TWO DAYS OF HIGH-IMPACT TEACHING, BEST PRACTICE LEARNING, AND PERSONAL MINISTRY.
May 19th & 20th 2026
The Bridge Christian Fellowship
1116 Hillwell Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens ANother.”
– Proverbs 27:17
This often-quoted verse in Proverbs 27:17 provides us today with an ancient metaphor of two pieces of iron that were used to sharpen one another. Even so, as leaders we need to understand this powerful lesson in our lives and ministries today. The result of a team approach to ministry, leader-to-leader accountability, and simply not attempting to do ministry alone, is that we are made better from healthy relationships with one another. We all need to be consistently sharpened. Dull edges don’t work well in war or work.
On May 19-20 our annual Leadership Summit will provide a context and pathway for these beneficial connections. Come, bring your leadership teams and let’s sharpen one another. We have assembled some powerful guest ministry for equipping, worship and personal ministry. We hope you will join us this year.
Keynote Speakers
Dr. David Ireland
Dr. David Ireland is founder and lead pastor of Christ Church, a 10,000-member multisite congregation in North Jersey representing over 70 nationalities. Former diversity consultant to the National Basketball Association, Dr. Ireland has led chapel services for the New York Giants, New York Jets, and at the U.S. Pentagon. Dr. Ireland is the author of over 25 books including “Raising a Child who Prays” and “One in Christ”.
Rev. Ireland holds graduate degrees in engineering, theology, organizational leadership, and social innovation having completed post-doctoral work at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Cambridge in England. He and his wife, Dr. Marlinda Ireland, have been married since 1984 and have two adult daughters and a son-in-law.
Bob Freytag
Bob Freytag brings over 30 years of training and consulting expertise, ensuring impactful delivery through deep military and government experience, and supporting implementation with practical, values-driven leadership development and learner care. Bob helps leaders learn how to achieve both results and relationships.
Bob retired from the U.S. Navy after 21 years. He is a Senior Executive Consulting Partner with The Blanchard Companies® and has been with Blanchard® since 1999. Bob co-authored a book on the Servant Leadership Immersion Program. Bob has a bachelor’s degree in education, from Southern Illinois University.
Bob Freytag, a Senior Executive Consulting Partner with The Blanchard Companies®, has been with Blanchard® since 1999. He is a Master Certified Facilitator in SLII® and a Master Certified Virtual Trainer. He is also certified to deliver the Leader Behavior Analysis II® (LBAII®), the Leader Action Profile (LAP®), DiSC®, MBTI®, and the entire suite of Blanchard products, solutions, and assessments
He has over 30 years of training and consulting experience in the military, government agencies, and a diverse range of private-sector industries and nonprofit organizations. By incorporating real-life examples that are relevant to and actionable in the client’s environment, Bob helps leaders learn how to achieve both results and relationships.
Bob trains and consults on programs that focus on team building, customer service, conflict resolution, Leading People Through Change®, and Building Trust. He has delivered keynotes on the topics of Servant Leadership and Toxic & Destructive Leadership.
His exceptional work and his commitment to Blanchard’s core values earned him the highest internal recognition award as the Most Values-Led Player in 2005 and 2008; the Blanchard 2013 Knowledge Sharing Award; the 2020 Kenship award; the 2021 Best Team, External award, and the 2025 Founders award.
He retired from the U.S. NAVY after 21 years as a Master Chief Petty Officer (E9). Bob is a Co-Author with Ken Blanchard on the Servant Leadership Immersion Program. Bob has a Bachelor’s degree in Education, with a focus on Workforce Education and Development, from Southern Illinois University. He is a Certified Mentoring Program Manager, Certified Knowledge Manager, and Certified Knowledge Retention and Transfer Specialist. He has served Blanchard as a Regional Consulting Partner, a Director of Consulting Services, and the Director of Federal Government Operations. Bob is a Blanchard-certified Culture Change Consultant in the Gung Ho!® methodology.
DR. BOBBY HILL
Bobby has served the Lord for over 50 years in full-time ministry. While living in Chesapeake, Virginia, Dr. Bobby Hill accepted the Senior Pastorate of New Life Christian Fellowship and led its explosive growth for eight years. He graduated from Regent University with an MA in Practical Theology in 1995, and in 2009, he received a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership and Nonprofit Management from Nova Southeastern University.
After serving as a professor at Regent University, Dr. Hill went on to start Riverbend Church in North Suffolk. He also leads as the International Director of Vanguard Ministries and serves as a Senior Consultant with The Hill Consulting Group.
Having pioneered a growing church in Suffolk, Virginia, Dr. Hill passed the baton to his successor in 2024. He continues to travel extensively, preaching and teaching in conferences, seminars, and churches across the United States as well as more than 45 countries. Dr. Hill is widely regarded as a spiritual father to hundreds of ministry leaders internationally and carries a powerful prophetic and apostolic gifting.
Worship lEADER
Krystle Talavera
Pastor Krystle carries a burden to equip believers through a strong combination of demonstrating a lifestyle of worship and activating a radical openness to the Holy Spirit. For 20 years she has served locally and globally to champion Spirit-led worship that fosters the culture and heart of worship in spirit and truth in the body of Christ. She is supported by her husband Allan of 20 years and her 4 wonderful children who reside in Chesapeake, VA. She is currently the Associate Pastor of Worship and Outreach at Riverbend Church in Suffolk, VA under the leadership of Pastor Josh Liotta.
Guest Worship Minister
Joseph "Jay” Stallings, III
Joseph "Jay” Stallings, III was born in Landstuhl, Germany. He lives with a passion to see people from every race, background, & culture come into an intimate encounter with Jesus Christ. He is a visionary, worshiper, pastor, friend, creative, and leader. He champions the counter-cultural message of grace that transformed his own life. Joseph Stallings III regularly leads worship for local churches and public events for the masses. Joseph’s passion and pursuit of worship is not just found in front of the crowds, but in his daily life. He has had the honor of worshiping with prominent ministries & ministry leaders such as Catch The Fire, The Christian Broadcasting Network, Kyle Idleman, and more. He currently resides in Virginia Beach, VA with his wife Madelyn and their five children.
Leadership Summit 2026 Schedule
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Registration & Complimentary Continental Breakfast
8:00am-9:00am
Session I | 9:00AM
Worship
Message
Session II | 11:00AM
Lunch (on your own)
Session III | 7:00pmWorship
Message -
Session IV | 9:00AM
Worship
Message
Session V | 11:00AMPanel Discussion
Lunch | 12:30pmLunch served on-site (*)
Session VI | 7:00pmWorship
Ordination Ceremony
Message
REGISTRATION
VM Member
Early Bird (before April 28) - $99
Non-Member
Early Bird Rate (before April 28) - $119
VM Member
Regular Rate (after April 28) - $129
Non-Member
Regular Rate (after April 28) - $139
Live Stream - $65
Regent University Students
Complimentary Registration – Use Code provided in Campus Newsletters
Complimentary Lunch – Wednesday, May 20th
A complimentary lunch will be provided for Summit registrants on Wednesday at 12:30 Noon for those interested. Please confirm your plans to join us for an on-site lunch via the registration form.
Evening sessions are free and open to the public