Thought Leader Briefing: The Sending Shepherd & Barna Data

Thought Leader Briefing at Samford University

Hosted by Samford University and Sixteen:Fifteen
In collaboration with Beeson Divinity School

Thursday, February 26, 2026
Samford University | Birmingham, Alabama

Registration: 8:30–9:00 AM
Program: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM

More than 7,200 people groups still have little to no access to the Gospel. Where does the American Church truly stand in its engagement with global missions, and how should today’s leaders respond?

To explore this question, Sixteen:Fifteen commissioned Barna Group to survey Protestant pastors nationwide. The findings reveal both sobering challenges and significant opportunities for the future of the Church’s faithfulness to the Great Commission.

In their new book, The Sending Shepherd, authors Matthew Ellison and Denny Spitters unpack these insights and examine what happens when missions becomes the heart of the church, not simply one ministry among many.

Join us in person at Samford University for this Thought Leader Briefing, where participants will be guided through the research behind The Sending Shepherd by J.D. Payne, Matthew Ellison, and Denny Spitters, exploring its theological and practical implications for churches and mission organizations today. The day will be structured around five focused 45-minute sessions, with time built in for breaks, lunch, and a panel conversation.

The first 75 registrations will receive a FREE copy of The Sending Shepherd. All registrations include lunch.

Schedule

• 8:30–9:00 AM | Registration

• 9:00–9:45 AM | Session 1

• 9:45–10:00 AM | Break

• 10:00–10:45 AM | Session 2

• 10:45–11:00 AM | Break

• 11:00–11:45 AM | Session 3

• 11:45 AM–1:00 PM | Lunch

• 1:00–1:45 PM | Session 4

• 1:45–2:00 PM | Break

• 2:00–2:45 PM | Session 5

• 2:45–3:00 PM | Closing

During this Thought Leader Briefing, participants will explore:

• What pastors are really saying about missions today

• The blind spots and opportunities uncovered by the Barna study

• Practical and theological pathways for shaping a more faithful missions future

The first 75 registered attendees will receive a complimentary copy of The Sending Shepherd.

This event is designed for pastors, church mission leaders, ministry practitioners, and mission agency leaders who desire thoughtful, biblically grounded engagement with the Church’s global mission.

Presenters

J.D. Payne
J.D. Payne is the Thomas Welby Bozeman Professor of Christian Ministry at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Prior to joining Samford, he served as pastor for church multiplication at The Church at Brook Hills and spent ten years with the North American Mission Board and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he also taught and directed the Center for North American Missions and Church Planting. A widely published author and respected voice in missions, evangelism, and church planting, J.D. equips pastors and ministry leaders to pursue the Great Commission with biblical faithfulness and strategic clarity.

Denny Spitters
Denny became a Christ follower at thirteen and has served in numerous church staff roles, including worship, missions, and small groups. He has served on staff at two megachurches, directed a parachurch ministry, and spent over fifteen years as a business owner. As a coauthor of The Sending Shepherd, Denny brings decades of leadership experience to conversations about church health and global missions engagement.

Matthew Ellison
Rescued by Jesus at twenty three, Matthew’s first mission trip to Ghana shaped a lifelong commitment to God’s global purpose. He served as Missions Pastor at Calvary of Albuquerque for nine years, where he founded LifeLine Missions and helped develop a church wide missions strategy. As President and cofounder of Sixteen:Fifteen, Matthew now works with churches across the country to design and implement strategic pathways for reaching the unreached.

About the Book

The Sending Shepherd is a Sixteen:Fifteen publication developed in partnership with Pioneers and based on Barna Group’s research report, U.S. Protestant Pastors and Missions: A Look into the Expectations and Priorities of Pastors in the American Church Today.

Space is limited, and advance registration is required. We encourage early registration to ensure your seat for this special gathering.