🗓️ An event for those who want to parent with grit & grace on October 17 & 18.
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🗓️ An event for those who want to parent with grit & grace on October 17 & 18.
A Parenting Conference for Writing (and Rewriting) the Story of Your Family
Ironwood Church in Mesa, Arizona
October 17-18, 2025
Parenting doesn’t have to feel like you’re just trying to survive it.
You’re doing your best—but most days, it still feels like you’re winging it. You’re juggling moods, screens, schedules, and expectations. You’re up late wondering if you handled that meltdown the right way. And when you look for answers, all you find is a flood of conflicting advice that leaves you more overwhelmed than equipped.
You’ve probably tried a few things—read the books, saved the reels, scrolled the articles. But even the good advice can start to feel like pressure. Like you’re chasing someone else’s version of a great family and never quite measuring up.
That’s exactly what this weekend is for.
Built to Last: Writing (and Rewriting) the Story of Your Family is a two-day parenting conference created to help you step out of the fog of everyday survival and into a clearer vision for who you are, what your family needs, and how to lead with both conviction and compassion. Instead of more noise, you’ll walk away with clarity. Instead of chasing tips, you’ll return with a renewed sense of direction and the confidence to lead your family with strength, connection, and purpose.
This isn’t about perfection.
It’s about clarity, courage, and becoming the kind of parent your family needs for the long haul.
Step out of the daily fog and into a space built for clarity. Gain a clearer vision of who you are as a parent—and how to lead your family with strength, connection, and calm. You’ll walk away with practical tools and timeless wisdom that bring direction to your day-to-day and conviction to your long-term vision.
Parenting can feel isolating. At Built to Last, you’ll join a community of parents who get it—who are asking the same questions and chasing the same kind of strength. Build new friendships, share real stories, and leave knowing you’re not doing this alone.
Hear from seasoned voices who have spent decades walking with families through the mess and the beauty of parenting. These aren’t formulas or Instagram hacks—this is truth you can trust, shared with grace and clarity. You’ll gain fresh perspective and the confidence to step back into your home with purpose.
From thoughtful teaching to shared moments of laughter and reflection, Built to Last is designed to encourage your soul as much as equip your mind. You’ll experience an atmosphere that’s welcoming, intentional, and filled with the kind of hope that lingers long after the weekend ends.
The weekend matters—but what happens when you walk back through your front door matters more. You’ll return home with more than notes or ideas—you’ll return with calm where there was chaos, conviction where there was confusion, and connection where there was drift. Most of all, you’ll return with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to build what matters most.
David is the Executive Director of Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, Tennessee. He is the co-author of eleven books, including his first full-color children’s book, Owen Learns He Has What It Takes: A Lesson in Resillience.
He is an in-demand speaker and frequent guest on national television, radio and podcasts and has been featured in publications like The Washington Post and USA Today. He is the co-host of the 11 million+ downloaded podcast, Raising Boys and Girls.
He and his wife, Connie, have three adult children, a new son-in-law, a soon-to-be daughter-in-law, and a yellow lab puppy named June. Follow David on Instagram @raisingboysandgirls.
Luke Simmons is the Lead Pastor of Ironwood Church in Mesa, Arizona. He’s spent over two decades helping families grow in strength, purpose, and conviction through teaching, leadership, and real-life pastoral care.
He is the co-founder of Faithful & Fruitful, a coaching and resource ministry that equips pastors and church planters around the country to lead with clarity, courage, and endurance. He holds a B.A. in Speech Communication from the University of Illinois, where he played baseball, and a Master’s in Missional Theology from Covenant Theological Seminary.
Luke and his wife, Molly, have been married since 2001 and are raising four incredible kids: Abby, Caitlin, Mary, and Hank. The Simmons family loves to laugh, swim, watch football, and explore life together in the Arizona desert.
6:30 – 8:45p 1 General Session + 1 Breakout
9:00 – 10:00p Afterparty
8:30a – 3:45p* 2 General Sessions + 2 Breakouts
*Lunch is provided
You’ll choose three breakout sessions during the weekend—one on Friday, two on Saturday. Breakouts will be announced closer to the event and organized under the four core categories below.
Each season of parenting comes with its own joys—and its own stretch marks.
Whether you’re raising toddlers, teens, or adult children, these sessions will help you navigate the unique challenges of your current stage with clarity, strategy, and grace for the long haul.
Strong families are built on more than routines—they’re built on connection.
These sessions are designed to help you understand your own triggers, repair strained relationships, and create a healthier emotional culture in your home.
No two families are the same—and that’s not a problem, it’s a reality.
These sessions address the real-life complexity of parenting in blended families, single-parent homes, or with kids who have unique needs. You’ll find guidance that’s grounded, honest, and deeply compassionate.
Your role isn’t just to manage behavior—it’s to shape hearts.
These sessions explore how to lead your family in spiritual growth through prayer, conversation, and everyday habits that form lasting faith. Whether you’re new to discipleship or looking for a deeper foundation, you’ll leave with clarity and courage for the road ahead.
All tickets are general admission. Each individual ticket is $65.
