SAVE THE DATE FOR THE UPSTATE MISSIONS CONFERENCE
Stay tuned for updated information for our 2025 conference. To get an idea of our conference offerings, view our 2024 conference information, breakouts and speakers below.
FILLED
Our Vision
The vision of the Upstate Missions Conference is to teach, train and equip churches with tools to more effectively take the gospel to their communities and beyond. Through dynamic speakers and relevant breakout session topics, churches of any size and any level of missions engagement will be able to sharpen the tip of their gospel proclamation spear. The conference is designed for everyone. Whether you are a lay leader, mission trip participant or pastor, you'll be able to engage and enjoy what we have in store for you.
SPEAKER
Cary Sanders
KEYNOTE SPEAKER & BREAKOUT LEADER
Keynote Topic: How Can A Believer Bring God's Name Glory?
Hear from our Keynote Speaker, Cary Sanders, beginning in the Worship Center.
You won't find this to be a typical talk. You will hear inspiring stories of everyday people who had an undeniable impact on those around them as God worked in and through them.
Discover the keys to maturing in your relationship with God, so you can enjoy your walk with Him and bring His Name glory along the journey.
Whether you're seeking a closer walk with the Lord or yearning to make a significant impact in your community and beyond, this will be time well spent.
Bio: Cary Sanders' life is a remarkable story of redemption and hope, a journey that speaks directly to the heart of those who understand the power of Christ's transformative love. Once an atheist teetering on the brink of suicide, Cary encountered Jesus in his darkest hour, an encounter that changed his life forever.
His early years were marked by significant struggle and waywardness, having been arrested 17 times by the age of 17. His life seemed destined for despair and defeat; but God had other plans. Cary's transformation from a life of incarceration to academic and professional excellence is nothing short of miraculous. Despite being barred for life from the university he later attended, he not only earned a doctorate degree but did so while balancing the demands of family life and full-time employment.
While serving a nine-year sentence in a South Carolina state prison, Cary held onto his faith and his dreams, even when others doubted him. Upon his release, he pursued and obtained a bachelor's degree in Christian Studies, a master's degree in Management and Leadership, and a doctorate degree in Ministry—all within nine years.
As the CEO of the nationally-acclaimed nonprofit JUMPSTART SC, Cary dedicates his life to empowering those who have faced similar challenges of incarceration. He developed a groundbreaking 40-week curriculum that combines evidence-based practices with theological scholarship, dramatically changing lives across the nation. This initiative is reshaping futures, breaking cycles of crime and addiction, and fostering safer, more hopeful communities.
An inspiring speaker, Cary has shared his story and insights at over 100 venues, including universities, churches, and professional gatherings. His talks focus on leadership, team building, and the transformative power of a relationship with Christ, always pointing back to the miraculous change He wrought in his own life.
Cary's testimony is a beacon of hope, demonstrating that through Christ, anyone can overcome their past and seize their God-given potential. His life is a testament to the belief that transformational opportunities exist for all, and that with faith and determination, every individual can achieve greatness and fulfill their purpose.
“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all FILLED with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
Acts 4:31
BREAKOUTS
Why Cities Matter
The city is more important than it’s ever been. Right now, more people live in cities than at any other time in human history. Never before has the majority of the world’s population been an urban population. Cities have always played a central role in human history and in God’s redemptive plan for the world. Cities have long stood as powerful places of cultural development, influence, and invention—offering hope, refuge, and new beginnings. But never before have cities been as populated, powerful, and important as they are today. This session will highlight the importance of cities, how they function and how the church can enter into this broken urban storyline with the gospel and to develop a ministry renewal vision for the city.
Dr. Stephen Um
Preaching and Theology Mentor For Greater Boston
Stephen Um
Preaching and Theology Mentor For Greater Boston
Having received most of his higher education from institutions near the Boston area, Stephen has acquired a unique awareness for the various intellectual and cultural issues confronting Bostonians. He is a graduate of Phillips Academy at Andover, and Boston University where he read Sociology. After receiving a call to ministry, he entered Seminary at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary where he received an M.Div. and a post-graduate degree (Th.M.) in Biblical Theology. He received his Ph.D. in New Testament studies at the University of St. Andrews (St. Mary’s College) in Scotland. Furthermore, since the beginning of 2002, Stephen has been teaching New Testament studies as an Adjunct Professor for Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He has also taught at both Emerson College and Covenant Theological Seminary.
