Michael Foster

I'm a pastor, writer, and businessman. My wife and I have eight children and live on a small farm in Batavia, OH. God is good.

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

A different sort of event for church leaders and their wives...

Faithful ministry can be lonely and comes with pressures most people never see. Over time, church leaders and their families can get worn down or stuck in the same ruts. Instead of working on themselves and the ministry, they can end up stuck in the grind of just keeping up and barely surviving.

With this in mind, we’re reworking our pastors’ conference into The Evergreen Summit. We’re calling it “Evergreen” because the aim is to equip pastors, elders, and their wives for the long haul of ministry.

We’re going to do things a little differently in two main areas.

First, no keynotes. Frankly, most pastors’ conferences are largely a summons to hear “big names” preach sermons. We want something more practical and interactive. This isn’t about platform building for Christian celebrities or content generation for media-centered ministries.

Second, no recordings. We want presenters and attendees to be able to speak freely about the real challenges of ministry, so this event will not be livestreamed or recorded. We will provide printed materials for all attendees, but all workshops and mastermind group conversations will remain private.

So what will we do?

We’ll have three workshop blocks, each consisting of three back-to-back 20-minute presentations. Each block will be followed by a 15-minute break, and then the three presenters will take part in a moderated panel and answer questions from attendees. Our full lineup of workshop sessions is still being finalized, but it will include topics like How I Survived a Coup d’État, Cultivating a Leadership Pipeline, and Protecting Your Wife and Kids. We’re aiming to be very practical and brutally honest.

There will also be one workshop block just for ministry wives, led by Rosaria Butterfield, Emily Foster, and a presenter TBA. It will run concurrently with one of the main workshop blocks.

Another key component of the summit is the masterminds. These are small groups of six to eight people who will identify two real problems within the group and work together to find a path forward. There will be two mastermind sessions for the men’s track and two for the wives’ track.

We’ll also share meals together and have a catered party on Friday night for all attendees. The goal is to come ready to work on real problems and return home refreshed and ready to get things done. We will not have childcare available, but babes-in-arms are welcome. Presenters include: Michael Clary • Rosaria Butterfield • Chris Wiley • Michael Foster • Doug Ponder • Bryan Laughlin • Emily Foster • Brian Brown …and more to be announced.

Date

July 16-18, 2026

Location

East River Church, 299 Haskell Lane Batavia, OH 45103

Purchase Tickets here:

https://t.co/nvpjS4aOb7

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

@Notanotheru5er Yeah, DM me and I’ll remember to respond

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

Complementarianism’s heyday is past and it ultimately failed because it’s “mere-ness.”

There is no resurrecting it.

It’s genesis, however you view it, was tied to different set of challenges.

[Denny Burk @DennyBurk]

My new book is titled "Mere Complementarianism." @SBTS already has copies for sale in the bookstore, even though the release date isn't until July 14.

You can pre-order a copy now through Amazon or wherever you buy books. See Amazon link in thread below.

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

@MDoskey91775 They will not be recorded.

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

We will have a separate wives/women's track at The Evergreen Summit that runs alongside the main conference...

Rosaria Butterfield is doing the two sessions on...

“Do Not Grow Weary While Doing Good”.

This session encourages wives of elders to stay on mission and stay in our lane. The bottom line: don’t quit. I’ll talk about creation ordinance boundaries and blessings and the need to prepare for the 6 avenues of weariness and biblical ways to combat them.

“Hospitality in a Post-Christian World”

This session discusses the need for Christian hospitality in a post-Christian world and good practices for dealing with hostility and hatred against Christians. Is this enough or do you want more?

And @thisismrsfoster is doing one:

"Five Ways a Pastor's Wife Can Minister to Her Husband"

In this session, I'll encourages pastors' wives to steady their husbands through ordinary faithfulness. The bottom line: her support sustains his ministry. I'll cover keeping the household humming, prioritizing sexual intimacy, and protecting his calendar so her steady presence refreshes his soul and guards the limits he needs to serve with joy for the long haul.

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

A different sort of event for church leaders and their wives...

Faithful ministry can be lonely and comes with pressures most people never see. Over time, church leaders and their families can get worn down or stuck in the same ruts. Instead of working on themselves and the ministry, they can end up stuck in the grind of just keeping up and barely surviving.

With this in mind, we’re reworking our pastors’ conference into The Evergreen Summit. We’re calling it “Evergreen” because the aim is to equip pastors, elders, and their wives for the long haul of ministry.

We’re going to do things a little differently in two main areas.

