Conference

We Preach Christ—Midwest Gospel Preaching Summit

October 13, 2022

Three nationally known preachers with a passion for training pastors and ministers are headlining the first-ever Midwest Gospel Preaching Summit, co-hosted by Mt. Zion Baptist Church and Upper House in Madison, Wisconsin.

This conference will equip pastors and ministers in Madison and the surrounding region with seminary-level training to strengthen leaders in their teaching, preaching, and service to their congregations and local communities. Three plenary sessions will be headlined by Rev. Dr. Jerry M. Carter, Jr., Rev. Dr. Carolyn Ann Knight, and Rev. Dr. George Lewis Parks Jr., who will focus on the theme of “We Preach Christ,” highlighting Chirst’s Life, Death, and Resurrection. Breakout sessions will be led by local pastors who offer expertise in congregational equipping and community leadership.

The Hosts

Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Madison, Wisconsin, was founded in 1911 and is one of Wisconsin’s oldest predominantly African American congregations. Mt. Zion has a long history of community service and a deep commitment to equipping healthy pastors to grow healthy congregations and, in turn, advance healthy communities. Pastor Allen serves as the president of the African American Council of Churches; he is passionate about providing theological training to African American pastors who are bi-vocational or serving their congregation without seminary degrees.

Upper House is a nonprofit center for Christian gathering and learning committed to connecting faith, ideas, and communities in Madison and regionally. Located in the heart of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Upper House hosts programs and conferences, often in partnership with local ministries, to advance theological education and spiritual formation. A venue known for its space and hospitality, Upper House is delighted to champion this initiative with Mt. Zion.

The Plenary Speakers

Our conference speakers and breakout session leaders will instruct attendees on the development, design, and delivery of inspirational preaching. In addition, the plenary speakers will preach on Christ’s Life, Death, and Resurrection, and its relevance for lives of faith and action. Together these leaders bring decades of experience in training seminarians, as well as years of service shepherding congregations—

Rev. Dr. Jerry M. Carter, Jr. is 14th pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church of Morristown, NJ and founder of the How Shall They Hear (HSTH) Preaching Conference.

Rev. Dr. Carolyn Ann Knight is former assistant professor of homiletics at The Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA, and founder/president of “Can Do!” Ministries for youth.

Rev. Dr. George Lewis Parks, Jr. is Senior Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church of Little Rock, AR, and conference speaker.