What a great time at the Connect Conference 2025. With hundreds of pastors, worship, children’s and connection team leaders from churches all over the country gathered together, the entire place was full of so much joy, life and energy. It was an amazing time of deep content and helping churches learn to connect with their communities. From Carey Nieuwhof, Annie Downs and other notable speakers, the future of the church was discussed, prayed over and expanded in this three-day worship, teaching and encouraging experience.
Connect Ministries is very special to our church family, at Rolling Hills, and to me. In 2003 the church was meeting in an apartment clubhouse with 15 people for a Bible Study on Thursday nights, one of the guys there asked me, “Jeff, how are we going to reach this community for Christ?” Ken Thomas, his wife, Norma, and their two kids were a part of this small group of believers. We began to pray about the question he posed. We determined that sports would be a great way to connect with unbelievers in our community. So, we presented our local Chick-fil-A owner-operator with a vision for hosting a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, and he said he would give us $5,000! Wow! That was our entire church budget for the year!
From that first 3-on-3 basketball, there was a fire that was lit for reaching people for Jesus. Ken and Gabe Norris, another family in our young church, came together to start Connect Ministries to help other churches. They moved to Georgia and God has fanned into flame this amazing ministry. They branched out from basketball tournaments to Connect Day Camps. Now, reaching thousands of children and families across our country for Jesus. They also work directly with churches to engage with their communities through online resources and events to connect with their own communities. Our God has grown the ministry exponentially, and countless lives are being saved for the glory of our great God.
This recent Connect Conference was so inspiring and encouraging. If God puts a dream in your heart then pursue it. Maybe God has given you a dream for your family, your workplace, your school, a ministry in your local church and/or so much more. Realize that when God gives you a dream and a calling then He will bring it to fruition in His way and in His timing. Also, always keep a heart for reaching people for Christ. Be a Connector! Connect your family, friends and community to Jesus and His Church. One of the future church trends we learned at the Connect Conference is that less than 1% of pastors feel like their church is truly effective at connecting with their community for Christ. What? Less than 1%. That is crazy. Remember, Jesus told His disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world.” Acts 1:8. We must live out the calling Jesus has for us. We must share His Good News with those around us. If we don’t, then who will? This is our time and our opportunity. Let’s connect others with the One who is the Life-changer and Life-giver. Our world needs Jesus today. So, let’s connect others to Him!
I’m so thankful for Connect Ministries and excited to see what our God will do through them. Let’s pray for Ken, Gabe and their families as they continue to impact so many churches and communities for Christ. Also, let’s pray for our church to be in the 1%. To truly be passionate and effective at reaching others for Jesus. We get one shot at life. One opportunity to reach others for Jesus. One day we will be in Heaven and everyone there will be a Christian, so let’s use this time to connect others to Jesus and truly impact them for all eternity!
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