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Refresh Conference

  • Date: Apr 16, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM
  • Location: Corban University Psalm Center
Refresh Conference

Corban alum and ministry leaders throughout the NW are invited to Corban’s campus for a day of fellowship and a “refresh” on core ministry topics with Corban’s School of Ministry faculty.

Join us for worship, a keynote address, connection with fellow ministry leaders, and personal and professional encouragement as we explore this year’s theme of “Healthy Ministry Identity.”

You’ll also choose from a variety of breakout sessions on topics such as emotional health in ministry, biblical archaeological discoveries, theology, missions, and more!

Registration

Register by noon on March 20 for early bird pricing of $30. 
Lunch and swag are included with your registration.

After noon on March 20, the price will increase to $35 per person. Registration closes April 9.

Conference Theme: “Healthy Ministry Identity”

Resiliency in ministry requires a healthy identity and healthy rhythms. Ministry is not a sprint but a marathon, and to finish well, we must find a sustainable pace. Blowing up, burning out, and becoming bitter are not inevitable for those in ministry.

In Christian ministry, it’s not how you start that matters; it’s how you finish. Tragically, current statistics indicate that  70-90 percent of Christian leaders do not finish well. What does it take to sustain the pace of ministry and stay strong to the last breath? To finish strong, we need resilience to overcome the daily challenges we face.

Refresh Conference offers a time for ministry leaders to recharge, be encouraged, and continue to serve well.

Portrait of Dr. James Gleason, Executive Director of Church Venture NW

Keynote Speaker: Dr. James Gleason

Dr. James Gleason serves as Executive Director of Church Venture Northwest, where he leads and supports churches across the region in pursuing their mission to make disciples. A Corban University alum, he holds a degree in theology and pastoral ministries, along with master’s and doctoral degrees from Multnomah University.

Dr. Gleason has served in ministry for nearly 40 years, including 25 years as senior pastor at Sonrise Church in Hillsboro, Oregon. He is passionate about making disciples both personally and corporately and has trained and coached pastors locally and in places as far away as East Africa and Cuba.

His life vision is to lead people in a growing relationship with Jesus and to see God move through His Church.

Conference Schedule

TimeActivityLocation
9:00 a.m.Welcome, Worship, and Keynote 1Psalm Center
10:15 a.m.Breakout Session 1Pavilion Rooms & Psalm Center
11:15 a.m.Lunch & FellowshipDining Hall
12:30 p.m.Breakout Session 2Pavilion Rooms & Psalm Center
1:45 p.m.Worship and Keynote 2Psalm Center
2:30 p.m.Conference EndsPsalm Center

Breakout Sessions

Get insights and encouragement from theology experts, seasoned ministry leaders, and mental health professionals through breakout sessions on a wide variety of ministry-related topics.

Ministry to A New Generation: Who Is Gen Alpha?

Dr. Sam Baker, Professor of Christian Ministries, Corban University
Join us for an insightful session focused on Generation Alpha, the youngest members of our churches and ministries. As the first generation raised in a digital landscape, it’s vital for ministry leaders to understand their unique experiences and spiritual development to effectively guide them in their faith. This session will provide valuable insights into connecting with this generation. Don’t miss a special presentation by current Corban University ministry students, sharing their research on a specific issue affecting Gen Alpha; you won’t want to miss it!

Salvific-Flourishing for All: The Call of Paul’s Gospel

Dr. Grant Clay, Preaching and Equipping Pastor, Emmanuel Bible Church
Our culture continues to fragment and divide at an alarming rate. One of the key drivers causing these fissures is the loss of a collective understanding of what constitutes a life worth truly living. In this seminar, we will explore the Apostle Paul’s vision of “salvific-flourishing,” and how a truly “good life” comes through a saving union with Jesus Christ. We will then look at how other key figures in history sought to apply Paul’s vision to their own situations and lessons we can learn from them as we seek to heal the spiritual soul of our nation today.

The Redemptive Movement Hermeneutic as it Relates to the LGBTQ Movement

Dr. Gary Derickson, Professor of Bible and Greek, Corban University
The Redemptive Movement Hermeneutic proposed that the commands of Scripture need to be applied differently today because our culture has advanced beyond the cultures of the Bible. This method is now being applied by the LGBTQ community and others to say that certain biblical commands no longer apply to our day, and others should not be obeyed as they were initially intended. In this seminar, the method of the system will be described, and an evangelical response will be discussed.

God-Centered Trauma

Dr. Tim Anderson, Professor of Theology, Corban University
How should Christians understand trauma? Join Tim Anderson in exploring how Christians are uniquely equipped to understand and endure traumatic experiences.

AI in Preaching

Dr. Greg Trull, Professor of Bible and Ministry, Corban University
An interactive session exploring the power, the limits, and the dangers of using AI in our sermon preparation.

Union with Christ and Pastoral Ministry

Dr. Jake Rainwater, Assistant Professor of Theology, Corban University
This session explores how the doctrine of union with Christ is not merely a theological abstraction but the very foundation of sustainable, faithful pastoral ministry. Drawing the New Testament’s teaching of being “in Christ” and the Reformation recovery of justification, we will examine how a pastor’s identity, preaching, and care for his people are transformed when he learns to minister from his standing in Christ rather than for it.

Pastoring in the Storm

Justin Greene, Senior Pastor, Salem Heights Church
This session will explore how pastors can remain spiritually grounded and theologically anchored while bearing the weight of personal trials without losing sight of the hope of the gospel.

The Spirit Gives Life: Recovering a Healthy Identity in Church Planting

Ryan O’Malley, Lead Pastor, Cultivate Community Church
It’s easy in church planting to shape an identity built on pressure, performance, and outcomes. In John 6:63, Jesus re-centers us: the Spirit alone gives life, the flesh is no help at all, and His words are our true source of life and direction. This session invites future pastors to recover a healthy ministry identity rooted not in what we produce, but in what God alone can bring to life.

Pastoral Transitions

Scott Nelson, Lead Pastor, and John Jaskilka, Operations/Men’s Ministry, Morning Star Community Church
This session examines the unique challenges and opportunities that arise when pastoral leadership changes within a local church, exploring how congregations and outgoing or incoming pastors can navigate transitions with theological integrity, relational wisdom, and a shared commitment to the church’s mission.

Transgenderism and the Context of Ministry

Dr. Corey Gilbert, Professor of Counseling Psychology, Corban University
Join Dr. Gilbert and learn how we can serve and minister in a crazy world, a bit of how we got here, and updates to the laws and movements in the US today. Become more knowledgeable about what the news and online world does not want to tell you.

Questions?

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