Midwest Episcopal District AME Zion Church

REFRESH Conference 2026

A dynamic gathering for clergy and lay leaders

October 15–17, 2026 · Hyatt Regency, Louisville, KY

PURPOSE

Join us for a transformative conference designed to pour back into those who pour out — Refresh Conference 2026 is a district-wide gathering designed to strengthen leaders for the work ahead through leadership formation, collaboration, and connection. Across worship, teaching, and guided conversations, clergy and lay leaders will be renewed, resourced, and recharged, so we can return to our local contexts with clarity, unity, and courage.

Location Information

Hyatt Regency Louisville

Address:

320 W Jefferson St, Louisville, KY 40202

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Registration Information

REGISTRATION OPTIONS

  • General Registration (Clergy and Lay Leaders): $155
  • NextGen Leaders (Ages 22–40): $129
  • Local Church Support Registration: $155
    This is a local church support option that helps underwrite the conference. It is not a group registration and does not register any individuals. Individuals still must register separately under Individual Registration.(Please note: This registration is strictly for churches and not for individual registrations. For any required fields that do not apply, please enter "N/A.")
  • No one-day registration. Attendees pay one rate whether they attend one day or all three.
  • Processing fees are included in the registration price.

REGISTRATION ENDS OCTOBER 1, 2026

Your Individual Registration Includes:

  • Access to all conference sessions and worship services
  • Access to special tracks if selected (Women in Ministry or NextGen Leaders)
  • Conference materials
  • Three meals included with registration

Note: Church Support Registration does not include conference access or meals since it does not register individuals.

REGISTER NOW

Last day to register is October 1, 2026. All registration transfers and cancellations must be sent to midwestamez@gmail.com, prior to October 1st and from the same email used to register.

Mobile Phone & Text Messaging

Optional — providing your mobile number allows the District to send you important updates, event reminders, and Midwest bulletins via text message. You may opt out at any time by replying STOP.

Conference Track

Conference Needs

List each child/youth attending with their name, age, and dietary needs.

Emergency Contact

First Name

Last Name

Please enter a valid phone number.

Processing fees are included in the registration price.

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Conference Schedule

Tracks: Plenary / Worship · General Track · Women in Ministry (WIM) · NextGen · Pre-Conference (Missionary Delegates / Clergy / Laity). Times and presenters subject to final confirmation.

Thursday · October 15, 2026

Pre-Conference Day — Workshops & Opening Worship

Three concurrent tracks: Missionary Delegates in Fellowship Hall, Clergy in Sanctuary, Laity in Chapel. The conference officially opens with evening worship.

12:00 PM – 7:00 PMRegistration & Check-In — Vestibule
1:30 PM – 3:30 PMMissionary Delegates — Missionary Quadrennial Delegate Training — Supervisor L. Lynn Mitchell & Dr. Frances Jackson — Fellowship Hall — 1:30 – 5:30 PM total (Midwest quadrennial missionary delegates only)
3:30 PM – 5:30 PMClergy — Compelling Preachers — Rev. Dr. Dominique Robinson — Sanctuary — 2 hrs · Laity — Lay Leadership Essentials — Dr. Janet Evelyn — Chapel — 2 hrs · Missionary Delegates — Missionary Quadrennial Delegate Training (continued) — Fellowship Hall — concludes 5:30 PM
5:30 PM – 7:00 PMDinner Break — On Your Own (1 hr 30 min)
7:00 PM – 8:30 PMOpening Worship Service — Preacher: Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby — Sanctuary — Official start of Refresh 2026

Friday · October 16, 2026

Full Conference Day — All three tracks run in parallel blocks

7:30 AM – 8:30 AMBreakfast — Fellowship Hall
8:30 AM – 9:00 AMMorning Glory — Sanctuary (30 min)
9:00 AM – 10:00 AMMorning Plenary — Bishop Charley Hames, Jr. — Sanctuary — All tracks
10:00 AM – 10:15 AMBreak
10:15 AM – 11:30 AMGeneral Track — Micro Lab 1 — Rev. Charity Goodwin — Sanctuary — 1 hr 15 min · WIM + NextGen — Joint Workshop — Rev. Dr. Montele A. Crawford & Dr. Camille Crawford — Fellowship Hall — 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM (2 hrs total)
11:30 AM – 12:15 PMGeneral Track — Table Talk I — Rev. Dr. William L. Johnson III & Rev. Shannon Hancock — Sanctuary — 45 min · WIM + NextGen — Joint Workshop continues in Fellowship Hall
12:15 PM – 1:15 PMLunch & Fellowship (provided) — Fellowship Hall — 1 hr
1:15 PM – 2:15 PMThe Midday Word — Rev. Dr. Charles Lomax — Sanctuary — All tracks
2:15 PM – 2:30 PMBreak
2:30 PM – 3:45 PMGeneral Track — Micro Lab 2 — Rev. Dr. Richard Gadzekpo — Sanctuary — 1 hr 15 min · WIM — WIM Session — Bishop Erika Crawford — Fellowship Hall — 1 hr 15 min · NextGen — NextGen Session — Rev. Dr. Charles Lomax — Upstairs — 1 hr 15 min
3:45 PM – 4:00 PMBreak
4:00 PM – 5:00 PMGeneral Track — Table Talk II — Rev. Dr. William L. Johnson III & Rev. Shannon Hancock — Sanctuary — 1 hr · WIM — WIM Session II — Dr. Camille Crawford — Fellowship Hall — 1 hr · NextGen — NextGen Session II — Rev. Dr. Demond Hariston — Upstairs — 1 hr
5:00 PM – 7:00 PMDinner — On Your Own (2 hrs)
7:00 PM – 8:30 PMEvening Worship Service — Bishop Charley Hames, Jr. — Sanctuary

Saturday · October 17, 2026

Closing Day

The inaugural LeadForward grant awards are announced during closing worship.

