CROSS CON27 Will Call Young Adults to Make Jesus Known

CROSS CON27 is scheduled for December 31, 2026 through January 2, 2027 at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The conference is designed primarily for Christians ages 18–25 and their leaders, while the organizer also welcomes high school seniors, some attendees in their late twenties, and non-Christians or skeptics who want to listen. ABWE’s August 17 announcement describes the gathering as an opportunity for young adults to receive biblical exposition, worship with thousands of peers, connect with missions organizations, and explore their place in making Jesus’ name known among unreached peoples. The official CROSS site gives the controlling details: the event begins at 2:00 p.m. Central on December 31 and ends at 3:30 p.m. Central on January 2, with doors, the bookstore, and the exhibit hall opening earlier on the first day. Its 2027 theme, This Day, That Day, asks participants to view the present gift of life in light of eternity and to consider how that perspective should shape discipleship, vocation, evangelism, church membership, and missions. Announced main speakers include John Piper, Ajay Thomas, Kevin DeYoung, John Musyimi, Ryan Fullerton, and David Platt. The program combines main talks, guided conversations, congregational singing, prayer, interactive breakouts, ministry exhibits, and books selected to help attendees turn conviction into faithful action. The official page says breakouts will address theology, evangelism, suffering, missions, and everyday church life. Optional December 31 pre-conference tracks focus separately on women, men, and developing a heart for the nations; each is a distinct add-on with limited space. Prospective attendees should confirm current registration, group pricing, lodging, meal arrangements, and availability on the official site before committing to travel.

The strongest reason for a church to consider CROSS is that missions discernment should not be separated from Scripture, Christian character, wise pastoral counsel, or durable life in a local congregation. Young adults can feel pressure to locate a dramatic calling quickly, yet faithful participation in God’s mission may take many forms: long-term cross-cultural service, church planting, theological education, marketplace work, financial generosity, hospitality to international neighbors, prayer, advocacy for missionaries, or steady gospel witness at home. A conference can broaden imagination and introduce credible ministries, but it should not replace a church’s responsibility to test motives, recognize gifts, provide accountability, prepare people patiently, and care for those it sends. Groups can prepare well by reading the schedule together, identifying the theological and practical questions each person hopes to explore, assigning leaders who are available for conversation, and deciding in advance how they will debrief after returning home. During the exhibit hall, participants should ask concrete questions about doctrine, training, supervision, member care, funding, security, language learning, and the role of sending churches. Andy Johnson’s Missions: How the Local Church Goes Global is a fitting companion because it argues that the ordinary local church should remain central in identifying, equipping, sending, and sustaining missionaries. Crossway published the 128-page hardcover in 2017 within the 9Marks Building Healthy Churches series; the verified Amazon listing uses ASIN 1433555700 and includes a foreword by David Platt. The book helps translate conference energy into accountable congregational practice. A wise attendee will not measure the weekend by emotion alone or assume that every ministry appeal represents a personal mandate. The practical goal is clearer: listen carefully to God’s Word, worship Christ with the wider church, learn where gospel needs and opportunities exist, seek counsel from mature believers, and return ready to take one concrete next step in faithful service.