There’s no substitute for worshiping each Sunday with my local church. But for the more than 25 years I’ve been Christian, conferences have strengthened my faith and stirred my affections for Jesus. This occasional glimpse of the larger church united in praise sends me back to my congregation more eager to see the kingdom come and God’s will done on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10).
During the recent pandemic, and through countless controversies, some wondered whether Christian conferences could endure. What if there’s too much division? What happens when our favorite preachers grow older and can’t get along? What if no one can travel internationally? In our current culture, who will spend the money and take the time to participate in a conference that celebrates our union with and unity in Christ?
Old Truth
At The Gospel Coalition, we’ve staked everything on the good news that changes all of life and all the world. For our 2023 conference, we want to get back to the basics as we look forward with hope in this wilderness journey of life. We want to gather people to hear God’s Word, praise God’s name, and form deep friendships with God’s people.
We’ve staked everything on the good news that changes all of life and all the world.
At TGC23, some aspects will look familiar. Eight keynote speakers—with an emphasis on global voices—will share hope for pilgrims from the book of Exodus. We’ll be led in song by some of the world’s best church musicians: CityAlight from Sydney, Australia. Breakouts will feature dozens of your favorite speakers addressing your most pressing questions about life and ministry.
New Vision
However, we’ve made one major change that will transform your conference experience. We’ve partnered with more than 20 trusted, like-minded ministries that will host their own microevents within TGC23. We’ve worked closely with them to bring in a wider array of speakers covering more topics than ever before. You’ll still get all the timely teaching that enriches your spiritual life. But now you’ll get more of it, as you engage personally with the schools and publishers and other ministries that serve the church so faithfully.
When you register for TGC23, you’ll be able to secure your spot in six different rounds of breakouts, now called microevents. Think of it as a gospel expo, or a conference within a conference.
After spending most of the last year planning these microevents with enthusiastic partners, we can’t wait for September 25 to 27 in Indianapolis.
Unified Hope
Maybe you’ve thought of TGC as a ministry where you come to learn from us. From our start nearly 20 years ago, however, TGC has been a ministry where we convene to learn about God from each other. Our conference is less of a one-time showcase and more of a biennial reunion of friends.
Two years ago, we didn’t know what would happen to this reunion. The ongoing effects of the pandemic forced us to move TGC23 to the fall. (We’ll be back to April in 2025.) But in God’s providence, these changes prompted creative reflection on our national conference, now directed by Ann Westrate under the leadership of Melissa Kruger.
Join us for TGC23 as we celebrate our gospel hope in the wilderness of a passing age. As pilgrims waiting eagerly for Christ’s return, let’s remember together the old, old story and retell it for the next generation.
The Gospel Coalition