“The Trinity… is what is fundamentally delightful and different about Christianity. The irony could not be thicker: what many assume to be a dull or peculiar irrelevance turns out to be the source of all that is good in Christianity. Neither a problem nor a technicality, the Trinity is the vital oxygen of gospel life and hope.”
Michael Reeves, Delighting in the Trinity
Join us at our Fall Conference as we explore the glory of the Triune God, particularly as it relates to the work of redemption. Through extensive time in God’s Word, worship through music, and fellowship with one another we will breathe deeply of “the vital oxygen of gospel life and hope.” See you in Harrisburg!
The Plan of the Father (Ephesians 1:1–6)
Brian Seay
Friday Night Main Session
Our exploration of the Trinity begins with The Father, who crafted a plan not just to create the universe, but to build a family. Through his work and his plan we, though spiritual orphans, are now being welcomed into the family of God. In this first session we'll marvel at God the Father's goodness and the implications for our lives.
Brian serves as team leader for the North East PA team, and lead staff at East Stroudsburg University and Wilkes University. Because God has adopted him into his family, Brian along with his wife, Cortney, adopted their 3 children from Ukraine. He now spends his time juggling children, dancing with them, and navigating the world of parenting kids with special needs.
The Accomplishment of the Son (Ephesians 1:7–12)
Mark Fodale
Saturday Morning Main Session
The plan of redemption is the great glory of the Trinity. The Father planned and chose; the Son came and accomplished. In this session, we will learn how in Jesus the riches of lavish grace are given to us as He redeems us and provides forgiveness from sin!
For almost 35 years, Mark has been ministering to college students. He loves to teach the doctrines of grace, and he loves to see young lives captured and transformed by the gospel. He and Shannon have been married for 26 years, and they have four children, and one grandchild-on-the-way!
The Work of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13–14)
David Royes
Saturday Night Main Session
Many of us have a sense of God the Father; most of us have a concept of Jesus the Son. The Holy Spirit, however, is often misunderstood. We worship the triune God, and the Third Person of the Trinity applies to us every spiritual blessing planned by the Father and purchased by the Son.
David Royes is husband to Megan and father of 4. He serves DiscipleMakers on the Senior Leadership Team, and leads the Berks Team, where he loves teaching college students the riches of the Bible. He originally went to school for computer science, where God convinced him that the gospel was more transforming than technology. Dave is an ordained minister and a graduate of Gettysburg College and Reformed Theological Seminary.
The Knowledge of God (Ephesians 1:15–23)
Peter Krol
Sunday Morning Main Session
If you want to know the true God, there are three things you must see. And our heavenly Father gives you two gifts to help you to see. Our prayer for you is that you would not only learn about God this weekend but also see him for yourself.
Peter Krol serves as President of DiscipleMakers and as Preaching Pastor of Grace Fellowship Church of State College, PA. He enjoys reading to, and playing board games and baseball with, his wife and six children. He is the author of Knowable Word: Helping Ordinary People Learn to Study the Bible.
Friday, October 25
| 5:45 p.m. | Registration |
| 7:15 p.m. | Main Session 1 (Ephesians 1:1–6) |
| 8:45 p.m. | Campus Groups |
Saturday, October 26
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 9:30 a.m. | Main Session 2 (Ephesians 1:7–12) |
| 11:15 a.m. | Morning Breakout Sessions |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 2:00 p.m. | Missions Fair |
| 4:00 p.m. | Afternoon Breakout Sessions |
| 5:00 p.m. | Dinner |
| 6:30 p.m. | Main Session 3 (Ephesians 1:13–14) |
| 8:30 p.m. | Campus Groups |
Sunday, October 27
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 9:30 a.m. | Main Session 4 (Panel Discussion) |
| 10:30 a.m. | Main Session 5 (Ephesians 1:15–23) |
Sign Up for the Waitlist
Registration is now closed, but you can sign up for the waitlist.
When you registered, you should have received an email confirming your registration. If you did not receive this email, please email registrar@dm.org to let us know.
Payment
The cost of the conference for students is $190. The cost for alumni and guests is $280.
This covers materials, 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 a payment of at least $20 at the time of registration using a credit or debit card. You can pay the remaining balance in one of three ways:
- pay online during the registration period
- mail a check or cash
- 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. Please send your payment before the registration deadline. Mail your payment to: DiscipleMakers, 365 Science Park Road, State College, PA 16803
Cancellation Policy
You may cancel your registration at any time by emailing registrar@dm.org. Whether you are eligible for a refund depends on when you cancel.
If you cancel before the registration deadline (October 11 at 11:59pm):
You will be refunded the amount you paid when you registered.
If you cancel after the registration deadline but before 48 hours prior to the event (October 23 at 5:45pm):
You will not be refunded your initial payment, but you will not have to pay any remaining balance.
If you cancel after 48 hours prior to the event OR you never cancel:
You will not be refunded your initial payment, and you will be responsible for paying any remaining balance.
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 telling you where to go!
Registration will be located just outside the main ballroom on the second floor. Please check in and pick up your conference materials, which will inform you of your lodging details and other important information.