First, no keynotes. Frankly, most pastors’ conferences are largely a summons to hear “big names” preach sermons. We want something more practical and interactive. This isn’t about platform building for Christian celebrities or content generation for media-centered ministries.

Second, no recordings. We want presenters and attendees to be able to speak freely about the real challenges of ministry, so this event will not be livestreamed or recorded. We will provide printed materials for all attendees, but all workshops and mastermind group conversations will remain private.

So what will we do?

We’ll have three workshop blocks, each consisting of three back-to-back 20-minute presentations. Each block will be followed by a 15-minute break, and then the three presenters will take part in a moderated panel and answer questions from attendees. Our full lineup of workshop sessions is still being finalized, but it will include topics like How I Survived a Coup d’État, Cultivating a Leadership Pipeline, and Protecting Your Wife and Kids. We’re aiming to be very practical and brutally honest.

There will also be one workshop block just for ministry wives, led by Rosaria Butterfield, Emily Foster, and a presenter TBA. It will run concurrently with one of the main workshop blocks.

Another key component of the summit is the masterminds. These are small groups of six to eight people who will identify two real problems within the group and work together to find a path forward. There will be two mastermind sessions for the men’s track and two for the wives’ track.

We’ll also share meals together and have a catered party on Friday night for all attendees. The goal is to come ready to work on real problems and return home refreshed and ready to get things done. We will not have childcare available, but babes-in-arms are welcome. Presenters include: Michael Clary • Rosaria Butterfield • Chris Wiley • Michael Foster • Doug Ponder • Bryan Laughlin • Emily Foster • Brian Brown …and more to be announced.

Date

July 16-18, 2026

Location

East River Church, 299 Haskell Lane Batavia, OH 45103

Purchase Tickets here:

https://t.co/nvpjS4aOb7

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

@MrMaleMan77 My man

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

I’ve never adopted the label Christian nationalist for a variety of reasons, and I never will.

But if this report actually says what I’ve been told it says (see below), it’s such a slanted and biased portrayal of what Christian nationalists believe and teach that it will only create more division in the PCA.

Are there people out there who fit each of those descriptions?

Sure. It’s the internet. There are weirdos saying and doing just about everything.

But they aren’t representative of the whole.

What a mess…

[Joel Rainey. ن @joelrainey]

Very helpful distinction provided by our Presbyterian brothers and sisters.

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

@TrevorJha I’ll announce next year’s date in August.

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

Passed

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

"Five Types of Men Who Should Never Be Elders" - Men who look qualified for eldership but eventually become dangerous once they have it.

A session by @jacobmentzel at:

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

A different sort of event for church leaders and their wives...

Faithful ministry can be lonely and comes with pressures most people never see. Over time, church leaders and their families can get worn down or stuck in the same ruts. Instead of working on themselves and the ministry, they can end up stuck in the grind of just keeping up and barely surviving.

With this in mind, we’re reworking our pastors’ conference into The Evergreen Summit. We’re calling it “Evergreen” because the aim is to equip pastors, elders, and their wives for the long haul of ministry.

We’re going to do things a little differently in two main areas.

First, no keynotes. Frankly, most pastors’ conferences are largely a summons to hear “big names” preach sermons. We want something more practical and interactive. This isn’t about platform building for Christian celebrities or content generation for media-centered ministries.

Second, no recordings. We want presenters and attendees to be able to speak freely about the real challenges of ministry, so this event will not be livestreamed or recorded. We will provide printed materials for all attendees, but all workshops and mastermind group conversations will remain private.

So what will we do?

We’ll have three workshop blocks, each consisting of three back-to-back 20-minute presentations. Each block will be followed by a 15-minute break, and then the three presenters will take part in a moderated panel and answer questions from attendees. Our full lineup of workshop sessions is still being finalized, but it will include topics like How I Survived a Coup d’État, Cultivating a Leadership Pipeline, and Protecting Your Wife and Kids. We’re aiming to be very practical and brutally honest.

There will also be one workshop block just for ministry wives, led by Rosaria Butterfield, Emily Foster, and a presenter TBA. It will run concurrently with one of the main workshop blocks.

Another key component of the summit is the masterminds. These are small groups of six to eight people who will identify two real problems within the group and work together to find a path forward. There will be two mastermind sessions for the men’s track and two for the wives’ track.

We’ll also share meals together and have a catered party on Friday night for all attendees. The goal is to come ready to work on real problems and return home refreshed and ready to get things done. We will not have childcare available, but babes-in-arms are welcome. Presenters include: Michael Clary • Rosaria Butterfield • Chris Wiley • Michael Foster • Doug Ponder • Bryan Laughlin • Emily Foster • Brian Brown …and more to be announced.

