Breakout Sessions

Building a Life Framework that is Ready for Suffering
and
Withstanding Temptation

Dennis McCallum, Lead Pastor
Xenos Christian Fellowship

Dennis is a lead pastor, teacher and Director of the Xenos Campus Bible Study. A graduate of Ashland Theological Seminary, Dennis has authored several books, including Christianity the Faith that Makes Sense, and Walking in Victory. He recently coauthored Organic Disciplemaking with his daughter, Jessica Lowery.

Spiritual Conversation Starters

Doug Pollock, Evangelism Director
Athletes in Action

Doug Pollock, Evangelism Trainer for Athletes in Action, and coauthor of the nationally recognized book and award winning resource entitled, “Irresistible Evangelism.” Doug’s evangelistic endeavors have taken him to 36 different countries, six of our seven continents, and throughout most of the United States. His primary passion and calling is to energize faith communities with a wholistic, organic approach to evangelism that strives to balance urgency with wisdom, boldness with compassion, harvesting with sowing, and proclamation with listening.

Restoring Failed Leaders

Jim Leffel, Elder and Teaching Pastor
Xenos Christian Fellowship

Jim Leffel is an elder, senior sphere leader and teacher of our Sunday night Central Teaching. Jim publishes essays on Christianity and contemporary culture, and speaks at university, missionary and church groups. He earned degrees in philosophy from The Ohio State University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Before assuming his current responsibilities at Xenos, Jim taught philosophy at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Columbus State Community College and Ohio Dominican University. He and his wife, Linda, lead a home group and have two children.

Coaching and Overseeing Home Group Leaders

Danny Walker, Associate Pastor
Xenos Christian Fellowship

Dan serves as senior sphere leader for one of the Sunday morning Central Teachings. He and his wife Cheryl have led home groups and coached home group leaders in Xenos youth and adult ministries since the early 1980s. Dan earned a B.S. in social work from The Ohio State University.

 

Teaching Kids to Pray

Kathy Steinman, Children's Program Director
Xenos Christian Fellowship

Kathy and her dedicated crew oversee Xenos' children's program Oasis. She is a long time Xenos member and Home Group leader who has a terrific burden for helping young children develop in their faith.

 

Through The Roof Academy

Donna Hughes, Area Director
Debra Petermann
Joni and Friends

It has been documented that there are 49 million people with disabilities in the U.S., of whom only a small percentage attend a church, making this on of the largest under-reached people groups.  Joni and Friends provides disability awareness, training, resources, and support for churches and ministry leaders as they develop, maintain, and expand their disability ministry and outreach, equipping them to reach the disabled in their communities.  This special 4-part seminar will help to equip church leaders and workers at all levels for disability ministry and outreach programs

Parenting a Prodigal

Marlene Nathan
Vineyard Church of Columbus
and
Bev DeLashmutt
Xenos Christian Fellowship

When a child from a Christian home rebels against God  it is often a crushing blow to his or her parents, who question themselves and the Lord, "What went wrong?!"  Parenting a prodigal is one of the most painful  and at times lonely  things a Christian parent is called to do. We  can, however, choose...  will choose whether it will be a crisis of faith or the refining fire. Marlene Nathan and Bev DeLashmutt, both pastor's wives, will discuss the hope that Christ gives in how God can use a prodigal child to refine our relationship with Him, our spouses and our children.   Marlene Nathan is  the women's pastor at Vineyard Columbus.  director of women's ministries at Central Vineyard in Westerville.

Jesus in Asia: An update

Robb Branch
World Team

In this workshop come and celebrate what God is doing in Asia. Robb Branch, has served in Asia for almost 10 years, along with his wife Huey-wen (Holly). They work with the World Team mission agency in partnership with OMF doing church planting amongst the working class in Taiwan.

 

Teaching Through Group Discussion

Doug Ferguson, Home Group Leader
Xenos Christian Fellowship

Doug teaches various Xenos classes and substitute teaches for the Central meetings. He leads an adult home group with his wife, Jen, and served many years in college ministry. Doug graduated from the OSU College of Dentistry and maintains a full-time dental practice.

