(July 2, 2021 – Staff Report)
Team Expansion’s Connect Gathering began in 2016 and has occurred annually ever since. The event is typically held in locations around the world, but the pandemic conditions pushed the event online in 2020 and again this year.
In 2021, the Connect Gathering went from June 27-July 2. Because the event would have been held in Dubai this year, all participants joined in Dubai time, with staff from the home office in Louisville participating from 1 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. ET.
This year’s 121 registered participants enjoyed prayer breakouts, personalized growth groups, sessions by disciple-making leaders outside a Western context, dozens of workshops, and daily sessions on member care by Kelly and Michèle O’Donnell.
Typically, any Team Expansion worker is welcome to attend, with mandatory attendance once every three years. Participants work out their own travel arrangements, but all costs on site are covered by generous donors. Lord willing, next year’s Connect Gathering will be held in person at a site to be confirmed by early fall. Both the location and dates are kept private for security concerns.
