2025 Connections Conference
Schedule at a Glance

Saturday – August 23, 2025

• 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:

  • Pop Tarts from your bag or:

  • 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 vehicles 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, Swimming Pool, Mini Golf, 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 First Floor

• 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. — Sponsor Highlights
  Communications/Development Joint Session

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

• 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

  (Clubhouse First Floor Side Entrance)
  Development - Donor Acquisition, Retention, Key Multi-Year Strategies with Nathan Hill from Avid AI (Centennial Chapel)

  11:45 a.m. — Break

• 12:00 p.m. — Mississippi Ministry Highlight Video and Sponsor 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 Highlight -Oklahoma Video Update and Connie Maxwell Video Update

• 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 Development 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 Communication Practitioners)
  Dana Phillips, 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 bus for Aquarium Tours and Dinner, 2100 E Beach Blvd, Gulfport, MS 39501

• 6:00 p.m. — Aquarium Tours (YOUR NAMETAG IS YOUR TICKET)

• 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 - Missouri Video Update and 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