For the past 32 years, Stephen and his wife have been involved in several Presbyterian Churches throughout the Northeastern part of the country. They began their ministry by serving at a Presbyterian church in Hartford, CT for a couple of years before planting a multi-cultural college church at Brown University in Providence, RI. From there, they moved down to New York City for five years where they sensed God's call to plant a young professional ministry. He was formerly the Senior Pastor of Citylife Presbyterian Church in Boston (PCA) for 20 years, and is the author of The Theme of Temple Christology in John's Gospel, The Library of New Testament Studies, T & T Clark International, The Kingdom of God, Why Cities Matter, 1 Corinthians: The Power of the Cross (Preaching the Word Series), Gospel Shaped Mercy, Micah for You, and The Gospel Changes Everything (in Korean). He has also been a contributing author for The Gospel as Center, God’s Love Compels Us, His Mission: Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, The ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible, The ESV Men’s Devotional Bible, and The New City Catechism Devotional. Stephen was a council member of The Gospel Coalition, and was for over a decade a trainer for Redeemer City to City Asia Pacific. He is now the Executive Director for a local church plant and a trainer for a church planting network for 55 churches (For Greater Boston). Stephen and his wife, Kathleen, have three adult children, Noël, Adeline, and Charlotte and two sons in law, Hector and Myles.
March 9th
Muslim Evangelism: Anyone, Anywhere, Any Time
Mike Shipman served for more than 20 years in Southeast Asia with the International Mission Board. Mike developed the Any-3 (Anyone, Anywhere, Any Time) evangelism approach. Those implementing this non-combative approach have led countless people to faith in Christ worldwide. By applying appropriate follow-up to Any-3, many practitioners have planted multiplying churches, while others have joyously planted the first churches among their focus people groups.
Mike Shipman
International Mission Board | Sr. Diaspora Mobilization Strategist
Mike Shipman
International Mission Board | Sr. Diaspora Mobilization Strategist
Mike Shipman served for more than 20 years in Southeast Asia with the International Mission Board. Mike developed the Any-3 (Anyone, Anywhere, Any Time) evangelism approach. Those implementing this non-combative approach have led countless thousands of people to faith in Christ worldwide. By applying appropriate follow-up to Any-3, many practitioners have planted multiplying churches while others have joyously planted the first churches among their focus people groups.
Mike currently serves with IMB’s Diaspora Mobilization Team as Sr. Strategist, Eastern USA. This team equips churches to implement the Great Commission among refugees, immigrants, and international students in North America. Mike has authored numerous books, including Any-3: Lead Muslims to Christ Now!, Plan A: Abide in Christ, Disciple the World, and Going Up: Alive in Christ on Mission.
March 9th
Revolutionary Obedience: What does embracing missions entail when I choose to say yes?
Join us as we explore the profound connection between embracing missions and the courageous act of saying yes. This session seeks to uncover the spiritual richness that comes from wholehearted obedience in the mission field, both locally and globally. We will navigate the depths of commitment, examining how saying yes to missions isn't merely a decision but a revolutionary journey that fills our lives with purpose and divine fulfillment. Through engaging discussions and real-life stories, we'll illuminate the path toward a more profound understanding of obedience, demonstrating its radical impact on our personal and collective spiritual journeys. Be prepared to be inspired, challenged, and equipped for a life of transformative obedience in the service of God's mission.
