The Importance of Conferences

Conferences have changed my life. Two have had a particular impact on me.

The first was going to the Saddleback Youth Ministry Conference back in 2003. Father Michael and I recount this story in our first book, Rebuilt. Going to Saddleback felt like stepping on a different planet and it was way, way out of our comfort zone. We worried that we would be outed as Catholics in an evangelical setting. However, instead of being treated poorly, we were overwhelmed and moved by the hospitality. The whole conference inspired us and opened us up to whole new possibilities we didn’t know existed.

In hosting our Rebuilt Conference this upcoming June 2025, this is one of our first goals for attendees. We want you to come and be inspired by the experience. We hope it opens up your mind to new possibilities of what God wants to do in your parish. This doesn’t mean those new possibilities will look exactly like Nativity, but you will get new ideas you didn’t have before.

The second major conference that changed my life was the 2006 Drive conference at North Point Church. We went to the conference at a very difficult time in our leadership at Nativity. It looked like our work might not continue. From the very first moments of the conference to the end our hearts were encouraged.

I’ll never forget Andy Stanley bringing out a ladder with rungs missing and saying that as a church we need to put lower rungs on the ladder so that people disconnected from Christ and his church can get connected. His father, Charles, spoke about how he persevered when his ministry was put in jeopardy by critics. Then in the final session, Andy sent us off with inspiring thoughts on why the work we do in the local church matters. (I will have to share those thoughts at another time.)

We left that conference with the courage and fortitude to keep going, despite the challenges we faced. Without this conference, we might have quit and given up. We might have missed out on the great things God had in store for us. I left that conference determined to give my life to seeing Catholic parishes thrive and grow.

Ministry work wears us down. Life wears us down. We all need doses of encouragement poured into us. The Rebuilt Conference will encourage you in your work to renew your parish. You will leave fired up and energized to lead your parish into the new places God has in store for you.

As I look back on good conferences, I also see that they equipped us for the work we were doing. We learned new and effective ways to lead and serve our community. Through the Rebuilt Conference, you will leave equipped with practical tools that you will be able to use right after the conference ends. You will find solutions that will make the process of parish renewal easier.

At the Rebuilt Conference we plan to inspire your mind, encourage your heart, and equip your hands.

One final thought on conferences: they are always better when you come with a team. You pour into others when you bring a team. And it makes it so much easier to implement change because you are already on the same wavelength. You have had the same experience and so you can move further faster.

Our Rebuilt Conference will be held June 2 & 3, 2025 in Timonium, Maryland, on the campus of our home parish, Church of the Nativity. The early bird rate ends November 22 and then the registration closes in April. Our breakouts are first-come, first-serve so sign up soon.

I can’t promise it will change your life - but it might. I do promise you will leave inspired, encouraged and equipped in your work and ministry in your parish.

Rooting for you,
Tom