Reaching the Next Generation
A City-Wide Gathering for College & Campus Ministers.
- Thursday, November 19, 2026
- 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
- MIT Walker Memorial Hall
A Unique Gathering for Ministers to College Students
Join us for the first-ever Reaching the Next Generation Conference: What is God doing?
This Greater Boston gathering is a time for fellowship and shared learning on how God is moving among college students nationally and locally. As fellow ministers, we want to create a space where all of us laboring for God’s kingdom on college campuses (whether as campus organizations or churches) will:
- Be encouraged to know we are not alone
- Learn from national researchers about how God is working in this next generation
- Learn from one another across campuses and organizations
- Build Kingdom relationships that will strengthen the whole ecosystem of college ministry in our city
All in just one morning
This event will grow learning, build relationships, and begin to catalyze partnerships across churches and campus organizations.
The $15 registration price is made possible by some generous sponsorships. You will get much more than you are paying for!
God seems to be up to something
For a while, it seemed like we would only hear bad news about young people and faith. Talk of the rise of the “nones” dominated. But it sure seems like God is up to something right now.
Ryan Burge reported this year that the data now suggest the multi-decade decline in church attendance in America has stopped. Anecdotally, we are hearing about awakenings, renewals, and possibly revival happening on many college campuses. Justin Brierley has been finding a “Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God” among young people. Other researchers are also finding a greater openness and interest among young people in faith and spirituality.
If God is doing something different among college students, then it behooves us, his ministers, to get ready together to catch the wave!
What You’ll Leave With
Clarity
The latest research on the attitudes of young people toward faith.
Testimonies
Of how God is working on different campuses in Greater Boston.
Connections
To fellow workers in the harvest.
Encouragement
Through table talks and unplanned conversations with people who live in your world.
Who is behind the “Reaching the Next Generation” conference?
For the past six years, Boston-area church leaders have joined in a national conversation (facilitated by the Palau Association) about collaboratively raising the temperature of evangelism in our cities. Three years ago, a Boston Evangelism Team was formed: a small group of Christian leaders committed to supporting the work of discipleship across the gospel ecosystem by facilitating conversations on evangelism among Christian leaders. We are not looking to build a supra-organization that will lead a new movement, but to support and encourage the existing workers.
Two years ago, we began a listening tour seeking to learn how Christian leaders in Greater Boston understood evangelism. The tour continues, but one finding is clear: over and over, Christian leaders highlighted the opportunity to reach college students and a desire to learn what others are doing. As such, the E-Team decided our most strategically impactful way to accelerate evangelism in Boston in 2026 is to gather those already on the front lines of the gospel, ministering faithfully but also, often, alone.
Current E-Team
- Marie Adams (InterVarsity)
- Barry Kang (Symphony Church)
- Barry Lam (Ember Community Church)
- Garrett Smith (Newton Covenant Church)
The Boston Evangelism Team is supported by the Boston Collaborative, Emmanuel Gospel Center and the Palau Association.
Who You Will Hear From
Dr. Rick Richardson
Rick is a Professor of Evangelism and Leadership at Wheaton College and consults widely with churches on evangelism, healing, reconciliation, the emerging generation, and contemporary missional churches and missional movements. In addition, Rick is an ordained Anglican priest and served for several years as a Pastor of Evangelism and small groups.
For the past few years, Rick has been leading a comprehensive national study of the attitudes of young people under 30 towards faith and spirituality. We are excited to learn from his research.
Read Rick’s full bio →Frequently Asked Questions
Will there be parking?
We recommend taking the T to Kendall/MIT (about a 6–7 minute walk away). If you are driving, the lowest-cost nearby option is the One Memorial garage (350 Kendall St, Cambridge), which has a flat rate of $28.
In addition, we will issue a $10 refund to anyone who parks at the garage (please provide proof of parking, your full address, and telephone number at check-in for us to process the refund), for an out-of-pocket cost of $18.
What if I can’t make it for the whole morning (or stay for lunch)?
We have done our best to pack the morning with edification, encouragement, and fellowship, and still end by 1 PM. We ask that you set aside the whole morning (and lunchtime) as an investment into your own ministry and the kingdom!
Can college student leaders attend?
Yes. But please do speak and coordinate with your campus/college ministers, as we have limited spaces at this conference and want to ensure representation from as many campuses and college ministries as possible.
How much does it cost?
Registration is $15 per person, made possible by generous sponsorships. Registration closes November 12, 2026.
Save your seat at the table
Thursday, November 19, 2026 · 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM · MIT Walker Memorial Hall
Register Today