Welcome to the 2025 Convention
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, I also send you. John 20:21
What is the difference between a reservoir and a river? Reservoirs gather and hold water, while rivers are in constant flow in a particular direction. It is vital to have a supply of fresh water for periods of drought, yet if it is held too long it can become stale. As God’s people who meet at Keswick at Portstewart, we long for refreshment, to be topped up and receive the revitalising supply of God’s Word and grace, yet we don’t want to become reservoirs.
A river is always travelling, sustaining and feeding. Our fallen world is parched – dry, barren, hopeless as a dessert with no water in sight. It is desperately thirsty for Living Water. Our lives should be invitations for others to come to the waters.
At this year’s Keswick at Portstewart we are going to dive into the theme of being SENT. We were not the first to be sent by God. God’s mission doesn’t start with us. It starts with God sending His Son to redeem the world and sending His Spirit to give us new life. Our hope is that together we’ll marvel afresh at Jesus – God’s rescue mission in human form – and this will send us out afresh with glad hearts to make Christ known.
Meet our 2025 Speakers
Evening Celebrations
Rick Hill
Sat 5th & Sun 6th July @ 7.30pm
Rick Hill serves the Presbyterian Church in Ireland as Executive Secretary of the Council for Mission in Ireland, having previously served in various ministry roles both in church and parachurch. Married to Sarah, they have 3 children – Noah, Micah and little Anna. Rick is an Elder in Carnmoney Church and author of ‘Deep Roots of Resilient Disciples’. He is passionate about seeing the local church equipped and empowered in mission, and looks forward to speaking on the theme of ‘Sent’ at Keswick Portstewart this July. In this spare time, Rick loves running and endures supporting Spurs!
Evening Celebrations
Chris Wright
Mon 7th - Wed 9th July @ 7.30pm
Rev Dr Chris Wright is the Global Ambassador for Langham Partnership (www.langham.org). After ordained pastoral ministry in the Church of England, he taught the Old Testament in India for five years (1983-88) and then at All Nations Christian College in England until taking over the leadership of Langham’s ministries at John Stott’s invitation in 2001. His books include commentaries on Exodus, Jeremiah, Lamentations and Ezekiel; Old Testament Ethics for the People of God; The Mission of God; The God I Don’t Understand; and The Mission of God’s People. Chris was the Chair of the Lausanne Theology Working Group. (www.lausanne.org), from 2005 – 2011, and was the chief architect of The Cape Town Commitment – the Statement of the Third Lausanne Congress in October 2010. Chris and his wife Liz, who come originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, have four adult children and eleven grandchildren, and live in London as members of All Souls Church, Langham Place.
Evening Celebrations
Dai Hankey
Thur 10th & Fri 11th July @ 7.30pm
Dai Hankey is a church-planting pastor in Cardiff, where he lives with his wife, Michelle, and four young children. He is founder of Red Community, a Christian charity that fights human trafficking in Wales. Dai is a former skateboarder and loves to DJ. He is the author of The Hard Corps, A Man's Greatest Challenge and the Eric Says… series.
Morning Bible Teaching
Sam Allberry
Mon 7th - Fri 11th July @ 11am
Sam Allberry is the Associate Pastor at Immanuel Nashville. He is the author of various books, including One With My Lord and Is God Anti-Gay?, and the co-host of the podcast You’re Not Crazy: Gospel Sanity for Young Pastors. He is a Fellow at the Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics.
The Keswick Hub
The Keswick Hub is the place to meet up with others in the cafe, browse the extensive bookshop, or explore opportunities to engage in mission through the Mission Exhibition Space.
Mission Exhibition
Our mission exhibition gives organisations and supporters and potential supporters a chance to connect. We have 20 spaces available - Applications are now closed for 2025!
Bookshop
Browse the extensive bookshop and take advantage of some special offers during the week of Convention - including materials related to our main theme.
Cafe
The Hub cafe is a great place to catch up with others over a coffee or to enjoy a bite of lunch
Kids & Youth
Portstewart CSSM
Keswick is delighted to partner with Portstewart CSSM, a lively, exciting Holiday Bible Club for 5-18 year olds that is free to attend! This year we are running from the 6th to the 18th of July. There will be lots of fun, games, songs, Bible talks, memory verses, quizzes, activity nights and much much more! Portstewart CSSM is a Scripture Union Northern Ireland Mission and seeks to bring God’s Good News to the children, young people and families of Portstewart.
For further information check out the Portstewart CSSM Facebook page or email portstewart@suni.co.uk For more information on the work of Scripture Union please visit suni.co.uk
TOTZ ZONE
Our Totz Zone facilities adjacent to the main tent is a great place where parents can look after their small children while benefitting from the programme via video relay. There is also an area sectioned off in the main marquee for parents with small babies.
THE PRAYER SPACE
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Monday - Friday 9.45am - 10.30am
Join with us each morning in the Prayer Tent as we pray not only for the ministry of the Convention but for the Church, our society, our world, and a move of God’s Spirit throughout our land. These prayer gatherings are open to everyone. -
We have a team of trained and trusted people who are available in the Prayer Tent at the end of each of our Evening Celebrations to pray with you. Perhaps you would like someone to pray with you in response to what God has been saying, or perhaps there’s some other concern for which you would value prayer? Make your way to the Prayer Tent at the close of the Evening Celebration.
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As we gather together as volunteers to set up everything for the week we take time to pause and prayer together. Praying for God’s blessing both spiritually and practically and that we would work and move throughout the convention week.
Seminars
Coming Soon
Tuesday 8th July 12:30
Exciting News Coming Soon!
Coming Soon
Thursday 10th July 12:30
Chris Wright and Dai Hankey in Conversation
