The National Preaching Summit: A Conference Focused on Preaching

By Rick Cherok

There are many excellent conferences that are annually available to ministers and members of Restoration Movement churches, but only one focuses solely and specifically on preaching. Since 1995, the National Preaching Summit has had a laser-beam focus on preaching, with content specifically designed to help preachers become better biblical communicators.

In 1995, Jeff Faull and Al Serhal established the National Preaching Summit to equip, inspire, and encourage preachers within Restoration Movement churches. After 10 years of directing the Summit, the founders of the event handed it off to College Press Publishing Company. Dru Ashwell, who was serving as an executive editor with College Press at the time, was asked to give leadership to the event and has served as the director of the National Preaching Summit since 2005.

Since 2009, the National Preaching Summit has been held at The Creek in Indianapolis, IN. “At first the Summit was held in a very nice hotel in the Indianapolis area,” Ashwell said, “but they were nickel and diming us to death about anything and everything we needed.” In an effort to reduce the registration costs for the Summit and to make it accessible to more people, the NPS leadership approached several churches in the Indianapolis area about the possibility of holding the event in their facilities. “We were very fortunate to connect with Gary Johnson at The Creek,” Ashwell explained. “Not only was Gary willing to let us use their facility,” Ashwell continued, “but he wanted to create a partnership with the Preaching Summit.”

Over the years, the National Preaching Summit has hosted some of the best preachers from around the country to offer practical insights to students and other preachers who have attended from all over the country.

This year’s Preaching Summit theme is: The Spiritual Life & Health of the Preacher – How Can I Tend to My Soul so That I’m Spiritually Prepared to Preach? With seven main sessions, four workshop electives to choose from, and multiple rich opportunities to fellowship with other preachers, the March 9-10, 2026, event at The Creek will be a refreshing experience from which every preacher can benefit. Go to www.preachingsummit.com for more details on this year’s speakers and to register.

Rick Cherok serves as Managing Editor of Christian Standard, Executive Director of Celtic Christian Mission, and Director of Men’s Services at Kentucky Christian University.