What a joy it was to celebrate 170 years of God’s faithfulness!

“Wherever there is unity, God commands a blessing,” President John K. Jenkins Sr. told the Converge family at Converge Together 2026. “And when God commands something, can’t no devil in hell stop it from happening.”

This past June, more than two thousand members of Converge’s global family came together in Washington, D.C., to celebrate 170 years of God’s faithfulness through the Converge movement.

With 336 churches represented from 38 states, Converge Together 2026 gathered friends from across the world to dream together, plan ministry together, and connect over the one thing that matters—the gospel.

Converge is relationships

“It’s been fun gathering together, seeing how we’re each living out the Great Commission in our different spheres, in our different environments, with our God-given strengths and callings, and walking that out with where God’s placed us,” said Chaplain Stephen Haley at Converge Together 2026. 

Stephen is both a pastor at Southwest Hills Baptist Church in Beaverton, Oregon, and a chaplain in the U.S. Army. Like many of the servicemembers he serves, those who serve as pastors, church planters, global workers, and other ministry leaders are easily isolated. 

But at Converge Together 2026, they were reminded they’re part of a larger family.

For the 203 global workers and their family members who came from outside the U.S., Converge hosted a special welcome before Converge Together 2026 began. Some global workers paired the trip to D.C. with visits to family and to their home churches.

“Being at Converge Together has been amazing. People we worked with eight years ago have now been on the field one or two terms,” said John De Cleene, a mobilization specialist who coaches newly appointed global workers. “Now we see them here and how God has worked in their lives, and how He’s worked in their ministry.”

Refreshed and reenergized for ministry

Converge Together 2026 featured uplifting keynote messages and energizing worship to refresh attendees as they return to their ministry roles.

“God is not primarily interested in what you’re building. He is far more interested in who you’re becoming while you build it,” Darryn Scheske, Converge chairman and pastor of Heartland Church in Fishers, Indiana, shared during his keynote message. “That’s not consolation for no progress. That’s the gospel.”

Keynote addresses were also shared by Priscilla Shirer, President John K. Jenkins Sr., Justin Kendrick, Dr. Tony Evans, and Dr. Charlie Dates.

Watch recordings of all keynote messages on Converge’s YouTube channel.

The event’s 30 breakout sessions focused on topics like rural ministry, AI, church safety and security, coaching, and engaging online members. With many led by leaders who serve in local churches, these sessions encouraged members of Converge’s global family to share their wisdom with their peers and offer practical ministry tools. 

Attendees serving in similar ministry roles also had the opportunity to meet with peer groups. Similar to how regional leadership teams operate, these groups reminded participants that in Converge, no one has to do ministry alone. During Converge Together 2026, 11 peer groups created spaces for participants to share ideas and grow their networks.

Continuing the mission until Jesus returns

Converge partnered with Bethel University to bring moments of our movement’s history to life at Converge Together 2026. The event also coincided with the release of a 100-page commemorative book, Converge: The Story of a Movement. 

The book shares stories about how God has used Converge across its 170 years to start churches, strengthen churches and pastors, and send the gospel worldwide. And it looks ahead to the next 170 years, to the next generation of believers who are being equipped as leaders in the church.

Nick Cocalis, lead campus pastor at Bethel University, shared a story about a group of Hispanic students starting a monthly Spanish worship night on campus. Noches de Adoración brought together people from nearby Latino churches alongside people of different ethnicities.

“Why is that their own thing? That should be part of who we are because it’s part of the church,” Nick recalls saying. 

The student-led ministry inspired Bethel to launch a multilingual worship team. “All of a sudden we see this multicultural movement of God on campus, which really is our roots,” said Nick.

Better together

One hundred and seventy years into our mission, Converge is a multiethnic movement of independent churches still collaborating to bring the life-changing message of Jesus to the world. As we remember our movement’s past and look forward to the future, we remember that it’s our relationships with one another—our “better togetherness”—that makes it all possible.

“It’s that kind of sharpening that turns into the energy and passion for multiplication,” said Converge MidAtlantic President Brian Weber.

“We want to see more followers of Jesus, more leaders making an impact around the world, and more new churches. And that comes out of the relationships we have with one another.”