The Christian life begins and is sustained by the idea of “following Jesus.” It is simple, yet also takes a lifetime to discover and know Jesus Christ in ever deeper ways. Following Jesus Christ and growing to love Him more and more is about knowing who He is, learning the extent of His grace and mercy, and discovering all that we have “in Christ.” Come and grow in your love relationship with Jesus Christ and what it means to follow Him.

Resources

• Why Jesus? by David Nasser (RightNow Media)
• Follow Jesus by Andy Stanley (RightNow Media)

Speaker Bio: Norman Fox, Teaching Elder, Calvary Bible Church

Norman is a Teaching Elder at Calvary Bible Church (CBC), Neenah, WI. His ministry focus is in the areas of Biblical teaching, personal disciple-making, and marriage mentoring. In 2015 he retired after 31 years with Kimberly-Clark in various leadership roles. Since retirement Norman served for 11 months as Interim Associate Pastor of Missions/Evangelism. Norman is a certified Marriage Mentor and leads the program at CBC. He is also a clinical mental health therapist (LPC-IT) at Anchor Counseling & Consulting, LLC as part of GJB Health Services. Karen and Norman have been married for 39 years and have three adult kids: Catherine, Spencer (Callie), and Rebecca (Michael).

Living the Christian life is about being changed by Jesus and growing in Christlikeness from the inside out as we follow Him. It is about walking with Him in deeper ways as a disciple of Christ. It is about developing the character of Christ, deepening my knowledge of Him, and growing in joyful obedience. Come and learn what it means to be a disciple of Christ and to grow in Christlikeness.

Resources

• Transformed by Chip Ingram (RightNow Media)

Speaker Bio: Norman Fox, Teaching Elder, Calvary Bible Church

Norman is a Teaching Elder at Calvary Bible Church (CBC), Neenah, WI. His ministry focus is in the areas of Biblical teaching, personal disciple-making, and marriage mentoring. In 2015 he retired after 31 years with Kimberly-Clark in various leadership roles. Since retirement Norman served for 11 months as Interim Associate Pastor of Missions/Evangelism. Norman is a certified Marriage Mentor and leads the program at CBC. He is also a clinical mental health therapist (LPC-IT) at Anchor Counseling & Consulting, LLC as part of GJB Health Services. Karen and Norman have been married for 39 years and have three adult kids: Catherine, Spencer (Callie), and Rebecca (Michael).

The mission of Jesus is about joining Him in His calling of kingdom living and “making disciples of all nations.” Jesus modeled discipleship. The apostles practiced discipleship. We have the same calling to follow Jesus and help others to also follow Him. Come and learn about what it means to be committed to making disciples who make disciples.

Resources

• MAKERS Discipleship Series by Patrick Annotti (RightNow Media)

Speaker Bio: Norman Fox, Teaching Elder, Calvary Bible Church

Norman is a Teaching Elder at Calvary Bible Church (CBC), Neenah, WI. His ministry focus is in the areas of Biblical teaching, personal disciple-making, and marriage mentoring. In 2015 he retired after 31 years with Kimberly-Clark in various leadership roles. Since retirement Norman served for 11 months as Interim Associate Pastor of Missions/Evangelism. Norman is a certified Marriage Mentor and leads the program at CBC. He is also a clinical mental health therapist (LPC-IT) at Anchor Counseling & Consulting, LLC as part of GJB Health Services. Karen and Norman have been married for 39 years and have three adult kids: Catherine, Spencer (Callie), and Rebecca (Michael).

Have you ever wondered what it might feel like to be healed from your hurts, hang-ups and habits? It’s true, we often don’t change until our pain exceeds our fear of change. But what if instead of experiencing more pain, we courageously stepped into a new way of living? Tom will open this session sharing his personal story of struggles with his own hurts, hang-ups, and habits. A story from a Godless orphan to a child of God. A “hurt” could be classified as any life experience that may have damaged your heart – some offense against you that crippled your ability to deal with the world in a healthy way. Those hurts lead to “hang-ups”–roadblocks that keep you from progressing further in God’s plan for your life. Finally they become “Habits”–unhealthy patterns that often start as a perceived “remedy” for some problem in your life, but end up turning into a chronic bad behavior or addiction. This session will look at a program that teaches us a new way of living in which we can embrace healthy practices and habits.

