This last season of life has left an indelible mark on a generation.

We’re more aware than ever before that there’s a fragility to our humanness.

Today many of us are more . . .

vulnerable

insulated

cautious

skeptical

afraid

and reluctant

than we were a year ago.

There’s an impulse to withdraw into the safest places we can find and forfeit the adventures that we’re designed to live.

The only problem with that logic is that we are human.

We’re not created to isolate.

We’re made to live in community.

(Even if that community is virtual sometimes.)

Sure, there is a temptation to do whatever we can to

return to some sort of normality.

But what if . . .

an attempt to return to the way things were could actually

prevent us from returning to the way things were intended to be.

Remember . . .

when God became human, it wasn’t to prove His divinity.

He could have done that from a distance.

Instead, Jesus became human to prove the worth of humanity.

He came to show us what God intended humans to be.

Jesus disrupted what was normal,

and urged a generation to prioritize for humanity.

Think about what Jesus did.

Jesus became human so He could . . .

invite humans to see themselves the way God saw them.

prove there was more to the human life than just existing.

appeal to the image of God in every human.

show humans how they should treat humans.

Jesus challenged an entire generation to return to a version of faith

and community that humanity was designed to experience.

When Jesus showed up in a culture that was struggling with political unrest, racial division, and religious abuse, he disrupted a hurting and skeptical world with hope.

Everything Jesus said and did then

is still true now.

And if you are reading this,

we believe you could be the best chance a kid or teenager

has to experience that hope.

This generation desperately needs a new demonstration of

faith

church

leadership

and community

that is more human than what has existed.

So, keep leading with that end in mind.

We need leaders who will model a faith that shows them how to

Be kind

Be resilient

Be courageous

Be compassionate

Be generous

Be human

In a culture where a host of teenagers and young adults are deconstructing a faith, it’s imperative that we lay the right foundation so they can reconstruct a more resilient and dynamic faith.

Orange Conference 2022 is an invitation to gather in a way we have never before.

Every voice, song, message, breakout, resource will be designed to challenge

us to reimagine what we do as the church.

That’s why the question is not only if you’re ready to be human again?

But also . . .

are you ready to be with humans again?

This is a pivotal moment for the church.

And we are designing this Orange Conference so you can

connect

with leaders who are doing what you do

collaborate

with diverse thinkers so you can see what you don’t see

challenge

what has been normal, and return to what is more human.

We’ve learned that when you are actually in a room WITH each other,

it changes how you advocate FOR each other.

In a generation where . . .

technology

politics

and even religion

can be seen as dehumanizing to so many,

we believe it’s critical to remember what Jesus called us to be.

We won’t get many chances

to reset how this generation sees the church.

But there’s one thing we know for sure:

“proximity changes everything.”

If we can get close enough to each other then maybe we can get clear enough

to make the changes that will really matter.

There is a generation of

kids

teenagers

volunteers

parents

and leaders

deciding right now if they are going to engage with the church going forward.

What we do next matters more than it ever has.

We can’t simply return to normal.

Now is the time to return to the reason why Jesus showed up in the first place.

Now is the time to rebuild trust with a generation who has become disillusioned.

Now is the time to revive the hope that Jesus actually offers humanity.

So, let’s do that together.

Because we are the church.

And this generation is looking for a version of the church that is kinder, more empathetic, and more aware of what is happening in their everyday world.

Your community is looking for a church that actually cares about the questions humans are actually asking.

Now is the time to

BE a little more HUMAN.

“The best way to learn how to lead humans to be more human
 is to spend time with humans who lead humans.”

Check out TheOrangeConference.com to be the first to know when tickets reopen!