2026 ReGroup South

Date:

August 1, 2026

Time:

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Calendar:

Location: First Baptist Church, Lafayette
Address: 1100 Lee Street Lafayette, Louisiana 71501

Louisiana Baptists’ premier training for Sunday School and small group leaders with emphasis on equipping disciple makers to make disciples.
Practical training will be offered for all age-graded ministries plus other small group initiatives. Primarily designed for lay leaders but offers a tract for Pastors/Staff as well.

Bring your whole Sunday School/small group team. Registration cost is $15 per person.

General Schedule

9:00am	General Session
10:00am	Break/Transition to Breakouts
10:10am	Breakout Session 1
11:00am	Break/Transition to Breakouts
11:10am	Breakout Session 2
12:00pm	Dismissal

Speakers

Allan Taylor
Keynote Speaker & Breakout Leader

Founder, Ember-to-Blaze Ministries
Executive Pastor, First Baptist Church, Concord, TN

Crescent City Worship
Worship Leaders

Collaborative Worship Team, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, LA

Beau Guidry
Breakout Leader

Director of Small Groups, First Moss Bluff, Lake Charles, LA

Garrison Griffith
Breakout Leader

Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Wisner, LA

Tara Dew
Breakout Leader

Author, Adjunct Professor, and Director of Thrive Ministry Wives Program, NOBTS, New Orleans, LA

Justin Woodall
Breakout Leader

Young Adults Minister, Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, LA

Nick Watts
Breakout Leader

NextGen Pastor, First Baptist Church, Lafayette, LA

Blake Lewis
Breakout Leader

Middle School Pastor, First Baptist Church, Haughton, LA

Shelly Melia
Breakout Leader

Author, Associate Dean for the Graduate School of Ministry, Dallas Baptist University, Dallas, TX

Deleece Nichols
Breakout Leader

Children’s Ministry Consultant, Greenwell Springs, LA

Nate Jernigan
Breakout Leader

Assistant Professor of Music and Worship, Director of the Center for Worship Studies, Crescent City Worship, NOBTS, New Orleans, LA

Breakout Session Details

During ReGroup you will have the opportunity to attend two Breakout Sessions. You will find categories, speakers, and descriptions of each breakout below.

ADULTS/PASTORS/STAFF | Allan Taylor

Session 1
Sunday School as a Strategy (Part 1)

Reframes Sunday School as a strategic tool for fulfilling the Great Commission rather than simply a program. Emphasizes rediscovering its purpose and maximizing its impact for intentional discipleship.

Session 2
Sunday School as a Strategy (Part 2)

Builds on the strategic role of Sunday School by exploring practical application and implementation. Focuses on aligning structure and leadership to achieve meaningful discipleship outcomes.
ADULTS | Beau Guidry

Session 1
The DNA of Biblical Discipleship

Identifies the essential elements of discipleship defined by Scripture and modeled in Jesus. Explores the contrasts of transformational discipleship with ineffective approaches that prioritize activity over spiritual growth.

Session 2
A Practical Framework for Spiritual Formation in Small Group Ministry

Presents a structured approach to moving people from attendance to authentic transformation in small groups. Highlights intentional pathways and leadership practices that foster lasting spiritual growth.
MEN | Garrison Griffith

Session 1
Kingdom Apprenticeship: What Discipleship Was Always Meant to Be

Examines how modern approaches to discipleship often fall short of Jesus’ call to lifelong apprenticeship. Reorients leaders toward a whole-life model of following Christ within the Kingdom of God.

Session 2
Vision, Intention, Means: A Practical Framework for Forming Men as Apprentices of Jesus

Introduces Dallas Willard’s VIM framework as a practical pathway for developing men spiritually. Demonstrates how this method leads to lasting transformation.
WOMEN | Tara Dew

Session 1
Discipleship…Jesus’ way!

Examines Jesus’s model of discipleship, focusing on how He formed His followers through everyday life, example, and experience. Emphasizes abiding in Christ to show how spiritual growth and Christlike service flow from a life rooted in Him.

Session 2
Serving others out of the overflow!

Explores how Christlike service flows from what has first been received from Him, leading to a life of serving others out of the overflow. Focuses on the biblical and practical concepts of John 15 and how to grow in our likeness of Christ.
COLLEGE/YOUNG ADULTS | Justin Woodall

Session 1
Being Relational While Still Sharing Your Faith

Addresses how to balance authentic relationships with faithful gospel witness in a skeptical culture. Encourages leading students/young adults to demonstrate love while confidently sharing their faith.

Session 2
Building a Disciple-making Community

Focuses on creating relational environments where discipleship happens through everyday life connections. Emphasizes adapting ministry structures that are pragmatic for students and young adults in their Christian walk.
YOUTH/YOUNG ADULTS | Nick Watts

Session 1
Building a Disciple-making Youth Ministry

Addresses the disconnect between busy youth programming and true disciple-making outcomes. Provides practical strategies for cultivating lifelong spiritual transformation in students.

Session 2
Developing Leaders in Small Churches

Highlights how smaller churches can effectively develop students and their leaders. Focuses on simple, faithful discipleship practices that work regardless of size or resources.
YOUTH/STUDENTS | Blake Lewis

Session 1
The Leader Every Student Needs

Describes the qualities and habits of impactful student leaders. Offers practical insights for becoming a consistent and influential presence in students’ lives.

Session 2
Don’t Rush the Silence: Leading Discussions that Matter

Shows how meaningful conversations often emerge from intentional pauses and thoughtful questions. Equips leaders to create safe, engaging environments for deeper student discussion.
CHILDREN/PRESCHOOL | Shelly Melia

Session 1
Different World, Same Gospel: Reaching Generation Alpha

Examines how Generation Alpha is influenced by constant connectivity, algorithms and artificial intelligence. Explores the impact on how they learn, form identity and develop spiritually.

Session 2
When a Child Says “I Want to Be Saved,” What Comes Next?

Clarifies how children understand and respond to the gospel. Guides leaders in recognizing genuine faith and providing appropriate spiritual care.
CHILDREN/PRESCHOOL | Deleece Nichols

Session 1
Connecting and Communicating with Families

Addresses the diversity and complexity of modern families. Focuses on the importance of building positive relationships and promoting effective communication to better minister to families.

Session 2
Investing in Your Team

Highlights the importance of developing and supporting ministry teams. Covers practical ways to recruit, equip, and encourage team members for greater effectiveness.
WORSHIP | Nate Jernigan

Session 1
What is Worship? A Theology and Discipline for Daily Living

Defines worship as a lifestyle rather than a music-only expression. Connects daily worship practices to faithful and effective ministry.

Session 2
Worship Planning: Tools for Leading Six Generations in Worship

Explores the challenges of leading worship across culturally-distinct generations within one congregation. Provides tools for understanding context and planning for inclusive, meaningful worship services.

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