October 3-5, 2019
Community, Growth, & Transformation
Harrisonburg, VA
Grace Covenant Church
5 Speakers
World-Class Equippers
One Focus Network’s Annual Conference
Converge
Converge is designed for all worship and church leaders. Everyone will have the opportunity to extol, proclaim, and enjoy Jesus Christ, through music, Word, Art, and Sacrament. Attendees will return to their home churches knowing better why Jesus is worthy not only of our songs, but our affections, our service planning, our best effort and our very lives.
Meet The Speakers
Dan Backens
Dr. Dan Backens is the founding senior pastor of New Life Church—a missional, multiethnic, and multisite church located in Coastal Virginia. He serves as the senior director of One Focus Network. Dan is happily married to Rhonda and together they have 3 adult children.
Nikki Lerner
With 20+ years practical, ministry experience, Nikki Lerner is an artist, teacher, speaker, author and culture coach helping others engage with one another relationally and across culture lines. Her passion is to see people come to an understanding of one another through music, conversation and learn to remain human with each other. Connect with Nikki or bring her to your organization or community at nikkilerner.com.
Glenn Packiam
Glenn Packiam is an author and lead pastor of New Life Downtown, a congregation of New Life Church. Glenn was one of the founding leaders and songwriters for the Desperation Band and has also released three solo projects with Integrity Music. He has spoken at many conferences for pastors and worship leaders, and has taught sessions and chapel services at Biola University, Asbury Seminary, Calvin College, and Trinity School for Ministry. Glenn earned a Doctorate in Theology and Ministry from Durham University in the UK. He is an ordained priest with the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA). Glenn, his wife, Holly, their four children are enjoying life in the shadow of the mighty Rocky Mountains.
Stuart Bell
Stuart Bell is the Senior Pastor of Alive Church, a growing multi-site church with several locations in the UK. He is leader of the Ground Level Network, a network of around 90 churches and Partners For Influence UK, a group of leaders representing influential churches and ministries across the UK. Stuart is actively involved in a number of national leadership forums and is an international speaker and teacher often working into both America and South Africa. Stuart has written four books. Married to Irene, Stuart has three children and 5 grandchildren. In 2016 Stuart was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to the community in Lincolnshire.
Howard Williams
Howard Williams is the Executive Pastor of Alive Church. He is passionate about seeing the local church take its position as the hope of the world, and developing ways to see the church multiply. For Ground Level, Howard oversees sung worship for key gatherings such as the Leadership Conference and One Event. Howard is married to Claire and they have 3 sons.
Breakout Speakers
A wide-range of cutting-edge training for church staff, leaders, and members.
Jack Groblewski
Adam Cates
Kevin Turpin
Cheryl Loo
Cleanne Bowen
Rob Wolford
Tina Davis
Sarah Blackwell
Jeremy Perigo
Breakout Sessions
Breakout A – Theological Insights
- Congregational Singing as Sacramental Practice | How a theology of music plays a role in encounter and formation
- Presence versus Glory in Worship | Explore the Biblical and experiential differences of the glory of God and presence of God that we encounter in worship
- Clarifying the Role of the Prophetic in Worship | Take a fresh look at the Biblical mandate and practical role of how the prophetic plays fundamental role in every kind of worship context
- Reimagining Corporate Worship: Ancient Practices for the Church Today | See in a new way the worship practices of Early Church and how they can be integrated into Today’s Church.
Breakout B – Practical Insights
- Worship Service Structure and Flow | Broaden your term of “Worship” and see how the entire form and structure of a weekend service shapes the congregation
- Leading Students in Worship | Work through some specific elements and nuances on leading students of all ages (elementary, high school, and college age) into dynamic moments of worship
- Diversifying Your Sound | Hear from two experienced worship leaders about their journeys of joining different genres of worship music for a multi-ethnic and multi-generational congregation
- Birthing Your Local Sounds: Songwriting in Context | Uncover the practical tools in developing songwriters who will write songs that fit your church’s nuanced and specific context
Breakout C – Best Practices
- Corporate worship, belonging, and digital mediums | Discover how a church can use social media and digital platforms to engage members in the life of the church
- Worship Internships in the local church | Learn how to create a system and structure that forms and develops the worship team in your church
- How to lead CONVERGENCE worship | Discuss notes from the conference as a whole and how they integrate into your weekend services
- Sound Technician: The Board and the Worship Team | Crossing the relational chasm between the worship team and technical team
Schedule
Thursday, October 3
Pre-conference Intensive | For OFN Pastors
Pre-Con Session I (1:30p – 2:45p) “Why How We Do Worship Matters”
Pre-Con Session II (3p – 4:15p) “Discover the Mystery of Faith”
Main Conference | All Attendees
Dinner (5:00 – 6:15 onsite) – All registrants
Plenary Session I (6:30-8:30) – Glenn Packiam “Shaped by Worship”
Friday, October 4
Plenary Session II (8:30 – 10:25) – Howard Williams “Trends in Worship”
Breakout A (10:45)
- Music as Sacrament
- Worship Service Structure and Flow
- Presence versus Glory in Worship
- Clarifying the Role of the Prophetic in Worship
Lunch (12:00 onsite)
Plenary Session III (1:15 – 2:15) – Nikki Lerner “Cross-cultural Proficiencies in Worship”
Breakout B (2:45)
- Song Writing in Your Context
- Leading Children in Worship
- Blending Contemporary and Gospel Music
- Contextualizing Ancient Worship Practices
Dinner (5:00 onsite)
Plenary IV (6:30-8:30) – Dan Backens “Evangelical, Charismatic and Sacramental”
Saturday, October 5
Plenary V (8:30-10:30) – Stuart Bell “Jesus at the Center of it All”
Best Practices Round Table (10:45)
- Church Production and Digital Platforms
- Worship Internships in the local church
- How to lead CONVERGENCE worship
CONVERGE conference concludes at noon
*Schedule and topics are subject to change by the leading of the Holy Spirit
Lodging
Discounted rates available at area hotels:
43 Covenant Dr
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
(540) 437-0090 | Book Now
Courtyard Harrisonburg
1890 Evelyn Byrd Avenue
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801
(540) 432-3031 | Book Now
*Click the Book Now links to access discounted rates.
Hotel discounted rates are valid until September 13.