TGC23 Recap: Finding Hope in the Wilderness
It’s been several months since I last posted on the blog. I’ve been working on some major upcoming projects, and I recently quit my job. I’ll discuss more about that in a later post. But this past week, I attended TGC Conference 2023, and I thought, what better first-post-back-in-rhythm than a recap of the incredible mountain-top experience?
So, let me tell you about the events that led me to TGC23 and some of my major takeaways and unexpected blessings from the conference.
Exodus: The Road to TGC23
By the end of 2022, a painfully discouraging year, I had chosen “Exodus” as my “Word of the Year” for 2023. When I pondered 2023’s potential for good, I found a tiptoe-sized foothold of hope as I considered themes from the Book of Exodus:
God Fulfilling His Promises
God’s Process of Deliverance
God Displaying the Scope of His Miraculous Power & Might
God Demonstrating His Supremacy Over the False Gods of the Nations and the Sinful Hearts of Rulers
God Outlining His Law, Which Shows His Unique Character and Nature, His Righteousness, His Holiness in All Things, and His Deserving of Worship from Those He Saved
God’s Guidance, Protection, and Provision in the Wilderness
God’s Presence on the Mountain Top and Among His People
Since the beginning of 2023, the events of my life have profoundly reflected parts of the Exodus story.
In the Spring, I left my church home of five years after collapsing under the weight of more than two years of ministry volunteer burnout, disconnection, and a series of discouraging circumstances. I had no instinct to blame God for the imperfection of the church, his people, or myself. In fact, I still desired to find community in a local church. Thankfully, God clearly called me to the church I’m currently attending, Grace Church Orlando, through their summer series in the Book of Exodus.
At the end of the Summer, I walked away from my job of managing a fine art printing studio in Orlando. I had experienced daily spiritual warfare as the lone Christ-follower in the studio. Every day of my final year in the studio was a wrestling match between my desire for income and vocational identity and my convictions regarding the explicit and often demonic nature of the art printed in the studio. This impossible balancing act of leading and wrestling hindered my recovery and healing from the events of 2022 and previous years.
[Sunset Midflight to the Conference]
Leaving my familiar, comfortable life over the past year has increased my feelings of Wandering, Waiting, and Weariness. But the Wilderness is where God does most of his best work. Attending The Gospel Coalition’s National Conference in Indiana this past week reminded me of that.
I knew undoubtedly that God had called me to the conference since the theme was Hope in the Wilderness: Hope for Pilgrims from the Book of Exodus. But I was also in awe of God’s timing, due to the significance of the dates of the conference:
The day I flew into Indiana for the conference was what I refer to as my “Danniversary.” A Year of Singleness.
The last day of the conference aligned with the 40th day since I walked away from my job. (A decision that has accelerated my healing and recovery from the previous year. No regrets.)
My View from the Mountain Top
Humbled By The Intellects & Academics
I’m not a pastor. I'm not even sure if I ever want to be a pastor. I have no formal seminary education. I do believe, however, that God has dragged me through at least an “undergrad education” in the Seminary of Hard Knocks and Failure. Even though I’ve spent most of my life in the church, the TGC Conference humbled me and reminded me how much I still have yet to learn.
In the Keynotes and Micro Events, pastors and scholars consistently dove into expository readings of the scripture, verse by verse. This was not a Ted Talk convention for monotheistic, therapeutic deism centered around solitary, out-of-context verses. The Gospel was cohesively explained in each and every message, displaying the relevance and necessity of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many of the speakers also quoted Late Antiquities, Contemporary Philosophers, and scientific studies, contextualizing the ancient faith of Christianity within the modern day without compromising the core truths.
I spent most of the conference with my nose inches from my notebook, scribbling notes until the side of my hand blackened from ink smear, as I tried to soak in every bit of truth and wisdom.
Amazed By Renewed Sight
The biggest takeaway from my experience at the conference could be summed up in two words used by Kenneth Mbugua: Divine Ophthalmology.
Or, as James Anderson prescribed, we’re all in need of “Spiritual Corrective Lenses” because our natural worldviews, affected by sin, prevent us from seeing God clearly.
Many of the Keynotes and Micro Events opened my eyes to a renewed way of seeing ancient truths with God at the center, not myself. If I had to try to sum it all up in so few words, it would be in the paraphrasing of the following messages:
James Anderson (Understanding the Times: How to Think About Worldview and Culture):
“We often see the threats [the suffering in our lives], but lack the “God-eye-view” of the Bigger Picture for the contextualization of our sufferings…Sometimes, what we need most is to go back to Sunday School.”
Ken Mbugua’s keynote on Exodus 14:
We have a vision problem. When big, scary, or hard things march into our lives, we become gripped with terror. But if we look up just a bit further, we’ll see Yahweh, our God, who is bigger than anything that causes us to fear. “God will do the fighting. You do nothing.”
Miguel Nuñez’s keynote on Exodus 16:
We don’t end up in the Wilderness by accident. God takes us into the Wilderness to humble, teach, and strengthen his children. In the Wilderness, the heart is exposed. The hardened heart of ice melts in the heat of the Wilderness.
Speechless From God’s Unexpected Provision
I traveled solo to the conference since I had spontaneously decided to attend the conference less than a month before. But I was content to spend all three days of the conference alone, soaking in as much wisdom as my note-scribbling could keep up with.
Turns out, God had bigger plans.
To say I was surprised by God’s divine appointment and provision of companionship would be an understatement. Running into Michael, my old college roommate, was the last thing I had expected. I still don’t even know how to describe the joy of crossing each other’s paths on the first day after check-ins and attending every keynote session with our group of fellow Memphians.
I’ve been astonished and encouraged to see the work God has done in Michael’s life since our days of living across the street from the University of Memphis. I’m thankful that our friendship hasn’t been the kind that disintegrates after graduation. In fact, last year, out of the blue, Michael had called me at a time when I really needed a friend.
In February, this year, during a very important visit to Memphis, I even got the privilege to visit his church, see him in ministry action, and grab lunch with him. God has gifted Michael with a passion for music, students, and genuine friendship. I’m very thankful God has continued to allow our paths to intersect in unexpected ways.
Within the three days of TGC23, God has revitalized my desire for fellowship, marking yet another pivotal exodus in 2023, my exodus out of isolation.
Descending the Mountain With a Thick Stack of Books
There are still so many notes I have to read over and process from my time at TGC23.
I’m not coming down from the mountaintop with a new set of 10 commandments. I have, however, returned with more books than I originally intended to buy. And I can’t wait to read them all!
Note: I don’t have an Affiliate Deal with any of the links for these books. I just wanted to be able to provide links for anyone who wants their own copy:
Just Do Something - Kevin Deyoung
Seasons of Waiting - Betsy Childs Howard
Finding God in My Loneliness - Lydia Brownback
Faithful Exiles - Ed. Ivan Mesa & Elliot Clark
The Wisdom Pyramid - Brett McCracken
Uncomfortable - Brett McCracken
Before You Lose Your Faith - Ed. Ivan Mesas
The Great Dechurching - Jim Davis & Michael Graham
Every Good Endeavor - Tim Keller
Tim Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation - Collin Hanson