 

Fighting Pornography in Your Church

Brian Gardner
Xenos Christian Fellowship

Brian is a long time member and home group leader in Xenos who currently works with the College Ministry. He also teaches the Xenos adult ed class "Sexual Integrity for Men".

Structures that Help Small Group Leaders Succeed

Jay Firebaugh
New Life Community Church

Jay has a long history of pastoring and leading small group ministry in the local church. In this workshop he will talk about providing structures that will help the leader who is not naturally gifted succeed in home group ministry. Jay will touch on evangelism, discipleship and meeting structure in this practical, much needed workshop.

Truly Living While You're Dying

Beth Chilcoat
and
Bev DeLashmutt
Xenos Christian Fellowship

In October of 2003, Beth's husband Dave was diagnosed with ALS. Dave went to be with the Lord in August of 2006. Dave and Beth determined to continue to glorify God in their lives despite, and in some ways, because of, Dave's illness. Bev DeLashmutt serves on the Xenos counseling staff and leads the Sunday morning campus Central Teaching with her husband Gary.

Intro to the Xenos Home Group Model

Phil Franck, Support Services Director
Xenos Christian Fellowship

Phil is the division coordinator of Support Services, and oversees one of our Central meetings. Phil and his wife, Renee, have led home groups in Xenos since 1985. He has a B.S. in communication from Franklin University, and plays Irish music professionally.

 

Untying the Urban Knot:  A Holistic Model for the Church to Reach Urban Communities for Christ

Lisa Gintz, National City Life Director
Youth for Christ/ Xenos Christian Fellowship

It is common for many churches to want to serve in the urban context, but be unsure of how and where to start.  When we get to the city, what should we be doing?  An educational program?  A food bank?  A bible study?  Should we be serving along side an existing urban ministry?  Or, should we create our own urban ministry?  Lisa Gintz, National Director for Urban Ministries for Youth for Christ/USA and home church leader for Xenos, will discuss the foundational elements of urban ministry that are essential to making a long term impact for Christ.   We will also discover how to translate those philosophical foundations into a practical decision framework for how a church or an individual might get involved in urban ministry locally.  

Serving the Urban Poor

This workshop has been cancelled.

Preventing End of Life Tragedies

Jeff Gordon, MD, Elder and Teaching Pastor
Xenos Christian Fellowship

Jeff leads our Sunday Morning Café Central Teaching and oversees the sphere of adult home churches attending that meeting. He also teaches in the equipping program and leads an adult home group.  Jeff is also a physician in internal medicine and trains family practice residents in his spare time.

High School and College Ministry

Scott Risley and Conrad Hilario
Xenos Christian Fellowship

High School and College are the years when most of us are making the foundational decisions about the direction our lives will take. Scott and Conrad are both experienced leaders in Xenos' college and high school ministry.

 

Teaching Students

Marc Johnson, Jr. High Assistant Director
Xenos Christian Fellowship

Marc is a junior high teaching pastor, and has devoted time to junior high ministry since 1994. He recently completed his masters thesis on "Teaching the Bible to students.”

 

Incorporating New Christians into Community

John Cleary, Home Group Consultant
Xenos Christian Fellowship

John works with home group leaders in our Adult Ministries Division. Active in Xenos for many years, John teaches classes in ecclesiology and pastoral counseling. He and his wife, Jill, also lead a home group.

 

 

Adult Discipleship Models

Doug Patch, Associate Pastor
Xenos Christian Fellowship

Doug oversees one of our Central meetings, and is a regular instructor for Xenos' Christian Growth and Ministry classes. He leads a home group with his wife, Chris. Doug has a B.S in Physical Therapy and an M.A. in Religious Studies.

Realism without Cynicism
and
Having a Quiet Time in a Noisy Culture

Mark Bair, Teaching Pastor
Xenos Christian Fellowship

Mark teaches classes and Central meetings at Xenos. He has an M.A. from Ashland Theological Seminary and a bachelor's degree in history. He has taught the Bible and helped lead home groups since 1980.