This Year’s Speakers
April 30, 2010

James Baird
James was most recently the Executive Director of Ministries at Highlands Church, which he co-founded in 2006 with his brother Reverend Graham Baird. Since then, the members of Highlands Church have become nationally known for their ability to connect their neighbors to Christ. Previous to Highlands Church, James was the Director of Outreach at Fremont Presbyterian Church in Sacramento where he first began to “change how you do ministry” with his father Senior Pastor Dr. Donald H. Baird. Since his first ministry on the streets of Salt Lake City where he grew up, he has spent the entirety of his life redefining outreach. In 2007, he had the opportunity to return to Trinidad to meet with student leaders regarding the direction and mission for student movements throughout the world. At this conference, it became clear to him that the tremendous spiritual growth that was happening at Highlands could translate into nearly every area of ministry.

James is currently researching outreach and evangelism in a Post-Christian society at Fuller Theological Seminary and hopes to translate this into further church renewal so that more church communities can experience the joy of reaching their neighbors for Christ. He and his wife Danielle both currently attend Cornerstone Community Church in Simi-Valley, pastored by Francis Chan author of Crazy Love. email: jamesbaird@fuller.edu

Last Year’s Speakers
May 6, 20 & 27, 2009

Graham Baird
Graham is the Senior pastor of Highlands Church in Paso Robles, a congregation of 2200. Since it started in April of 2006, Highlands has used the motto “No Perfect People Allowed” along with a simple strategy for engaging and impacting the community. Graham’s deep heart for renewal stems from his upbringing as a 4th generation Presbyterian Pastor. He has taken the message of renewal throughout the country and believes that all churches can experience the same type of growth if they will simply adjust a few small things. www.highlandsadventure.org

Jim Birchfield
Jim is the Executive Pastor at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, in Newport Beach, a congregation of 3500. For 3 years he has helped lead an intentional “re-visioning” and “re-development” that has led to implementation of a new vision, mission statement and an exciting set of strategic initiatives. His recent Doctoral Dissertation highlights mission and discipleship as a means of renewal. Jim believes that renewal is possible if leaders adapt existing models to new cultural paradigms. Earlier in his career, Jim worked as an executive for a prominent advertising agency.