunteer base for content versatility — all aimed at keeping members informed, aligned and involved.
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Breakout details coming soon.
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If it’s ministry, then it’s about people, even in tech world. From compatriots in the tech booth to senior leadership and from the vocalists to the “it’s too loud” congregants, ministry only happens when we engage with people. The tech arena offers few guidelines to people, which is what makes this class special. Together we will explore what it takes to be a vital part of reaching people through media.
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Churches spend over 1.5 billion annually on software for attendance tracking, visuals, and member retention. But what if there was a way to achieve all of this for $0? This session will explore the world of open-source software and how it can help churches thrive without the hefty price tag. We’ll highlight how churches worldwide are embracing these solutions to enhance ministry and reach more people. Join us to discover how open-source tools can empower your church—completely free.
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In today’s fast-paced world, a crisis can erupt in seconds and spread even faster. Whether it’s a community tragedy, leadership or PR challenges, or a natural disaster. In these moments, pastors and leaders must communicate with wisdom, compassion, and clarity. This session will explore how preparation, transparency, and Christ-centered empathy can turn a crisis into an opportunity to strengthen trust, share hope, and point people to the Gospel.
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This class is designed for worship pastors and leaders who want to plan services that truly connect hearts to God. Together, we’ll dive into the spiritual and practical side of worship planning — blending biblical principles with creative strategy to design meaningful, Spirit-led worship experiences.
You’ll discover how to:
Build a cohesive flow of worship that tells a story and draws people closer to God
Select songs that fit the message and engage the congregation
Work effectively with pastors, musicians, and media teams
Explore resources for selecting music and streamlined worship planning.
Come be refreshed, inspired, and equipped with new tools and ideas to help your team plan worship that glorifies God and transforms lives!
Session 3 • 2:00 pm
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God has assembled an amazing team of worshipers. Now how do we help equip them functionally while digging in spiritually? In this class we’ll cover the sonic relevance of each band and vocal member; how to prepare and listen well as well as how to shepherd the hearts of those under your care while pursuing musical excellence unto the glory of Jesus.
-
In-ear Monitors
-
Blended worship brings the richness of historic hymns together with the accessibility and energy of modern worship music. In this session, we’ll explore practical ways to unify generations, build thoughtful setlists, refresh hymn arrangements, and create a cohesive sound that honors the past while engaging the present. You’ll leave with tools, examples, and a renewed vision for leading your church in worship that feels both grounded and alive.
-
Did you know that almost every instance of worship in scripture is accompanied by some sort of demonstrative action? Each Sunday, our teams have the opportunity to corporately express and lead worship offered to the God of the universe. Yet the way in which we communicate it doesn’t always reflect the transformation that’s taking place in our hearts. Those who lead from the platform must consider whether the way in which they respond and lead in worship is adding to or taking away from it in ways that draw attention to themselves rather than pointing people to Jesus. Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, you can biblically express and lead people in worship without drawing attention to yourself. Body language, vocal tone, pace, and microphone technique all play a part in effective communication when speaking, reading scripture, praying, and singing. This breakout will give you and your team members practical insight on how to biblically and effectively express and lead authentic and engaging worship.
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Many ministries communicate information—but few communicate identity. This breakout focuses on story branding as an effective ministry tool to help churches tell their backstory, clarify their mission, and invite people into a shared journey rather than just an event. You will discover how using personal stories fuels both member and visitor buy in. We’ll also dive into how resonance matters more than repetition, and how Jesus’ model of storytelling still shapes effective ministry branding today.
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Join us for a practical, one-hour introduction to the basics of ProPresenter.
In this session, we’ll focus on building a complete Sunday morning playlist from scratch. You’ll learn:
• Various methods for importing song lyrics
• Organizing and managing playlists effectively
• Setting up reusable templates for consistent styling
• Adding Bible verses and sermon notes seamlessly
• Tips and tricks for achieving professional, engaging visuals that enhance worship
Perfect for beginners, volunteers, or anyone looking to improve their ProPresenter skills. No prior experience required—come ready to learn and ask questions!
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Many worship leaders carry a hidden weight: pressure to deliver, anxiety about expectations, and the quiet loneliness that comes from pouring out more than you receive. Psalm 115 offers a path toward relief. Through its vivid contrast between lifeless idols and the living God who speaks, sees, hears, and rescues, the psalm helps worship leaders to breathe again. In this encouraging session, you will explore how true worship steadies your heart, restores your sight, and anchors your identity in God. This workshop will encourage anyone who plans services, leads teams, or steps onto a platform feeling emptied. You’ll leave with a renewed vision of worship not as a task to perform, but as a grace that renews the soul.
-
If it’s ministry, then it’s about people, even in tech world. From compatriots in the tech booth to senior leadership and from the vocalists to the “it’s too loud” congregants, ministry only happens when we engage with people. The tech arena offers few guidelines to people, which is what makes this class special. Together we will explore what it takes to be a vital part of reaching people through media.
-
This breakout session, geared toward intermediate church pianists or keyboardists, will cover a wide variety of techniques relevant to playing a keyboard in a church worship setting. Drawing on almost thirty years of experience as a church pianist and worship leader, he’ll cover topics like rhythm and feel, modulations and turnarounds, voicing and chord colorings, modernizing hymns, and a variety of other topics. A video projection of the keyboard will be shown to help attendees better grasp techniques.
-
God’s choicest servants are not naturally immunized against the stresses and strains of life and ministry, trauma and adversity. This session will equip worship leaders with the top ten unique insights and practical tools to care not only for the self, but also for the soul.
-
This class is designed for worship pastors and leaders who want to plan services that truly connect hearts to God. Together, we’ll dive into the spiritual and practical side of worship planning — blending biblical principles with creative strategy to design meaningful, Spirit-led worship experiences. You’ll discover how to:
Build a cohesive flow of worship that tells a story and draws people closer to God
Select songs that fit the message and engage the congregation
Work effectively with pastors, musicians, and media teams
Explore resources for selecting music and streamlined worship planning.
Come be refreshed, inspired, and equipped with new tools and ideas to help your team plan worship that glorifies God and transforms lives!
