Saturday – August 23, 2025

Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport
14035 Airport Road, Gulfport MS 39503

Let us know your flight plans and we will plan to provide transportation from and to the airport.
You will only be about 15 minutes from the resort.

• 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. - Conference Check-in @ Grand Centennial Hotel

  • Dinner on your own (All of these options are 15 minutes or less away from venue)

  • Oasis Grill (onsite) (https://centennialplazams.com/dine)

  • Hippie Fish (onsite) https://www.hippiefishms.com/

  • Patio 44, 1244 24th Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39501 https://www.patiofortyfour.com/location/gulfport/

  • Half Shell Oyster House, 2500 13th St #1, Gulfport, MS 39501 https://www.halfshelloysterhouse.com/gulfport

  • Shaggy’s, 1724 E Beach Blvd, Gulfport, MS 39501 https://shaggys.com/locations/gulfport-beach/

  • White Cap Seafood, 560 Beach Drive, Gulfport, MS 39507 https://white-cap-seafood.res-menu.com/menu

  • Felix’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 942 Beach Drive, Gulfport MS 39507 https://felixs.com/gulfport/

Sunday – August 24, 2025

• Breakfast on your own:

  • Oasis Grill (onsite) (https://centennialplazams.com/dine)

  • Waffle House, 4324 W Beach Blvd, Gulfport, MS 39501-1327 https://locations.wafflehouse.com/gulfport-ms-201

  • Cracker Barrel, 15255 Crossroads Pkwy, Gulfport, MS 39503-3570 https://www.crackerbarrel.com/Locations/States/ms/gulfport/438/

• 10:00 a.m. — Load bus for church

• 10:30 a.m. — Worship Service @ First Baptist Church, Gulfport, 12190 MS 605, Gulfport, MS 39503

• Lunch at First Baptist Church, Gulfport

  Free time at Centennial Plaza (Lazy River, Pool, Beach, Rest)

• 4:30 p.m. — Registration Table Open, Centennial Plaza Chapel

Connections Conference Kick-Off

• 5:00 p.m. — Welcome, Centennial Plaza Chapel

  Sean Milner, BCV Executive Director
  Dana Philips, New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home, Connections President

  Welcome - Heavy Hors D’oeuvres

  Ministry Highlights- New Mexico Update and Louisiana Video Update

  “Game Show” Games

• 7:00 p.m. — Ice Cream Sundae Bar - Clubhouse

• 8:30 p.m. — Evening Festivities Conclude    

Monday – August 25, 2025

• 8:00 a.m. — Breakfast at Centennial Plaza Chapel

• 8:30 a.m. — Devotional, Neil Tullos, FBC Wiggins

• 9:00 a.m. — Communications/Development Joint Session

  “Keeping Your Voice in the Age of AI” with Nathan Hill from Avid

• 10:00 a.m. — Break

• 10:15 a.m. — Ministry Highlights - North Carolina Update and Arkansas Video Update

• 10:30 a.m. — Connections Breakout Sessions

  Communications - Crisis Communications in the Digital World with Gerard Braud (Jared Bro), Braud Communications
  Development - Donor Acquisition, Retention, Key Multi-Year Strategies with Nathan Hill from Avid AI

  11:45 a.m. — Break

• 12:00 p.m. — Mississippi Ministry Highlight Video and Sponsorship Intro

• 12:10 p.m. — Lunch (Centennial Plaza Chapel)

• 12:45 p.m. — Ministry Highlights - Homes of Hope Update and Tennessee Video Update

• 1:00 p.m. — Roundtable Discussions (Centennial Plaza Chapel)

  Two Development Tables
  1. Donor Acquisition/Retention Discussion - Nathan Hill, Avid
  2. Church Engagement- Michael Bozeman, Alabama Baptist Children's Homes & Family Ministries

  Two Communication Tables
  1. Crisis Communication Discussion - Gerard Braud, Braud Communications
  2. Rebranding - Ashley Wolff, STCH Ministries

• 1:45 p.m. —  Roundtable Discussions (Centennial Plaza Chapel)
  Two Development Tables
  1. Fundraising Trends - Mike Williams, Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children
  2. Recurring Donors - Kyle Luke, STCH Ministries

  Two Communication Tables
  1. SituationHub Discussion - Gerard Braud, Braud Communications
  2. Keeping Your Voice in the Age of AI discussion - Nathan Hill, Avid

• 2:30 p.m. — Break

• 2:45 p.m. - Ministry Highlights (Videos)

• 3:00 p.m. — Roundtable Discussions (Centennial Plaza Chapel)

  Two Development Tables
  1. Events - Carla Bayer, Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children
  2. Recurring Donors - Kyle Luke, STCH Ministries

  Two Communication Tables
  1. Rebranding - Deborah Young, Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children
  2. Digital Campaigns - Social Media Plus, Whitney Newby, Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries

• 3:45 p.m. — Roundtable Discussions

  Two Development Tables
  1. Newbies (One-on-one with Seasoned Dev Officers)
  Paula Joy, Illinois Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services
  Mike Williams, Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children
  2. Fundraising With Your CEO - Jay Boyd, Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries

  Two Communication Tables
  1. Newbies (One on one with Seasoned Com) -
  Dana Phillips, New Mexico, New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries 
  Emily-Kate Ford, The Baptist Children’s Village, Mississippi
  2. Podcasting 101 . . . On a budget - Ashley Wolff, STCH Ministries

• 4:30 p.m. —Break - Prepare to leave for Aquarium

• 5:45 p.m. — Load up for Aquarium Tours and Dinner, 2100 E Beach Blvd, Gulfport, MS 39501

• 6:00 p.m. — Aquarium Tours (Must have name tags)

• 7:00 p.m. — Ministry Highlights - Illinois Update and Children At Heart Video Update

• 7:15 p.m. — Dinner/Entertainment at the Aquarium
  Rooted Worship

• 8:30 p.m. — Return to Centennial Plaza

Tuesday – August 26, 2025

• 8:30 a.m. — Breakfast (Centennial Plaza Chapel)

• 9:15 a.m. — Devotional, Josh Cougle, Pastor FBC, Lyman

• 9:30 a.m. — Ministry Highlights - STCH. Video Update

• 9:45 a.m. — Connections Conference Business Meeting

  Dana Philips, Connections President

• 10:15 a.m. — Wrap Up and Welcome to New Mexico—Make plans for the 2026 Connections Conference

• 10:30 a.m. — Adjourn

Host: The Baptist Children’s Village

114 Marketridge Drive

Ridgeland, MS 39157

601.952.2422

baptistchildrensvillage.com