Polishing the Pulpit - Sevierville 2026: Full Schedule

Matt Vega is from Henderson, TN where he’s the dean of the college of business at Freed-Hardeman. He also preaches at the Scotts Hill church of Christ and practices law on the side. He is married to Jennifer and they have 3 kids and 7 grandchildren.

Saturday August 15, 2026 8:00pm - 8:30pm EDT
Meeting Room CD

Elders Ministry

8:00pm EDT

Two for One: Crisis Management in the Church

Saturday August 15, 2026 8:00pm - 8:30pm EDT

Meeting Room CD

Speakers

Billy Camp

Billy is a minister at Dalraida church of Christ where he has been serving since 2011. He is married to Shelby (the daughter of Matt & Jennifer Vega) and lives in Montgomery, AL with their three children: Kinley, Roman, and Lewis. Billy served as the college minister at Dalraida for... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 8:00pm - 8:30pm EDT
Meeting Room CD

Elders Ministry

2:15pm EDT

Character Is the Loudest Form of Leadership

Sunday August 16, 2026 2:15pm - 2:45pm EDT

Ballroom C

Speakers

Kirk Brothers

President, Heritage Christian University

Kirk Brothers and his wife, Cindy, have been married since 1988. They have two daughters, Katie and Hannah. Kirk has studied at David Lipscomb University, Freed-Hardeman University, and at Southern Seminary. He served in local ministry as a preacher and youth minister for 23 years... Read More →

Sunday August 16, 2026 2:15pm - 2:45pm EDT
Ballroom C

Elders Deacons

3:00pm EDT

Helping Families Heal After Betrayal or Infidelity

Sunday August 16, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Meeting Room B

How trust is rebuilt over time with truth, accountability, and grace.

Speakers

David Looney

Sunday August 16, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Meeting Room B

Elders Family

3:45pm EDT

Before You Shepherd Others: An Elder’s Inner Life with God

Sunday August 16, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm EDT

Ballroom B

Cultivating a private life of prayer, Scripture, and repentance that sustains public leadership.

Speakers

Ed DeBerry

Ed DeBerry was born into a church of Christ family. His late father, John Sr. was a minister in the church for more than 50 years. Ed has two brothers, John Jr and Tony, both are ministers in the lord’s church.
Ed has labored at the University church of Christ in Charlotte, NC... Read More →

Sunday August 16, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm EDT
Ballroom B

Elders

9:00am EDT

Why "We’ve Always Done It This Way" Is a Stewardship Problem

Monday August 17, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am EDT

Meeting Room A

Innovation without abandoning biblical authority is a must.

Speakers

Scott Cain

Scott preaches with the Forest Hill Church of Christ in Memphis, TN, & is an instructor & 2009 alumnus of the Memphis School of Preaching. He & Melissa married in 2003. They have three sons: Walker, Tanner, & Hunter. Scott served as the preacher with the DeGaulle Drive Church of Christ... Read More →

Monday August 17, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am EDT
Meeting Room A

Deacons Elders

11:00am EDT

Handling Allegations Biblically and Lawfully

Monday August 17, 2026 11:00am - 11:30am EDT

Hotel Deep Creek

Abuse, misconduct, financial impropriety — what must be reported, what must be documented.

Speakers

Matt Vega

Dean and Professor, Freed-Hardeman University

Monday August 17, 2026 11:00am - 11:30am EDT
Hotel Deep Creek

Elders Preachers

12:30pm EDT

Hurry Back Session: Second Thoughts—How to Restore Prodigals

Monday August 17, 2026 12:30pm - 1:15pm EDT

Ballroom B

Evangelism focuses on prodigals, too! We will give each participant a new Bible study called "Second Thoughts" and show one method to bring the erring back. This congregational plan has a 30-70% success rate. Come and See.

Speakers

Rob Whitacre

Director, HTHSOE

Rob Whitacre was born in Carbondale, Illinois. He was raised near San Antonio, TX, attending the Northern Oaks church of Christ. He married Nicole of Nashville, TN, in August of 1996. They have one daughter, Hannah and one son, Jared. He comes from a God fearing family of preachers... Read More →

Monday August 17, 2026 12:30pm - 1:15pm EDT
Ballroom B

Ministry Elders

3:45pm EDT

Brainstorming Panel: Fixing Church Problems Before They Become Church Splits

Monday August 17, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm EDT

EHA

Coordinator: Brandon Rader
Panelists:
• Glenn Colley
• Eric Owens
• Matt Vega
• B. J. Clarke

Speakers

Brandon Rader

BRANDON RADER, North Lexington church of Christ, Lexington, KY.

Brandon Rader has served in numerous capacities as a member of the North Lexington church of Christ in Lexington, KY. Roles have included deacon, Bible class teacher, and mission trip coordinator. For nearly two decades, Brandon coordinated a college ministry serving young adults a... Read More →

Glenn Colley

Eric Owens

Preacher, Westside church of Christ

Eric is married to Vanessa and they have three daughters: Brittany (husband, Willie), Breania, and Bethany; and two grandsons, Landon and Logan. He served in the first Gulf War and was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps in 1992.