Resources:

• Gods at War by Kyle Idleman

Speaker Bio: Tom Sporleder, Celebrate Recovery Ministry Leader, Christ The Rock

Tom is the ministry leader for Celebrate Recovery at Christ the Rock Community Church where the focus is on finding God’s healing power in our lives through the 8 recovery principles found in the beatitudes and the Christ-centered 12 steps. Through his travels, Tom has visited over 40 different CR’s across the country and has had the privilege of sharing his story, through his testimony, at many of these meetings. Tom is married to Michelle and they live in Appleton, Wisconsin.

The apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Psalm 46:11 says: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” But is being anxious the same as having anxiety, and is being downcast the same as having depression? Sometimes working through these mental health challenges with God is enough, but other times, God gifts others with talents in the areas of mental health to assist us. This session will help you understand these challenging mental health issues and when to seek additional help.

Speaker Bio: Peter Leshke, Pastor at Christ The Rock

Peter is excited to join other men in seeking God at No Regrets. Has worked in the Worship Arts and Pastoral Care areas at Christ The Rock Community Church for 22 years. Married to his wife Nancy for 25 years in 2022, Peter has four children ages 10-21 years old. 

What issue are you struggling with? Pornography, sexual addiction, impure thought lives, same sex attraction, and homosexuality are challenges men face. What is the source of these problems and how does the Bible address them? This session will look at sex as God designed it, how it is corrupted by sin, and how we can avoid the sexual sin trap through establish accountability partnerships and by joining programs like Freedom Fighters.

Speaker Bio: Basil Buchko, Freedom Fighters Ministry Leader at Faith (Manitowoc)

Basil is a recovered sex addict. He walked through the door of Freedom Fighters on October 8, 2013, and there found the freedom promised to all through Jesus Christ. His devotion to living freely led him to ever-increasing leadership roles within Freedom Fighters at Christ the Rock and would bring the program to Faith Church in Manitowoc in 2015 and, later, Connection Church. Basil is a child of God, a husband of 21 years, and the father of two children. 

We know that selfishness threatens our marriages and putting God at the center of our marriage is the solution. So how do we commit our marriage to God’s mission so that He can transform us and our marriage into His original design? This session will focus on the unchanging Word of God, His promises and how we can use it in our marriage to shape our hearts to align with the Father’s.

Resources:

• TBD

Speaker Bio: Dave Wager, author, speaker and President at Silver Birch Ranch and Nicolet Bible Institute

Since 1981, Dave Wager has served as a leader, friend, and teacher to thousands who have entered the educational grounds of Silver Birch Ranch in White Lake, Wisconsin. Dave continues to serve as the president of Silver Birch Ranch and The Nicolet Bible Institute and teaches at camps, colleges, conferences, churches, and businesses throughout the world. Dave is an award winning author who has dedicated his life to communicating the truths of the Bible to students and adults in a simple, energetic, and challenging way, and can often be heard as a guest or host on various Christian talk radio programs.

TBD

Resources:

• TBD

Speaker Bio: Dave Wager, author, speaker and President at Silver Birch Ranch and Nicolet Bible Institute

Since 1981, Dave Wager has served as a leader, friend, and teacher to thousands who have entered the educational grounds of Silver Birch Ranch in White Lake, Wisconsin. Dave continues to serve as the president of Silver Birch Ranch and The Nicolet Bible Institute and teaches at camps, colleges, conferences, churches, and businesses throughout the world. Dave is an award winning author who has dedicated his life to communicating the truths of the Bible to students and adults in a simple, energetic, and challenging way, and can often be heard as a guest or host on various Christian talk radio programs.

TBD

Resources:

• TBD

Speaker Bio: Dave Wager, author, speaker and President at Silver Birch Ranch and Nicolet Bible Institute

Since 1981, Dave Wager has served as a leader, friend, and teacher to thousands who have entered the educational grounds of Silver Birch Ranch in White Lake, Wisconsin. Dave continues to serve as the president of Silver Birch Ranch and The Nicolet Bible Institute and teaches at camps, colleges, conferences, churches, and businesses throughout the world. Dave is an award winning author who has dedicated his life to communicating the truths of the Bible to students and adults in a simple, energetic, and challenging way, and can often be heard as a guest or host on various Christian talk radio programs.

