Gathering (Convention) 2025

gathering, formerly known as ”convention”, promises an incredible line-up of presenters and interactive seminars and discussions.

Our theme, “Built to go!” seeks to reaffirm our identity in Christ as we collectively and individually go into the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ! With a particular emphasis to a new generation of leaders, gathering aims to be a church resource for ABMB churches. Colossians 2:7 emphasizes this truth: “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” (NLT)

Schedule:

Friday, April 11

10:00     Doors open (Coffee)

10:30     Gathering the Team! (Welcome)

10:45     Seminar #1 Preparation for Building: Leadership Equipping

• How We Saw a 10%+ Increase in Regular Giving & Raised 6 Figures in 30 Days Glen Madden, Exec Pastor, Willow Park Kelowna
• W.A.L.K.: Exegeting your Community for Mission (Field trip). Trevor Rysavy, Pastor, Mission Hill.
• The Bible’s Big Story: Kingdom, Cross, and New Creation! (Part 1). Ken Esau, National Faith and Life Director.

Noon      Lunch on your own

1:30         Seminar #2 Laying the Foundation: Ministry Preparation

• The Bible’s Big Story: Kingdom, Cross, and New Creation! (Part 2). Ken Esau
• Intentionally Developing Next Gen Leaders.  Steve Brown, President, Columbia Bible College.
• Healthy Disciple-making Cultures. Cam Stuart, MB National Director.
• ABMB Vision: Opportunity to dialogue with the ABMB Board. Fred Weiss, chair.

3:00        Coffee and Connections

3:30        Clinic #1 Built to Go! Ministry Engagement

• The Preacher, the Bible and the Newspaper. Matt Dyck. Pastor, SunWest.
• The Public Witness of Reconciliation. Laurence Hiebert, ABMB Conference Minister.
• Worship as Discipleship. Terry Lee, Pastor, Dalhousie Church
• Building Leadership Teams in the Marketplace for Kingdom Impact, Barclay Tanner, ABMB Board, marketplace leader.
• Strangers are Neighbours: A Biblical Vision for Living among Immigrants and Refugees. Doug Heidebrecht, MB Seminary, Professor-missionary.
• Single Minded: The Modern Day Lepers. Courtney Armstrong, Camp Evergreen, Director.

5:00        Connections

5:30        Dinner

7:00        Celebration Service (Everyone is Welcome!)

• Worship, Witness, Word: Stories from our churches in Alberta, and Nasser al’Qahtani and Lloyd & Carol Letkeman will share stories from around the world!” Everyone WELCOME!

9:00         Dismiss

Saturday, April 12

8:30          Doors open (Coffee)

9:00          Word & Worship Service

• Speaker: Nasser al’Qahtani (Identity and the Mission of God, Part 1)

10:15          Coffee and Connections

10:45          Clinic #2—Go! Putting it into Practice

• Prayer as the DNA of Church, Eugene Makombe, Goshen Church, Pastor
• ABMB Vision: Opportunity to dialogue with the ABMB Board. Fred Weiss, chair.
• Single Minded: The Modern-Day Lepers. Courtney Armstrong, Camp Evergreen, Director.
• The Public Witness of Reconciliation. Laurence Hiebert, ABMB Conference Minister.
• Strangers are Neighbours: A Biblical Vision for Living among Immigrants and Refugees. Doug Heidebrecht, MB Seminary, Professor-missionary.
• Mission in our Community…together! Trevor Rysavy, Pastor, Mission Hill

12:00          Lunch

1:00      “The Heist” Conversations led by Courtney Armstrong: Small discussion groups on key topics of church interests, such as what we learned from doing ALPHA and other outreaches, how to keep our youth and young adults active in Kingdom work, and more!

2:30           Coffee and Connections

3:00         Word & Worship Service

• Worship: Featuring the Youth Worship Team, Goshen Church Edmonton
• Speaker: Nasser al’Qahtani (Identity and the Mission of God, Part 2)

4:30             Adjourn (prayer)

7:00             The After Party: Evening Youth/Young Adult event by Camp Evergreen

Students, and all under the age of 25—register at a 50% discount!