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7 Tips to Prepare for IF:Gathering | February 5-6, 2016

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Perhaps no better theme could be given for this year’s IF:Gathering than the one selected by Jennie Allen and the IF: Team: Jesus.

I’m so humbled and excited to be part of this year’s global gathering, is February 5-6, in Austin, Texas, an event that will be experienced around the globe through IF:Local.

Here are 7 tips to prepare for this for this year’s IF:Gathering:

1. Be present.

Each session builds on the next, so if you miss a session, you can miss a lot more than you realize.

2. Come to share.

Throughout the gathering, conversation breaks are built in. IF:Gathering isn’t just sharing ideas but exchanging them. These breaks are some of the most meaningful and carry an essential relationship building opportunity.

3. Be flexible.

The schedule isn’t exact. One of the beloved qualities of Jennie is that she always leaves room for God to meet us and surprise us. Last year at IF:Gathering she literally had no idea how the event was going to end until midway through the event. This is terrifying for any event planner or person with a high need for structure, but the closing moments IF:Gathering were powerful and God met us in the unknowing.

So leave your watches at home and put your clocks on military time (harder to count) and give yourself fully to being present.

4. Enjoy the fancy buffet.

Over the course of the IF:Gathering you will hear from many voices. Different perspectives. Different generations. Different topics. Not every talk, every presentation, every word spoke is for you. But nestled into all that is communicated and exchanged, you’ll find something meaningful and timely that’s just right for you. Hold that close to your heart. Invite God to bring those words alive and breath on them. Expect God to meet you—and everyone around you—during this time of gathering.

5. Pack a journal.

Since you’ll hear so many great songs and conversations and teachings, grab a journal and pack of pens. Bring your printed Bible. Toss in some sharable snacks.

6. Extend grace.

This is a monumental undertaking for the entire team behind IF. They’ve been working, preparing, scheduling, and much more. Attempting to host a global gathering is no small (or inexpensive feat). So double check your internet speeds. And if something doesn’t go just right, extend grace by demonstrating grace to everyone around you.

7. Pray big.

Ask God to move in ways that are so much bigger than we could hope or imagine on February 5-6.

If you are coming Austin, I can’t wait to hug your neck. You won’t want to miss Lindsey Nobles awesome list of must-see-and-must-do’s in Austin. For the record, she had me at Torchy’s Tacos. Just sayin’.

Are you joining or hosting an IF: Local? Let us know as a comment below so we can be praying for you.

90 Comments

  1. Kathleen Brooks
    Kathleen Brooks on January 25, 2016 at 10:42 am

    Wow! I didn’t know about IF! Awesome! Thank you for sharing Margaret and wish I could join you … maybe via local event :).

    hugs!

  2. Heather
    Heather on January 25, 2016 at 10:53 am

    Hosting IF:Pittsburgh North!

  3. Kristen
    Kristen on January 25, 2016 at 10:57 am

    Thanks for this, Margaret! I’m hosting an IF:Las Vegas for the third time and am so encouraged by how many different churches we will have represented from around our city. I’m so glad you will be a part of everything again this year!

  4. Carrie
    Carrie on January 25, 2016 at 11:08 am

    Hosting in Midtown Indianapolis!

  5. Dianna Stephens
    Dianna Stephens on January 25, 2016 at 11:11 am

    Prayers of thanksgiving for the community of believers that are working on this gathering. For His grace, His glory, and His story. So thankful for the “spark to the flame” and the chance to be all in with everyone. Praying for our first IF Local in Lebanon TN. Praying for no boundaries and open doors for those that know and don’t know.

  6. Shannon Bieger
    Shannon Bieger on January 25, 2016 at 11:20 am

    Great tips!! Please pray for IF:Orange County, hosting up to 260 in Santa Ana, CA. ❤️

  7. Johnna Artzner
    Johnna Artzner on January 25, 2016 at 11:33 am

    Thanks for this great reminder! 5 campuses of our church in Stark County, Ohio are hosting IF for around 500 women!

