Is it possible to be fully known and fully accepted? We all have things we’re ashamed of and embarrassed by—weaknesses, mistakes, flaws, and vices. If someone knew the real you, could you really be received?
Join us as we see the surprising compassion of Jesus—someone who knows everything about you, yet doesn’t turn away. By his grace, we are welcomed in.
Schedule
Friday, October 20
6:00 pm Check-In
7:30 pm Jesus Welcomes the Uninterested (Luke 5:1-11) - Mark Fodale
9:15 pm Campus Groups
Saturday, October 21
8:00 am Breakfast
9:30 am Jesus Welcomes the Unlovable (Luke 5:12-16) - David Royes
11:15 am Morning Breakout Sessions
12:00 pm Lunch: Out on the Town!
2:00 pm Mission Fair
4:00 pm Afternoon Breakout Sessions
5:00 pm Dinner
6:30 pm Jesus Welcomes the Unable (Luke 5:17-26) - Clint Watkins
8:00 pm Worship Night
9:00 pm Snacks, Games, & Fun Night!
Sunday, October 22
8:00 am Breakfast
9:30 am Foundations Breakout Sessions
10:30 am Jesus Welcomes the Unrighteous (Luke 5:27-32) - Tom Hallman
12:15 pm Depart
Main Session Speakers
What to Bring
When you pack your personal items for the weekend, bring along a pen and a Bible. If you don't have a Bible, we will provide one for you at the conference.
Arriving at the Conference
If you're traveling by car, park in the Walnut Street Garage. (The cost to park for the weekend is $20.) In the garage elevator, press the button marked “LEVEL A,” which will take you directly to the Hilton. When the doors open you should see some friendly DiscipleMakers staff showing you where to go!
Registration
When you register, you should receive an email confirming your registration. If you do not receive this email, please email registrar@dm.org to let us know.
Payment
The cost of the conference for students is $165. The cost for guests is $315
This covers materials and lodging, and meals from Saturday breakfast through Sunday breakfast (excluding Saturday lunch, which will be out on the town). To reserve your spot at the conference, you must make the minimum payment of $20 at the time of registration using a credit or debit card. You can pay the remaining balance in one of three ways:
1. Pay online
2. Mail a check or cash
3. Pay in person when you arrive at the conference
If sending payment by mail, please make checks payable to DiscipleMakers and write “Fall Conference” in the memo line. Mail your payment to: DiscipleMakers, 365 Science Park Road, State College, PA 16803. Please send your payments before the start of the conference.
Cancellation Policy
You may cancel your registration at any time by emailing registrar@dm.org or by logging into your registration. Whether you are eligible for a refund depends on when you cancel.
If you cancel before the registration deadline (Friday, Sept 29, 2023 at 11:59 pm): You will be refunded the amount you paid when you registered.
If you cancel after the registration deadline but before Wednesday, Oct 18th at 5:00 pm: You will be refunded the amount you've paid, EXCEPT for the minimum payment. After registration closes, minimum payments are non-refundable.
If you cancel after Wednesday, Oct 18th at 5:00 pm OR you never cancel: You will not be refunded any payments previously made, and you will be responsible for paying any remaining balance.
If you fail to attend the conference and do not notify registrar@dm.org about your absence, you will be logged as a NO-SHOW. As a NO-SHOW you will also be asked to pay for your remaining account balance.
Breakout Sessions
Saturday Morning
Enduring Affection: Life & Love After 30 Years of Marriage
Mark and Shannon Fodale
Join Mark & Shannon as they walk through some of the key principles they’ve learned for how to begin, sustain, and grow an enduringly affectionate marriage. Who says the honeymoon has to end!?
Pray Without Pretending: How Sufferers Can Speak to God
Clint Watkins
Prayer can be hard—especially when you’re hurting. It’s difficult to know what to say to God when we suffer. And how can we speak to him when it seems like he could easily ease our trouble, but chooses not to? Join us as we see God’s invitation to be honest with him.
From Isolation to Intimacy: How Jesus Combats Our Loneliness
Brian and Liz Parker
Young or old, single or married, male or female - everyone walks through loneliness. We feel isolated. Hopeless. Invisible. Hollow. Depressed. Chronic loneliness can even lead to bitterness, poor physical health, and becoming a danger to ourselves. Its causes are many. But there is a solution! God himself declares that it is not good for people to be alone. Jesus' work of redemption and rescue offers the lonely great hope that enables us to experience belonging, comfort, and genuine friendship. Jesus combats our loneliness so that we will never be forgotten, but one day our loneliness will be.
