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BREAKOUT LIST

HOST PRIORITY @ YOUR CHURCH

PRE-CONFERENCE INFO

Location:
TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH, DECATUR

APRIL 24: (OPTIONAL) PRE-CONFERENCE @ IBSA building (SPRINGFIELD)

April 25-26: CONFERENCE (DECATUR)

Priority is a gathering of like-minded women intentional about being a disciple who makes disciples. At Priority, women celebrate God’s faithfulness through worship and studying God’s word; equip themselves to live as a follower of Jesus through educational breakout sessions and leave ready to return to their area of ministry reminded that they are not alone on their journey.  Priority is planned with you in mind.  You are our community.

Pre-Conference Cost: $50 (Box lunch included)
Conference Cost: $60 (Box lunches can be pre-purchased)
Conference Bundle Option: $90 (includes conference, leadership breakfast, t-shirt)
*Childcare available through Disaster Relief. Pre-registration required.

Promo Materials
VENDOR REGISTRATION
VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION

CONFERENCE INFO

HOTEL INFO

Decatur Conference Center & Hotel
Across road from venue
50 Rooms @ $125
Call & Use (IBSA Group)
217-422-8800

America’s Best Value Inn
Across road from venue
No frills hotel
(217) 422-5900

Holiday Inn & Suites
Forsyth- Near Mall
Ask for IBSA rate
(217) 542-5400
5150 N Wingate Dr., Decatur

Country Inn & Suites
Forsyth- Near Mall
(217) 872-2402
5150 Hickory Point Frontage Rd., Decatur

Comfort Inn & Suites
Forsyth- Near Mall
(217) 875-5500
5170 N Wingate Dr., Decatur

Homewood Suites
Forsyth- Near Mall
(217) 877-0887
333 W Marion Ave., Forsyth

Residence Inn
Forsyth- Near Mall
(217) 872-6600
230 Lucile Ave. Forsyth

Quality Inn
Forsyth- Near Mall
(217) 875-1166
134 Barnett Ave., Forsyth

Ramada Limited
Forsyth- Near Mall
(217) 615-4768
355 E Hickory Point Rd., Decatur

Fairbridge Inn Express
Forsyth- Near Mall
(217) 875-5800
5100 Hickory Point Frontage Rd, Decatur

Hampton Inn
SE side of Decatur
(217) 864-3297
4855 Evergreen Ct., Decatur

Hawthorn Extended Stay
SE side of Decatur
(217) 864-9311
2370 Mt Zion Rd., Decatur

MERCH STORE OPEN

Schedule

Thursday, April 24 (Pre-Conference): Springfield

  8:00 AM | Registration
  9:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Program

  • Writer’s Workshop
  • Mental Health Training

Friday, April 25: Decatur

  8:30 AM | Registration (until 7:00 PM)
  9:30 AM | General Session 1 (doors open at 9:00 AM)
10:30 AM | Breakout 1
11:15 AM | Lunch on your own
                  (or boxed lunch available for pre-purchase)
  1:00 PM | General Session 2 (doors open at 12:30 PM)
  2:45 PM | Breakout 2
  3:45 PM | Breakout 3
  4:30 PM | Dinner on your own
  5:00-6:00 PM
                  Ministers Wive & Women in Ministry Leaders Dinner
                  (pre-registration required) 
  6:30 PM | General Session 3

Saturday, April 26

  7:30 AM | Leadership Breakfast (pre-registration required)
  9:00 AM | General Session 4 (doors open at 8:30 AM)
11:00 AM | Breakout 4
11:45 AM | Lunch on your own
                  (or boxed lunch available for pre-purchase)
  1:30 PM | Breakout 5
  2:30 PM | General Session 5 (doors open at 2:20 PM)

Priority dining event options

friday Evening, april 25 | Pastors Wives & Women in ministry dinner

There will be a program with a speaker and opportunity to connect with other women in ministry. You will receive fun give aways. Serving begins at 5:00 p.m. Cost $25. Limited seating.

saturday morning, april 26 |
Leadership Breakfast

Join us for a leadership breakfast. Resource items will be given to those attending. Open to all Priority guests. Plated breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. Cost $25. Limited seating.

New this year:
box lunches
Connection Groups

Box lunches are included in the Pre-Conference and available for purchase Friday & Saturday of the conference by pre-order. Cost is $18 per lunch.

Over lunch we will have groups available to connect you to others based on:

Caregiving,Homeschooling, Small Group Leaders, Worship Team members.

