Schedule
Schedule of Events
For now, here’s a high-level schedule of our time together in Carlsbad, so you will be where you want to be, when you want to be – we just know we want you with us!
What you need to know now:
- As part of our commitment to providing you the highest-quality experience possible, we will cap attendance this year at 350 adult participants and 100 GenNext participants. We are getting close to maximum capacity, and we encourage you to register as soon as possible.
- You don’t have to sign up to attend any of the regular classes, but you do need to sign up in advance if you want to participate in The Briefing, Show and Tell, Praxis Finale, Friday Dinner, and Private Counseling/Coaching. Friday Dinner reservations will open June 15; the rest are open now.
- You may sign up for any of these above right here. Space is limited so do so as soon as you can.
- The first event begins Thursday at 1 p.m. We will dismiss at 10 a.m. on Sunday after Communion and Worship.
- The GenNext Schedule will be released a bit later in the summer. For planning purposes, it will follow the same hours as the adult participant’s schedule. (GenNext does run during the adult Free Time and Praxis Finale on Saturday afternoon.)
Wednesday
Gathering and GenNext Check-In Desk
Gathering and GenNext check-in begins.
Thursday
Gathering and GenNext Check-In Desk
Gathering and GenNext check-in continues all day at your convenience.
Briefing: How Do We Live with Our Deepest Differences?
Our first event of the weekend begins with an in-depth discussion led by Todd Deatherage, Os Guinness and Shannon Sedgwick Davis. *Advance reservations are required. You may do so at this time here.
New Participant Welcome with The Gathering Board of Directors
All first-year participants and speakers will join The Gathering Board for an informal social hour before heading together to the main Welcome for All Participants. This is a great chance to meet new folks before the evening begins.
Welcome for All Participants
Music by Gathering participant and harpist Wendy Smith.
Dinner and Evening Meeting
Dinner and Main Session with Justin Skeesuck and Patrick Gray, co-authors of “I’ll Push You.” Spoken Word poetry with Micah Bourne.
The Gathering Fourth Annual Movie Night
Onsite at the Park Hyatt Aviara: Justin Skeesuck and Patrick Gray’s Documentary “I’ll Push You”
“A journey of 500 miles, two best friends, and one wheelchair.” In 2012, Justin, who lives with a progressive neuromuscular disease and manages life from a power wheelchair learned about the historic pilgrimage, the Camino de Santiago, or Way of St. James. He had the urge to tackle it and asked Patrick what he thought. Patrick’s response was simple and direct. He said, “I’ll push you!” This story has opened many doors for both Patrick and Justin to share their unapologetic thoughts on faith, friendship and love.
Friday
Morning Workout with Terry Boynton
Start your day with energy! Join Gathering participant Terry Boynton for a time of physical exercise before we stretch our minds! All fitness levels welcome.
Morning Prayer Time
Please join other Gathering participants (led by Derrick Warfel) in our tradition of beginning the day with a quiet, informal morning prayer time.
Come-and-Go Breakfast
Casual breakfast. Come and go as you please. Kids participating in GenNext will need to eat here before starting their day.
Morning Meeting
Spoken word poetry with Micah Bournes. Music with Fernando Ortega. Bible teaching with Scott Sauls.
Morning Break
Grab a coffee and start a conversation in the hallways before morning classes begin.
Morning Classes
Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived Joyful Life
Dave Evans
The Options for Christian living in a Post-Christian Age
Rod Dreher, Michael Gerson, Michael Cromartie
Praxis For-Profit Entrepreneurs
Dave Blanchard, Josh Kwan and three Praxis For-Profit Entrepreneur panelists
Friday Luncheon with honored guest Senator Ben Sasse
All Gathering participants have lunch together and enjoy a lecture and Q and A from our esteemed guest speaker, Senator Ben Sasse from Nebraska. Past speakers include Arthur C. Brooks, David Brooks, Gary Haugen and Eric Metaxas.
