2020 Christian conferences in Greater Sydney
February
Monday 3 February | Priscilla & Aquila Centre Conference
The Priscilla & Aquila Centre’s annual one-day conference, held at Moore College, aims to encourage women in a variety of ministries and help people think about how men and women can work better in ministry. While aimed primarily at men and women in vocational ministry, everyone is welcome.
The 2020 theme is ‘Back to the Future: Men and women in the church through the lens of our origins and our future’ and the three main speakers are Nick Tucker, Susanna Baldwin and Jane Tooher. The conference includes two main sessions, followed by two elective sessions with topics ranging from feminism and abortion to gentleness and youth group leading. Registration closes 28 January.
Tuesday 4 February | Saturday 8 February | SRE Conference
The Youthworks SRE Conferences are one-day training events for all primary and high school SRE (Scripture) teachers and helpers, whether new or experienced. Attendees have the opportunity to hear Bible teaching, pray and sing together, develop skills and meet other SRE teachers.
The 2019 theme is ‘A lamp for my feet’ and the speakers include Dr Jenn Phillips, Archbishop Glenn Davies, Roger Fitzhardinge and Craig Roberts. This year there will be a specific focus on Connect Cycle A and using music in the classroom.
The conference takes place on two days at three separate locations (North Parramatta, Sydney City and Dapto), so attendees can choose the day and place that best suits them. Registration closes 29 January.
TBC | EQUIP Nights
EQUIP nights aim to encourage women leading Bible study groups in their church, workplace, campus or home. Another EQUIP night will be held in August. Dates are yet to be confirmed.
March
Friday 13–Sunday 15 March | 10am Weekend Away
Grove Church St Aidan’s 10am service will have their weekend away at the Youthworks site in the Royal National Park. Mike Raiter, from the Centre for Biblical Preaching, will be the speaker. Save the date—more details to come!
Saturday 28 March | Men Meeting the Challenge
The annual Men Meeting the Challenge conference, held at the King’s School, is back with the question ‘What is stopping men from knowing God?’ The conference aims to address “the impact of a changing culture on the identity and roles of the man of God”.
A group from Grove Church St Aidan’s will be buying tickets and attending the conference together.
April
Saturday 4 April | EQUIP Ministry Wives
EQUIP Ministry Wives brings together women with husbands working in ministry—whether that’s church, school, university, workplace, para-church organisations, ministry training programs, theological college, etc—for a day of teaching, encouragement and networking.
The 2020 theme is ‘Out of Time’ and the speakers are Carl and Jenny Matthei. A live stream is also available for those who can’t make it to St Anne’s Ryde Anglican Centre. Encourage any ministry wives you know to attend! Early bird tickets are available until 18 February and registration closes 4 April.
Friday 10–Monday 13 April | Katoomba Easter Convention
Head up into the Blue Mountains for the Easter long weekend and attend the Katoomba Easter Convention and the Katoomba Convention Centre (KCC). The conference offers programs for the whole family and plenty of opportunities to relax.
The 2020 theme is ‘The kindness of God: The action that changes a destiny’, with speakers Matt Fuller, Daniel I. Block, Malcolm Gill and Nicole Starling.
Friday 24–Sunday 26 April | KYCK
KYCK is an awesome conference for high schoolers held in the Blue Mountains over three weekends. Grove Church’s CREST youth group will be attending KYCK #2 on the last weekend of the April school holidays, with CREST leaders organising tickets, accommodation, food and transport for the youth.
The 2020 theme is ‘Strong and Courageous’ and the speakers, Brett Hookham, Pete Tong and Danny Mitchell, will be talking from the book of Joshua.
May
Tuesday 19–Friday 22 May | Reach Australia National Conference
Formerly the Team Pastoring Conference and now called the Reach Australia National Conference, this four-day event gathers together Australian church leaders for four days of Bible talks, consultations, networking and training. The first day includes two pre-conferences, Geneva Push’s Multiply and Team Pastoring’s Foundations, before everyone comes together on the Wednesday for the main conference. Encourage your ministers to attend!
Friday 22–Sunday 24 May | 6pm Weekend Away
Grove Church St Aidan’s 6pm service will have their weekend away at the Youthworks Blue Gum Lodge site in the lower Blue Mountains. Save the date—more details to come!