  8. Val
    Val on January 25, 2016 at 11:54 am

    Thank you so much for your encouragement and your prayers. I am hosting about 20 women for the first time in British Columbia, Canada so prayers for boldness and courage for myself but, more importantly, that each of us would have soft hearts before God, ready to receive whatever it is that He has for us. So excited!!

  9. Hope
    Hope on January 25, 2016 at 12:30 pm

    Love this! We are hosting IF:Elgin and expecting 100+ ladies. So excited to see God move in our community through this!

  10. Kelley Hastings
    Kelley Hastings on January 25, 2016 at 12:39 pm

    Hosting IF:Jacksonvile 3/11 & 3/12 and personally tuning in Live. Praying for the IF Leadership!

  11. Sara Jackaway
    Sara Jackaway on January 25, 2016 at 12:51 pm

    Thanks Margaret! Such simple reminders, but they are so important to really have that time to connect with God and each other! We are hosting an If:Brookside in Kansas City, MO. Would love all the prayers as we hope to see people from our church and community come and connect with one another and take next steps in their relationship with God.

    -Sara Jackaway

  12. Kitty Earl
    Kitty Earl on January 25, 2016 at 1:04 pm

    Hosting IF: Greeneville (northeast TN)!! Last year hosted in my family room with about 10 ladies, this year hosting at a church and have over 20 coming. Planning/praying for about 50. Can’t wait to share this experience with more women in our community this year!

  13. Bobbie
    Bobbie on January 25, 2016 at 1:44 pm

    Hosting IF:Local in Blair, Nebraska for the first time!!

  14. Brenda
    Brenda on January 25, 2016 at 2:57 pm

    Margaret,
    This is perfect!! Thank you so much for your insight! Hosting for the second year IF: Commerce City, CO (with a group of women incredibly diverse in age, socio-economics, race, and language!!) So excited and expectant and terrified!! 🙂

  15. Renee Law
    Renee Law on January 25, 2016 at 3:44 pm

    I’m coming to Austin. I’m flying for the first time ever and doing it alone. Trusting God through this act of obedience! I’m scared to death, but trying to focus on Him and what He wants me to do!

  16. Connie Burkett
    Connie Burkett on January 25, 2016 at 5:53 pm

    Going to Elizabethtown KY, I am going by myself. I live about an hour away. Looking forward to meeting with God

  18. Cherie
    Cherie on January 25, 2016 at 7:11 pm

    Hosting a Local with my Community Group for the 3rd year. We’ll be cheering/praying/giggling/crying/inspiring/challenging/loving from Indy. 😉

  19. Cherie
    Cherie on January 25, 2016 at 7:14 pm

    Wahoo, from a friend hosting a small gathering in Greenwood. Praying for your group. <3

  20. Wendy Vicary
    Wendy Vicary on January 26, 2016 at 3:51 am

    Hosting IF Summerville SC

  21. Lora Kuhn
    Lora Kuhn on January 26, 2016 at 4:30 am

    Attending in Bucyrus Ohio on Feb. 5

  22. Jo'Anna Davis
    Jo'Anna Davis on January 26, 2016 at 9:11 am

    I’m excited to be a part of IF this year!! I’ll be in IF:Dallas!!

  23. Leah Everson
    Leah Everson on January 26, 2016 at 11:37 am

    Attending the one my church is hosting in Plymouth, MN!! Hugging your neck from afar, my friend (and so glad you’ll be part of it).

  24. Julie Smith
    Julie Smith on January 26, 2016 at 1:32 pm

    So excited to help lead music worship at a church in my town of Nolensville, TN for the IF conference. Thank you for your prayers.