Date

July 16-18, 2026

Location

East River Church, 299 Haskell Lane Batavia, OH 45103

Purchase Tickets here:

https://t.co/nvpjS4aOb7

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

I’m not mad at you. But I am definitely poking at the ridiculousness of these sorts of comments. If I disavowed every person she disagreed with, she would still have a problem with me. Because she doesn’t like what I teach. That’s that.

I’m not going to spend my life answering for the words or actions of acquaintances, people can evaluate my teaching on its own merits, and if they decide it’s not for them, I’m perfectly content with that.

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

@Incogniofoshow @lagracelaverite You should unfollow me, burn my book, and warn everyone about me until I disavow. It’s your only option.

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

God bless America! God bless Batavia, OH!

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

@wordtothewhys Our gutters are covered, so this is mostly moss on the gutter. Looks good so far.

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

For the last two days, I’ve been daydreaming about using my new pressure washer to clean my gutters, which are shamefully dirty.

Never in a million years did 15-year-old me think he’d one day write a sentence like that, or have that thought cross my mind.

Anyhow, one side of my house has pearly white gutters. Three to go.

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

“Guarding the Shepherd’s House” - The boundaries and practices that protect a pastor’s soul, family, and ministry for the long haul

A session by me at:

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

A different sort of event for church leaders and their wives...

Faithful ministry can be lonely and comes with pressures most people never see. Over time, church leaders and their families can get worn down or stuck in the same ruts. Instead of working on themselves and the ministry, they can end up stuck in the grind of just keeping up and barely surviving.

With this in mind, we’re reworking our pastors’ conference into The Evergreen Summit. We’re calling it “Evergreen” because the aim is to equip pastors, elders, and their wives for the long haul of ministry.

We’re going to do things a little differently in two main areas.

First, no keynotes. Frankly, most pastors’ conferences are largely a summons to hear “big names” preach sermons. We want something more practical and interactive. This isn’t about platform building for Christian celebrities or content generation for media-centered ministries.

Second, no recordings. We want presenters and attendees to be able to speak freely about the real challenges of ministry, so this event will not be livestreamed or recorded. We will provide printed materials for all attendees, but all workshops and mastermind group conversations will remain private.

So what will we do?

We’ll have three workshop blocks, each consisting of three back-to-back 20-minute presentations. Each block will be followed by a 15-minute break, and then the three presenters will take part in a moderated panel and answer questions from attendees. Our full lineup of workshop sessions is still being finalized, but it will include topics like How I Survived a Coup d’État, Cultivating a Leadership Pipeline, and Protecting Your Wife and Kids. We’re aiming to be very practical and brutally honest.

There will also be one workshop block just for ministry wives, led by Rosaria Butterfield, Emily Foster, and a presenter TBA. It will run concurrently with one of the main workshop blocks.

Another key component of the summit is the masterminds. These are small groups of six to eight people who will identify two real problems within the group and work together to find a path forward. There will be two mastermind sessions for the men’s track and two for the wives’ track.

We’ll also share meals together and have a catered party on Friday night for all attendees. The goal is to come ready to work on real problems and return home refreshed and ready to get things done. We will not have childcare available, but babes-in-arms are welcome. Presenters include: Michael Clary • Rosaria Butterfield • Chris Wiley • Michael Foster • Doug Ponder • Bryan Laughlin • Emily Foster • Brian Brown …and more to be announced.

Date

July 16-18, 2026

Location

East River Church, 299 Haskell Lane Batavia, OH 45103

Purchase Tickets here:

https://t.co/nvpjS4aOb7

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

If you don't enforce the rules, they won't follow them.
This is especially true for young children.

If you tell them to do something, you must follow up and ensure they have done it.

They must learn follow-through and accountability from you.

And they must learn the consequences of disrespecting their authorities and failing to do their jobs.

If you don't do your job as a parent, neither will they as a child.

Lazy parents make lazy children.

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

“Organizational Wisdom Without Ecclesiastical Compromise” - Why faithful churches should gladly borrow good leadership, communication, & organizational practices while remaining thoroughly biblical.

A session by @JoeHolland at:

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

A different sort of event for church leaders and their wives...

Faithful ministry can be lonely and comes with pressures most people never see. Over time, church leaders and their families can get worn down or stuck in the same ruts. Instead of working on themselves and the ministry, they can end up stuck in the grind of just keeping up and barely surviving.

With this in mind, we’re reworking our pastors’ conference into The Evergreen Summit. We’re calling it “Evergreen” because the aim is to equip pastors, elders, and their wives for the long haul of ministry.

