Special thanks to our generous hosts:
Church of the Highlands
Greystone Campus
1701 Lee Branch Lane
Birmingham, AL 35242
Featured Speakers | Breakout Sessions | Registration | FAQs
A conference for church leaders with a heart for restoration, presented by Prison Fellowship®.
You minister in a unique way—but you are not alone.
Come for an unforgettable time of encouragement and inspiration. Learn from leading voices of those bringing light into dark places. Connect with like-minded leaders. Go home refreshed.
Get ready for:
• Encouraging, relevant teaching.
• Practical breakout sessions.
• The unveiling of unique and new prison ministry resources for church partners.
• God-glorifying worship.
• Fellowship, rest, and laughter!
"The Restore conference was a priceless opportunity to learn, connect, and grow alongside leaders. Don’t miss it next time!"
—Nate Eckhart, Prison Campus Pastor
Rock City Church (Columbus, Ohio)
September 9-10, 2024
Monday, September 9, 2024
Welcome Reception
(Food and Fellowship)
5:30–6:30 p.m.
Worship and Opening Prayers
6:30–7:20 p.m.
Kickoff
7:20–8 p.m.
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Continental Breakfast
8–9 a.m.
General and Breakout Sessions
9 a.m.–3:20 p.m.
Rest and Fellowship
3:20–5:30 p.m.
Dinner and Closing Session
5:30–8 p.m.
COST: This conference is offered at no cost to church leaders, because Prison Fellowship wants to invest in and equip the local church to do the work of restorative ministry.
FEATURED SPEAKERS
PASTOR MATTHEW BARNETT
PASTOR MATTHEW BARNETT
Pastor Matthew Barnett is founder of the Dream Center and a New York Times bestselling author. Matthew moved to Los Angeles, California, in September 1994 and co-founded the Dream Center. The Dream Center is in the heart of LA and houses over 700 people every day in their various programs to overcome addiction, homelessness, and many other life-challenging problems. Matthew is also senior pastor of Angelus Temple Foursquare Church, which was founded in 1923 by Sister Aimee Semple McPherson. With over 7,000 worshippers coming weekly, the Barnett family has built an army of people who live with the “we get to serve” spirit.
CHERYL LUKE
CHERYL LUKE
Cheryl Luke is a speaker, coach, and podcast host. She is the visionary behind The Mosaic Life, a nonprofit that empowers leaders. She has 40 years of ministry experience, having previously worked at Shoreline Church in Austin, Texas, and currently serves as the national director for cultural communities with Celebrate Recovery. Her work has provided her with the unique opportunity to serve and work with individuals from an array of backgrounds. Cheryl’s enduring mission is unwavering: to foster healing, freedom, intentionality, and purpose across generations.
ED STETZER, Ph.D.
ED STETZER, Ph.D.
Ed Stetzer, Ph.D., is the dean of Talbot School of Theology at Biola University and scholar-in-residence and teaching pastor at Mariners Church. He has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches; trained pastors and church planters on six continents; earned two master’s degrees and two doctorates; and written hundreds of articles and a dozen books. He is regional director for Lausanne North America, is the editor-in-chief of Outreach Magazine, and regularly writes for news outlets such as USA Today and CNN. His national radio show, “Ed Stetzer Live,” airs Saturdays on Moody Radio and affiliates.
RANDY WALKER
RANDY WALKER
Randy Walker is the correctional ministry pastor at Church of the Highlands in Alabama, where he serves as the visionary for planting Highlands’ church campuses inside prison communities. Beginning in 2012, Highlands’ correctional staff, along with hundreds of volunteers, has planted their campus model in 23 state correctional facilities, as well as county jails and juvenile detention facilities. Randy is also founder and president of LifeLink Career Resource Center, a residential training academy established in 2008 in partnership with the Alabama Department of Corrections. Focused on reentry, the training academy, named CORE, provides transitional housing and operates a 260-bed housing unit containing offices, classrooms, and full-time staff.
LORA BATTERSON
LORA BATTERSON
Lora Batterson and her husband, Mark, planted National Community Church (NCC) in Washington, D.C. in 1996. One church with multiple locations, NCC owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, The Miracle Theatre, and the DC Dream Center. NCC recently developed a city block on Capitol Hill into the Capital Turnaround—an event center, a child development center, and a coworking space. Lora currently works in NCC's business office and serves on the Multicultural Team. Lora and Mark have three grown children and live on Capitol Hill.
PASTOR QUOVADIS MARSHALL
PASTOR QUOVADIS MARSHALL
Quovadis Marshall, or Pastor Q as he is known by his church, is a native of Waterloo, Iowa. Pastor Q, his wife Angela, and a small group of friends started Hope City Church in the fall of 2015. Hope City Church is a multi-ethnic and multi-generational church in Waterloo that has been recognized as one of the 100 Fastest-Growing Churches in America by Outreach magazine. Pastor Q has worked with members of Congress and the mayor of his city to enrich the lives of people impacted by the criminal justice system. As a graduate of the Prison Fellowship Academy®, he is a proud advocate for criminal justice reform. He is also a signer of the Justice Declaration. Pastor Q, his wife Angela, and their two children Jonathan and Kaylee, reside in Waterloo, Iowa.
