Dynamic Preaching &
Transformative Training
Gain fresh insights, connect with passionate preachers—register now!
The South Florida community is invited to hear dynamic preaching at Palm Beach Atlantic University’s first annual Preaching Festival! We’ll hear messages from Dr. Matthew Kim (Baylor University) and Dr. Karen Reed, who earned her Ph.D. in Practical Theology from PBA. Three of PBA’s Voices for Change students will give us all the unique experience of hearing messages preached in English, Spanish, and Kreyol. No matter which language you understand, you will be able to understand all three messages through translation technology. We’ll also hear a message preached by a current PBA School of Ministry student.
Both seasoned and newer preachers are invited to experience transformational teaching.
Dr. Matthew Kim, Dr. Bernie Cueto, and many workshop leaders will share their powerful insights on:
- how preaching starts with the preacher’s spiritual formation
- how to understand the people who will hear our messages
- how to craft and deliver life-changing messages
What will set apart our Preaching Festival from other conferences you’ve attended is that the entire conference will be interactive. During every session, attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions of our guest preachers and speakers. We’ll worship together, pray together, learn together, and spend time reflecting on how to take our experience together into our everyday lives and ministries.
PROGRAM
October 2, 2025
6:30 PM-9:00 PM
Session 1
Weyenberg Center
Session 1
We will kickoff our Preaching Festival with a powerful rhythmic pattern of worship and preaching. Along the way we’ll celebrate the impact of how Palm Beach Atlantic University is training preachers by hearing messages from a current PBA School of Ministry student, as well as three of PBA’s Voices for Change preaching students. These three students will gift us with the unique experience of hearing messages preached in English, Spanish, and Kreyol. No matter which language we understand best, we will be able to understand all three messages through translation technology.
October 3, 2025
8:30 AM-12:00 PM
Session 2
Weyenberg Center
Session 2
We’ll begin with a continental breakfast, followed by worshipping God together. Then, one of the country’s leading experts on preaching, Baylor University’s Dr. Matthew Kim, will share his insights on The Preacher’s Formation: how preaching starts with the preacher’s spiritual formation. Dr. Kim’s teaching will include an engaging Question and Answer segment, followed by several workshops led by guests who will explore topics related to The Preacher’s Formation.
October 3, 2025
1:00 PM-4:45 PM
Session 3
Weyenberg Center
Session 3
Following lunch and another opportunity to worship together, we’ll hear a powerful message from Dr. Karen Reed, co-pastor of The Purple Church in Miami. Attendees will have an opportunity to interact with Dr. Reed’s message through asking questions and sharing their insights.
Dr. Mathew Kim will then speak on The Preacher’s Context: how to understand the people who will hear our messages. This teaching will also be followed by a Question and Answer segment. The afternoon will conclude with several workshops led by guests who will explore topics related to The Preacher’s Context.
October 3, 2025
6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Session 4
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Session 4
Our Friday evening session in the sanctuary of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church will be dedicated to honoring seven preachers whose transformative preaching voices have shared the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ with the South Florida community. These men and women will be inducted into the Florida College of Preachers, the inaugural class of a community of preachers who continue to shape our region.
After beginning with worship, we’ll hear a powerful message from Dr. Matthew Kim. Following the beautiful time we will spend honoring the five Florida College of Preachers inductees, attendees will be given an opportunity to interact with those seven preachers through asking questions and hearing the insights of this special group of preachers.
October 4, 2025
8:30 AM-12:00 PM
Session 5
Weyenberg Center
Session 5
After a continental breakfast, our final session will feature a Preaching Masterclass led by PBA”s very own Dr. Bernie Cueto. All those who have been impacted by the preaching ministry of Dr. Cueto know what a special opportunity we will enjoy as we hear his insights on preaching.
Then, Dr. Kim will address an aspect of preaching that every preacher can benefit from, The Preacher’s Content and Delivery: how to craft and deliver life-changing messages. We will wrap up our conference by prayerfully reflecting on who God is calling us to be and what God is leading us to do in light of what we have learned and experienced during the conference.
Feature Speakers
Matthew D. Kim is Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Leadership, holder of the George W. Truett Endowed Chair in Preaching and Evangelism, and director of the PhD in Preaching program at Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary.
He received degrees from Carleton College, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and The University of Edinburgh. Before joining the Truett faculty in 2022, Dr. Kim taught at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary for ten years and served in pastoral ministry for ten years prior to teaching in seminaries. A past president of the Evangelical Homiletics Society, Matt serves on the editorial board of The Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society. He is a member of the Evangelical Homiletics Society and a senior fellow of the Center for Pastor Theologians. Matt is the author and editor of several books, including Preaching to People in Pain, Preaching with Cultural Intelligence, Preaching to a Divided Nation, What’s God Saying Here? and the forthcoming, Becoming a Friendlier Church. He recently completed writing a comprehensive introduction to preaching textbook with Baker Academic which will release in Fall 2026.
A native of Illinois, Matt is a Chicago sports fan and enjoys playing basketball. He is married to Sarah and they have three sons. He and his family are active members of Highland Baptist Church in Waco, Texas.
Dr. Karen Reed is the Assistant Pastor of Martin Memorial AME Church, also known as The Purple Church of Miami, FL. She is the recipient of the Holland Lecture Award and has been privileged to speak in several theological conferences locally and abroad. Rev. Karen is married to Reverend Dr. Anthony Reed, I. Together they have three beautiful boys, Anthony Reed, II., and twin boys Jeremiah and Joel. Dr. Karen has always been drawn to educating, inspiring, and empowering women to pursue their dreams and become great influencers of other women. Karen believes the butterfly best described the metamorphosis of women. Her concept is empowering you to break out of the cocoon and fly!
Dr. Bernie Cueto serves as campus pastor to students, faculty and staff at Palm Beach Atlantic University. He is actively involved in leading and developing the spiritual culture of the PBA campus, including leading weekday campus chapel services and being available for pastoral support and prayer. Bernie is also privileged to serve as Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies for the School of Ministry. He is a straightforward communicator whose passion is connecting God’s unchanging truth with diverse cultures through the preaching and teaching of the Bible. Born and raised in Miami, Bernie is proud of his Hispanic heritage and was raised in an environment that embraced cultural diversity. He is a husband, father, pastor and teacher.
He received a B.A. in English literature at Florida International University and a Th.M. in biblical exposition and pastoral leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary, where he completed his Ph.D. in New Testament Studies. Bernie has also served as a church consultant, itinerant minister, and church planter. In addition to his role at PBA, he serves as Teaching Pastor for Family Church Gardens.
“Coming from a Cuban-American home has allowed me to see the beauty of God and His people in the creative avenue of culture and language,” he says. “I desire to be used by God to bridge the gaps between the truth of God and the lives of needy people who desperately need to hear and see the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” Bernie and his wife, Ana, have two sons and a daughter.