Prayer Culture
Description: In your day-to-day, what drives your church forward? Is it the wind of the Holy Spirit, or man-made skills, ideas and talent? This breakout invites participants into the story of what God has been doing at The Woods Church over the past decade- breaking apart what was not His and rebuilding a healthy church marked by His presence. Through this "before and after" journey, we will examine the prayer-based staff values, internal systems and service designs that have yielded the most fruit. If you lead others, and long to rebuild culture from the place of prayer, this session is for you.
About the Speaker: Jess serves as the Creative Director at The Woods Church and Conference Director of Overflow. Part strategist, part storyteller, she loves taking the Lead Pastor’s vision and bringing it to life. With a background in creative writing, video production, project management and mass communication strategy, she's she’s quick to say that her most valuable training has happened in the prayer room. Having seen the high's and lows of The Woods Church over 37 years, she’s learned the difference between executing “good ideas” and God’s ideas, and is never going back.
Building A Presence-Driven Culture through Prayer with John MacDonald
Description: Our world is desperate for more than talented preachers or worship teams - the lost must encounter His Presence. In this session, discover how shifting from human strategy to spirit-led dependence transforms leadership, shapes church culture, and creates environments where people genuinely encounter God. Through biblical principles and practical lessons from real-life ministry experience, this session will equip you to cultivate a presence-driven ministry built on prayer.
About the Speaker: Pastor John MacDonald has been in ministry 27 years spending the last 9 years as the Lead Pastor of The Woods Church. He and his wife Holly have two amazing boys Maddox (16) and Hudson (18). John's heart is to raise up presence-driven, life-giving, and Spirit-empowered churches and leaders, through establishing a powerful prayer culture.
About the Speaker: Pastor John MacDonald has been in ministry 27 years spending the last 9 years as the Lead Pastor of The Woods Church. He and his wife Holly have two amazing boys Maddox (16) and Hudson (18). John's heart is to raise up presence-driven, life-giving, and Spirit-empowered churches and leaders, through establishing a powerful prayer culture.
Sailboat vs. Cruiseship - Which Church are You? with Jess Ciaramitaro
Description: In your day-to-day, what drives your church forward? Is it the wind of the Holy Spirit, or man-made skills, ideas and talent? This breakout invites participants into the story of what God has been doing at The Woods Church over the past decade- breaking apart what was not His and rebuilding a healthy church marked by His presence. Through this "before and after" journey, we will examine the prayer-based staff values, internal systems and service designs that have yielded the most fruit. If you lead others, and long to rebuild culture from the place of prayer, this session is for you.
About the Speaker: Jess serves as the Creative Director at The Woods Church and Conference Director of Overflow. Part strategist, part storyteller, she loves taking the Lead Pastor’s vision and bringing it to life. With a background in creative writing, video production, project management and mass communication strategy, she's she’s quick to say that her most valuable training has happened in the prayer room. Having seen the high's and lows of The Woods Church over 37 years, she’s learned the difference between executing “good ideas” and God’s ideas, and is never going back.
TBD with Jon Nicholas
Description: More details to come!
About the Speaker: Pastor Jon Nicholas serves as the Executive Director of Enrollment at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, helping students discover their calling and find a university experience that prepares them for both career and purpose. He is also the founder of Presence Driven Leadership Solutions, LLC, a leadership development and consulting organization focused on helping leaders build healthy teams and cultures while leading with clarity, character, and spiritual depth. An ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene, Jon spent two decades at The Woods Church as Worship & Creative Pastor and Director of the School of Leadership. Across more than 30 years of leadership experience, his passion has been developing leaders and helping people grow into their God-given calling. Jon and his wife Rachel live in Mount Vernon, Ohio, with their four children and enjoy music, sports, and exploring clear water around the world.