2025 Post-Summit Reflections
Join with Jerome, Becky, and special guest Carissa Figgins as they discuss their biggest takeaways from the 2025 Community Minister Network Summit!
Summary
Fresh off the 2025 Community Minister Network Summit in Louisville, KY, Jerome and Becky are joined by special guest Carissa Figgins for a real, refreshing recap of what made this year’s gathering so powerful. From unexpected ministry connections to vulnerable conversations about fear, advocacy, and the gospel, this episode is a heartfelt look at what happens when local outreach leaders get in the same room.
Carissa shares her experiences on training volunteers, addressing practical issues like Narcan Training and CPR, and learning to lead not just through tasks but by casting a Kingdom-focused vision. Together, the trio also explores the importance of not shrinking back from dark or difficult spaces—because Jesus followers are called to light them up.
Key Takeaways:
🔹 Connection is Kingdom Work
At the summit, leaders from across the country found immediate value in networking—sometimes even meeting ministry partners who live just down the road.
🔹 Volunteer Training Should Match Reality
Carissa highlights how her church equips volunteers with practical tools like CPR, Narcan, and de-escalation conversations—meeting both spiritual and physical needs.
🔹 Lose the Gasp Reflex
Judgment pushes people away. The church should grasp people in love, not gasp at their stories. “Don’t gasp—grasp” is a new motto worth preaching.
🔹 Advocacy Has a Place in Ministry
Ministry leaders wrestled with how churches can wisely engage with policy and advocacy without compromising the gospel. The consensus? We have a voice—let’s learn how to use it well.
🔹 Community Matters More Than Ever
Whether through in-person summits or monthly Zoom calls, the Community Minister Network offers vital relational support for outreach leaders who often serve solo.
🔹 Cast Vision, Not Just Assignments
One challenge community ministers face is leading through action without articulating the “why.” Leaders were reminded to connect each task back to the greater gospel mission.
"You can feel like a small candle in a dark room—but when we gather, it gets bright fast." -Jerome
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