Surviving and Thriving in Ministry
Your well being is not selfish. It is strategic.
Ministry was never meant to drain the life out of you. It was meant to be a place where calling and joy intersect, where your life with God fuels the lives of those you serve. And yet for many pastors and ministry leaders, survival has quietly replaced flourishing.
This gathering is an invitation to pause and ask a deeper question.
What if merely surviving is not God’s plan for your ministry?
What if the abundant life Jesus promises to your people is also meant for you, their shepherd?
Dr. Eric Willis will help us explore what it looks like to be rooted and resilient in ministry leadership. Through thoughtful teaching, lived experience, and practical wisdom, Eric will address how spiritual practices, healthy relationships, gratitude, forgiveness, and hope shape a sustainable and joyful life in ministry.
As Eric writes in Rooted & Resilient: A Minister’s Guide to Thrive:
“Every practice you implement, every relationship you invest in, every moment of gratitude you cultivate, every act of forgiveness you extend, every hope you nurture, and every optimistic reframe you choose contributes to your overall capacity for sustainable, joyful ministry.”
This lunchtime gathering is designed to encourage weary leaders, offer perspective to those carrying heavy loads, and remind us that caring for our own souls is not a distraction from ministry but a vital part of it. There will be time for teaching, reflection, and connection with other leaders who understand the unique joys and pressures of pastoral life.
About the Presenter
Dr. Eric Willis serves as the Executive Director of Reclaim Leadership, a ministry devoted to encouraging well being and resilience among pastors and ministry leaders. Eric has written several resources for leaders, including Breathing Space: A Respite for Ministry Leaders, Sacred Conflict: Resolution Skills for the Follower of Christ, and Rooted & Resilient: A Minister’s Guide to Thrive.
He regularly speaks and leads workshops for churches and leadership gatherings, equipping leaders with tools for healthy, effective ministry. Eric and his wife also provide ministry coaching and retreats for those serving in pastoral and missional contexts.
This gathering is for pastors, staff, and ministry leaders who long not just to endure ministry, but to experience it as a place of deep faithfulness, joy, and life with God.
Postures and Prepositions
We are honored to welcome Rebecca Wall, Executive Director of With Ministries, as our May speaker. Rebecca has spent more than a decade at the intersection of education and church-centered ministry, helping leaders and congregations move beyond simply welcoming people with disabilities to truly including them as full participants in the life of the church. With Ministries champions with-ness—doing ministry with people with disabilities, not to or for them—so that every person is known, valued, and able to serve, lead, and worship alongside others.
At this gathering, Rebecca will guide us through a conversation rich with practical wisdom, heartfelt stories of challenge and victory, and reflections intended to equip you with fresh perspective and encouragement. The discussion will explore how posture and presence shape inclusive community life and leadership in our churches and ministries. Whether you are just beginning to think about accessibility and belonging or you’re already deeply engaged in that work, this session will offer insight, inspiration, and practical next steps.
This gathering is designed to be both informative and invitational, equipping leaders to foster environments where all people reflect the fullness of Christ’s body together.
5 Shifts to Make Multiplication Work
Most churches want to multiply—but few actually do. This one-day workshop will help your church move from good intentions to tangible action. Together, we’ll explore five essential shifts that help churches move from maintenance to multiplication, using practical tools and conversations that lead to clarity and next steps.
This highly interactive day is designed for pastors, staff, and key lay leaders who are ready to move beyond theory and take real steps toward multiplication. Whether you’re a multiplication champion or simply exploring what it could look like for your church to send and support new works, this workshop will give you simple, actionable tools you can start using right away.
You’ll Experience:
Five key mindset shifts that make multiplication work
Simple tools and frameworks to use immediately
Interactive team discussions and practical exercises
Connection with multiplication-minded leaders across Dallas
A clear pathway for next steps through the Get Ready Cohort
First We Pray!
Join pastors and leaders from across Dallas County for a united time of prayer. Our heart is simple: to come before God together, asking Him to move in our cities, churches, and communities. This gathering is not about talking about prayer—it’s about actually praying.
Together we will lift up:
Every city in Dallas County
Local churches and church planters
City leaders and public servants
The lost, the broken, and those in need of the Gospel
Plant Dallas Vision Gathering (Nov.)
Come hang out with us at our first Plant Dallas Gathering!
At this gathering, you’ll here the heart and vision behind Plant Dallas.
Learn about the urgent need for more churches in our region.
Connect with others who are passionate about the gospel and the local church.
Discover ways you, your church, or your organization can get involved.
Evening with Mark DeYmaz | Survival to Sustainability - Building a Thriving Church
Starting a new church is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming—especially when it comes to finances. How do you move beyond just “making it” month to month and actually build a church that thrives spiritually, missionally, and financially?
In this training, you’ll learn from Mark DeYmaz. He serves as CEO and convenes the triennial national Mosaix Conference in Dallas. Mark has written eight books, including Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church; Disruption; and The Coming Revolution in Church Economics. He brings years of experience helping churches like yours move from survival mode to Kingdom impact.
What you’ll walk away with:
Recognize and avoid the financial pitfalls that hold young churches back
Leverage what you already have (your people, facilities, and creativity) for mission and sustainability
Launch with a vision for both spiritual health and financial stability
Create pathways for community impact that also strengthen your church’s bottom line
Plant Dallas Vision Gathering
Come hang out with us at our first Plant Dallas Gathering! We’ll meet at Central Commons and eat good food, connect with friends, and share the vision of Plant Dallas. Together, we’ll talk about how we can make Dallas look a little more like heaven.