**Please note that Single Minded Conference has been rescheduled to 31 October. Details below.**
June
Saturday 20 June | EQUIP Women’s Conference
The EQUIP Women’s Conference is continuing their 1 Corinthians series this year, focusing on the resurrection in chapter 15. The conference offers daylight, twilight and livestream attendance options, as well as a teen conference running concurrently with the twilight session.
Grove Church St Aidan’s women’s ministry team, SALI, will organise to attend one of the sessions as a group.
Friday 26 June | Onward
Onward is a new event run by KCC that started in 2017. It is for high schoolers and adults, and aims to directly address cultural issues faced by Christians in society today.
July
Monday 6–Friday 10 July | Monday 13–Friday 17 July | CMS Camp MMM
CMS Camp MMM is a mission-minded camp for young people that includes Bible teaching, activities and cross-cultural experiences. Held in Katoomba, the 2020 theme is ‘Turning the world upside down’. The senior high camp (6–10 July) is for youth in Years 10–12 and includes a study camp for Year 12 students, while the junior high camp (13–17 July) is for Years 7–9.
August
Saturday 8 August | Friday 14–Saturday 15 August | BASECAMP Men’s Conference
BASECAMP is a conference for men run by KCC with two attendance options—an overnight retreat in the mountains or a one-day recharge in Sydney.
Saturday 22 August | OneLove Women’s Conference
OneLove is a conference run by KCC and held in Sydney, aiming to teach and inspire women in their relationship with God. This year’s speaker is Jackie Hill Perry, author of Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was and Who God Has Always Been.
September
Saturday 12–Sunday 13 September | ReachOut Conference
ReachOut Conference is a missions conference with over 60 organisations in attendance that are ready to chat with you about mission. It’s also an opportunity to hear from current missionaries and learn more about what God is doing through his people around the world. The 2020 theme is ‘Everyone, Everywhere’ and there is a program for primary-aged children.
Monday 14–Wednesday 16 September | Collaroy Retreat
Grove Church St Aidan’s Collaroy Retreat will be happening once again in 2020. While it has mainly been for seniors in the past, it is open to anyone who is interested in attending this mid-week retreat. Save the date—more details to come!
Monday 28 September–Friday 2 October | Leaders in Training (LiT)
LiT is a Youthworks training camp for high schoolers in Years 9–12 that encourages them to think about their faith, gifts and service to Jesus Christ. The spring camp also includes a study space for Year 12 students. Registration opens on 30 April.
Tuesday 29 September–Friday 2 October | CMS Camp Milimani
CMS Camp Milimani is a mission-minded camp for kids in Years 3–6 that includes Bible studies, activities and cross-cultural experiences. Held in Katoomba, the 2020 theme is ‘Turning the world upside down’.
October
Friday 2–Monday 5 October | MTS Mission Minded Conference
The MTS Mission Minded Conference is about three things: 1) seeing the lost saved; 2) raising up the next generation of gospel workers; and 3) doing this in partnership with a network of brothers and sisters. Taking place in Katoomba, the conference includes Bible teaching, one-to-one mentoring opportunities, peer group discussions and electives, all with a focus on mission. The 2020 theme is ‘Just one thing’ and the Bible teaching will be from the book of Philippians.
Friday 9–Sunday 11 October | CREST Camp
Grove Church St Aidan’s CREST youth group will have their annual camp on the last weekend of the October school holidays. Save the date—more details to come!
Saturday 31 October | Single Minded Conference
Single Minded is a conference about biblical singleness for everyone—single, married and everyone in between. The 2020 theme is ‘Family Matters: How Jesus challenges our notions of church, family and belonging’. Simon Flinders will give the two Bible talks and the program will also include TED-style talks from a variety of single Christians, as well as a panel discussion with single, married and ministry leader participants.
The conference is held at Village Church Annandale and there is also a livestream option for church groups of 7+ in the Sydney Metro area (no minimum for church groups outside Sydney).
January 2021
It’s not too early to have these dates in your diary!
Saturday 2–Friday 8 January | CMS Summer School
Monday 11–Friday 15 January | Grove Church St Aidan’s Kids Holiday Club
Monday 11–Friday 15 & Monday 18–Friday 22 January | NextGen
Wednesday 20–Sunday 24 January | Leaders in Training (LiT)