Vision Casting Page • Preliminary Interest Phase
Pastors Conference 2026
A regional gathering designed to encourage, strengthen, and equip pastors, ministry leaders, and churches through biblical preaching, prayer, fellowship, pastoral care, and practical conversations for church health.
Dates
September 10–12, 2026
Location
Washington Heights Baptist Church
Thomson, Georgia Presented Through Kilpatrick Baptist Association Cost to Pastors No Registration Fee
Thomson, Georgia Presented Through Kilpatrick Baptist Association Cost to Pastors No Registration Fee
The Heart Behind This Gathering
Pastors spend much of their lives pouring into others. This conference is being prayerfully considered as a way to pour back into them. The desire is to create a setting where pastors can be refreshed by the Word of God, strengthened through fellowship, encouraged through prayer, and helped through practical ministry conversations.
Launching by Faith
The desire is to make this conference available to pastors and ministry leaders at no registration cost. We are estimating a per-pastor cost for meals, materials, hospitality, and conference needs, then inviting churches, individuals, and Christian business owners to help sponsor the meeting.
Any funds not needed for the conference itself would be reserved for future pastoral care and encouragement initiatives through the association.
Encourage Pastors
Provide preaching, prayer, and fellowship that speaks to the heart of those who carry the burden of shepherding churches.
Equip Churches
Offer meaningful discussion around church health, revitalization, pastoral care, evangelism, and faithful leadership.
Engage the Region
Invite KBA churches and surrounding Baptist associations to participate, serve, and help bless pastors together.
Current Speakers & Ministry Participants
These are the current ministry leaders being considered or confirmed for the conference. Final details may be adjusted as planning continues and interest responses are received.
Bro. Ken Cloud
Keynote Speaker
Bro. Ken Cloud is being invited to bring messages of biblical encouragement, perseverance, and confidence in the Lord’s faithfulness. His tentative emphases include staying in the will of God no matter the adversary and trusting God to make a way when hope seems gone.
Revival
Encouragement
Faithfulness
Bro. Mason Davis
Keynote Speaker
Bro. Mason Davis brings decades of pastoral, associational, interim, and church health experience. His ministry has included pastoral leadership, associational missions, church revitalization, and helping churches pursue healthy development for the glory of God.
Church Health
Revitalization
Leadership
Jeff Gongwer
Pastor Wellness Catalyst • Tentative
Jeff Gongwer serves with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board in Pastor Wellness. If available, his contribution would focus on pastor care, ministry wellness, and helping churches think intentionally about encouraging their pastors and families.
Pastor Wellness
Care
Encouragement
Tim Batchelor
Associational Missionary • Kilpatrick Baptist Association
Bro. Tim Batchelor serves as Associational Missionary for Kilpatrick Baptist Association. His support and leadership are important as this conference is prayerfully considered as an association-wide ministry of encouragement and care for pastors and churches.
Gary Caudill
Event Director • Host Pastor • KBA Evangelism Committee
Pastor Gary Caudill serves as Pastor of Washington Heights Baptist Church and as a member of the KBA Evangelism Committee. With the blessing of Bro. Tim Batchelor, Gary is serving as director of this event and WHBC is willing to host the gathering in Thomson, Georgia.
Daniel Adkins
Assistant Event Director • Pastor of Raysville Baptist Church
Pastor Daniel Adkins serves as Pastor of Raysville Baptist Church in Thomson, Georgia. He is assisting in the organization of this meeting and helping support the planning, communication, and ministry coordination needed to move the conference forward.
Jimmy Caudill
Worship Leader / Special Music
Jimmy Caudill is planned to help lead the conference in song and worship. Known as a gifted singer and gospel songwriter, his ministry will help set the tone for worship, encouragement, and spiritual reflection throughout the gathering.
Event Leadership Summary
This event is being developed through the Kilpatrick Baptist Association with the blessing of Bro. Tim Batchelor. Pastor Gary Caudill is serving as event director, Pastor Daniel Adkins is serving as assistant director, and Washington Heights Baptist Church is willing to host the gathering.
The goal is not simply to hold another meeting, but to launch a meaningful pastoral care and encouragement initiative that can strengthen pastors, churches, and associations throughout the region.
Tentative Conference Schedule
This schedule is preliminary and may be adjusted based on speaker availability, pastor interest, church involvement, and overall response.