7:30 AM – 8:30 AMBreakfast — Fellowship Hall
8:30 AM – 9:00 AMMorning Glory — Sanctuary (30 min)
9:00 AM – 10:00 AMGeneral Track — Table Talk III — Rev. Dr. William L. Johnson III & Rev. Shannon Hancock — Sanctuary — 1 hr · WIM — WIM Closing Session — Rev. Dr. Lori K. Holmes — Fellowship Hall — 1 hr · NextGen — NextGen Closing Session — Rev. L. Samuel Brown — Upstairs — 1 hr
10:00 AM – 10:15 AMBreak
10:15 AM – 11:45 AMClosing Worship & Sending — Preacher: Bishop Erika Crawford — Sanctuary — 1 hr 30 min (Includes the LeadForward Grant Awards presented by Rev. Austin J. Young, and the sending and charge from Bishop Daran H. Mitchell.)
11:45 AM – 12:30 PMClosing Meal & Dismissal — Boxed lunch available for travelers
Download Full Schedule PDF

Times and presenters subject to final confirmation.

🤝 Sponsorship Opportunities

The Midwest Episcopal District Refresh Conference is a premier annual gathering bringing together more than 150 clergy and lay leaders from across ten Midwestern states and Trinidad and Tobago, representing nearly 100 congregations. Designed as a sacred pause for those who give so much of themselves in service to others, Refresh 2026 creates a dedicated space for pastors and ministry leaders to rekindle their passion, renew their vision, and restore their spiritual vitality.

Held October 15–17, 2026, at Hughlett Temple AME Zion Church in Louisville, Kentucky, this three-day experience weaves together powerful worship, practical workshops, intentional rest, and meaningful connection — all centered on the well-being and long-term effectiveness of those who lead.

This year, we invite mission-aligned businesses, organizations, seminaries, and service providers to invest in the renewal of faith-based leadership by partnering with us through sponsorship and exhibit opportunities.

Sponsorship Levels

Add-On Opportunities

OpportunityInvestment
Conference Bag Sponsor — your brand in the hands of every attendee$500
Meal Sponsor — (Breakfast or Lunch) — feed the leaders who feed their congregations$1,000
Workshop Sponsor — align your brand with a specific session or track$300

How to Complete Your Sponsorship

Download the Sponsorship Packet below, complete the commitment form, and return it by August 15, 2026 using one of the following payment methods:

  • Check — payable to Midwest Episcopal Area
    Mail to: Jones Tabernacle AME Zion Church, 2510 East 34th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46218
    Memo: Refresh 2026 Sponsor
  • Zelle — send to MightyMidwestAMEZion@gmail.com
  • Invoice — check the “Request Invoice” box on the commitment form

⚠ Please confirm your interest by August 15, 2026 to ensure recognition in all printed and digital materials.

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Questions? Contact Rev. Austin J. Young — Chief Strategist, Midwest Episcopal District | Administrative Dean, Midwest Refresh Conference
✉ midwestamez@gmail.com  |  ☎ 248.358.9307  |  🌐 midwestamez.org
Hotel Reservation

Two official conference hotels are available. Choose whichever fits your travel and budget needs. Book early — group rates end when the block sells out or the cutoff date passes, whichever comes first.

Hyatt Regency Louisville

Room Rate: $189/night | Parking Rate: $24/night

Hyatt Regency Louisville - Official Conference Hotel
Click to Book Your Room

Hotel: Hyatt Regency Louisville

Address: 320 W Jefferson St, Louisville, KY 40202

Phone: (502) 581-1234

Book NowGet Directions

Residence Inn by Marriott Louisville Downtown

Room Rate: $139/night + tax | Complimentary Parking

Book by September 20, 2026

Residence Inn by Marriott Louisville Downtown
Click to Book Your Room

Hotel: Residence Inn by Marriott Louisville Downtown

Address: 333 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40202

Phone: (502) 589-8998

Booking Code: MWED-REFRESH 2026

Book NowGet Directions
Parking & Transportation

Parking

Hyatt Regency Louisville: Self-parking is $25/day per vehicle with in-and-out privileges.

Residence Inn by Marriott: Complimentary parking included.

Host Church (Hughlett Temple AME Zion): On-site parking is very limited; street parking is available nearby.

Optional Shuttle — Registration Required

We are offering a shuttle between the hotels and host church on a limited schedule. Seats are not guaranteed without advance registration. If you plan to use the shuttle, you must reserve your seat in advance. Walk-ons cannot be accommodated, and we will not be able to add riders on-site.

Reserve My Seat on the Shuttle