GO Conference 2023

The GO conference is an exciting opportunity for Immanuel to focus on hearing and learning from those who have already taken their place in God's global story, like missionaries, church planters, local ministry leaders, our GO partners, etc. We hope that many of you from Immanuel and beyond will be spurred on to take your place in God's global story.

Schedule of Events

  • Sunday, November 5 
    • GO Gallery - Visit the Gathering Hall and North Entrance to meet most of our For The World and For the City partners. 2024 GO Trip information will be available as well. 
    • Groups - Many GO conference guests will be teaching and sharing in Immanuel Groups throughout the church.
    • Equipping Breakout - "When Helping Hurts" by Gary Glasgow...Come join us in the Parlor to learn about how people in poverty and material brokenness think and how we can best serve those in our city who are dealing with these issues. This is a very condensed version of "When Helping Hurts." This breakout will be offered at both 9:00am and 10:30am.
  • Monday, November 6
    • WMU Night of Missions - Join us at the City Center at 6:00pm for dinner, fellowship, engagement, and prayer with some of our GO conference guests. Dinner is $5. You can sign up in your Sunday Groups, or by calling Linda Jordan or Jana McKnight. Come and hear from some of our missionary wives as they share what God is doing in their part of the world!
  • Tuesday, November 7
    • Women's 'Get Crafty' Time - Ladies are invited to come fellowship and express your craftiness alongside some of our GO partners from 10:00-11:30am at the City Center.
    • Pickleball with Partners - Come hang out and play pickleball with some of our missionaries and GO partners from 6:30-8:30pm in the gym.
  • Wednesday, November 8
    • Taste the World - Join us on Wednesday, November 8 at 5:30pm in the City Center for Taste the World! This fun-filled event is in the place of Midweek and is for ALL AGES! Bring your friends, family, small group, etc. out to the City Center to sample various "small bites" from all over the world. Our GO conference team has partnered with various international churches and families all over our city for us to engage different cultures through their cuisine and culture. Meet and eat in the auditorium at a table hosted by one of our GO conference guests or partnership strategy leaders to learn more and facilitate conversations about our heart for missions. A brief program will include interviews, stories, and more from Matt Hubbard, our Acts 1:8 Team and guests. We cannot wait to see you there and learn more about God's Global Kingdom together! Oh, and there will also be American-friendly "small bites" and kids' meal options available.
  • Thursday, November 9
    • Women's 'Get Crafty' Time - Ladies are invited to come fellowship and express your craftiness alongside some of our GO partners from 10:00-11:30am at the City Center. Hear from Rachel Britts on raising cross-cultural, missionary kids.
    • Men's Breakfast - Join us from 6:15-7:30am at the City Center for biscuits, coffee, fellowship, and prayer. GO Partner Jim Britts will be sharing how we can start Kingdom movements in our families, careers, etc.
  • Sunday, November 12
    • GO Gallery - Visit the Gathering Hall and North Entrance to meet most of our For the World and For the City partners. 2024 GO Trip information will be available as well.
    • Groups - Many GO conference guests will be teaching and sharing an Immanuel Groups throughout the church.
    • Equipping Breakout - "Engaging the Nations Next Door" by Jamie Naramore...More people are on the move today than any time in human history, and this is not by accident. Whether purposefully or forcibly dispersed, Acts 17:26-27 helps us see immigration and the movement of the nations through a Gospel lens. Learn how to leverage where you live, work, play, and study for God's glory among the nations next door in Arkansas. Come join us in the Parlor for this breakout that will be offered at both 9:00am and 10:30am.

OUR GUESTS

For the world Partners

Jim and Rachel Britts
Parkside Church, Oceanside, Ca

Jim and Rachel have been married for 21 years. They have three children, Jadon (13), Jordyn (10) and Josie (9). Jim has been in ministry since 1999. They planted Parkside Church in 2014. Immanuel has partnered with the Britt's and Parkside Church since 2015.

Daniel and Kari McGhee
Connection Church, Queens, NY

Daniel and Kari are native Arkansans having met at Henderson State University. They have been married for 23 years. They have four children. Daniel has been in ministry since 2005. They planted Connection Church in 2012. Immanuel has partnered with the McGhee's and Connection Church since their pre-launch days. 
www.connectionnyc.com

joseph and Kristen Gibbons
Favor City Church, Las Vegas, NV

Joseph and Kristen met in college at the University of Mobile and married shortly after. They have two children, Canon (7) and Riley Jo (5). They both served for 12 years in student ministry before moving out west to plant. They planted Favor City Church in 2022. Immanuel began partnering with them in 2023.
www.favorcitylv.com

Jeremy Aylett
Send City Missionary (NAMB)
San Diego, CA

Jeremy and Natalia have been married for 18 years, and they have two boys, Ian (11) and Logan (9). Jeremy felt the call to ministry while in Russellville while attending Arkansas Tech. He has planted churches in San Diego and is currently the Send City Missionary for San Diego as part of NAMB's Send Network.
www.namb.net/send-network/send-city/san-diego/

Adam and Millie
Southeast aSIA

Adam and Millie have been married for 35 years. They have two adult children, Caleb and Hannah. They have served in vocational ministry (focus on church planting) for more than 35 years. They have served in Asia with IMB for over 21 years. Lately, they have begun workin in the are of digital engagement as a strategic, Gospel tool.