As you plan your travel, please allow enough time for you to arrive, register, and take your bags to your room before the first session begins at 7:15pm. (Registration opens at 5:45pm.)
Too Stressed to Invest: Discipling When Time Is Limited
Brian Seay
Life is busy! With all the demands on our time how can we find (or make) time to adequately disciple others? Jesus has called us to do it, but how!? Join us in this session as we reconsider what discipleship can and should look like, and how we can invest deeply, even when time is in short supply.
Brian leads DiscipleMakers' ministry at two campuses, is married, has three kids with special needs, is invested in his local church, and reaches out in his community. And yet, instead of saying "I'm busy," he's laboring to be able to say "By God's grace, I'm well rested, well balanced, and eager to serve."
Own It! How to Grow as a Disciple of Jesus
Carin Roberg, Tom Hallman, and Kate Wetzel
Every Christian is called to grow as a follower of Jesus. But how does that growth happen? What part does God play, what part do we play, and what part do other people play? Whether you’re a brand-new believer or feel “stuck” in your spiritual growth, this session will equip and encourage you to own your discipleship and to grow as a follower of Jesus Christ.
Carin, Tom, and Kate are all disciples of Jesus who have seen God work powerfully in the context of discipleship relationships. Kate currently invests in students at Penn State alongside her role in DiscipleMakers' headquarters. Tom disciples and mentors many of the newest DM staff, while Carin mentors both students and staff women (including Kate). They are all eager to help students get the most out of their own discipleship, so that they might grow into mature disciples of Christ.
Mortal Combat: Killing Sin Before It Kills You
Mike Kreider and Andy Cimbala
God has outfitted Christians with an armory of weapons. For what purpose? To kill our own sin. Join us to learn about our new identity in Christ and our new calling to sanctification, plus practical tips and Q&A.
Mike Kreider and Andy Cimbala serve at Dickinson College and Shippensburg University, leading Bible studies and discipling students. They’ve learned the hard way how to fight their sin, and are eager to help others grow.
Sleep: You Need It, God Doesn’t
Dan Miller
Sleep: we often either can’t get it or don’t want it. Why is it so important? How does the Gospel offer hope for sleepless nights? Come and be comforted by Biblical truth as we search the Bible to find true rest.
Dan's struggle with sleep surprisingly began the year he became a Christian. Joining staff with DiscipleMakers didn't fix the problem. Getting married didn't fix it either (and having kids certainly didn't.) Fifteen years later, the fight for rest continues and, while Dan's body becomes less resilient, the promises of the Bible grow ever stronger.
Godly Dating in an iGen World
David and Megan Royes
Instagram, Snapchat and other social media have changed the way many people interact. Few Christians, however, have considered how this virtual culture is affecting their real-life romantic relationships. This workshop explores and exposes 3 dangers to Christ-centered, God-honoring dating relationships that emerge in a hyper-connected world.
David and Megan Royes are celebrating their 11th wedding anniversary this month. They remember their own season of dating and engagement with delight, and have had the privilege of counseling many engaged couples over the years. They are passionate about helping young people honor Christ by exercising wisdom in relationships. Dave and Megan have 4 children, serve DiscipleMakers on the Berks Team, and live in Allentown.
Subtle Deception: Discerning Truth and Lies in the World Around Us
Faith Thomas
Jesus says that the truth will set us free. In a culture where truth is “whatever is true for you,” how can we actually know what is true? Every person, book, movie, commercial, and advertisement preaches their own gospel truth. Can we discern what is true and what is false? Yes! Join us as we learn to use a simple model to decode messages proclaimed in the world around us.
Faith is in her fifth year working for DiscipleMakers where she serves on the Lehigh Valley team, focusing her time at Muhlenberg and Cedar Crest College. As a lover of truth and someone who is eager to take complicated concepts and make them simple, she is eager to talk about discernment in a culture that is full of subtle messages.
Does Having Anxiety Make Me a Bad Christian?
Becky Miller
Anxiety, fear, and worry are common emotions that can make us feel like failures. But how does God respond to anxious people in Scripture? Designed to be practical, this session offers both insight about what produces anxiety and hope for those who struggle.
Becky serves the DiscipleMakers Headquarters and has degrees in counseling from Lancaster Bible College and Shippensburg University. Her specialization is helping students who are experiencing major life transitions including loss and cross-cultural interactions. She has also learned in the last few years that she is a much bigger worrier than she ever thought.
Safe Space: Finding Security in a World of Risk
Jenny Fitch
Is our world safe? From dangerous ideas to frightening people to polarizing anger, it is no wonder that we yearn for protection. Can we ever be truly safe? Come to this workshop to learn how we have a true safe space in Christ, and how that knowledge helps us to live differently in our world of risk.
Jenny Fitch and her husband, Lincoln, serve with DiscipleMakers at Albright College and Kutztown University. As someone who is prone to anxiety, Jenny understands how easy it is to view the world as being a generally unsafe place. Over the years, she has learned that she can only have true security in Christ, and that even when she feels overwhelmed by the world around her that she is safe because of Christ.
