Jon Ritner serves as Lead Pastor of Ecclesia Hollywood and Director of Forge Hollywood, a missional discipleship training program. He is the author of Positively Irritating: Embracing a Post-Christian World to Form a More Faithful and Innovative Church. Today, Jon trains men and women how to join God's mission and participate in God's Kingdom in Hollywood, CA. Jon holds an M.Div from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a B.S. from The College of William and Mary.

Jon and his wife of 20 years, Kristyn, have two children.

SESSIONS

PRE-CONFERENCE: Empowering the Church for Missional Movement – Hosted by Forge
Today we find increasing complexities in mobilizing church movement. The past few years have presented challenges that are unprecedented in our lifetime, causing many existing churches to scramble, looking for innovation in ministry and discipleship. As well, planters are challenged in following past models of launching a new community of faith. So how do pastors and pioneers find momentum and movement within such a challenging time? What are the innovations that are taking place, the experiments finding success, that allow churches, new and old, to continue participating in the mission of God? What are the practical steps leaders can take to adapt their current paradigms to meet our new and future reality? More details for this pre-con here.
Day / Time: Monday 1:00pm — 5:00pm and Tuesday 8:00am — 11:30am
Location: Language Ministry Center – Room 140

Workshop Session 2: Innovation in a Time of Liminality
Every living organism is empowered and defined by its DNA. So, what is the DNA of a church with momentum? This session explores these six key components of movemental DNA for any church or ministry. Seminal missiologist Alan Hirsch is joined by authors Jeremy & Monica Chambers to discuss the mDNA needed for a faith community to be empowered for movement in the Kingdom.
Time: Wednesday, 8:45am — 9:45am
Location: Language Ministry Center - Room 140
Speakers: Jon Ritner, Beth Wolff

Networking Lunch: Questions the Church Should Be Asking for the Future — Hosted by Forge America
What are the questions your church needs to be asking to find future momentum and movement? This panel of missional practitioners and authors will present some relevant questions that every church leader needs to ask about the future, in light of these chaotic times. This lunch will provide you a space to connect with leaders who long to see God's people mobilized across neighborhoods, networks, third-spaces, and work-spaces. Additionally, you will hear from pastors and leaders from diverse contexts who are mobilizing those they lead and seeing new Kingdom expressions pioneered, movement pathways created, and ultimately the reign of God revealed. Don't miss this opportunity to be inspired as well as informed on how you too can move your congregation from maintenance to movement. Featuring: Jon Ritner, Mark DeYmaz, Brian Sanders, Rich Robinson, Oneya Okuwobi, Lisa Rodrigeuz Watson, and Michael Beck.
Lunch is provided; RSVP required at the link below.
RSVP: Forge America Lunch Tickets
Day/Time: Wednesday, March 9 / 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Location: Language Ministry Center - Room 140

Workshop Session 4: Re-Missioning: The Coming Shift from Invitation to Incarnation
For decades, church success has been defined by growth; growth in attendees and growth in giving. While not unimportant, these metrics of success have placed the church with a reliance on attracting the general public to a Sunday event, a method which is now losing its power. It is time to return to the basic principles of discipleship and sentness, taught by Jesus to his disciples. This workshop will empower your faith community to become mobilized for the Kingdom, giving your church new metrics by which to measure success, namely, participation by your average attendee or member in the Kingdom of God.
Time: Thursday, 8:45am — 9:45am
Location: Language Ministry Center - Room 140
Speakers: Terry Ishee, Drew Thurman, Jon Ritner

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