The Caskey Center at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary hosted their annual pastors' conference April 17-18 featuring guest speakers Roc Collins and Rick Burgess.  

More than 240 pastors and pastors’ wives gathered at the conference for a time of encouragement, equipping and challenging.  

Jamie Dew, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, welcomed the group of pastors to campus.  

“We absolutely love having you here on our campus,” Dew said.  

“Hopefully this weekend will encourage you in your ministry. I know you all may have a lot of various dispositions walking into an event like this.  

“For some of you, life and ministry are going wonderfully. For some of you, you feel in between. Things are going all right. And then there are some of you that come into this weekend and really need to hear from the Lord. You really need rest and encouragement. However you are coming into this, we want you to know you are welcomed and loved.” 

Dew reminded the pastors of the importance of their task.  

“Dear friends, there is nothing more important than the work that you do as ministers of the Gospel,” Dew said. “There is quite literally nothing else this world can offer broken, hurt and lost people.  

“You stand in the gap faithfully every week preaching the Gospel, counseling people, encouraging people, and just being salt and light in your community. It matters deeply to your church, and it matters deeply to the Kingdom of God. Thank you for being here and for what you do.” 

Burgess, known for his career as the radio host of the long-running “The Rick and Bubba show,” began the first plenary session with a message out of Acts.  

He explained one reason The Rick and Bubba show ended in 2024 was the two felt as though they were thinking more about past memories of the show than plans for the future of the show.  

Burgess encouraged and challenged pastors not to fall into the same temptation.  

“Are you resting on what you did in the past, or are you seeking God for what he wants you to do next?” Burgess said.

“Retirement is not a concept in the Bible. God may move you from one platform or vocation to another, but we don’t just phone it in. My challenge for you would be to ask God what that next thing He you would have you to do might be.”

Roc Collins, special assistant to the executive director for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, preached out of Jeremiah and exhorted the pastors to persevere in their calling.  

“As ministers of the Gospel, we have a call,” Collins said. “Jeremiah was faithful to what God told him to do.  

“We will not always get pats on the back, and we will not experience popularity or accolades from our culture for fulfilling our calling. But if you’re proclaiming the Word of God and you’re seeing people come to know Jesus and you are discipling them, just keep persevering and keep going.” 

Breakout sessions for pastors and for pastors’ wives as well as dedicated times of prayer and fellowship took place throughout the two days.   

In addition to their annual conference, NOBTS’s Caskey Center has provided many resources and training opportunities for its students since its launch in 2014.   

The Center, named in memory of evangelistic Louisiana pastor Steve Caskey, represents the dream of an anonymous donor family to see Louisiana churches re-engage in the task of evangelism.   

One of the most notable ways the Center helps pastors is through a full-tuition scholarship program for undergraduate and graduate students at NOBTS and Leavell College who serve at normative size churches in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi.    

These Caskey scholarship students have carried out weekly evangelism efforts over the years, enabling the Center to reach its recent milestone of 100,000 Gospel conversations. 

As of early 2026, these Gospel conversations have resulted in more than 11,000 professions of faith. 

Blake Newsom, director of the Caskey Center and associate professor of expository preaching, reminded students that the entire conference was made possible by the Center’s generous donors.  

“We want you to know that we’ve been praying for all of you as you come into this weekend and we’re so glad that you came,” Newsom said.  

“Our donors love you all. They care for you and want to invest in you because of this deep love they have for you.” 

To learn more about the Caskey Center at NOBTS, click here.