He is a graduate of the Memphis School of Preaching (1992-94) and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Amridge University (2001). He served as the pulpit minister for the State Street church of Christ in Rockford, IL (1994-97) and preached for the Avondale church of Christ... Read More →

Matt Vega

Dean and Professor, Freed-Hardeman University

B. J. Clarke

Director, MSOP

If you would love to learn the Book, and learn how to preach the Book (tuition free) at the Memphis School of Preaching, I would love to talk to you about how you can do just that!

Monday August 17, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm EDT
EHA

Elders Ministry

5:30pm EDT

Meet and Greet Zone: Churches Looking for Preachers / Preachers Looking for Churches

Monday August 17, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm EDT

Hotel Cades Cove

Speakers

Gary Hampton

Pulpit Minister, Siwell Road church of Christ

Gary C. Hampton has been preaching since 1968 and has done work in North Little Rock, Arkansas; Mobile, Alabama; Valdosta, Georgia and Cookeville, Tennessee. Hampton served as the director of the East Tennessee School of Preaching and Missions in Knoxville, Tennessee for nearly six... Read More →

Monday August 17, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm EDT
Hotel Cades Cove

Preachers Elders

1:30pm EDT

Train Like the Test Is Coming: Strategic Preparation for Faithful Leadership Under Pressure

Tuesday August 18, 2026 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT

Meeting Room A

Speakers

Gene Cooper

Tuesday August 18, 2026 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT
Meeting Room A

Elders Deacons

2:15pm EDT

What 40 Years as a Fireman Taught Me About Leadership in the Church

Tuesday August 18, 2026 2:15pm - 2:45pm EDT

Hotel Deep Creek

Speakers

Bud Benefield

Tuesday August 18, 2026 2:15pm - 2:45pm EDT
Hotel Deep Creek

Elders

10:00am EDT

When You Make Financial Adjustments in Your Outreach

Wednesday August 19, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am EDT

Meeting Room A

Speakers

Jeff Archey

Speaker/Director, International Gospel Hour

Come visit with Jeff at the International Gospel Hour exhibit in EHB.

Preaching over 35 years; currently serving as the speaker/director of the International Gospel Hour, the longest running radio program in churches of Christ.

IGH is heard world wide through "over-the-air" stations, internet and over 30 podcast platforms as well as the IGH app. The television version is aired over YouTube; a number of markets through the Gospel Broadcasting Network and sixteen local stations throughout the US, Canada, Europe... Read More →

Wednesday August 19, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Meeting Room A

Elders Ministry

3:45pm EDT

Toolbox: Case Studies in Shepherding—Small Group Problem-Solving (2a)

Wednesday August 19, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm EDT

Hotel Cades Cove

Speakers

Glenn Colley

Wednesday August 19, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm EDT
Hotel Cades Cove

Elders

3:45pm EDT

Brainstorming Panel: Building a Discipleship Plan That Works

Wednesday August 19, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm EDT

EHA

Coordinator: Brandon Rader
Panelists:
• Westley Hazel
• David Smith
• Jim Faughn
• Mike Hixson

Speakers

Brandon Rader

Westley Hazel

Westley Hazel is the minister for the Forrest Park congregation in Valdosta, GA. He has received a Doctorate in Biblical Spirituality from Southern Seminary and Master of Divinity degree from Freed-Hardeman University. He is the author of Beyond The Tithe. Westley is married to Shelley and they have two teenage children, Evie and Deacon... Read More →

David Smith

Minister, North Hamilton church of Christ

I am a native of the Chattanooga area. I spent five years in active duty military service. I am married to Ashley and we have two amazing girls: Evie Rose and Graceley. I have education from East Tennessee School of Preaching, Southern Christian/Amridge University and Liberty University... Read More →

Jim Faughn

Jim Faughn is a native of Metropolis, Illinois. After his high school graduation and receiving a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, he returned to Metropolis to teach at the high school from which he graduated. He was baptized into Christ... Read More →

Mike Hixson

Mike graduated from Lipscomb University in 1985 with a degree in Communications including a minor in Bible. He married the former Nancy Ericson in 1987 and their son, Braden, was born in 1989.

Mike preached in the Nashville area for several years before moving to the Memphis are... Read More →

Wednesday August 19, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm EDT
EHA

Elders Ministry

6:00pm EDT

Hurry Back Session: Toolbox: Case Studies in Shepherding—Presentation of Solutions (2b)

Wednesday August 19, 2026 6:00pm - 6:30pm EDT

Hotel Cades Cove

Speakers

Glenn Colley

Wednesday August 19, 2026 6:00pm - 6:30pm EDT
Hotel Cades Cove

Elders

8:15am EDT

The Verses We Read Too Quickly: Keep Watch . . . As Those Who Will Give an Account (Hebrews 13:17)

Thursday August 20, 2026 8:15am - 8:45am EDT

Ballroom B

Speakers

Brooks Boyd

Preacher & Elder, Glencoe church of Christ

Married to Laura Kidwell Boyd since 1976 (47 years); 4 children; 9 grandchildren
Graduated with BS in Bible from Freed-Hardeman College (Unuversity) '78
Graduate studies at Southern Christian University (Amridge)
Born/reared in Little Rock, AR
Preacher & one of the elders at Glencoe... Read More →

Thursday August 20, 2026 8:15am - 8:45am EDT
Ballroom B

Textual Elders