Over the King’s Birthday long weekend, Revival Centres Church Melbourne hosted Conference 2026 under the theme The Hope Within.  It was four days packed with worship, fellowship, testimonies, ministry, laughter, enough coffee to fuel a small city, and a timely reminder of why we do what we do.

Friday night kicked things off the way convention always does.  The dining hall quickly filled with people arriving from across Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific and beyond.  At first glance, it was just coffee, food, and plenty of conversation, but that’s often where the magic happens.  Friendships built across years and across countries were quickly rekindled, and before long, it felt like everyone had simply picked up a conversation they’d paused yesterday.

Saturday afternoon was when the Conference kicked off.  By 2 pm, the hall was buzzing. There’s something different about being in the room when hundreds of voices lift up together. Livestreams are great, but they can’t replicate the atmosphere, the energy, or the occasional person singing confidently in a completely different key. Across two meetings, testimonies, presentations and ministry, all pointed back to the convention theme.  The message was clear.  The hope we’ve received isn’t something to keep on a shelf.  It’s something to live, share, and hold onto.

Between meetings was fellowship, fellowship, fellowship.  The food was excellent, the conversations were better, and the coffee machine worked harder than most of us. One of the highlights every year is watching the army of volunteers quietly make everything happen.  From greeters, musicians, tech teams, parking attendants, and catering crews, everyone played their part.  The entire operation ran with remarkable precision.  Special mention goes to Stewie, who somehow manages to keep Pastor Simon on schedule and make evacuation procedures sound like a fun event.

Sunday morning’s communion meeting packed the hall.  Worship echoed throughout the building as testimonies and ministry continued to reinforce the central message of the weekend. Pastor Simon’s address drew on his experiences working in prisons, sharing stories of people’s lack of hope in difficult circumstances.  His message was a reminder that while many are still looking, we have already found our hope in Christ.

The afternoon featured a visual presentation from Pastor Geoff, followed by a baptism. There’s always something special about seeing someone take that step towards Him. The meeting also included the appointment of Pastor Beau, who will be taking on leadership responsibilities on the Gold Coast.  A significant moment and an exciting one for the future. Sunday evening belonged to Melbourne’s young people, who delivered a play showcasing plenty of emerging talent, both in acting and singing.

Then came Monday. The final barbecue, the final meeting, and the inevitable goodbyes.  The crowds slowly thinned as people headed for airports, highways, and home. As I sat waiting for my flight, reflecting on the weekend, one thing stood out. The success of convention isn’t measured by attendance numbers, kilometres travelled, or even how much coffee was consumed. It’s measured by people leaving encouraged, strengthened, and more focused on the hope to which they’ve been called.

And if Convention 2026 proved anything, it’s that the hope within remains alive, strong, and firmly centered in Christ.