Joshua Galyon
A Christian conference is an experience unlike any other. According to attendees, some of the top Christian conferences in 2023 have had the power to inspire and motivate you to be a better person, help others, and live the best life possible on your spiritual journey. There is something special about gathering together with others in a similar role, with similar beliefs, with the full intention of connecting, growing, and becoming more effective in your role as a Christian, and these conferences are a great way of instilling that in youth.
All Christians should spend some time at a Christian conference. There is a lot of fellowship that happens, a lot of new information, and plenty of opportunities to learn and grow in your faith. But what if you have never attended a Christian conference? You may worry that it will be too different or you won’t know what to do while there.
In that case, you may be curious about what to expect and what will happen during that time. Each conference is different, but there are some similarities to enjoy. Some of the different aspects that you should expect at a Christian conference include the following:
A Full Schedule
There will be a full schedule when you decide to attend a Christian conference. The organizers of these events will take their time to look for many speakers, teachers, and even church leaders to spend time discussing important topics. Sometimes the topics are wide-ranging based on what the audience would like at the time; other times they will be more specific based on the event’s theme.
Please take some time to review the conference itinerary to see what is available and which speakers will interest you the most. Sign up for the ones most interesting to you at the time, but remember that the good ones will fill up quickly, so take your time if there is someone you have wanted to listen to for a long time. Have some flexibility, but keep your schedule full when you go to the conference so you can get the most out of it.
Time to Pray and Connect
While at a Christian conference, there will be a lot of time to pray and connect with others. It is unlikely that you will go long without gathering together with others to pray and share in the Word of God. Some of the speakers will even talk about prayer, but most of them will start and end their discussions with a prayer along with the audience. This is a great way to form connections and help remember the main reason for the conference.
This prayer is an excellent way to help you get into the right frame of mind for the rest of the conference. Whether you are praying together in a big group at the beginning of the day or doing individual prayer during some of the workshops and speeches, this is a great way to deepen your faith.
In some conferences, there may also be church services you can attend. Most of these will be non-denominational to help ensure that everyone feels welcome and can come together and pray. No matter your religious affiliation, this prayer can significantly impact your life. It can help you get more out of the conference.
Vendors and a Bookstore
In addition to the great speakers and teachers who will show up at the event, you will also get to meet with vendors and attend a bookstore. Keep in mind that many of the speakers you encounter will have their own books or other learning materials they can offer. Sometimes this repeats the information shared during one of their discussions at the conference. If you were not able to attend because space was limited, you can grab some of the materials and hear the information on your own time.
Other times, the speaker or teacher will have additional materials that do not relate to their speech, either expanding on it or talking about different topics. If you enjoyed one of the teachers or speakers you had a chance to visit during the conference, you could pick up some of their materials too. You can even browse and see whether books and other learning materials are available based on your interests.
Be prepared to see these vendors all around when you attend the conference. This is one of the ways that the speakers and teachers make their money while traveling around. You do not have to go through these and are not required to make a purchase either. But you can learn more along your spiritual journey if you take a look and find a topic that interests you.
Building Connections
One amazing thing about many Christian conferences is that they allow you to make some lasting connections. Whether this is hosted by just one church or open to anyone who wants to spend more time learning about the gospel, you will have a chance to meet many new people along the way.
Take the time to form some of these positive connections; in fact, you may be able to find some of the best friends ever when you attend one of these conferences. After all, they already have something in common with you coming to the conference, which provides a strong starting point to help you form a new friendship. Whether you make your new best friend or find someone to help you along your spiritual journey, take the time to meet as many people at these conferences as possible.
The Bottom Line
There may be several misconceptions out there about what happens at a Christian conference. Still, it is an experience that you will not regret. If it is your first Christian conference, worrying about what will happen and what you should expect along the way is normal. While each conference is different, even when it is a Christian conference, many share a lot of similarities to one another. Look at some of the aspects above to learn more about what you can expect when attending a Christian conference.