Brannan Hester
Southeast asia

Brannan grew up in Little Rock and has been a member of Immanuel since 1987. He worked in the banking industry for a number of years and was a staple on our church's tech team. Immanuel sent him out as one of our Send Missionaries in 2016. He has served in Southeast Asia for 7 years.

Mike Lazenby
imb

Mike is originally from Birmingham, Alabama. He has been married for 23 years and has 3 teenage children. They served in Austria for almost 10 years, before returning to Alabama to serve in the local church. He currently serves as our region's IMB Mission Mobilizer.
www.imb.org

cHRIS rICHARDS
eUROPE

Chris and his wife, Dawn, have been married for 25 years. They have four children. After serving in Germany for a few years, the Lord confirmed their call to missions. They have served with the IMB in Europe for almost 20 years utilizing their talents in graphic design and photography. 
www.imb.org

nELSON AND eLENA oRTIZ
pARAGUAY

Nelson grew up as a pastor's kid in Asuncion, Paraguay. He attended OBU in the 90's. He and his wife Elena have been married for 23 years and they have 2 children. The Ortiz family have served and helped First Baptist Church of Asuncion for many years. This is Immanuel's oldest GO partnerships. 

aMY sANDERSON
NORTH AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST

Amy grew up in East Texas. She served as a physical therapist for 10 years before putting her yes on the table to serving God on the mission field with IMB. She has served as a missionary for 6 years, predominantly among an unreached people group, while still using her medical skills.
www.imb.org

GEORGE AND SUSIE WILLINGHAM
NORTH AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST

George grew up in East Tennessee, becoming a follower of Christ his senior year of high school. He is married to Susie and they have a daughter. They have served for 8 years with the IMB working among an unreached, unengaged people group (UUPG).
www.imb.org

WADE TOMLINSON
FOR ALL MANKIND MOVEMENT
SOUTH ASIA

Wade and Susan have been married for 25 years and they have 3 children. He has served with the IMB in China and various local church pastoral roles over the last 20 years. He currently serves as our regional contact for our South Asia partner, For All Mankind. 
www.gofamm.org

For the City Partners

Mark and Laura carter
The Way church network
little rock, ar

The Way is a church planting network focused on making disciples
www.thewaychurchnetwork.org

Arkansas food bank

The Arkansas Food Bank is the foundation in the fight against hunger. They find pathways to connect people, resources and food to reach those in need, providing dignity, hope and a brighter future for all Arkansans. In 2022, they provided over 40 million pounds of food to partner agencies, like the Food Pantry at the City Center. 
www.arkansasfoodbank.org

Renewal Ranch

Renewal Ranch is a faith-based residential addiction recovery program for men ages 21 and older. It was founded in 2011. The 12-month program incorporates five key components: an atmosphere of love, brotherhood, Bible study, service and spiritual discipline. 
www.therenewalranch.org

The CALL in Arkansas

The CALL first launched in Pulaski County in 2007 as a non-profit organization with a mission to educate, equip and encourage the Christian community to provide a future and hope for children in foster care. They support the work of local churches as they call families into the ministry of foster care.
https://thecallinarkansas.org

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

The FCA seeks to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. Central Arkansas FCA covers 8 counties serving over 120 area schools, 3,500+ students and 600+ coaches. 
www.centralarkfca.org

Arkansas baptist Children and Family Ministries

A Christ-centered vision, to serve Arkansas families. The mission is healthy families and healthy futures. They are 1 organization with 6 divisions - Connected Foster Care and Adoptions, Living Well Professional Counseling, Desired Haven Family Care, Arkansas Baptist Homes for Children, Arkansas Baptist Ranch, and the newest addition, Explorers Academy. 
www.arkansasfamilies.org

Disaster Relief

The mission of Disaster Relief is to bring help, healing and hope as we follow Christ's example of meeting physical, emotional and spiritual needs. We serve people in crisis responding quickly to urgent needs. Disaster strikes and opens the door for immediate ministry. Volunteers rush into action to meet physical needs and share the Good News.
abscdisasterrelief.org

Immanuel Biblical cOUNSELING

Life is hard and often complicated. There is often great benefit in talking to someone as they deal with each day. Immanuel offers free biblical counseling to church members and the community. By holding the Bible as sufficient and authoritative for counseling, we believe there is hope and transformation regardless of the issue. 
ibclr.org/biblical-counseling

cOMPASSION AND reLIEF EFFORTS (CARE)

The purpose of the City Center is to advance the Kingdom by establishing environments that foster healthy, restorative relationships and opportunities to mobilize people to change their world. The CARE area of the City Center include our Food Pantry, Clothing Closet and emergency Dental Clinic which are all led by volunteers
www.citycenterlr.org

Baptist Collegiate ministry

The Little Rock BCM exists to help students exponentially grow in their faith, cultivate thriving friendships, and passionately serve and show God's love. They seek to reach the 15,000+ undergraduate and graduate students from 4 schools in the Little Rock metro area with the Gospel. 
www.lrbcm.com