Global Leadership Summit August 2026 Recap

Imagine a church in the throes of construction, dust in the air, and deadlines to meet — and in the middle of all of it, a quiet conviction: God wants us to use Church space for worship and use the space to lead the leaders.

A Vision Cast

Before the pandemic of 2020, Pastor Adam cast a vision for that Coker was becoming an equipping church. A place where leaders are called, affirmed, nurtured, and grown — then sent. And when those leaders are weary and need to recalibrate, Coker could be a place of respite and reset.

Since then, Coker has kept a discerning eye and an ear out for strategic opportunities to nurture leaders. That vision has come to life — bearing fruit in real relationships and real Gospel impact through initiatives like the Coker Leadership Institute through Asbury Theological Seminary, the Coker Theological Institute, and “The Plan.” A recent partnership with Baylor’s Truett Seminary Wesley House has deepened the bench even further. Several of Coker pastors teach in the Pastoral Studies Program through Truett, and several people currently in the program are discerning whether ordination is part of their call.

All of this deeper equipping ties back to a core identity the vision team identified: Coker is a church rooted in The Word, led by The Holy Spirit, and called to be multigenerational and multicultural.

So the answer was yes “Yes” — Sawdust and All

So when the opportunity came to host a livestream of the Global Leadership Summit on August 6–7, 2026, the answer — despite being in the middle of active construction — was yes.

Because that’s what Coker does. When God opens a door, Coker walks through it, even if the doorframe is still being framed.

And true to form, Coker people did what Coker people do. From staff to volunteers, everyone showed up — extremely organized and wildly hospitable. Every detail was thought through. Every snack was gathered and every seat was ready. Every guest who walked in the door commented on how welcomed they felt. It wasn’t just an event. It was an experience that reflected the heart of our church and our belief that hospitality is a form of ministry.

Two Days of World-Class Teaching

The Global Leadership Summit (#GLS26), broadcast live from Chicago and streamed to host locations around the world, delivered two packed days of teaching built around resilient leadership, navigating institutional change with candor, and the kind of intentional people-investment that outlasts any single program or initiative.

Andy Stanley challenged leaders with the idea that an organization’s capacity — its load limit — is directly set by the curiosity of its leadership. If the leaders stop asking questions, growth stops with them.

Multiple speakers pressed into the difference between transactional investment and true leadership: learning to pour into people regardless of whether they’ll stay, give back, or even say thank you. Purpose over short-term retention.

Alison Levine offered a reframe that every tired leader needed to hear: “Backing up is not the same as backing down.” Sometimes the bravest thing a leader can do is pause, reassess, and adjust — and that’s not retreat. It’s wisdom.

Priscilla Shirer encouraged leaders to stop long enough for grounded, essential moments — the kind that only come when you resist the tyranny of constant motion.

And Arthur C. Brooks warned against the quiet trap of chasing fleeting pleasure as a substitute for the deeper, harder work of lasting satisfaction.

And there were many others….

Buffalo Culture Stampeded in

Attendees may have noticed the Buffalo Culture shirts in the room. Those belonged to C12, a community of Christian CEOs and business owners who lead with conviction. So what exactly is a Buffalo Culture?

Culture is the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that defines a group. A buffalo culture is one where leaders stand out and stand together — unapologetically leading with purpose and people. In a thriving buffalo culture, leaders trust and rely on their peers to solve problems, create plans, and advance a shared goal for something greater than themselves. It doesn’t happen by accident. It requires uncommon courage and unwavering intentionality. They go head first into a storm, knowing that they will not be in the eye of the storm as long if they go headfirst into it.

Many from C12 were in attendance at Coker’s GLS host site, including Michele Jech, Vice President of Marketing & Operations, and Mike Sharrow, CEO and President. On LinkedIn, Mike posted a photo of himself and his daughter at the Summit and shared a reflection that captured the spirit of everything Coker is building:

“This year was my 3rd taking my oldest daughter to the #GLS by The Global Leadership Network — fun looking back and seeing how she’s digested and applied lessons from other leaders. She’s also embraced it is a ‘normal’ thing to learn and develop — that leaders are learners and invest in getting better and learning from diverse case studies. Grow your leadership. But bring others along! That’s even more fun.”

Leading Leaders, the Way of Jesus

Grow your leadership. But bring others along.

That’s the way of C12. That’s the way of the Global Leadership Summit. And that is unmistakably the way of Coker — multigenerational, multicultural, and relentlessly committed to equipping the people God has placed in its care.

It is the way of the Global Methodist Church: to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.

And at the root of all of it, it is the way of Jesus.

Through Jesus. Like Jesus. For Jesus.

Even when there’s sawdust on the floor and drywall dust in the air — especially then — Coker says yes. Because equipping leaders isn’t something you do when things are finished. It’s something you do because the work is not finished until Jesus says it is.