One-Hour Afternoon Sprint Classes
Show and Tell
Peter Greer leads Gathering participants in a fast-paced, no-props-allowed environment to share what ministry or other organization they have been involved with the past year. This is a favorite! You must sign up in advance if you want to give one of the five-minute presentations. You may do so here. (first-come, first served)
Impact Investing
Greg Lernihan, Gabriel Schulze
Sourcing the New Nonprofits
Esther Havens, Connor Skelly, Jason Russell
A Conversation with Dr. John Townsend
Free Time
For those of you with children in GenNext, their activities will run through 5 p.m. so you can enjoy your afternoon with friends as well!
Friday Night Dinners
You are going to love what’s in store for this year’s seven Friday Dinners at The Gathering. These smaller dinners are one of the highlights of the entire weekend, and they keep getting better each year! We can’t wait to tell you all about them. More details to come. Reservations will open June 15. (For GenNext parents, we do want you to know that GenNext will run until 10 p.m. or if later if your dinner
Saturday
Morning Workout with Terry Boynton
Start your day with energy! Join Gathering participant Terry Boynton for a time of physical exercise before we stretch our minds! All fitness levels welcome.
Morning Prayer
Please join other Gathering participants (led by Derrick Warfel) in a tradition of beginning the day with a quiet, informal morning prayer time.
Come-and-Go Breakfast
Casual breakfast. Come and go as you please. Kids participating in GenNext will need to eat here before starting their day.
Morning Meeting
Testimony by Krista and Jeremy Carroll. Music by Fernando Ortega. Bible Teaching with Scott Sauls.
Morning Break
Grab a coffee and start a conversation in the hallways before morning classes begin.
Morning Classes
Colossian Forum: Grace at the Intersection of Faith & Culture
Michael Gulker
Religious Liberty and Confident Pluralism
Michael Cromartie, Michael Gerson, John Inazu
What does a Fully Integrated Society really mean?
Cindy Bauer, Justin Skeesuck, Ben Warf
Saturday Afternoon Options
Option 1: Praxis Nonprofit Finale and Luncheon
This invitation-only event (all Gathering participants are invited) is hosted by Praxis during The Gathering. The goal of Praxis is to provide a compelling opportunity for you to engage as mentors and philanthropists with some of the most creative work being done by Christians globally. You’ll hear well-crafted 5-minute presentations from our Fellows, mentor them through interactive roundtables, engage in interactive conversations with leading investors, and connect with your peers in an informal setting.
This Finale is the culmination of the Praxis Accelerator, a program we run annually for Christian-led nonprofit organizations. Over the course of a year, selected Fellows attend three events: a four-day kickoff retreat outside of New York in April, a three-day gathering near Los Angeles in July, and this Finale. At our events, Fellows are guided by over 30 incredible mentors from top nonprofits, foundations, and businesses. In addition, our Praxis Core Mentor team works with each entrepreneur on presentation design, strategy execution, impact, financial sustainability, and spiritual formation.
The Praxis Nonprofit Accelerator Finale Event is held onsite at The Gathering and requires separate registration. All Gathering participants are encouraged and welcome to attend. For more information and to register for the Praxis Lunch and Nonprofit Finale, please visit the Praxis Nonprofit Finale event website.
Option 2: Side Session with Far Reaching Ministries
Option 3: Free Time
Please note: If your children are registered for GenNext, they will be busy with their own activities Saturday afternoon – and you will be free to attend Praxis, the side session, or hang out at the pool!
Book Signing
Join several Gathering participants and speakers with new books out for an informal book signing before dinner. If you would like to find out more about offering your book to participants, please email Maggie Lechner.
Dinner and Evening Meeting
Spoken word with Micah Bournes. Music with Fernando Ortega. An Evening Conversation with David Brooks.
Dessert Party for All Participants, Speakers and GenNext
Casual dessert and coffee bar to continue the evening's conversations.
Sunday
Morning Prayer
Please join other Gathering participants (led by Derrick Warfel) in a tradition of beginning the day with a quiet, informal morning prayer time.
Come-and-Go Breakfast
GenNext Celebration Breakfast
Please note that GenNext families (grandparents are welcome!) will enjoy their own private Breakfast and Closing Celebration with honored guest speaker Sally Lloyd-Jones.
Morning Worship and Communion
Sunday morning is a wonderful family worship and communion time together at The Gathering. Music with Fernando Ortega. Bible Teaching with Scott Sauls.
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