  25. ~Karrilee~
    ~Karrilee~ on January 27, 2016 at 8:53 am

    I am hosting If:Dad’s House & Freedom Church… we are two new churches in Yakima, WA and we’re joining together to co-host. This is my third year ‘attending’ via Livestream, but only second year hosting and most of the women signed up have no idea what sort of blessings await them as they had never heard of If:Gathering!

  26. Beth Hildebrand
    Beth Hildebrand on January 27, 2016 at 2:34 pm

    Such great tips! Thanks! I’ll be sharing that with our IF:Alamance in central NC! Can hardly wait!

  27. Team Englehart
    Team Englehart on January 27, 2016 at 6:29 pm

    Hosting in Cleveland Ohio!!! 6 of us hunkering down for a TRUE retreat complete with a girls sleepover and focused time with the Lord! CANNOT wait!

  28. Missy Taiclet
    Missy Taiclet on January 28, 2016 at 5:25 am

    Attending @ our church in Merritt Island, FL! ;o)

  29. Krista
    Krista on January 28, 2016 at 5:57 am

    A friend and I are hosting a gathering for first time in Winnipeg, Canada. Yesterday God answered my prayer. I asked him for someone, who we had no connections with, to join our gathering. Well yesterday God sent two!! One follows your writing, Margaret, and you had mentioned IF. She looked it up and and a friend and her will be joining us:) Praise God for His reach.

  30. erin
    erin on January 28, 2016 at 7:12 pm

    Hosting in Rochester, NY! Thank you for this…I shared it with the ladies coming to gather with me as most of them are new to IF. Can’t wait!

  31. Lisa Alvino
    Lisa Alvino on January 28, 2016 at 8:39 pm

    Hosting for the third year in Aurora, Colorado! My heart is so full of emotions, from super excited to super sad. My big, big prayer is that as our leaders gather with me, that we will be unified and completely present, not worrying about our calendars and focusing more on our hearts. Thank you for sharing! I can’t wait to hear you at IF and hoping to find you at Catalyst West in March!

  32. Katie
    Katie on January 29, 2016 at 5:40 am

    First timer for IF…..excited and expectant! Meeting with a little group in MO. Great tips!

  33. Jessica Stueve
    Jessica Stueve on January 29, 2016 at 3:29 pm

    Hosting IF:GBF in Aumsville, Oregon with Grace Ladies!! First time hosting, pray all the techy stuff works! Thanks!!

  34. Maris
    Maris on January 31, 2016 at 3:17 pm

    IF:ManhattanKS! Thanks for your prayers! We covet them! 🙂 🙂 🙂

  35. Carrie
    Carrie on January 31, 2016 at 8:14 pm

    Attending in Lincoln, Il- first time! Super excited!

  36. Karen Summers
    Karen Summers on February 1, 2016 at 1:12 pm

    Hi Margaret,
    I am attending at a Ladies Ministry in Fayetteville, Georgia. So many wanted to come that the room is almost not big enough. Praying God’s blessing on this event.
    Karen

  37. Jessica
    Jessica on February 2, 2016 at 3:46 pm

    I’m hosting an IF:Local & very much desire your prayers. I agree with everything on your list! Thank you!

  38. Janine Haines
    Janine Haines on February 3, 2016 at 10:08 am

    Attending IF:Chardon. This is my 3rd IF and I cannot wait. Needing to be refreshed as I care for my 86 years old dad who has vascular dementia and has been in a wheelchair the last 10 months after getting dehydrated. The hospital did not get him out of the bed for 4 days and he could not stand let alone walk. Four months of rehab caused him to become contorted, dehydrated again, and lost a lot of weight. Asking the Lord for a miracle for him to walk again as he used to walk a mile a day before this and it is very hard lifting him and the cost of care givers is a financial strain on my parents.

  39. Deborah
    Deborah on October 24, 2016 at 10:42 am

    Hosting IF: Baleville for the 11st time….so excited to be a part of this. We are a small church in rural Sussex County NJ. Any tips on planning are greatly appreciated.

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