April 30-May 2, 2026
Maple Grove, MN
Exiles in Babylon is a 3-day conference designed to engage some of the most pressing and polarizing issues facing the church today. This year, we’ll wrestle with immigration, mental health, artificial intelligence, war, and the historical reliability of the Bible. Together, we’ll think biblically and Christianly about these topics—resisting the noise of the culture wars in order to love our neighbors more faithfully.
Pre-Conference: How Should Christians Think about Artificial Intelligence?
How Should the Church Respond to Immigration?
Mental Health and the Gospel
Debate: Is the Bible Historically Reliable?
Debate: Christians and War
Click here for full bios
Each breakout will be recorded and available to all in person attendees and virtual pass holders.
Preston Sprinkle with Sandy Richter
The topic of women in church leadership is among the most divisive issues among Christians. This is why Preston Sprinkle spent several years studying the topic, which culminated in his recently released book From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says about Women in Leadership. In this breakout, Dr. Sandy Richter will interview Preston about his book, and then both Sandy and Preston will field questions from the audience.
Hosted by Shane Claiborne
Shane Claiborne shook the foundations of the evangelical church in 2006 with his book The Irresistible Revolution. Since then, Shane has been an outspoken Christian activist in many controversial spaces: the death penalty, immigration, war, violence, poverty, race. In this raw breakout, you can ask Shane anything about his journey, activism, and why Christians need to take the red letters of Jesus seriously.
Hosted by Posture Shift. Featuring Bill Henson, and Greg Coles
Within a traditional biblical sexual ethic, how can we faithfully honor God while radically loving LGBT+ people and making church a safe place for belonging and participation? What truly draws people, and where are the boundaries of holding sound beliefs? Join our interactive conversation to gain practical insights for fostering inclusion in your ministry context
Hosted by Justin Giboney
Justin Giboney will discuss the biblical principles and perspectives that Christian must apply to be faithful in this polarized time. From the fruit of the spirit to moral imagination, he’ll explain why these concepts are required for Christians to meet the moment with tenacity (&) grace. The breakout will be based on his new book, Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around – How the Black Church’s Public Witness Leads Us Out of the Culture War.
Hosted by Transform Minnesota
Earlier this year, thousands of federal immigration agents were deployed to Minnesota. The experience of those living through Operation Metro Surge didn’t always match the headlines. In this session, several immigrant guests will share their personal stories, and local church leaders will offer an insider’s perspective on what really happened on the ground—bringing voices and experiences that are often unseen or unheard.
Carl Nelson, President of Transform Minnesota, a regional evangelical network that helped convene immigrant pastors, mobilize church responses, and joined other religious groups calling for deescalation during the surge, will host the session.
Hosted by Wes Holland from Voice of the Martyrs
What does it look like for a Christian to depend upon God? To have courage? To Sacrifice? To live with an eternal perspective? To obey God at any cost? To live boldly for Christ? To endure? To love those who oppose us?
Hear stories that will inspire you to stand bold and courageous for your faith and live for Christ, no matter the cost.
Hosted by Joel Lawrence from The Center for Pastor Theologians
American Christianity is built on a theology of glory. It assumes that God will bless America, and so the American Church, with signs of earthly success: Large numbers, political power, and material blessing. The American theology of glory tempts the church to align itself with the forces of power in American culture, and shapes the church, and her leaders, to pursue visions that look more like American than like the Kingdom of God. In this session, we will reflect on the malformation of the American Church through a theology of glory, the bad fruit this has born in our models of leadership, and seek a vision of the church, and her leaders, rooted in a theology of the cross.
THURSDAY
1-3pm. Pre-Conference
5pm. Doors Open
6-9pm. Session 1
FRIDAY
9am-12:00pm. Session 2
2-3:15pm. Breakouts
3:30-5:30pm. Session 3
*Optional Afterparties
SATURDAY
8:30am-9:45am. Breakouts
10am-12:30pm. Session 4
Church of the Open Door
9060 Zanzibar Lane North
Maple Grove, MN 55311