CEO OF BARNA ANNOUNCED AS KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR 2026 CONNECT CONFERENCE - October 20, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CEO of Barna Announced as Keynote Speaker for 2026 Connect Conference
WATKINSVILLE, Ga., October 20, 2025 – Connect Ministries is thrilled to announce that David Kinnaman, bestselling author and CEO of Barna, will headline the 2026 Connect Conference as the keynote speaker. The conference will take place on January 26-28, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee, bringing together church leaders across the nation to be equipped with practical tools to effectively meet new people while learning from thought leaders in the ministry world.
A leading thinker and researcher of current church trends, David Kinnaman is an expert on the state of the American church in 2026. He will share data-based insight on how churches can most effectively meet new people in the season to come, touching on current trends and providing practical tips for how churches can build life-giving relationships.
“We are beyond excited to welcome David Kinnaman as our headline speaker,” said Gabe Norris, Vice President of Connect Ministries. “For a church leader burdened to assimilate new people into the life of their local church, there is no one better to learn from about how churches can effectively do that in today’s world than him.”
Connect Conference is a three-day conference designed to equip all church leaders to become more effective in meeting new people. The 2026 conference will focus on how church leaders can effectively build life-giving relationships with moms, Gen Z and volunteers. Attendees will also learn practical strategies to meet new people in the digital age, with expert content tailored for leaders at every level of digital expertise.
Attendees will also participate in sessions, workshops and worship sessions featuring speakers Mandy Arioto of Mom Co., Dr. Jonathan Morrow of Impact 360 Institute, Dr. Robert Smith Jr. formerly of Beeson Divinity School, Chris Brooks of Grace Family of Churches, and others. The 2026 Connect Conference will be held at Brentwood Baptist Church on January 26-28, 2026. Tickets are on sale now through January 2026. Use code DAVID20 at checkout to save 20% on the ticket price.
For more information and to register, visit connect-ministries.com/connect-conference.
###
About Connect Ministries:
Connect Ministries is a non-profit that exists to help churches meet new people. Established by Ken Thomas and Gabe Norris in 2006, Connect Ministries has partnered with more than 2,000 church leaders to meet over 500,000 new people in their communities. Through remarkable day camps, personalized coaching, strategic marketing support and a conference experience, Connect Ministries equips churches of all sizes to effectively reach people outside their church walls. For more information, please visit connect-ministries.com.
Media Contact:
Lindsey Lowrance
(706) 310-6055 ext. 189
[email protected]
Download the 2026 Connect Conference Press Kit