"But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience" (Romans 8:25)
rsvp nowAs Crete Collective churches, we hope for a lot of changes we do not yet see. We hope to see new churches birthed. We hope to see fledgling churches revitalized. We hope to see our neighborhoods changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ and Christian works of justice and mercy. We hope to see conditions of neglect and vulnerability transformed.
But few of the changes we hope to see can be accomplished quickly in our own power. They must be accomplished by God, using the methods God appoints. That requires we be people who “hope for what we do not see” while we “wait for it with patience.”
Through patience, the Christian movement grew from 120 people huddled in an upper room in Jerusalem to become the official religion of the Roman empire. We call this “revolutionary patience”—the kind of patience that changes us as much as it changes the world. In our world of “quick results,” most of which don’t last, we desperately need to recover the virtue of patience. So, we gather this year to plead with the Spirit for “revolutionary patience.”
"Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.” (James 5:7)
To keep costs low, we do not have a block of rooms at a conference hotel. However, Phoenix is home to several excellent options. Here are options near the host churches for our gatherings. They vary in rates, so be sure to compare prices to find the right selection. You might also consider Airbnb options.
10 East Thomas Road
(602)222-11111
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333 N Central Ave
(602) 429-3500
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340 N 3rd Street
(602) 262-2500
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100 N 1st Street
(602) 333-0000
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950 West Van Buren Street
(602) 675-2894
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You may wish to either rent a car or travel by rail. Phoenix offers an excellent light rail system that will get you fairly close to our meeting locations.
Conference Check-In
On Revivals and Revolutions: The Forgotten Virtue Behind the World’s Most Memorable Moments
John Onwuchekwa
Finishing Well: Revolutionary Patience for the Long Haul
Louis Love
Break
Panel: Starting and Finishing Well
John Onwuchekwa, Louis Love, Jamie Love
Pastor Planting: Entering a Community with Revolutionary Patience
Ramny Peréz
Revolutionary Patience in Hospitality
P. J. and Frances Tibayan
Fellowship Dinner/Cookout (Roosevelt Community)
ROOSEVELT COMMUNITY CHURCH
Welcome
Building Beloved Community: A Patient Endeavor
Vermon Pierre
Revolutionary Patience in Disciple-Making
Thabiti Anyabwile
The Patient Release of Comfort and Embrace of Risk
Jeremy McClain
Lunch
Team Time / Outings / Free Time (various locations)
MOVE TO ALHAMBRA BELOVED COMMUNITY
Trusting the Work of the Holy Spirit
Aaron Dailey and Wayne Wynter
Welcome
The Church’s Patience with the Community’s Suffering
Kurt Lange, Juan Chavez
Community Development Done Slow and Steady
Juan Chavez, Alonzo Brown, Terrence Jones
Returning Home with Greater Patience
Panel: Thabiti Anyabwile, Vermon Pierre, Louis Love, Aaron Dailey and Wayne Wynter
Closing Thoughts
Family Meeting Adjourns
We would love to see you at our national family gathering as we think about the slow application of love in love-starved contexts.
Before September 15th: $65
After September 15th: $95