Join us for our Everyday ABC Conversations!
American Baptist Churches USA creates space for the “Everyday ABC Conversations,” a series of dialogues around topics of interest. Each Everyday ABC Conversation begins with a presentation on the topic by two leaders associated with the subject area, followed by a time of small group conversation in randomly assigned breakout rooms of up to 5-6 persons each. A typical discussion question might be, “What are the implications of what you have just heard for you and your congregation?” with additional relevant discussion questions for each topic. The entire conversation, including presentation, lasts approximately one hour.
2026 Everyday ABC Conversations Series: God’s Grace
at 3:00 p.m. Eastern / 12:00 p.m. Pacific
An Everyday ABC Conversation: September 17, 2026
Thursday, September 17, 2026 | 3:00 p.m. Eastern / 12:00 p.m. Pacific
with presenters Pastor Verónica Cotto-Santa and Rev. Nikita Giselle McCalister
Register Now for September 17, 2026
Served as Associate Executive Minister for Christian Education and Leadership Development for the American Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico from 2018 to 2025. She led initiatives supporting pastors and families, developed a domestic violence awareness program for churches, and coordinated an annual educational event drawing over 500 participants. Previously, she served children and youth in Puerto Rico and New Jersey.
President of American Baptist Churches USA (2024–2025) and serves as Regional Associate Minister for the Metropolitan Detroit Area, Transitional Consultant for ABC-Michigan, and Associate Pastor of Covenant Baptist Church, West Bloomfield, MI. She has served in regional and pastoral leadership across several states and contributes to national and international ministry initiatives.
Past Events
An Everyday ABC Conversation: June 18, 2026
with presenters Rev. Steve Bils and Rev. Dr. Eugene Downing
Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of the Central Pacific Coast region. Before this, he served on staff at the American Baptist Churches of Nebraska and held multi-staff pastorates in Florida and Nebraska. He has served as the Executive Director of Child Evangelism Fellowship and has equipped pastors and missionaries as a Professor of Pastoral Studies and as Dean of Texas Bible College.
Senior pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado, where he has led since 2011, fostering local, national, and global partnerships. Dr. Downing began his ministry in 1996 at First Baptist Church of South Richmond and pastored Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church in Pittsburgh. He serves on civic and nonprofit boards, has taught at Point Park University, and is the author of “Navigating Life with God.”
An Everyday ABC Conversation: March 19, 2026
with presenters Rev. Eric Hoheisel and Rev. Dr. James M. Harrison
Watch the March 19, 2026 Conversation
Serves as Associate Regional Pastor for the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey. Called to ministry at a young age, his journey has included work in urban ministry through Youth With a Mission, leadership with Love and Action supporting individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS, and pastoral service across several denominations. After discerning his spiritual home within the American Baptist tradition while attending Eastern Baptist (Palmer) Seminary, Eric pastored First Baptist Church of Jamestown, Ohio, and later Oaklyn Baptist Church in New Jersey, where he served for 20 years.
Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of the South — the region’s fourth Executive Minister, in the position since August 2015. He leads a co-vocational professional life, also serving as Pastor of Main Street Baptist Church in Smithfield, Va., since 1996. He holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia, an M.Div. from the School of Theology at Virginia Union University, and a D.Min. from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Harrison is an ordained American Baptist clergyman and has served pastorates across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
View an archive of past Everyday ABC Conversations presentations here →