Gibson Keynotes ‘Gathering,’ Despite Travel Delays

A canceled flight didn’t prevent Chesapeake Conference from hosting “The Gathering: Forward by Faith” last weekend. The two-day, online-only event was broadcast on YouTube and Facebook June 17-18 and featured keynote presentations from Ty Gibson, speaker/director for Light Bearers and pastor of the Storyline Adventist Church.

Gibson was unable to speak at the opening program on Friday night as originally scheduled after his morning flight was canceled due to airline staffing shortages. Jerry Lutz, Chesapeake Conference president, filled in as the opening night speaker and encouraged viewers to secure their faith firmly in Jesus Christ to prepare for His second coming.

Conference officials modified the Saturday broadcast schedule to ensure Gibson could still preach his three planned messages on the mission and purpose of the Seventh-day Adventist Church: “The Movement,” “The Message,” and “The Mission.”

“The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to make Jesus accessible to the world around us,” said Gibson during his final message on Saturday evening.

“The Gathering” included music from tenor Javier Gonzalez, the weekend’s featured musician. Pianist Mark Di Pinto and camp meeting music coordinator Robert Martinez provided additional music.

One of the highlights from previous years that returned for this year’s event was Saturday afternoon’s “Music and Mission” program. Chesapeake Conference evangelism and church growth director David Klinedinst interviewed several individuals recently baptized into conference churches, and Gonzalez performed a mini-concert.

“Every year, we receive testimonies of how ‘The Gathering’ continues to be a consistent source of inspiration for our Chesapeake family,” says Andre Hastick, Chesapeake Conference executive secretary and camp meeting coordinator. “We came together virtually this year, but this format did not hinder the Spirit of the Lord blessing us through song and the preaching of the Word. We thank Pastor Ty Gibson for reminding us of our biblically based calling, identity, and mission as Seventh-day Adventists.”