First Impressions Live

Make Room · Oct 20–22, 2026

Welcome,
Speakers!

Graceway Church · Raytown, MO

We're so glad you're here. Everything you need is on this one page.

Find my sessions

Travel

Getting here

Graceway Church

5460 Blue Ridge Cutoff, Raytown, MO

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Out of town guests: Origin Hotel

Origin Kansas City Riverfront, a Wyndham Hotel

1001 E. Riverfront Dr., Kansas City, MO 64120

Check-in 4:00 PM · Check-out 11:00 AM

Your stay is fully covered by First Impressions. Your room is booked under your name.

Your personal hotel dates appear in "Find my sessions."

Uber

Everyone has already been sent your Uber for Business ride link. Just make sure you are logged in before you travel.

Questions? Call or text Jenna.

Your space, slides & sound

Before you take the stage

Volunteer HQ

Your space, just off the sanctuary at Graceway.

Come by for a snack, a drink, and a minute to relax before we meet at the on deck spot inside the auditorium.

Breakout rooms

A volunteer recorder will be in each breakout room to record your session.

Handouts sent to us by Oct 13 are printed and waiting in your room.

Plug your computer into the HDMI cord to show your slides on a TV.

Main stage

Your slides are run for you — nothing to plug in.

A headset for the main sessions, a handheld for the hosts.

Just for you

Find my sessions

Required & invited

Last year's pre-conference workshop room full of people at round tables
Invited · Optional — RSVP required for food

Pre-Conference: AI-Powered First Impressions

Tue Oct 20 · 3:00–6:00 PM

Fellowship Hall at Graceway

A hands-on workshop with Kenny Jahng, with dinner included.

RSVP by text Get directions
A Joe's Bar-B-Que spread of smoked meats and sides laid out on a wooden table
Highly encouraged · we'd love you there

VIP Lunch

Wed Oct 21 · 12:00–1:15 PM

Fellowship Hall at Graceway

Speakers and their guests welcome.

A speaker leading an implementation session
Expected

Implementation Sessions

Wed Oct 21 · 3:15–3:45 PM

Every speaker joins one. Your assigned room shows in "Find my sessions." A short break follows from 3:45–4:00 PM before the 4:00 PM main session.

CPKC Stadium, home of KC Current, with the teal stands and pitch under a blue sky
Invited · optional, and it will be a blast

VIP Dinner

Wed Oct 21 · 6:00 PM

KC Current Stadium, 1460 E Front St, Kansas City

A short walk from Origin Hotel. For speakers, Academy members and FI staff. Guests welcome. Totally optional.

All times Central

Tap a day to see everything on it — tap the arrow again to tuck it away.

Questions on event days?

Call or text Jenna Vreugdenhil: 816-226-9672

Call Jenna Text Jenna

Breakout Schedule

Session 1

Wed Oct 21 · 10:00–11:00 AM

  • 5 Things Your Guests Are Thinking but Won't Ask

    Jason Moore

  • Beyond Sunday Screens: Turning One Sermon Into a Week of Ministry

    Dustin Harper

  • Creating a Culture of Connection

    Greg Curtis

  • From Chaos to Clarity: Your New Volunteer's First Page

    Brie Kershaw

  • Make Sunday Your Easiest Day of the Week: Leadership Strategies

    Mary Ann Sibley

  • Stop Letting People Slip Through The Cracks

    Nina Hampton

  • The Silent Goodbye: Why 8 Out of 10 First-Time Guests Never Come Back

    Tyler Smith

  • We've Always Done It This Way (And That's the Problem)

    April Buske

  • Writing & Delivering Captivating Announcements

    Ben Stapley

Session 2

Wed Oct 21 · 2:00–3:00 PM

  • Every Language, Every Guest: Building Real Hospitality in a Multi-Lingual Church

    Megan Adams

  • From Chaos to Clarity: Your New Volunteer's First Page

    Brie Kershaw

  • From Notebook to Sunday: Turning Conference Ideas Into Real Change

    Alisa Thepsoumphone

  • From the Ground Up: A Practical Roadmap for Building - or Rebuilding - a FI Ministry, Culture & Leaders

    Ashley Dunn

  • Stop Letting People Slip Through The Cracks

    Nina Hampton

  • The First Impressions Funnel: Turning Curious Website Visitors into Real Connections

    Kenny Jahng

  • The Silent Goodbye: Why 8 Out of 10 First-Time Guests Never Come Back

    Tyler Smith

  • Volunteer Culture

    Rommel Manio

  • We've Always Done It This Way (And That's the Problem)

    April Buske

Session 3

Thu Oct 22 · 9:45–10:45 AM

  • Church Overview Video

    Ben Stapley

  • Creating a Culture of Connection

    Greg Curtis

  • Flip the Script: Rethinking Disability Ministry

    Brooks Wilkening

  • From Chaos to Clarity: Your New Volunteer's First Page

    Brie Kershaw

  • From Posts to Hosts: Creating A Team That Owns The Mission

    Cody Killian

  • Get the BEST from Their YES!

    Rommel Manio

  • People Who Serve, Invite: Volunteer Huddle Tactics from Fast-Growing Churches

    Rich Birch

  • Stop Letting People Slip Through The Cracks

    Nina Hampton

  • The GUEST Experience

    Angie Ward

  • The Silent Goodbye: Why 8 Out of 10 First-Time Guests Never Come Back

    Tyler Smith

  • We've Always Done It This Way (And That's the Problem)

    April Buske