We’re going to do things a little differently in two main areas.

First, no keynotes. Frankly, most pastors’ conferences are largely a summons to hear “big names” preach sermons. We want something more practical and interactive. This isn’t about platform building for Christian celebrities or content generation for media-centered ministries.

Second, no recordings. We want presenters and attendees to be able to speak freely about the real challenges of ministry, so this event will not be livestreamed or recorded. We will provide printed materials for all attendees, but all workshops and mastermind group conversations will remain private.

So what will we do?

We’ll have three workshop blocks, each consisting of three back-to-back 20-minute presentations. Each block will be followed by a 15-minute break, and then the three presenters will take part in a moderated panel and answer questions from attendees. Our full lineup of workshop sessions is still being finalized, but it will include topics like How I Survived a Coup d’État, Cultivating a Leadership Pipeline, and Protecting Your Wife and Kids. We’re aiming to be very practical and brutally honest.

There will also be one workshop block just for ministry wives, led by Rosaria Butterfield, Emily Foster, and a presenter TBA. It will run concurrently with one of the main workshop blocks.

Another key component of the summit is the masterminds. These are small groups of six to eight people who will identify two real problems within the group and work together to find a path forward. There will be two mastermind sessions for the men’s track and two for the wives’ track.

We’ll also share meals together and have a catered party on Friday night for all attendees. The goal is to come ready to work on real problems and return home refreshed and ready to get things done. We will not have childcare available, but babes-in-arms are welcome. Presenters include: Michael Clary • Rosaria Butterfield • Chris Wiley • Michael Foster • Doug Ponder • Bryan Laughlin • Emily Foster • Brian Brown …and more to be announced.

Date

July 16-18, 2026

Location

East River Church, 299 Haskell Lane Batavia, OH 45103

Purchase Tickets here:

https://t.co/nvpjS4aOb7

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

“The Pastor’s Friendship Problems” Loneliness, confidants, and cultivating friendships without blowing up your church.

A session by @JustinDean at:

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

A different sort of event for church leaders and their wives...

Faithful ministry can be lonely and comes with pressures most people never see. Over time, church leaders and their families can get worn down or stuck in the same ruts. Instead of working on themselves and the ministry, they can end up stuck in the grind of just keeping up and barely surviving.

With this in mind, we’re reworking our pastors’ conference into The Evergreen Summit. We’re calling it “Evergreen” because the aim is to equip pastors, elders, and their wives for the long haul of ministry.

We’re going to do things a little differently in two main areas.

First, no keynotes. Frankly, most pastors’ conferences are largely a summons to hear “big names” preach sermons. We want something more practical and interactive. This isn’t about platform building for Christian celebrities or content generation for media-centered ministries.

Second, no recordings. We want presenters and attendees to be able to speak freely about the real challenges of ministry, so this event will not be livestreamed or recorded. We will provide printed materials for all attendees, but all workshops and mastermind group conversations will remain private.

So what will we do?

We’ll have three workshop blocks, each consisting of three back-to-back 20-minute presentations. Each block will be followed by a 15-minute break, and then the three presenters will take part in a moderated panel and answer questions from attendees. Our full lineup of workshop sessions is still being finalized, but it will include topics like How I Survived a Coup d’État, Cultivating a Leadership Pipeline, and Protecting Your Wife and Kids. We’re aiming to be very practical and brutally honest.

There will also be one workshop block just for ministry wives, led by Rosaria Butterfield, Emily Foster, and a presenter TBA. It will run concurrently with one of the main workshop blocks.

Another key component of the summit is the masterminds. These are small groups of six to eight people who will identify two real problems within the group and work together to find a path forward. There will be two mastermind sessions for the men’s track and two for the wives’ track.

We’ll also share meals together and have a catered party on Friday night for all attendees. The goal is to come ready to work on real problems and return home refreshed and ready to get things done. We will not have childcare available, but babes-in-arms are welcome. Presenters include: Michael Clary • Rosaria Butterfield • Chris Wiley • Michael Foster • Doug Ponder • Bryan Laughlin • Emily Foster • Brian Brown …and more to be announced.

Date

July 16-18, 2026

Location

East River Church, 299 Haskell Lane Batavia, OH 45103

Purchase Tickets here:

https://t.co/nvpjS4aOb7

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

Complacency Kills: Why faithful pastors must never stop leveling up as learners, leaders, and examples.

A session by @dougponder at:

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

A different sort of event for church leaders and their wives...

