The 2026 Connect Conference kicked off with over 500 ministers and their spouses gathering for a banquet on Monday evening. After welcoming new ministers, Pastor Aaron Hlavin, Superintendent for the Michigan Assemblies of God Network, began the conference with a humorous session on Blind Russ, Ministry Mishaps, and Church Culture.
Sessions began Tuesday morning with Pastor Aaron’s message, “Three Environments for Personal Growth: The Row, The Circle, and The Chair.” The room buzzed as ministers and spouses reflected on which they identified with most.
Pastor Jim Wiegand then focused on “Why > What.” The key points he taught were:
1. Everyone has a “Why.”
2. Those who haven’t found their “Why” haven’t found their way.
3. God has hidden for us the clues of our “Why.”
4. Those who find their “Why” and live from it live abundant lives. Those who don’t waste the only life they’ve been given.
5. One of the key roles of leadership in the Body of Christ is to help people discover who they are and prepare/release them to live their purpose.
Teaching from Ephesians 4:11, he emphasized that we MUST lead people to Jesus…and then to themselves.
The Tuesday evening session brought a powerful challenge through Pastor Aaron’s message, “Paper Towns.” Drawing from Acts 19, he focused on “The Process of Staying Focused Through Painful Seasons.”
During the altar time that followed, the atmosphere was thick with a sense of God’s presence. The evening concluded on a lighthearted note with Pie Receptions, allowing everyone to connect and share in fellowship.
The Connect Conference fulfilled its purpose by creating a space for ministers to deepen their connection with God and peers. In closing, Pastor Aaron challenged pastors to stop leading out of fear and control, intentionally choose to release innovators rather than manage imitators, and remember that ministry is a privilege they “get” to steward—not protect.
For those who couldn’t attend, audio recordings are available at mnaog.org/media.
