Where have all the meetings gone?
- Zach Watson
- 26 minutes ago
- 5 min read
A response to rethinking conferences
May 13th, 2025
By: Zach Watson, Founder and Director of Refresh-Restore Ministries
When Platforms Crumble
On May 12, 2025, I sat at my desk, scrolled through the headlines, and there it was: Pastor Josh Buice had resigned from G3 Ministries after a pattern of unrepentant sin came to light—including using anonymous social media accounts to criticize his own fellow elders and ministry leaders. The fallout came fast. G3 canceled its upcoming national conference, and the online reactions started flooding in.
Now, regardless of where you land theologically—or how closely you align with the convictions often emphasized at G3—the situation still lands heavy. For many pastors and ministry leaders who have found encouragement through their resources or gatherings, it felt like another discouraging headline in a season already full of them. Some responses were thoughtful and brokenhearted; others were sharp and reactionary. A few even called for something bigger: “It’s time to stop going to conferences altogether,” they said. “These gatherings are just stages for personalities.”
The sentiment is understandable. When a respected voice falls, it shakes us. But here’s the question I keep coming back to: Is the problem the conference... or the character behind the platform? As Vance Havner once put it, “The failures of a few should not overshadow the faithfulness of many.”
We should absolutely grieve when a leader falls—not because their influence is gone, but because real people are hurt, trust is broken, and the name of Christ is often dragged through the mud. It’s a moment for accountability, yes—but also for prayer. Galatians 6:1 reminds us, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” These moments don’t call for retreat from ministry gathering—they call for humility in how we approach them.
The Burden Behind the Banner
You’d be surprised how many moving parts are behind the scenes of a good conference. It’s not all name tags and sermon outlines—it’s a full-blown ministry marathon.
People often see the social media posts, the graphics, the name of a trusted preacher, and think it’s as simple as printing lanyards and ordering lunch. But the truth is—conferences are hard work. Really hard. There’s budgeting for honorariums, airfare, hotels, meals, insurance, printing, equipment rentals… and that’s just the surface. Behind the scenes, there are spreadsheets, late-night planning calls, unpredictable weather, the fear of low turnout, and that lingering question: “Will it even be worth it?”
Add to that the spiritual weight. Those planning a gospel-centered event are often already leading churches or ministries. They’re preaching, shepherding, counseling, and discipling—all while praying that this gathering won’t just happen, but that it will matter. That God would move. That someone would be renewed. That clarity would come. That boldness would rise.
There are people praying over these meetings not for crowds, but for change.
That’s why I say—when a conference is done with gospel integrity and pastoral humility? It’s worth it. Not to lift up personalities, but to build up the people of God. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
A Gathering Worth Keeping
If all conferences were hype-fests and book tours, I wouldn’t be writing this. But that’s not what I’ve experienced. At their best, conferences are sacred intersections—moments where pastors and church leaders step out of the normal rhythm of ministry and remember why they do what they do.
Some of the most meaningful moments I’ve had didn’t come from a pulpit—they came beside a book table. In a hallway. Over coffee in the lobby. A conversation turned into counsel. A handshake turned into prayer. Someone reminding me I wasn’t the only one carrying this weight. It’s powerful to hear the gospel preached to you—especially when you’re the one usually preaching it to others. It doesn’t just recharge you—it grounds you.
Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” These gatherings provide that sharpening—quietly, humbly, and deeply. No, conferences don’t save us. They won’t solve every church problem. But when they’re rooted in Scripture and soaked in prayer, they can help steady the hands that serve the local church week after week. And that’s no small thing.
The Case for Conferences
Most of us don’t dream of spending our day off with a name badge and a paper schedule. And when you throw in travel, hotel costs, and the inevitable “Where are we eating?” group text, it can feel like more effort than it’s worth. But here’s what I’ve learned: when you pick the right kind of conference—the kind anchored in the Word and aimed at encouragement—it often becomes a moment of grace. A reset. A reminder that you’re not running this race alone.
Conferences give us doctrinal clarity. They offer spiritual strengthening. They provide mentorship and connection that can’t be manufactured in isolation. And while hallway conversations and breakout sessions are helpful, don’t miss the heart of it all: The preaching of the Word. There’s nothing like hearing truth proclaimed with power and grace—and knowing that it’s for you. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” I’ve sat under sermons at conferences where God met me in a powerful way, naming what I couldn’t name, and healing what I didn’t know was wounded.
These are also spaces where younger leaders are watching and learning. I’ve had the joy of mentoring a few, and I’ve been mentored myself. These moments aren’t about creating celebrity—they’re about strengthening the church.
That said, I know not everyone can go to every conference. Nor should they. You can get so lost in conference life that you start chasing spiritual highs instead of faithfully walking with Christ. Choose wisely. Plan prayerfully. And when the Lord leads you to attend, show up with an open heart—not just a notebook.
Paul’s words in Romans 1:11–12 say it best: "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” That’s what these gatherings are about. Not hype. Not headlines. Just help—and the mutual encouragement that keeps us going. “When the gospel is preached in the power of the Spirit, the church is strengthened, believers are built up, and Christ is glorified. That is no small thing.”—Sinclair Ferguson
Grace and peace,
Zach Watson
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