For several years, now, I’ve had a growing desire to see an annual church growth training event for Adventist churches on the West Coast. This is what WestPoint of Evangelism used to be back in the early 2000's, but even its successor event, Adventist WestPoint, has now been discontinued. Roger Walter’s EvangeLead events in 2018 and 2019 were a great step in the right direction, but I've wanted to see something bigger. When Dr. Walter agreed to join forces with SermonView Evangelism Marketing to launch this event with the North Pacific Union, the Propel Conference was born.

Last year, the launch of the Propel Conference was a tremendous success. We received incredible feedback from both sponsors and attendees that the impact of the main speakers, training sessions, and networking opportunities was remarkable. 

This year's event promises to be even better, with an expanded program and a renewed focus on inspiration and sharing stories of proven innovation. We are also excited to share that we are partnering with conference ministry departments to bring more young pastors as attendees, providing them with the tools and encouragement they need to lead and serve their communities well.

The fastest-growing Adventist churches in the NAD still use public evangelism as a key step in the evangelism cycle, but holding an effective reaping series is a perishable skill that many local pastors do not have, or frankly, don't believe works anymore. The Propel Conference offers inspiration and shares proven innovative strategies to help equip church leaders for effective evangelistic ministry and see a real impact in their own communities.

Bringing a team of local church leaders to an in-person event builds relationships and helps reignite the fire for ministry. The Propel Conference’s multiple training tracks are perfect for team members to each grow in their skills, then come together to dream and make plans to drive the mission forward in their local church.

Non-Adventist events like Exponential, Amplify Outreach, and the Unleash Conference have their place. But these don’t help our members propel forward the unique message and mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. They don’t equip our church leaders for proven, effective evangelism in our missional context. My dream for the Propel Conference is that it grows into an annual touchstone for hundreds of like-minded Adventist leaders, who come together every year to inspire each other to grow more and better disciples of Jesus.

So come join the movement. Plan to attend. Bring your leadership team. Promote it in your territory. Most of all, please pray for our speakers and participants, that the Holy Spirit will fill us all with the desire and power to move this work forward.

Larry Witzel, Chair
Propel Conference Steering Committee