Are You Ready to Be Inspired?

“We are looking forward to being inspired by the global worship styles of fellow believers across the world and basking in the glory of worship with them,” Hangwi Liphadzi says about the upcoming Inspire 2022 conference.

Liphadzi is part of a six-person singing group from South Africa called Lufhalafhala that will travel to North America to be part of Inspire 2022. The group will perform from the mainstage and also take part in all that the conference has to offer.

Inspire 2022 is an event designed specifically for ministry volunteers and leaders from Christian Reformed and Reformed churches across North America. Inspire 2022 will take place Aug. 4-6 in Tinley Park, Ill.. Previous Inspire events took place in Detroit, Mich. (2017), and Windsor, Ont. (2019).

Guests such as Liphadzi will help other participants grow in their understanding of and appreciation of the diversity of the global church, CRC executive director Colin P. Watson said.

“This year’s theme, Inspired to Be One, focuses on celebrating our diversity in the CRCNA as a denomination as well as the need for CRC members to come together as one church,” he explained.

Each day of Inspire will include Spirit-filled worship led by a diverse worship team, workshops on topics covering every aspect of congregational life, and plenary speakers (such as Ken Shigematsu, Steve Argue, Sandra Van Opstal, and Bishop Zac Niringiye) who will challenge and equip participants to return to their local congregations with new ideas, renewed passion, and deepened commitment to God’s kingdom. Singer-songwriter Sandra McCracken will conclude the event with a special concert.

“There will also be good food, fellowship, and plenty of time to connect with people from across our denomination and around the world to share stories and learn from each other,” Watson said.

“In a world where we have been locked down because of the pandemic,” Liphadzi said, “we hope to inspire the attendees with our musical stylings inspired by our own context.” 

Liphadzi also expects to be inspired in return and hopes the singing group will gather ideas to take back to South Africa. 

“We would like to be a fountain that waters similar kinds of conferences to grow in the near future back home,” he said.

The cost for Inspire 2022 is $110 per person, with discounts available for groups of five or more from the same congregation. Visit crcna.org/Inspire to learn more and to register.