Thursday, September 10
9:30 AM
Fellowship / Check-In
10:00 AM
Morning Worship
10:15 AM
Mason Davis – Morning Session
10:55 AM
Jeff Gongwer – Pastor Wellness Moment
11:05 AM
Ken Cloud – Morning Session
11:45 AM
Pastor Roundtables / Open Discussion Rooms
12:30 PM
Light Lunch
6:00 PM
Evening Worship
6:15 PM
Ken Cloud – Evening Session
6:50 PM
Jeff Gongwer – Pastor Wellness Moment
7:00 PM
Mason Davis – Evening Session
7:45 PM
Fellowship Supper
Friday, September 11
9:30 AM
Fellowship / Check-In
10:00 AM
Morning Worship
10:15 AM
Ken Cloud – Morning Session
10:55 AM
Jeff Gongwer – Pastor Wellness Moment
11:05 AM
Mason Davis – Morning Session
11:45 AM
Pastor Roundtables / Open Discussion Rooms
12:30 PM
Light Lunch
6:00 PM
Evening Worship
6:15 PM
Mason Davis – Evening Session
6:50 PM
Jeff Gongwer – Pastor Wellness Moment
7:00 PM
Ken Cloud – Evening Session
7:45 PM
Fellowship Supper
Saturday, September 12
9:00 AM
Prayer Breakfast
10:00 AM
Move to Sanctuary / Fellowship Transition
10:15 AM
Closing Worship Service
10:30 AM
Gary Caudill – “Doorkeepers: Serving Gladly at the Threshold of God’s House”
11:10 AM
Season of Prayer for Pastors, Churches, Families, and Associations
11:30 AM
Closing Remarks / Dismissal
Pastor Roundtables & Open Discussion Rooms
Rather than overbuilding traditional breakout sessions too early, the current idea is to make room for guided conversations with trusted ministry leaders. This allows pastors to ask real questions, share real burdens, and receive practical encouragement.
Church Health
Discussion with Bro. Mason Davis around the heart of Christ for His church, revitalization, healthy leadership, and helping churches move forward.
Staying Faithful
Discussion with Bro. Ken Cloud around perseverance, spiritual warfare, discouragement, and staying in the will of God when ministry is difficult.
Pastor Wellness
Potential discussion with Jeff Gongwer around pastoral care, ministry health, pastor appreciation, and how churches can support pastors and families.
How Churches Can Help
This gathering will be strongest if churches join together to serve those who serve. We are currently measuring interest from pastors, churches, associations, and potential sponsors before finalizing the scope of the event.
Provide Meals
Churches may be invited to help provide Thursday lunch, Thursday supper, Friday lunch, Friday supper, or Saturday prayer breakfast.
Sponsor Pastors
Christian business owners, individuals, and churches may help sponsor the estimated per-pastor cost so pastors can attend at no charge.
Give Door Prizes
Door prizes can add joy and blessing to the conference. Gift cards, books, ministry tools, meals, and practical gifts are all welcome ideas.
Important Lodging Note
There is no registration cost planned for pastors and ministry leaders. Meals and conference materials are intended to be provided. Attendees will be responsible for their own travel and lodging. Speaker lodging and hospitality will be handled separately as part of the conference planning.
What We Need to Determine Next
Before this conference is fully launched, we need to measure interest from pastors, churches, ministry leaders, and potential partners. The next step would be preparing a simple interest questionnaire and sending it to pastors and churches through the KBA and, if approved, surrounding Baptist associations.
This questionnaire would not be a final registration form. It would help determine whether there is enough interest and support to move forward with confidence.
Pastor Interest
- Likelihood of attending
- Which days they may attend
- Whether they may bring staff, deacons, spouses, or church leaders
- Topics or needs they would like addressed
Church Partnership
- Churches willing to help provide meals
- Volunteers available to serve
- Door prize or gift donations
- Churches, businesses, or individuals willing to sponsor pastors
Once this preliminary response is received, the schedule, meal plan, sponsorship needs, and invitation scope can be adjusted accordingly.
Suggested Questionnaire Items
If this page is approved as a vision-casting piece, the next practical item would be building a short questionnaire to gather the following information.
Pastor / Church Interest
- Name, church, role, email, and phone number
- Are you likely to attend?
- Which days or sessions interest you most?
- Would you bring staff, deacons, church leaders, or your spouse?
- Which topics would be most helpful to you?
Church Partnership
- Would your church help provide a meal?
- Would your church provide volunteers?
- Would your church or business help sponsor pastors?
- Would you donate door prizes?
- Would you recommend inviting nearby associations?