Scott Ward
Missions Pastor | Grand Avenue Baptist Church | Fort Smith, Arkansas
Scott Ward
Missions Pastor | Grand Avenue Baptist Church | Fort Smith, Arkansas
Scott & Jennifer Ward will be married for 30 years this summer. They are the parents of 4 boys and a wonderful daughter-in-law. Scott currently serves as the Mission Pastor of Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Smith, Arkansas, a chaplain for the Fort Smith Police Department, and board president for Community Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter and transitional housing for families with children. Prior to this, he and his family served as missionaries with the IMB in Tanzania.
March 9th
From Damascus Road to Reidville Road - How Paul's missionary journeys impact our lives today
Paul was responsible for planting the New Testament Church globally. He evangelized, raised up pastors, and started churches. He established the roles and expectations of pastors, deacons, and members of the churches. But what were his specific expectations for church members and missions specifically? Is it something that only a few select members are to engage in, or is there an expectation for every church member? What are those expectations? Are they optional or commanded?
Dr. Wayne Huggins
Member of Church at The Mill
Wayne Huggins
Member of Church at The Mill
Dr. Wayne Huggins began his career in the Air Force as a commissioned officer and spent the last 10 years as an IT executive. He has lived and worked in the US, Europe, and Central America.
He and his wife have been members of churches of multiple denominations in multiple countries giving them a unique perspective on what God is doing across the globe.
He holds a Bachelors, 3 Masters, a PhD, and is in the middle of a 2nd PhD program. His Bachelors is in Economics and Business from the Virginia Military Institute. He holds a Masters of Divinity, Masters of Religion, and Masters of Business Administration from Liberty University. He holds a PhD in Education with a concentration in Organizational Leadership from Liberty University. His PhD research was the first quantitative research on leader humility in the Western Hemisphere and has been used in 28 different countries since publishing. His second PhD is in Bible Exposition from Liberty University.
Dr. Huggins and his wife Sarah have four children and reside in Spartanburg County, SC. They are passionate about local and global missions, and have been on short term missions trips throughout the US, Central America, and Asia.
March 9th
Apologies are Great Apologetics
What if the greatest hindrance to the missional movement you are wanting to see in your church is…you?
What if your greatest strength is simultaneously your greatest weakness?
Oftentimes, in missions positions where we are regularly talking to people about the need for obedience to the Great Commission, we have stopped being talked to about our own need for obedience. What if our zeal for evangelism, our passion for hospitality to the unreached, is setting up smoke screens to cloak our own sin, and it’s easy to cover up in a church setting? What if our abilities to defend the Gospel has created abilities to defend ourselves?
We can practically model to the unreached the actual greatest need…a Savior…from ourselves. Having recently witnessed a revival in her workplace and neighborhoods, it all began with her own need of confession and repentance.
Lori Accordini
Director of Strategic Partnerships | Radeas Labs
Lori Accordini
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Lori Accordini has been a servant of Christ for sixteen years. She has worked in the business world for more than 15 years, both overseas and stateside, and recently served in church leadership for 5 years as the Director of Sending for the Summit Church in Durham, NC. She believes God created all of us for good works that glorify Christ, and in helping others discern how to do those works in strategic places. She madly loves her Frenchie pup, Habibi, making homemade pasta, and mining the depths of the riches of Christ Jesus.
March 9th
Why the Bible is not the Basis for Missions
Dr. Allen Mcwhite
Center for Global Engagement | North Greenville University
March 9th
Relational Evangelism: How to Win People, Not Just Arguments
Most people find evangelism difficult either because it makes them feel awkward, they don't feel equipped, or they feel like it makes people out to be projects. I have felt all of those things, but in this session I'll draw from my time in South Africa to offer ways that I have learned to share and show the gospel naturally and normally with the people God has placed in my life.
Julius Tennal
Director of International Missions | Summit Church | Raleigh, NC
Julius Tennal
Director of International Missions | Summit Church | Raleigh, NC
Julius has been married to his high school sweetheart, Brittany, for almost 10 years and they have three sons: Azariah who is almost 4, Josiah who is 19 months, and Zechariah who is 7 months. Julius has served in vocational ministry for 11 years, including 3 years as a missionary in South Africa from 2017-2020. He now serves as the International Missions Pastor of the Summit Church in North Carolina. Julius is passionate about equipping and releasing the fullness of the body of Christ, in all of its diversity, to participate in God’s global mission.
