Going to the SBC Annual Meeting? If so, avoid these mistakes.

Every year, church leaders leave conferences exhausted. Not all of them leave changed. Why?

Some pastors, communicators and ministry leaders spend days walking massive convention centers, attending sessions, collecting tote bags and standing in coffee lines … only to return home overwhelmed with notes they’ll never use. Or no notes at all!

Others leave with clarity, relationships, practical solutions and renewed vision for ministry.

Preparation and communication

The difference usually comes down to preparation and communication.

As the SBC Annual Meeting approaches in Orlando, thousands of church leaders are preparing for a week filled with worship, business sessions, preaching and one of the largest ministry expos in the country. But these tips apply to every church conference you’ll ever attend.

Here are some tips:

Check out more stories from church branding strategist and consultant Mark MacDonald.

1. Don’t arrive without a plan. Before the conference starts, identify the one or two biggest challenges you need help solving. Or the topics you need to research more. Maybe your church communication feels scattered. Maybe guests aren’t returning. Maybe your website or social media needs work, or your team feels stuck. Maybe you feel isolated and need encouragement. Conferences become far more valuable when you know what you’re looking for.

2. Not downloading the conference app before you arrive. Most conferences now communicate through their app, which serves as your command center for schedules, maps, speaker info, exhibitor information and networking. Mark must-attend sessions. Build margin between events. Don’t try to attend everything. Leaders who get the most from conferences aren’t the busiest. They’re the most intentional.

3. Not learning how to ask better questions. Don’t walk through the expo simply grabbing free items. Walk with curiosity. Ask organizations how they solve problems like yours. Ask what trends they’re seeing in churches. Ask what mistakes churches commonly make. The expo floor may be the most concentrated room of ministry expertise you’ll experience all year. (NOTE: I’d love to meet you at our SBC Booth 546)

4. Not scheduling conversations. Some of the best moments at conferences happen away from the platform. Invite someone to coffee. Sit with new people during meals. Introduce yourself to speakers or leaders you respect. Most ministry leaders are surprisingly accessible at conferences, and one honest conversation can provide more wisdom than any session or panel discussion.

5. Not paying attention to communication itself. Watch how speakers hold attention. Notice how worship services create emotional connection. Observe signage, stage design, storytelling, transitions and clarity. Conferences operate with massive AVL budgets, but don’t become intimidated by what you think that only larger churches can afford. Instead, study why certain moments communicate so effectively. Great communication is usually more about clarity than complexity. Or budget.

6. Waiting until you return to process what you learned. Instead, each evening, review notes and identify one or two practical takeaways. Otherwise, information overload becomes inspiration without implementation. Add contact information into your phone. Text someone you met to encourage them.

Yes, conferences are tiring. Your feet will hurt. Your schedule will feel packed. You’ll probably consume too much coffee and sleep too little. But few things inspire ministry leaders like being physically present with thousands of others who are trying to reach people for Christ more effectively.