Romans 12:6-8 is where Paul outlines the Spiritual Gifts God graces each one of us with that we may humbly serve the Body of Christ: “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” This session will explore each of the gifts, compare and contrast them with life callings (Ephesians 4) and manifestations of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12), and encourage you to identify and explore your own Spiritual Gifts.

Speaker Bio: Josh McDonald, Pastor of Community and Discipleship, Mission Church

Josh is married to Heather, an art therapist whose beauty is matched only by her amazing soul. God gifted them with three dynamic, creative, loving, and unstoppable children–Eugene, Elsa, and Isabelle. To relax, he watches Netflix with Heather, goes for aimless drives in the country, and plays whatever game my kids tell him to.

Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God has given you one or more spiritual gifts to serve Him and His Kingdom for His glory. Once you’ve discovered your spiritual gift(s), it’s time to begin applying them. This session will explore each of the gifts from the perspective of application, strengths and weaknesses, and how to explain to others how best to use your gifting.

Speaker Bio: David Foertsch, Vocational Coordinator at Goodwill

David has a passion for working with people. He has worked in the Employment and Training Program of Goodwill NCW for the past 5 years–helping others gain the tools they need to be successful in life. David likes to teach and has used the ability to volunteer for the Dignity Revolution Challenge for the past couple years, which is a program of Life Promotions that aims to help youth stand up for the value of every person. David has been a part of Christ The Rock since he was a youngster where he’s enjoyed Sunday services, taken part in classes and is also a member of the worship team. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Integrative Leadership and Applied Communication from UWGB.  He is also a proclaimed nerd that plays everything from board games to watching anime. David currently lives in Menasha with his two younger brothers.

We’ve all seen a gifted athlete pound their chest or do some dance in celebration of a big play. Humility and glorifying God are not at the center of such celebrations. But when we look to Romans 12, which lists the Spiritual Gifts, we see that Paul preceded the list with a call to service, an acknowledgement that Spiritual Gifts are granted by the grace of God, and that no gift is greater than any other. This session will explore the foundations of humility, how God grants Spiritual Gifts, and how we can use them to humbly serve God and others for God’s glory.

Speaker Bio: Shawn Whitworth, Lead Pastor, Mission Church

Shawn is the lead pastor at Mission Church in downtown Appleton, where the focus is on reaching a diverse group of people who are far from God by creating a space for them to feel comfortable asking tough questions about God. Shawn is married to Denise and dad to three wonderful kids; Morgan, Isaiah, and Avery. When he’s not with the family or at church he can be seen competing in the occasional triathlon.

The Guinness Book of World Records, countless halls of fame, books and articles are filled with the names of people who have earned acknowledgement, fame and glory through some pretty remarkable accomplishments, and yet, there is a book that is filled with countless names of people who did just one thing right and what they received is more valuable than any of those other famous people. This session will focus on that book—the Book of Life (Revelation 20: 12-15)—and what it takes for our name to be entered in it. This is a session for new believers, those on the fence, and those who just have questions.

Resources:

• TBD

Speaker Bio: Landon Churchill FV Jail Ministry/Freedom Fellowship

A man on the street poll asked people who Jesus is, and answers included God, the Son of God, a white guy with a beard, our Savior, and a story book character. Jesus posed this same poll to his disciples asking them, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13). Then Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This session won’t answer that question for you, but it will discuss a process for learning about how to answer that question for yourself. This is a session for new believers, those on the fence, and those who just have questions.

Resources:

• TBD

Speaker Bio: Landon Churchill FV Jail Ministry/Freedom Fellowship

Pastor Landon and Sunny, and their three children reside in Kaukauna, WI. Pastor Landon has been involved in pastoral ministry for over 2 decades and has the privilege of serving as Pastor of Freedom Fellowship Church in Kaukauna, WI, which he helped found in 2007, also he helps oversee the Freedom Center Food Pantry in Appleton, WI and actively serves with Fox Valley Jail Ministry. His ministry emphasizes verse by verse study of the Word of God, giving its full counsel. His studies pay particular attention to the practical application, contemporary examples, and incorporation of the Word into our daily lives.