Faithful ministry can be lonely and comes with pressures most people never see. Over time, church leaders and their families can get worn down or stuck in the same ruts. Instead of working on themselves and the ministry, they can end up stuck in the grind of just keeping up and barely surviving.

With this in mind, we’re reworking our pastors’ conference into The Evergreen Summit. We’re calling it “Evergreen” because the aim is to equip pastors, elders, and their wives for the long haul of ministry.

We’re going to do things a little differently in two main areas.

First, no keynotes. Frankly, most pastors’ conferences are largely a summons to hear “big names” preach sermons. We want something more practical and interactive. This isn’t about platform building for Christian celebrities or content generation for media-centered ministries.

Second, no recordings. We want presenters and attendees to be able to speak freely about the real challenges of ministry, so this event will not be livestreamed or recorded. We will provide printed materials for all attendees, but all workshops and mastermind group conversations will remain private.

So what will we do?

We’ll have three workshop blocks, each consisting of three back-to-back 20-minute presentations. Each block will be followed by a 15-minute break, and then the three presenters will take part in a moderated panel and answer questions from attendees. Our full lineup of workshop sessions is still being finalized, but it will include topics like How I Survived a Coup d’État, Cultivating a Leadership Pipeline, and Protecting Your Wife and Kids. We’re aiming to be very practical and brutally honest.

There will also be one workshop block just for ministry wives, led by Rosaria Butterfield, Emily Foster, and a presenter TBA. It will run concurrently with one of the main workshop blocks.

Another key component of the summit is the masterminds. These are small groups of six to eight people who will identify two real problems within the group and work together to find a path forward. There will be two mastermind sessions for the men’s track and two for the wives’ track.

We’ll also share meals together and have a catered party on Friday night for all attendees. The goal is to come ready to work on real problems and return home refreshed and ready to get things done. We will not have childcare available, but babes-in-arms are welcome. Presenters include: Michael Clary • Rosaria Butterfield • Chris Wiley • Michael Foster • Doug Ponder • Bryan Laughlin • Emily Foster • Brian Brown …and more to be announced.

Date

July 16-18, 2026

Location

East River Church, 299 Haskell Lane Batavia, OH 45103

Purchase Tickets here:

https://t.co/nvpjS4aOb7

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

“Reformed, Normal, and Growing” - How reformed churches can grow without compromising their biblical convictions.

A session by Bryan Laughlin at:

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

A different sort of event for church leaders and their wives...

Faithful ministry can be lonely and comes with pressures most people never see. Over time, church leaders and their families can get worn down or stuck in the same ruts. Instead of working on themselves and the ministry, they can end up stuck in the grind of just keeping up and barely surviving.

With this in mind, we’re reworking our pastors’ conference into The Evergreen Summit. We’re calling it “Evergreen” because the aim is to equip pastors, elders, and their wives for the long haul of ministry.

We’re going to do things a little differently in two main areas.

First, no keynotes. Frankly, most pastors’ conferences are largely a summons to hear “big names” preach sermons. We want something more practical and interactive. This isn’t about platform building for Christian celebrities or content generation for media-centered ministries.

Second, no recordings. We want presenters and attendees to be able to speak freely about the real challenges of ministry, so this event will not be livestreamed or recorded. We will provide printed materials for all attendees, but all workshops and mastermind group conversations will remain private.

So what will we do?

We’ll have three workshop blocks, each consisting of three back-to-back 20-minute presentations. Each block will be followed by a 15-minute break, and then the three presenters will take part in a moderated panel and answer questions from attendees. Our full lineup of workshop sessions is still being finalized, but it will include topics like How I Survived a Coup d’État, Cultivating a Leadership Pipeline, and Protecting Your Wife and Kids. We’re aiming to be very practical and brutally honest.

There will also be one workshop block just for ministry wives, led by Rosaria Butterfield, Emily Foster, and a presenter TBA. It will run concurrently with one of the main workshop blocks.

Another key component of the summit is the masterminds. These are small groups of six to eight people who will identify two real problems within the group and work together to find a path forward. There will be two mastermind sessions for the men’s track and two for the wives’ track.

We’ll also share meals together and have a catered party on Friday night for all attendees. The goal is to come ready to work on real problems and return home refreshed and ready to get things done. We will not have childcare available, but babes-in-arms are welcome. Presenters include: Michael Clary • Rosaria Butterfield • Chris Wiley • Michael Foster • Doug Ponder • Bryan Laughlin • Emily Foster • Brian Brown …and more to be announced.

Date

July 16-18, 2026

Location

East River Church, 299 Haskell Lane Batavia, OH 45103

Purchase Tickets here:

https://t.co/nvpjS4aOb7