Why Your Friends are More Important than you Think
Peter Krol
Often, we think of friendship as something almost random or spontaneous: either you “click” with someone or you don’t. But the book of Proverbs pictures friendship as perhaps the clearest indicator of whether you will become wise or come to harm. So show me your friends, and I’ll show your odds at ever finding wisdom.
Boring, Confusing, and Too Long: An Intro to the Bible That Will Make You Want to Read It
Andy Cimbala
Most people haven’t read the whole Bible. Some haven’t read more than a few pages. It’s just too ancient, too complex, and too crazy long. If you’re not a Christian, a new Christian, or you’ve grown up in church for years but haven’t read much of the Bible… this breakout is for you! What is this book? What is it about? And how should you read it? Get ready for an exciting introduction to God’s Word that’ll make you want to read it!
Science and Christianity: Allies or Enemies?
Mike Chartowich
Are science and Christianity opposed to one another? Many would say yes. They believe science is the source of true knowledge whereas faith holds back progress with superstitious thinking. Some go further and argue that science gives us reasons NOT to believe in Christianity. In this workshop these claims will be challenged. We will see that science provides strong evidence that there is a creator and designer of the universe. Rather than fearing science, Christians can embrace science as we see God’s magnificent handiwork in creation. There will be a presentation followed by Q&A
Saturday Afternoon
Press On: How to Persevere when Faith Feels Exhausting
Mike Kreider
The Christian life is full of encounters with spiritual apathy, sin struggles, weariness, rejection, and more. At times, it seems exhausting, overwhelming, and downright impossible to press forward in faith. This session will deal with God’s provision for us to not merely endure or coast through our exhaustion, but to flourish and grow spiritually right in the midst of it, until He brings us home.
The Corruption and Restoration of the Bible
Nick Smartt
There are over 400,000 variant readings (i.e. corruptions) among different manuscripts of the New Testament, so how can you be sure that the Bible which you hold in your hands is the true word of God?
Realistic Forgiveness
Tori Zbinden
Forgiveness is a core part of the Christian message. The Bible is clear, Christians are forgiven and are called to forgive others. However, that doesn’t mean it is easy; real forgiveness is costly. Join me as we look together at the Bible’s honest, hopeful, and practical message about forgiveness.
Your First Step to Fighting Anxiety
Zack Gugenheim
Your heart begins to race, palms begin to sweat, and all the worst-case scenarios run through your mind. You cannot sleep, you act differently around others, and at times you feel paralyzed. Anxiety can feel debilitating. Join us as we together discover how Jesus helps us in our anxiety.
Made to Work: Gospel Truth for Over-workers and Under-Workers
Heather Smartt
As college students, a lot of emphasis is put on your future work and future career – but what about your work right now? How do you do your school work without making it more or less than it is? Let’s consider together how the gospel frees us to love the call and gift of work.
Lost in Translation: Sharing the Gospel without Confusing Your Friends
Lincoln Fitch
The gospel is the best news we have ever heard, but the news that is so wonderful to us can seem confusing and perhaps even hateful to our friends who do not believe. Come explore how to more effectively share the good news in a way that those outside our fellowships understand it and recognize it to be truly good.
Sunday Morning - Foundations
The Healing of Shame: The Rescue of God in Ezekiel 16
Mark Fodale
Can shame be healed? Can glory emerge from brokenness? The compelling story of an abandoned woman's journey, recorded in Ezekiel 16, provides the setting for one of the clearest & most compelling pictures of the gospel in the Bible!
How Change Happens: A Practical Model for Overcoming Sin
Tom Hallman
The Bible is full of commands to change. But what if you’ve tried to change... and it just doesn't “stick”? In this session, you’ll learn why that happens - and you’ll be equipped with a simple model for experiencing true, lasting change.
Wisdom: A Journey in the Right Direction
Peter Krol
We face challenging questions all the time, such as: Which elective should I take next semester? What is my best career option? When should I take the next step with that special someone? Should I obey my parents now that I’m an adult? What part can I play in addressing the world’s injustice? In this workshop, we’ll take a look at the book of Proverbs, which was handed to us by God for just such situations. By learning what God’s wisdom is and how it works, you’ll acquire a simple plan for living in a complex world.
Looking Good vs Living Forever: Preparing Your Soul For Eternity
David Royes
Anxiety, unsettledness, and distress characterize our present age. What if part of the problem is that we care more about selfies than our souls? This workshop will examine the difference between superficial living and eternal hope.
Worship
Learn the songs we’ll be singing together at the conference with the Spotify playlist below!
Location
Hilton Harrisburg
1 North 2nd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Parking: Walnut St. Garage
215 Walnut Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Mass Transit
The Hilton is a short walk from Harrisburg's train station/bus terminal.