Vintage Con: Equipping and inspiration for those in ministry

This year’s Vintage Conference had a new location, more workshops in more areas of ministry, and one extra day, but one thing remained the same — a gospel-focused intent to encourage and equip those in ministry.

A total of 812 people from100 churches in eight countries gathered at Christ Church in Mesa Feb. 24-26 to worship, learn and be inspired. As usual, Vintage Con showed incredible hospitality, friendly team members and vibrant worship.

Adam Bailie, senior lead pastor of Christ Church, Mesa, set and closed the theme — we are all Servants and Stewards of the Gospel — at the first and last main sessions.

“Biblical ministry identities determine biblical ministry priorities,” Bailie said.

Using 1 Corinthians 4:1-7 as his text, Bailie said Paul knew who he was in Christ because of his priorities. Faithfulness was his highest aim, future judgment wasn’t his deepest concern, and functional humility was his greatest impact, he said.

In the second main session, Mike Bullmore, former senior pastor of CrossWay Community Church in Bristol, Wisconsin, spoke about passing the ministry baton. He used 2 Timothy 1-2 to set forth a ministry leader’s responsibility to pass the baton of gospel ministry.

Luke Simmons, lead pastor of Ironwood Church in Mesa, leads a Vintage Con workshop for senior leadership (pastors and elders) titled “Beyond Survival Mode: The Road Back to a Leading Heart.”

Bullmore articulated four steps in passing the baton: knowing something has been entrusted to us, we must guard what has been entrusted, guarding it requires raising up the next generation, and being intentional and deliberate in raising up the next generation.

In the third main session,Tony Merida, senior pastor of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, shared how we can suffer well. Merida encouraged attendees to endure suffering well by spending time in the Psalms.

He used Psalm 90:1-17 to give a panoramic vision of human frailty and God’s majesty. Through Psalm 90, Merida offered that suffering humbles us, purifies us, deepens our prayer life, makes us more compassionate and causes us to prioritize what really matters.

Main session four featured Adam and Renee Bailie, Tony and Kimberly Merida, and Mike and Beverly Bullmore sharing insight from their years of experience on how to balance marriage and ministry.

All three couples warned to always put Jesus first, your spouse second and your job third. They advised always having guardrails to protect a marriage, to have fun and enjoy being with your spouse and to be on offense, not defense, when it comes to caring for your spouse. They also shared that your wife must be a prophetic ally to speak both words of encouragement and admonition.

Vintage Con participants, numbering more than 800, join in vibrant worship.

Alistair Begg, former senior pastor of Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, spoke during the fifth main session on when it’s time for your departure. He used Paul’s example in Timothy 4:1-5 for us to follow in our concern for the advancement of the gospel. Begg shared Paul’s exhortation to Timothy that he has a solemn charge — a charge to preach the Word, that Timothy needs to endure, that he must preach sound doctrine, and that it is a charge for Timothy now. Begg closed in encouragement to fulfill your ministry, keep your promise and we will reap a harvest if we don’t give up.

Vintage Con attendees also had the opportunity to attend five workshops. Workshops covered ministry areas including senior leadership, worship/production, next gen (kids-young adults), assimilation, women’s ministry, outreach and missions, communication/creatives, business and organizational leadership, discipleship, prayer, church planting and teaching. While the main session encouraged, the workshops equipped. Because of the variety of workshops, churches were able to bring their whole teams.

Shawna, a children’s ministry director, loved being with others who shared the same passion to serve and love the next generation.

Alistair Begg, former senior pastor of Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, speaks about when it’s time for your departure at Vintage Con.

“I left feeling inspired, equipped with practical tools and reminded that what we do in ministry matters deeply,” she said. “It was a beautiful time to grow, reflect and be strengthened for the work God has called me to.”

Reflecting on her first experience at Vintage Con, Faith, a church office administrator, said, “We were given good practical solutions to problems that give us the confidence to execute it well. The thing I liked most was that you could tell each person cares deeply about what they do, and [they] truly partner with one another to help work together as the body of Christ.”

Vintage Conference 2027 will take place February 23-25, 2027. You can get more info at vintageconference.com.

Tony Young, a freelance writer living in Phoenix, is executive pastor at CityView Church in Phoenix.