October 2-4, 2024

Family Gathering: 

Revolutionary Patience

"But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience" (Romans 8:25)

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As 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)

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Location

PHoENIX, AZ

Venues

ROOSEVELT COMMUNITY CHURCH

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Beloved Community alhambra

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hotels

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.

EMBASSY SUITES PHOENIX DOWNTOWN 
NORTH

10 East Thomas Road
(602)222-11111
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The WESTIN PHOENIX DOWNTOWN

333 N Central Ave
(602) 429-3500
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The SHERATON DOWNTOWN

340 N 3rd Street
(602) 262-2500
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Renaissance Phoenix Downtown

100 N 1st Street
(602) 333-0000
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HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS

950 West Van Buren Street
(602) 675-2894
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Transportation

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.

Tentative Schedule

Wednesday, October 2

11:00am-1:00pm 

Conference Check-In

1:00-2:00pm

On Revivals and Revolutions: The Forgotten Virtue Behind the World’s Most Memorable Moments
John Onwuchekwa

2:00-3:00pm

Finishing Well: Revolutionary Patience for the Long HaulLouis Love

3:00-3:30pm

Break

3:30-4:00pm

Panel: Starting and Finishing Well
John Onwuchekwa, Louis Love, Jamie Love

4:00-5:00pm

Pastor Planting: Entering a Community with Revolutionary Patience

5:00-6:00pm

Revolutionary Patience in Hospitality

7:00-9:00pm

Fellowship Dinner/Cookout (Roosevelt Community)

Thursday, October 3

9:00-9:15am

Welcome

9:15-10:15am

Building Beloved Community: A Patient Endeavor
Vermon Pierre

10:15-11:15am 

Revolutionary Patience in Disciple-Making
Thabiti Anyabwile

11:15am-12:00pm

The Patient Release of Comfort and Embrace of Risk

12:00-6:00pm

Team Time / Outings / Free Time (various locations)


Move to Beloved Community Alhambra
6:00-7:00pm

Trusting the Work of the Holy Spirit
Aaron Dailey and Wayne Wyndter, Beloved Community

7:00-9:00pm

Fellowship Dinner/Cookout

Friday, October 4

9:00-9:15am

Welcome

9:15-10:00am

The Church’s Patience with the Community’s Suffering

10:00-10:45am 

Community Development Done Slow and Steady

11:00am-11:30pm

Returning Home with Greater Patience
Panel: Thabiti Anyabwile, Vermon Pierre, Louis Love, Aaron Dailey and Wayne Wynter

11:30am-12:00pm

Closing Thoughts

12:00pm

Family Meeting Adjourns

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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

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