Why Church Conferences Are Worth Traveling For
It might seem like a hassle to rearrange your daily schedule to attend one, but signing up for church conferences in 2023 can be an invaluable learning experience on your faith journey if you’re willing to travel for them Below we’ll cover why you might consider traveling the distance for a church conference.
Connect with other Christians
At a church conference that you travel the distance for, you’ll have the opportunity to network and link up with other Christians that you wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to meet at your regular Sunday school classes, bible studies, or services wherever you reside
These connections can further your learning once you return home by providing a group of supportive colleagues or new friends who may also be applying their learning in their workplace, faith community, or personal lives.
Gain Motivation
Attending a church conference in a different city or state from where you live can provide you with some much-needed motivation once you head back home Being surrounded by other like-minded Christians who are inspired to spread the Gospel and learn more about God’s word, just like you are, but that you wouldn’t otherwise cross paths with in your typical day-to-day interactions
The distance provided from your typical daily distractions and responsibilities may also provide you with the opportunity to absorb the information and discern how you will incorporate it into your daily life upon return.
Take Away a New Sense of Perspective
Traveling to a new area for a church conference will expose you to a wide array of new experiences Just the act of being in an unfamiliar place alone causes you to step outside your comfort zone and try new things, but when you’re in a new place for the purpose of a church conference, you’ll be more inclined to gain fresh insight and perspective on your faith and the
world that surrounds you The time away from home and your normal routine also provides room for reflection and contemplative practices as new material and skills are absorbed.
Test Your Knowledge
You might feel fairly confident in your knowledge of the bible, your individual faith traditions, and your Christian faith in general, but traveling to a church conference and having the opportunity to put those skills and knowledge to the test just might surprise you.
When you’re able to spend time with other experts, biblical scholars, and faith leaders, and you’re spending your days listening to moving speakers who have fresh takes on subjects that you thought were already laid to rest, you just might feel like a primary school kid again And that’s a good thing- there is always more to learn about faith and the bible, and you can perpetually keep developing and deepening your own relationship with Jesus as well After all, there is only one all-knowing being, and He isn’t human!
Learn About Other Christian Communities
Chances are, if you go to a church conference somewhere far away from where you live, the people in that community will have different formats for worship, ways of interacting with their faith community, communication styles, and more This is a very important part of ministry work and Christian outreach- learning how to interact with our Christian brothers and sisters because they are all equally wonderful and beautiful in the eyes of the Lord We get a chance to love our neighbors and learn more about this call from a variety of perspectives
Many denominations, churches, and faith communities have the opportunity to interact with one another from time to time, yet they may have more similarities than differences Travel to a Christian conference can afford you the opportunity to learn more about the positive aspects and practices of someone outside of your normal denomination or faith tradition Sharing the positives from a variety of these perspectives rather than focusing on the differences can be invigorating.
God Calls On Us to Serve
If you can travel to another city for a church conference, it’s probably a worthwhile pursuit because God calls on us to travel- by foot, by donkey, by any means necessary- to get to where it is we need to go and to deliver the good news. Think of the countless bible stories in which devoted followers of Christ trekked through mile-long journeys; they weathered deserts and braved storms; they did whatever it was that they needed to do to spread the Gospel and to help bring in more devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Perhaps you might reflect upon the stories
of the three wise men in the Gospel of Matthew who traveled miles upon miles just to see the miraculous birth of our King, bringing him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Before serving, we can spend time as the sponge. Soaking in knowledge and practical ways to live out our faith and serve others makes sense. We must nourish ourselves before we can minister to others, and it is wise to provide yourself with the dedicated space and time to do so
Strengthen Your Faith
Trekking to a new terminus for a church conference might feel like an ominous task initially, but once you take the nosedive, you’ll be happy you did Just allowing yourself to sit in unfamiliar surroundings can boost your faith and give you a new sense of connection with our Heavenly Father, simply by virtue of exposure.
You will likely have opportunities for problem-solving and decision-making in small groups as you work together at a church conference These have become less of a “sit and get” and more interactive for the lay professional, clergy staff, or a member of a faith community looking to dive deeper into their Christian formation.
Walk Away With Newfound Leadership Skills
Whether you’re already in a leadership position in your church back home or not, attending an out-of-town Christian church conference can unquestionably provide you with a variety of leadership skills which you can then take back with you to your hometown and press into service You will also have established a group who are doing similar work now in their hometowns and churches that you can reach out to as you move forward.
Many conferences also provide ongoing cohorts or check-in groups for those who are implementing and practicing new skills, programs, or ministries. While it may be impractical or impossible for a number of your congregations to attend an out-of-town conference, you are doing a great service to your flock when you can attend the conference and bring the information back to your church home