Get in the boat.
That’s the slogan of the Biblical Leadership Institute’s Leadership Conference, which will be held Friday, Sept. 9, and Saturday, Sept. 10, at Hopewell Baptist Church.
The conference focuses on teaching leadership skills to individuals in both their personal life and church outreach.
“This is the very first conference that BLI has done,” the Rev. Dr. Daniel Middlebrooks, pastor at Hopewell Baptist Church, said. “We’re hoping it begins to grow so that other churches can host it. We’re starting it small and allowing God to grow it as big as He wants to.”
Middlebrooks, along with Dr. Dan Morris Sr., the president of the Biblical Leadership Institute, would like the conference to happen once annually.
“Leadership is a universal need in all of our lives,” Middlebrooks said. “We strive for excellence. (Hopewell) truly has adopted a policy of, ‘It’s excellence, or nothing.’ God deserves our very best. So do people who come through the doors. This was planned, and this was prayed over. There’s something for everyone.”
Members from all denominations and those looking to improve their leadership skills are welcome to attend the conference.
The conference features speakers Dr. Rob Jackson, of First Baptist Church of Dover, Dr. Charles Roesel, of First Baptist Church of Leesburg, and Dr. Rusty Ricketson, of Foundation of the Faith.
“Even though it’s affiliated with Baptist churches, it’s for anyone who wants to learn good leadership skills,” Morris said.
Teachers are welcome to attend too. Teachers who attended the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s recent New Teacher Coffee were invited to the event for free.
“They are impacting the generations that are going to change the world,” Middlebrooks said. “When we pour into the lives of teachers that are impacting children, we are making the community better.”
The church reached out to first responders and law enforcement officers, as well.
“We have a tremendous church,” Middlebrooks said. “The heart is to impact the community and live the Gospel outside of church, not just in the church on Sundays.”
The theme of ‘Get in the Boat’ centers around faith and working together as a team.
“All of us can either be floundering in the water, or we can get in the boat together and work together,” Middlebrooks said. “These speakers are speaking from their passion in life. That’s what makes each of these
speakers so exciting.”
In addition to hearing from the three speakers, attendees will be able to attend two hour-long breakout sessions led by Middlebrooks, Roesel, Ricketson and the Rev. Jay Brinson, of Knights Baptist Church. The sessions will cover relationship building principles, increasing professional productivity, becoming a bold leader and learning to follow before leading.
“We’re looking at the primary theme of leadership,” Middlebrooks said. “It’s just another tool. If you treat people as they are, they’ll become worse. If you treat people as they can be, they’ll become better. That’s a dynamic of leadership. Leaders are people that are perpetually asking, ‘How do I become better?’ What the Biblical Leadership Institute wants to do is invest in the community. When you invest in people, you never go wrong with a return on investment.”
“We’re excited about where we’re going,” Morris said.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.