We’re excited to release the full schedule for CONNECTED 2026.

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.

There will be a particular focus on young people on our opening night, followed by two main conference gatherings exploring who we are in Christ and how we are called to live with one another.

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.

Speaker: Hilmer Jagersma
Topic: CONNECTED: What Holds You Together? - Anchored in Christ when life, plans and relationships change.

Speaker: Steve McAlpine
Topic: DISCONNECTED: Lost in a Connected World - Why being connected to everything can disconnect us from what matters most.

Speaker: Tim Terpstra
Topic: CONNECTED: Your Friends Are Forming You - How your friendships are forming and shaping who you're becoming.

Speaker: Emma Buist
Topic: CONNECTED: The Battle for Purity in a Pornified Culture - Purity, attraction and honouring God with someone you like.

Speaker: Mark Powell
Topic: CONNECTED: You Can’t Choose Your Family - Loving and honouring the people God has put closest to you.

Speaker: Tom Richards
Topic: CONNECTED: When Christians Let You Down - Dealing with church hurt without walking away from Christ.

FRIDAY 2 OCTOBER

PART I — CONNECTED IN CHRIST: WHO AM I?

God’s design and redemption for identity, purpose and belonging

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.

1. CONNECTED: KNOWN, LOVED AND SECURE

Speaker: Hilmer Jagersma

Finding our identity, worth and purpose in the God who made and redeemed us.

2. DISCONNECTED: FROM GOD, FROM OTHERS, FROM OURSELVES

Speaker: Steve McAlpine

The cost of self-created identity in a cynical and sceptical age.

3. CONNECTED: SINGLENESS BY DESIGN

Speaker: Tom Richards

Purpose, devotion and fullness in Christ.

SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER

PART II — CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER: HOW SHOULD WE LIVE?

God’s design and redemption for our relationships

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.

4. CONNECTED: DATING BY DESIGN

Speaker: Tom Richards

God’s purpose and grace for romantic relationships.

5. CONNECTED: MARRIAGE BY DESIGN

Speaker: Mark Powell

God’s purpose and redeeming grace for covenant love.

6. CONNECTED: HOME BY DESIGN

Speaker: Steve McAlpine

God’s purpose and grace for family life.

7. CONNECTED: CHURCH BY DESIGN

Speaker: Mark Powell

God’s purpose and redeeming grace for life together.

8. RECONNECTED: WHEN RELATIONSHIPS BREAK

Speaker: Hilmer Jagersma

Forgiveness, reconciliation and the grace to begin again.

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