Brothers and Sisters, We’re excited to invite you to the 5th annual Lead the City Conference at Progressive Baptist Church on June 6, 2025! Since 2021, Lead the City has gathered together pastors, faith leaders, and believers from all across Chicago and the surrounding region for encouragement, fellowship, and a reminder that none of us can do this alone.
This year, we’re partnering with AND Campaign, NewThing, Exponential, Gloo, and Barna for “Table Over Tribe”—a timely theme focused on how we can lead our churches and communities through divisive times. Main sessions will explore topics like school choice, public education, immigration, open borders, faithful civic engagement and how diverse perspectives can strengthen the church. We’re thrilled to welcome Justin Giboney and Carey Nieuwhof as our keynote speakers, along with a host of local leaders.
Our Friday night closing session is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, so be sure to invite your friends, neighbors, and congregations for an evening of worship and encouragement—followed by an ice cream social and fireworks (courtesy of our White Sox neighbors next door at Rate Field!)
We hope to see you there!
Derrick PuckettPresident, The Chicago Partnership
Justin Giboney is an ordained minister, attorney, and political strategist in Atlanta. He is also the president of the AND Campaign, a Christian civic organization. Giboney has managed successful campaigns for elected officials in Georgia and referendums relating to Atlanta’s transportation and water infrastructure. In 2012 and 2016, Georgia’s 5th congressional district elected him as a delegate for the Democratic National Convention. A former Vanderbilt University football player and law student, Justin served on the Urban League of Greater Atlanta Board of Directors. He’s the coauthor of Compassion (&) Conviction: The AND Campaign’s Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement and author of the forthcoming book Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around: How the Black Church’s Public Witness Leads Us out of the Culture War.
Carey is the founding pastor of Connexus Church and has been serving in ministry since 1995. He is passionate about leading people into a relationship with Christ and helping people thrive in life and leadership. He served as Lead Pastor until 2015 and is the author of several books, including his latest, Didn't See It Coming.
In his spare time, Carey speaks to church leaders around the world about leadership, change and personal growth. He writes one of today’s most widely read church leadership blogs at www.CareyNieuwhof.com and hosts the top-rated Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast where he interviews some of today’s best leaders.
He and his wife, Toni, live north of Barrie and have two grown sons.
Daniel Yang is the National Director of Churches of Welcome at World Relief. Previously he served as the director of the Church Multiplication Institute at the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, a think tank for evangelism and church planting. He has pastored and helped plant churches in Detroit, Dallas-Fort Worth, Toronto, and Chicago. He is the co-author of "Inalienable: How Marginalized Kingdom Voices Can Help Save the American Church" with Eric Costanzo and Matthew Soerens, and "Becoming a Future-Ready Church: 8 Shifts to Encourage and Empower the Next Generation of Leaders" with Adelle Banks and Warren Bird.
Derrick Puckett is the Lead Pastor and Church Planter of Renewal Church of Chicago and serves as President of The Chicago Partnership. He and his wife, Kaley, moved to Chicago in 2013 to plant a Gospel centered disciple making multi-ethnic church. Renewal started in 2014 and has been thriving ever since. Derrick has a B.A. from Indiana University and a M.Div. from Mid America Baptist Theological Seminary. Derrick and Kaley have 4 beautiful daughters, Ramiyah, Elyana, Isabelle and Nalah and a handsome son, DJ.
Brian Dye serves as Director of Leader Development for The Chicago Partnership. Brian’s passion is "to train leaders in ministry to urban America." In 2006 he founded The Legacy Conference to equip those that are serious about being disciples of Christ to make disciples for Christ. In 2008 he co-founded Legacy Christian Fellowship, a multiplying house church movement in the city of Chicago. He has been married to his best friend and ministry partner, Heidi, since July 2000.
Carey Nieuwhof: “How Diverse Thought Makes for Better Churches”Justin Giboney: “How Diverse Thought Makes for Better Government”
Food Trucks & Fellowship: Grab a bite (self-pay), pull up a chair, and connect with fellow leaders at our outdoor dining space — featuring food trucks, open seating, and good conversation.Private Lunch with Carey Nieuwhof: Register to attend a private lunch event in the Fellowship Hall. Limited to 100 guests.
Daniel Yang: “The Case for Open Borders”Speaker TBD: “The Case for Limited Borders”Panel: Moderated by Justin Giboney.
Coffee provided by Metric Coffee
Speaker TBD: “The Case to Fund School Choice”Speaker TBD: “The Case to Fund Public Education”Panel moderated by Justin Giboney.
Food Trucks & Fellowship: Grab a bite (self-pay), pull up a chair, and connect with fellow leaders at our outdoor dining space — featuring food trucks, open seating, and good conversation.Private Lunch with Justin Giboney: Register to attend a private lunch event in the Fellowship Hall. Limited to 100 guests.
Civic Revival: Justin Giboney & Chris ButlerLegacy Award Presentation
Ice Cream Social outside following the end of the conference to enjoy fellowship and conversation, and the White Sox fireworks!
Interested in sponsorship? You can find our LTC25 Sponsorship Info Sheet here, with next step instructions.
Registration includes access to all sessions. Food trucks will be on-site with lunch and dinner available for purchase. (Lunch and dinner not included in the price of registration.)
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