As young children, some of us were taught that we needed to make Jesus our forever friend, but what does that really mean? This session will explore what the character traits are for a good friend, what traits Jesus possessed and how they align with the traits exemplified by a good friend, and how we can form a relationship with a paradoxical God who promises to be with us always, but who no longer exists in human flesh. This is a session for new believers, those on the fence, and those who just have questions.

Resources:

• TBD

Speaker Bio: Landon Churchill FV Jail Ministry/Freedom Fellowship

Pastor Landon and Sunny, and their three children reside in Kaukauna, WI. Pastor Landon has been involved in pastoral ministry for over 2 decades and has the privilege of serving as Pastor of Freedom Fellowship Church in Kaukauna, WI, which he helped found in 2007, also he helps oversee the Freedom Center Food Pantry in Appleton, WI and actively serves with Fox Valley Jail Ministry. His ministry emphasizes verse by verse study of the Word of God, giving its full counsel. His studies pay particular attention to the practical application, contemporary examples, and incorporation of the Word into our daily lives.

Are you desiring to see your son follow Jesus, be changed by Jesus, and be committed to the mission of Jesus? Not sure how to do that? Not sure how to get started? In this session, we’ll discover practical and intentional ways to connect with your son leading him to be a disciple of Jesus who makes disciples of Jesus.

Resources:

• Discipling Your Children Resources – RightNow Media

Speaker Bio: Mitch Lautenslager, Non-staff Pastor at Christ The Rock and Chair of Management Development at FVTC

Mitch is the chair of the Management Development department at Fox Valley Technical College, where he also served as an adjunct instructor. Prior to that, Mitch served as VP of Operations for Life! Promotions a non-profit focused on youth that hosts values-based school assembly programs, and events like Lifest. Mitch has also served as Children’s and Family pastor at a number of churches throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Colorado. He holds a BA in Pastoral Studies and an MS in Management and Organizational Behavior. Mitch resides in Waupaca with his wife Joy.

She’s your daughter. There’s no one like her! There’s something special about a dad and their daughter. Many of us see strength in our daughters. We desire to see that strength used for good, especially in the Kingdom. In this session, we’ll discover the unique ways that God has designed our daughters to become disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus.

Resources:

• Discipling Your Children Resources – RightNow Media

Speaker Bio: Mitch Lautenslager, Non-staff Pastor at Christ The Rock and Chair of Management Development at FVTC

Mitch is the chair of the Management Development department at Fox Valley Technical College, where he also served as an adjunct instructor. Prior to that, Mitch served as VP of Operations for Life! Promotions a non-profit focused on youth that hosts values-based school assembly programs, and events like Lifest. Mitch has also served as Children’s and Family pastor at a number of churches throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Colorado. He holds a BA in Pastoral Studies and an MS in Management and Organizational Behavior. Mitch resides in Waupaca with his wife Joy.

Godly men in our lives are a gift from God! They support us, challenge us, sand off our rough edges, and teach us so much. Regardless of the role you play in your circle of friends you can be a disciple who make disciples. In this session, we’ll discover how you can use your gifts and talents, just as you are, to lead other men toward discipleship.

Resources:

• Wholehearted Men by Dan Maclean – RightNow Media
• CORE for Men: Transformed – RightNow Media

Speaker Bio: Mitch Lautenslager, Non-staff Pastor at Christ The Rock and Chair of Management Development at FVTC

Mitch is the chair of the Management Development department at Fox Valley Technical College, where he also served as an adjunct instructor. Prior to that, Mitch served as VP of Operations for Life! Promotions a non-profit focused on youth that hosts values-based school assembly programs, and events like Lifest. Mitch has also served as Children’s and Family pastor at a number of churches throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Colorado. He holds a BA in Pastoral Studies and an MS in Management and Organizational Behavior. Mitch resides in Waupaca with his wife Joy.