SPEAKERS

Lindsay lewis bowen

Lindsay Lewis Bowen (MDiv, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the marketing manager at Harvest House Publishers—a God-send career for a person passionate about teaching God’s word and connecting people with great books. Outside of work, you’ll find her scouting new coffee shops and restaurants, enjoying the outdoors, and embracing the wonderful chaos of motherhood. She and her husband Andrew serve at Bethel Church in Troy, Illinois and are parents to two precious girls.

Alyssa Caudill

Alyssa Caudill (MDiv, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) loves Jesus and helping women know Him and grow in loving His Word. She is married to Drake Caudill, pastor of FBC in Carmi, IL, and homeschools their 4 children while leading their church’s Women’s Ministry Committee. She is the Co-Editor of “Women at Southern: A Walk Through Psalms”, a 1 year devotional by women associated with SBTS to provide scholarships for female students. Alyssa loves speaking, teaching women how to study the Bible on their own, and coffee. Her most recent adventure in following Jesus has her pursuing a PhD in Christian Leadership

MELISSA PRYeR

Melissa is a follower of Jesus, wife of 24 years to Jared, and mother of two daughters. The Pryers called New Orleans home for a decade, which included Jared completing his degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) and Melissa developing deep mentor relationships with ministry wives. When she's not working as a project manager, Melissa devotes her time to various ministry projects and mission trips. She loves hearing your story and growing together in faith. In her downtime, Melissa enjoys a good cup of coffee with a friend, cherishing meaningful moments of connection. Melissa & her family now call Southern Illinois home.

Jennifer Smith

BA, MA, MDiv, Dmin, PhD
A native of Jacksonville, Jennifer has spent her life sharing the Gospel and strengthening the Church in hard-to-reach areas of the world. She is passionate about studying and teaching the Bible so Christians are spurred toward a deeper love of Christ and a greater love for others.

WORSHIP LEADER

Melissa milbourn

Melissa serves as Worship and Media Minister at Marshall Baptist Church. She also has a passion for leading worship at women’s events across the country and is continually inspired by the women she meets. Melissa is wholeheartedly devoted to leading people closer to Christ. She is married to Denny and they have three adult children and eight grandchildren.

MISSIONARY

ANDREW, JOANN & JOCKO

Andrew Mann is the Pastor and Executive Director of Graffiti 2 Baptist Church and Graffiti 2 Community Ministries in the South Bronx. For twenty years, Andrew has led a team to minister to the holistic needs of children, teens, adults, and families in one of the most challenging communities in New York City. After nearly a decade in elementary education and over 20 years leading in children's ministry, JoAnn moved from Texas in 2016 to serve as Graffiti 2’s Children’s Director. JoAnn is assisted in ministry by her professional therapy dog, Jocko. After several years working together in ministry, Andrew and JoAnn began dating and later got married in August 2023. Graffiti 2 works cooperatively with Send Relief, the compassion ministry arm of the North American Mission Board. As Send Relief Missionaries, Andrew and JoAnn execute and model local compassion ministry so that it will multiply across the nation.

Tiffany Smith

Tiffany Smith is a Texas native with a deep passion for living the SENT Life—whether here or overseas. Her two years as a missionary with the IMB in Japan ignited her lifelong commitment to multiplying disciples and engaging the nations. As a missiologist and strategist, Tiffany thrives in movemental spaces. She holds a Doctorate in Missional Leadership from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and has spent the last 20 years in leadership as a mobilizer in both state and national roles. Currently, she serves as a Strategies Coordinator with Send Network, where she focuses on new initiatives to equip and strengthen church planting leaders and core teams for Kingdom impact.

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UPDATE ON PRIORITY

Last week, significant vandalism forced the temporary closure of the host site, the Wyndham Springfield City Centre. 

Due to the fact that the Wyndham would be unable to accommodate the event, Priority will move ahead as planned at its new location –

Tabernacle Baptist Church in Decatur, which has previously hosted the event.

“God is having us deliver this year’s conference in a different wineskin, but the content hasn’t changed, and we’re excited to see what he is doing.”
-Carmen Halsey-Menghini (IBSA Leadership Development Director)

Priority will feature the same speakers, workshops, and faith-filled activities as previously scheduled.

Those who have made reservations at the Wyndham for Priority you do not need to call to cancel them. That has been done for you. We have it in writing that you will not be charged for rooms.

Priority FAQs:

Women are encouraged to continue to register and to invite their friends to attend. “Your presence and participation is vital,” she said.

“We’re confident that God is up to something, and we will look back on this as a milestone moment.”