The Trinity: God Has Never Been Alone
Jordan Eyster
How can God be one and also be three Persons? This track will explore the fascinating, and often confusing, truth of the Trinity. Moreover, we will see how this triune God invites us out of our own loneliness, compels us to love, and propels us on His mission.
Jordan serves with DiscipleMakers at Gettysburg College. Understanding more about the Lord's triune nature has enormously helped him understand God's love, especially in loneliness. This has also fueled his love for others— in marriage to his wife Amanda, to his 4 kids, his friends, and to students.
Lament: Honest Faith When Life Feels Like Hell
Clint Watkins
It’s tempting to believe that things like grief, depression, sadness, and anxiety should be suppressed, avoided, or overcome. But God has given us the language of lament so we can express the pain and confusion we experience. This type of worship is rare in our culture but it’s a common response to suffering all throughout the Scriptures. Come learn how the Lord invites us to wrestle honestly with him through the storms of life.
Clint and his wife, Jillian, serve on the Lancaster Team with DiscipleMakers. They struggle deeply with the Lord as they grieve the loss of their son, Eli. The abundance of lament found in the Bible has given voice to their pain, relieving them from the pressure of rushing through their sorrow and unsettling questions. They hope others will find the same freedom to cry out to God in the darkness.
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!
Mark has been ministering to college students for almost 35 years. He loves to teach the doctrines of grace, and he loves to see young lives captured and transformed by the gospel. He and his wife Shannon have been married for 26 years, and they have four children, and one grandchild-on-the-way!
An Eternal Impact on the World: Women in Missions
Shannon Fodale, Matt Geiger, and Taylor Kauffman
Some of the most impactful and influential world changers have been women in missions. Almost two-thirds of God’s mission force are women. They have obeyed the call of Christ. They have been a driving force impacting the world with the gospel. Hear their stories. Women and men alike will be challenged to consider your role in Christ’s redemptive work to save this world.
Shannon serves with her husband Mark, training staff and ministering to students at Lafayette and DeSales. She is motivated to raise up college-aged women who impact the world for Christ. Matt serves as International Ministries Director and his heart is to have disciples of Christ taking part in reaching all nations. Taylor serves at Penn State, and her passion to make disciples ignited from how God has powerfully used women to bring the gospel to the nations.
Why Am I Lonely? Pitfalls In (And Hope For) Our Search for Community
Zack Gugenheim, Heather Smartt, Cassie Wells, and Chris Ebersole
Have you felt the pangs of loneliness? Our culture offers us solutions and explanations, and yet many studies report that this generation experiences deep loneliness, despite being surrounded by friends in real life and on social media. Why is that? Are there beliefs and problems to how we view community and relationships? Can the Gospel offer hope? Join us as we teach, share, and look to the God who made us to image Him in community.
Zack, Heather, Cassie, and Chris all serve as campus ministers with DiscipleMakers. They have all experienced and counseled others through difficult seasons of loneliness. They have seen the pain it causes, the hopelessness it can produce, and the real hope that God can move us past our own pitfalls—and the pitfalls of our culture—towards true transformative community rooted in Him.
Adoption: God’s Plan, Our Privilege
Beth Dripps
Are you curious about adoption? Do you imagine that adoption could be a part of the way you build your future family? Then join us to expand your vision for caring for the fatherless and to learn concrete steps you can take now to be prepared for a future adoption.
Beth Dripps has served as DiscipleMakers’ Staff Training Director since 2015. Before she became a foster parent, she ministered at Penn State main campus. Now the adoptive mom of two wonderful children, she loves to talk about discipleship, drink hot coffee even in the summer, and relish her own adoption into God’s family.
Marriage Matters: Saying “I Do” In a Culture Afraid of Commitment
Mike Chartowich
Today people are waiting longer to get married or dispensing with marriage altogether. Is marriage really worth it? In this workshop we will look at misconceptions about marriage (e.g. sex is boring in marriage), God's purpose for marriage, and the benefits of marriage. We will also answer the question, “What if I don't want to get married?” There will be a time of Q&A.
Mike has served with DiscipleMakers for 19 years as a campus staff at Bloomsburg University. He has a B.A. in philosophy and anthropology and is currently working on a M.A. in Christian apologetics. He lives in Bloomsburg with his wife Lyn and their six children. Mike and Lyn just celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary.
Revelation 12: Your Place in the Cosmic Battle
Lincoln Fitch
The book of Revelation is one of the least taught and most misunderstood books in the bible. The book is not a mystery novel full of secrets that we need to decode, as it is often portrayed. Rather it is a picture book that helps us to see reality from the perspective of heaven. Revelation 12, in particular, opens our eyes to the epic significance of everyday life and urges us to endure in the struggle against evil.
Lincoln serves with DiscipleMakers with his wife Jenny at Albright College and Kutztown University. He is also a part-time student at Reformed Theological Seminary, where in a recent course he was inspired by the clarity and power of the book of Revelation.
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