Weekender 2026
The Weekender is underway! Yesterday was the first full day of teaching, workshops and discussions for over 121 pastors, elders and leaders from 68 churches and 15 countries, including Singapore. For about 100 of them, this is their first time at a Weekender. They will spend today learning and discussing with each other, will join us at tomorrow’s Training Day, worship with us on Sunday and will observe our Members’ Meeting.
Why a Weekender?
This is the third year that we are hosting a Weekender. Our goal has been the same – we want to help pastors, elders and leaders of local churches be built up in their understanding of the local church. We desire for more healthy churches to live out and hold out the gospel in their communities.
Ministry in the local church is demanding work and we know that it can be hard to keep going. We also hope that the participants are refreshed as they spend time alongside others who are labouring for the same, precious gospel.
Also, many of these pastors are coming from hard contexts. Many face active persecution. For some, following Jesus has meant the loss of their homes, families, or jobs. For others, they are the only gospel-preaching church in their area, surrounded by spiritual darkness.
What a privilege to add fuel to their lampstands. Pray they would shine brightly.
What goes on at a Weekender?
Through a series of talks and discussions, participants will explore what it means to be a gospel-shaped, biblically-ordered church. Some of the topics covered are:
Gospel Culture
Biblical Eldership and Lay Eldering
Corporate Worship
Preaching
Church Membership
Church Discipline
They will also have the chance to observe some of our meetings such as the Elders’ Meeting and Service Planning. Participants will also hear from some of our staff at Ministry Workshops.
How can we participate?
It has been so encouraging to see church members help out in different ways. Some have shown hospitality by opening their houses to house our participants. Others have volunteered to be gracious hosts and take the participants out to see the sights on Saturday afternoon. We have members who took leave to help with the food, AV, sound and various operational logistics over the course of the Weekender. These are wonderful reminders that God is at work in our midst.
We can all continue to keep the Weekender participants in prayer.
Pray that God would grant them wisdom from above as they seek to shepherd their churches according to Scripture.
Pray that they will receive fresh encouragement to endure, even through trials.
Pray that deep friendships would form, so that the various churches could continue to strengthen one another.
Pray that these churches would continue to hold forth the word of life, and that many who are lost today would come to faith in Jesus.