March 9th
Are Mormons Our Brothers?
Have you ever wondered, "What do Mormons believe?" or "Are they just another denomination of Christianity?" During this session, we will spend time examining what "Mormons" or as they prefer to be called today "Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" believe. We will answer the questions many have probably asked when encountering or seeing the material the LDS church is releasing now.
Will Reynolds
Member of Church at The Mill | Church Plant Partner
Will Reynolds
Member of Church at The Mill | Church Plant Partner
Will Reynolds did not grow up in a Christian household. He spent a significant amount of his life chasing the things of this world. When he was 35 years old, the Lord radically saved him and two short years later revealed that He was calling him into ministry. God has called him to go to the people of the state of Utah and beyond where the Latter-day Saints Church rules the land. Will is a graduate of North Greenville University with a Bachelors in Christian Ministries and a graduate of the School of Ministry at Church at the Mill. He is currently enrolled in the Advance MDiv Program at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married to his wife Ashley for 13 years and they have two children together. God chose to call him out of darkness and he is forever grateful for the men and women God placed in his path to alter his trajectory eternally. Romans 10:14-15 holds a special place in his heart because God has called him to carry the Good News to others.
March 9th
The Role of Discipleship in Fulfilling the Great Commission
Over the years, I have discovered that there is a tool missing for the church, for Christians, for your life, and for my life. A tool that has everything to do with our existence as people who love and follow Jesus. The project, which this missing tool (40: A Discipleship Journey Series) can help with, is not one we completely ignore. It is preached about, written about, and talked about in most circles of Christianity. We know what needs to be done. We know Jesus gave the project to us. We know the goal. We even know the scope and scale. We just do not seem to have the right tool.
The project I’m speaking of is discipleship. To be extraordinarily clear, this is the clear command Christ gave His followers to make disciples. You have heard it before, but it never hurts to read it again. It is rightfully called the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).
Discipleship is not confusing, but it also is not happening. We see people being reached for Christ, churches growing numerically, and we praise God for these things. While the intent is not to discourage you, I do want to challenge you with two questions. Join the session and dive in with me.
Dr. D.J. Horton
Senior Pastor | Church at The Mill
DJ Horton
Senior Pastor | Church at The Mill
Dr. D.J. Horton has been the Senior Pastor of Church at The Mill since 2004. He often says his job as our shepherd is to focus on four P’s; prayer, preaching, people, and purpose. An Alabama native raised in a pastor’s home, he came to know Christ personally as an eight-year-old boy.
For his training, D.J. earned a B.S. from Auburn University, where he was a member of the football team and coaching staff. He received an M.Div from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate degree in preaching from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He’s been happily married for over 23 years to his wife, Laurel. They are proud parents of six children: Ty, Micah, Lily, Grey, Rhett, and Evy. When he is not preaching or pastoring, D.J. is a passionate outdoorsman and an average golfer.
D.J. also founded Living Worthy Ministries to share his preaching, teaching, and other content to encourage and equip people to live lives worthy of The Lord. Check out livingworthyministries.com for sermons, blogs, podcasts, and free resources, or to book him for a speaking engagement.
March 9th
Helping Holistically
Andrew Smith
Associate Missions Pastor | Church at The Mill
Andrew Smith
Associate Missions Pastor | Church at The Mill
Andrew Smith is the Associate Missions Pastor at Church at The Mill. Andrew is married to Jo and has two teenage children named Aidyn and Grae. Currently, Andrew and his family have opened their home to two precious foster girls aged 4 and 6. He loves family, horticulture and he and his wife have published a children's book together.
Before joining the church staff over 4 years ago, he and his family served on the mission field in North Africa and Europe for almost 8 years. He has visited 23 countries and speaks 4 languages. Through the experiences that God has given him in more than 12 years of full time ministry, Andrew has grown to understand the importance of outreach with a holistic approach, which he seeks to implement in his role.
March 9th