Childcare for ages birth–4 years is available during checkout for an additional fee. Spots are limited.
You’ll choose three breakout sessions during the weekend—each designed to meet you in your season and help you lead with more clarity and confidence. (Spots are limited and first come, first served.)
Technology is everywhere—but wisdom is rare.
This session explores how to lead your family with clarity when screens, social media, and digital distractions are shaping everything. You’ll walk away with strategies to cultivate trust, set boundaries, and guide your kids through a digital world they were born into—but you weren’t.
You may feel like you’re carrying it all—but you don’t have to carry it alone.
This session offers strength, clarity, and support for single parents who want to lead well, love deeply, and build something lasting—even in the tension and exhaustion of doing it on your own.
You can’t control every outcome—but you can influence the atmosphere.
This session encourages parents to become steady spiritual leaders in their homes, not by adding pressure, but by anchoring the family in honest, faithful prayer that shapes hearts and builds peace.
There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy when your child’s wiring is different—and beautiful.
This session helps parents lead with understanding, patience, and strength while navigating the challenges (and gifts) of parenting neurodiverse kids. It’s not about fixing them—it’s about championing them with clarity and grace.
You don’t need a perfect house to create a meaningful home.
This session will inspire you to make your home a place of welcome, rest, and connection—not just for guests, but for your own family. Build a culture your kids want to return to—starting now.
Busy isn’t a badge of honor—it’s often a barrier to what matters most.
This session helps you step back from the chaos and take control of your calendar with purpose. Learn how to align your time with your values, so your family rhythm reflects what you actually want to build.
Big or small, milestones shape meaning.
This session offers practical ways to mark your child’s growth with purpose—from birthdays to first days to transitions into adulthood. Build lasting memories and a deeper sense of identity as you move through the seasons of parenting.
How you connect with your child is shaped by more than just technique—it’s rooted in attachment.
This session explores the patterns that impact your relationships, helping you respond (not react), strengthen trust, and build deeper connection through every stage.
They may not live in your house, but they still live in your heart.
This session helps you navigate the shift from authority to influence with your adult children—offering clarity, boundaries, and wisdom for a new kind of relationship.
Sometimes the hardest part of parenting is what it brings up in you.
This session helps you explore the root of your reactions so you can respond with strength instead of shame. Learn to grow in emotional awareness—and lead your family with more peace and presence.
Winning isn’t about control—it’s about consistency, clarity, and connection.
This session reframes what success looks like in parenting and gives you a realistic, hope-filled vision for building something that lasts—even on your hardest days.
Dating is a big deal—and your voice matters more than you think.
Learn how to lead your kids with clarity, boundaries, and connection as they step into relationships and start asking big questions about love, respect, and identity.
Your presence matters more than your perfection.
This session equips you to stay emotionally and relationally connected with your kids through every age and stage—even when they pull away. Because connection is the bridge that everything else travels on.
Yes! We’ll be offering childcare for kids in birth through 4 years.
At checkout, you can select whether you’d like childcare for Friday, Saturday, or both days.
Space is limited to 125–150 kids, and the cost is $15 per child on Friday and $25 per child on Saturday.
This conference is hosted by a local church and shaped by timeless biblical wisdom—but you don’t need to be a Christian to find it helpful.
Our goal is to support every parent with tools that are practical, thoughtful, and grounded in truth—not pressure. Whether faith is central to your life or you’re simply open to a different kind of perspective, you’ll find this weekend encouraging, accessible, and full of real help for the real work of parenting.
Nope—you don’t have to attend Ironwood Church to come to Built to Last.
While the event is hosted by and held at Ironwood, this conference is open to all parents who want to grow, lead with clarity, and build something that lasts. You’re absolutely welcome—no matter your background or church involvement.
You can learn more about Ironwood Church at ironwoodchurch.org.
We’re a local church in Mesa, Arizona committed to fighting for kids and families with clarity, conviction, and compassion. Whether you’ve never been to church or you’re looking to reconnect, you’re always welcome here.
Refunds are available on tickets purchased through August 31.
Starting on September 1, all tickets are non-refundable. If you’re unable to attend, tickets are fully transferable—feel free to pass yours along to a friend or family member.
If you would like to transfer your ticket, please contact the conference host at info@ironwoodchurch.org.
There will be three breakout sessions total—one on Friday and two on Saturday.
Breakout registration will open prior to the conference and you’ll receive an email with instructions to register. All breakout spots are first come, first served, so we recommend signing up early once registration becomes available.
Yes! We love babies and understand the unique needs of new parents. Nursing babies under 6 months old (or pre-crawling) are welcome to attend the conference with their parent.
To help everyone get the most out of the event, we kindly ask that you step out if your little one becomes fussy during a session. A private Mom + Baby Lounge will be available with livestream access, comfortable seating, and a quiet place to feed or soothe your baby.
Thank you for helping us create a space that supports both learning and little ones!
If you have additional questions not answered here you can send an email to our conference team at info@ironwoodchurch.org.
We’re not settling for survival. We’re fighting for clarity, connection, and conviction—and we’d love for you to stand with us. Join the parents who are trading pressure for purpose—and building something that lasts.