"The Restore conference provided me with the keys to successful ministry: strategy development and implementation. In addition, I met so many people that encouraged me in my ministry from around the nation."
—Stephen Wilson, Prison Ministries Campus Pastor
Gateway’s Fort Worth campus
Morning Sessions at 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
The breakout groups below will be offered during each morning session.
Choose one group to attend at each session.
Engaging Urban Communities in Recovery—Cheryl Luke
Celebrate Recovery® (CR) transforms lives! If you are looking for a program that can be used as a tool of healing and outreach to your community, we encourage you to join this interactive breakout. Read More
In this session for pastors and leaders—whether new to CR or seeking to renew their interest—Cheryl explores how CR is designed for helping people navigate recovery, as well as for anyone with hurts, habits, or hang-ups. You will also learn how CR has developed an intentional approach to bringing restoration and creating safe spaces of healing within communities of color. Unlock the potential to strengthen your church and empower individuals on their journey to healing and wholeness.
Create: New Beginnings—Ministry Through Art
What if a 10-week artistic journey could be a brand-new beginning for women in your community? Read More
Originally created for women in prison, Create: New Beginnings is a transformative small group study that empowers women to reflect, explore, and strengthen their relationship with God through creative expression. Recently published for use in churches and other contexts, Create: New Beginnings is now available for women everywhere. Join this session with artists and co-creators Martha Ackerman and Stephanie Logan Segel to hear how this unique study is impacting women across America—and how it will open doors for you to minister to women in your own community and congregation.
Prison Ministry Best Practices
Ministering in the context of prison presents unique challenges and opportunities. With nearly 50 years' experience in this space, Prison Fellowship will be offering essential training to serve and love the incarcerated well. Read More
Equip your teams so you can avoid common pitfalls and approach your ministry in a life-giving and transformative way. Prison Fellowship leaders will convene leading voices in this session and unveil exciting new training resources launching in the fall of 2024.
Establishing a Church Campus in Prison: Church of the Highlands
Come learn from Church of the Highlands and get unique insight on how to charter your journey toward in-prison campuses. Read More
Correctional ministry leaders will share how they have effectively established in-prison campuses in more than 23 facilities throughout the state of Alabama. Attendees will gain valuable insight from this interactive experience and learn how prison campuses have turned into places of renewal. You will also learn the pathways that have been created for many congregants to engage and serve the incarcerated, infusing life and purpose into their church body.
Angel Tree Ministry Beyond Christmas
Did you know that Angel Tree can be a powerful launching pad for year-round ministry? Discover how other churches have transformed a Christmas service project into a restorative journey for local families in their communities. Read More
You will also learn how to create a unique roadmap to love and serve your community well. Hear from individuals whose lives have been eternally impacted by churches using the gift-giving experience as a catalyst for relationship and transformation. Churches across varying ministry contexts will be on hand to share their strategies and tactics so your church can apply them within its congregation and community.
Afternoon Session at 2:20 p.m.
Choose one of the following breakout groups to attend at that time.
The Dream Center's Journey of Community Transformation—Matthew Barnett
The founder of the Los Angeles Dream Center as well as a best-selling author, Matthew Barnett will share powerful stories and practical advice on leading a community that embodies compassion, generosity, and faith. Read More
In this session, you will discover how he redefined success as obedience to his calling. With 30 years of hard-won experience, Pastor Barnett will share stories of hope and encouragement as well as how the Dream Center framework has expanded to over 150 cities and countries around the world, amplifying the impact of the local church.
Love Justice: National Community Church’s Blueprint for Holistic Restorative Ministry—Pastor Lora Batterson and Dr. Carmelle Norice with Pastor Quovadis Marshall
Quovadis Marshall, lead pastor of Hope City Church, will guide the conversation as Lora and Carmelle share about NCC’s Love Justice initiative and cast vision for cultivating holistic ministry opportunities for those affected by crime and incarceration in their church and city. Read More
Since its inception, Love Justice has sought to provide wraparound support for local families navigating unique challenges. By tapping into resources in their church and community and leveraging church members’ passions and talents, Love Justice has quickly blossomed into a flourishing ministry dedicated to prayer, outreach, and advocacy. From year-round support of Angel Tree families to digital skills training for returning citizens to equipping Justice Ambassadors to advocate for policy change, Love Justice offers an exciting blueprint for what’s possible in your community. Come catch a glimpse and discover how your church can create a lasting impact in your own local context.
Transformational Groups: Creating an Atmosphere of Discipleship—Ed Stetzer
Join Ed Stetzer, dean of the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, as he unpacks how groups can lead to greater engagement and transformation. Read More
He will share brand new research and best practices to help us understand how to leverage groups as a vessel for transformational discipleship. The data and first-hand examples will help you more effectively point people toward groups, but also to help groups live for others and ultimately draw them towards Christ.
RESTORE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
IF A GUEST WILL BE JOINING YOU FOR THE CONFERENCE, PLEASE HAVE THEM COMPLETE THEIR OWN REGISTRATION FORM.