Across three days, we’ll explore God's design for relationships—from the way we understand ourselves, to dating and marriage, family and church life, and finally the hope of reconciliation when relationships break.
THURSDAY 1 OCTOBER
YOUTH NIGHT — 6:30–9:30 PM
Our Youth Night is designed especially for young people, with a series of short, practical talks addressing some of the key relationship challenges facing Christians today.
6:30–6:50 PM – Welcome & Worship
6:50–7:05 PM – Talk 1 “CONNECTED: What Anchors Your Life?” Speaker: Hilmer Jagersma
7:05–7:20 PM – “COOL NEWS: You're On Your Own Now” Speaker: Stephen McAlpine
7:20–7:35 PM – “CONNECTED: Your Friends Are Forming You” Speaker: Tim Terpstra
7:35–8:05 PM – REFRESHMENTS
8:05–8:15 PM – Singing
8:15–8:30 PM – “CONNECTED: The battle for purity in a pornified culture” Speaker: Emma Buist
8:30–8:45 PM – “CONNECTED: Don’t Waste Your Youth!” Speaker: Mark Powell
8:45–9:00 PM – “CONNECTED: Churches Can Hurt” Speaker: Tom Richards
9:00–9:30 PM – Panel Discussion
9:30–9:40 PM – Closing
FRIDAY 2 OCTOBER
PART I — CONNECTED IN CHRIST: WHO AM I?
Friday evening begins with a fundamental question: Who am I?
Before considering how we relate to others, we need to understand our identity, purpose and belonging. These sessions will explore the instability that comes when we attempt to construct our own identity, and the security and fullness found in Christ.
6:30 PM – Doors open
7:00–7:20 PM – Welcome & Worship
7:20–8:00 PM – CONNECTED: Created, Known and Loved Speaker: Hilmer Jagersma
8:00–8:40 PM – SCARY NEWS: You're On Your Own Now Speaker: Stephen McAlpine
8:40–9:05 PM – REFRESHMENTS
9:05-9:15 PM – REGROUP
9:15-9:55 PM – CONNECTED: Single for Christ Speaker: Tom Richards
9:55-10:00 PM – Closing
SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER
PART II — CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER: HOW SHOULD WE LIVE?
Saturday turns from the question “Who am I?” to “How should we live?”
We’ll explore God's purposes for some of the most important relationships in our lives—romantic relationships, marriage, family and church. Along the way, we’ll consider the reality of sin and brokenness, and the grace God gives us to live faithfully within imperfect relationships.
9:00 AM – Doors open
9:30–9:50 AM – Welcome & Worship
9:50–10:30 AM – CONNECTED: Dating in Christ Speaker: Tom Richards
10:30–11:10 AM – CONNECTED: The Marriage Which Honours Christ Speaker: Mark Powell
11:10–11:35 AM – REFRESHMENTS
11:35–11:40 AM – REGROUP
11:40–12:20 PM – CONNECTED: Home Alone?: Godly Family in a Godless Age Speaker: Stephen McAlpine
12:20–1:00 PM – CONNECTED: The Church Which Honours Christ Speaker: Mark Powell
1:00–2:00 PM – LUNCH
2:00–2:10 PM – PRESENTATION
2:10-2:25 PM – Singing
2:25–3:05 PM – RECONNECTED: Bringing Beauty Out Of Brokenness Speaker: HIlmer Jagersma
3:05–3:45 PM – PANEL DISCUSSION
3:45-4:00 PM – Closing
FROM DISCONNECTED TO RECONNECTED
The schedule follows the central movement of this year's conference:
→ DISCONNECTED — Sin damages our relationship with God, ourselves and one another.
→ CONNECTED — God has designed us for relationship and calls us to find our identity, purpose and belonging in Christ.
→ RECONNECTED — Through Christ's reconciling work, there is hope when relationships are damaged and broken.
Join us for CONNECTED 2026: Living God’s Design for Relationships in Launceston, Tasmania, 1–3 October 2026.
TEACHING • ENCOURAGEMENT • FELLOWSHIP
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Riverbank Christian Church