Jon Brown has spent more than 24 years serving the local church, equipping people to follow Jesus wholeheartedly and live out their God-given calling.

He serves as Executive Pastor at Journey Church, a multi-site church with campuses in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Lithuania. Jon is especially passionate about developing leaders and helping men become the husbands, fathers, and spiritual leaders God created them to be.

He’s married to his college sweetheart, Janet, a proud dad of three girls, an adventure lover, and a painfully loyal Minnesota Vikings fan (he believes suffering builds character).

“The Lone Wolf Lie”

The enemy’s favorite strategy is isolation. Samson fought alone and paid the price. In this session Pastor Jon Brown will expose the myth of self-sufficiency and show why the strongest men are the ones courageous enough to let other men into the fight.

Dr. Keith V. Bjorge, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist, Certified Emotionally Focused Couple Therapist and Supervisor (ICEEFT), speaker, writer, and consultant with nearly four decades of clinical experience. He has taught graduate counseling and family systems courses for approximately 20 years and serves as a consultant in attachment-based relational resilience, personal and systemic/organizational wellness, and leadership development. Dr. Bjorge enjoys helping people discover how secure bonding, biblical truth, and interpersonal neuroscience complement one another to foster hope, healing, and lasting change.

“Rewiring the Brain: How God Changes Us Through Relationships, Practice, and Truth”

God created our brains with the remarkable ability to change throughout life. In this presentation, Dr. Keith V. Bjorge explores how the science of neuroplasticity aligns with the biblical call to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Drawing from attachment science, interpersonal neuroscience, biblical truth, and nearly four decades of clinical experience, he explains how unhealthy patterns, including addictions such as pornography, can be reshaped through God’s grace, secure relationships, and intentional practice. Participants will discover how God uses relationships, truth, and repeated experiences to renew the mind, bringing lasting hope, healing, and transformation.

Taylor Apple has spent over 10 years serving in various ministry roles and is currently the lead pastor of a church plant; Freedom Church in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He is married to Nathasha, is a proud dad of three, and loves basketball, reading, coffee with people, and building the local church.

“Walking in Freedom for Young Men”

In his session, “Walking in Freedom for Young Men,” Taylor will ask how freedom in this area is truly possible in a world where young men are constantly bombarded by temptation—and reveal why the path to freedom is not more effort, action, or white-knuckled restraint, but surrender to Jesus and learning to live in the truth of the gospel.

Through personal experience and Scripture, including Jesus’ words that “the truth will set you free” and Paul’s call not to use freedom for the flesh but to serve one another in love, we will explore the truths young men must believe to walk in lasting freedom, with the goal of leaving with practical help and a closer relationship with Jesus from a pure heart.

Taylor Apple has spent over 10 years serving in various ministry roles and is currently the lead pastor of a church plant; Freedom Church in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He is married to Nathasha, is a proud dad of three, and loves basketball, reading, coffee with people, and building the local church.

“Walking in Freedom for Young Men”

In his session, “Walking in Freedom for Young Men,” Taylor will ask how freedom in this area is truly possible in a world where young men are constantly bombarded by temptation—and reveal why the path to freedom is not more effort, action, or white-knuckled restraint, but surrender to Jesus and learning to live in the truth of the gospel.

Through personal experience and Scripture, including Jesus’ words that “the truth will set you free” and Paul’s call not to use freedom for the flesh but to serve one another in love, we will explore the truths young men must believe to walk in lasting freedom, with the goal of leaving with practical help and a closer relationship with Jesus from a pure heart.

An author, speaker, and the founder of Operation Integrity, David Zailer has spent decades

exploring one of the profound questions in life: How can my broken life become whole again?

David’s writing draws from his own journey through family secrets, tragic loss, addiction, and restoration.

His books — Death of a Fisherman, When Lost Men Come Home, and Our Journey Home — guide readers toward a life of truth, humility, courage, and grace. His work with the Leadership Institute invites Christ-followers into places where confession redeems secrets and grace triumphs over shame. Pastors, doctors, counselors, and ministry leaders embrace David’s work for its theological depth, emotional authenticity, and practical wisdom. Whether speaking from a stage, mentoring leaders, or writing with quiet conviction, David reminds us that even the most fractured life can be redeemed.

“When Willpower isn’t Enough”

Centered around the Biblical text of Mark 2, I will offer questions and perspectives to ponder.

Are you an observer in attendance? Perhaps watching in judgment? Are you helping someone

else? Or are you the paralyzed man on the stretcher; the most blessed of them all?

Albo Esilaba is the Executive Director of No Regrets Men’s Ministry and a pastor with nearly three decades of ministry experience. Born in Kenya, Albo has served churches in Nairobi, Milwaukee, and Ann Arbor, equipping men to follow Jesus and disciple others. He and his wife, Mutheu, have three sons.

"Every Church Believes in Restoration Until Someone Falls"

We celebrate grace in theory, but when sexual or emotional failure happens close to home, many churches don't know what to do next. It is hard to dispute the importance of 'grace' and that 'we can accept people as they are' or that we serve a 'God of second chances,' the PRACTICE of restoration nevertheless is rare and in many churches absent. One could even argue that 'it is impossible to restore someone (especially a leader) who has had sexual or emotional failure WITHIN the community that experienced it.' To help reduce this body count, this breakout seminar will equip you with the necessary practical tools to help the person who is willing to be restored to God, Community and their God-given Mission, based on John 21:15-25 and the experience of many that Albo Has been involved in their restoration journey.

Churches often speak about grace and second chances but struggle to respond when sexual or emotional failure occurs. Drawing from John 21:15–25 and years of restoration ministry, Albo will offer practical guidance for helping willing individuals return to healthy relationships with God, their community, and their God-given mission.

Kyle serves as a pastor at Elmbrook Church, where he has been serving for 12 years. He works with their chaplaincy ministry, training volunteers to provide pastoral care; and their Marriage Care ministry. He lives in New Berlin, WI with his wife, Amanda, and their 4 kids.

“A Pastoral Response to Purity Culture”

Did you belong to a church youth group or men's ministry in the 1990s-2000s? Odds are, you have experienced influence from the "purity culture" movement. What is it? How might we still be affected by it? And what is a healthier way we can look at sexuality as Christians? (Galatians 5:13-26; Matthew 5:27-30)

Kenny is a Campus Pastor/Elder at Elmbrook Church in Hartland, WI. He is married to his high school sweetheart and together they have three boys.

He is passionate about helping men, women, and children grow into all that God has for them and inspiring them to make a difference in their circles of influence.

His teaching style is warm, thoughtful, and highly invitational.

“Fostering Communities of Grace”

This talk will center around the grace that we received and how this ought to shape the communities we are a part of. This will challenge men to respond to God with deep gratitude and humility in light of the grace they have received and to see one another in light of God’s grace. (Ephesians 2:1-9)

Pastor Brian is the Executive Pastor of Ministries at Elmbrook Church. He has been married for nearly 40 years and is passionate about teaching men how to delight themselves in the Lord. Brian believes that sabbath is a way of life and affects every aspect of our lives.