Discipleship Conference 2026

FORMED We can listen to more sermons, read more books, and learn more about faith, yet still find ourselves unchanged. Because knowing more about Jesus is not the same as being formed by Jesus. Real transformation requires more than information. It happens as the person of the Spirit, the practice of spiritual disciplines, and the process of discipleship come together. We’ll be exploring the relationship between these three that are often treated separately, but which God intends to work together to form us into the likeness of Christ. DC2026 is for anyone who longs to become more like Jesus, yet recognises the gap between what they know and how they live. Abel Cheah opens the day with two keynote sessions exploring who the Holy Spirit is and how God forms us through His love before calling us to bear lasting fruit. Afternoon streams with Abel Cheah, Christie Blakie, and Chris Metcalf move us from principle to practice. The day closes with a panel on the future of discipleship in the local church. SPEAKERS Abel Cheah is the Vicar (Senior Pastor) of Holy Trinity Bukit Bintang (HTBB) in Kuala Lumpur, a Hub Church for Alpha in the Asia Pacific. He also leads Leadership Development for the Alpha Asia Pacific Hub and teaches at St Paul's Theological College.Before joining HTBB, Abel served as Chief Operating Officer of Alpha Asia Pacific, National Coordinator of Alpha Malaysia, and Head of Regions for Teach For Malaysia, where he helped develop leaders and address educational inequity nationwide.He is married to Jacintha, who also serves as a pastor at HTBB, and together they have two sons, Levi and Lucas. Christie Blaikie is the Founding and Senior Pastor of Oasis Church alongside her husband, Ewen. Together with Ewen, Christie has planted four churches, including two Oasis Church locations. She speaks across Australia and internationally, known for empowering leaders to step into their God-given calling. Alongside ministry, Christie has also built and led successful businesses and currently serves as the State President of Australian Christian Churches, Western Australia. Chris Metcalf serves as Director of the Perth Youth Gospel Partnership and is an Associate Pastor at Mundaring Church of Christ, where he oversees youth ministry and ministry apprenticeships. After completing a pharmacy degree, Chris responded to God's call into ministry through an apprenticeship with the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (AFES), followed by theological studies at Trinity Theological College. Since then, he has invested in raising disciples and strengthening gospel-centred ministry across Perth. SESSIONS Keynote 1 – Who is the Holy Spirit? | Abel Cheah Before Jesus went to the cross, He promised His disciples a gift: not a force or a feeling, but a Person. In this session, we'll explore who the Holy Spirit is and why He is central to the Christian life. Discover why His presence changes everything from shaping our identity, forming us to be like Jesus, and empowering us to live His mission every day. Keynote 2 – Loved. Be. Do | Abel Cheah Many of us define ourselves by what we do, but Jesus shows us a different way. In John 15, we'll explore the order of spiritual formation and fruitfulness in life: Loved → Be → Do. To discover our purpose, we first receive God’s love, which forms our identity before we live out any habits, practices, and patterns. When we start with love, we discover who we truly are — and from there, our ‘doing' becomes an overflow, not a performance. Stream 1 – Should I Stay or Should I Go? | Abel Cheah We all face moments when we wonder whether it's time to stay, move on, persevere, or let go. How do we discern God's leading in seasons of uncertainty? Drawing from the journeys of God's people in the Old Testament, Abel explores three ways God forms His people through seasons of displacement and struggle. Discover practical wisdom for making decisions while continuing to grow as God’s people. Stream 2 – One with the Holy Spirit | Christie Blaikie Jesus prayed that we would be one with Him, just as He is one with the Father. In this workshop, we'll explore what it means to cultivate a genuine friendship the Holy Spirit and partner with Him each day. Together, we'll discover practical ways to recognise His voice, respond to His leading, and grow in a life shaped by His presence. As we learn to deeply connect with the Spirit, we'll see how He forms us into people with greater intimacy with Jesus, spiritual fruit, bold faith, and effective witness. Stream 3 – Held and Holding On | Chris Metcalf What keeps us following Jesus when faith gets hard? The journey of becoming like Jesus is formed not only by moments of growth and breakthrough but also through seasons when life pushes back. Whether you're a teenager trying to figure out how to stay spiritually alive, a youth leader, a parent, or anyone trying to support others in their faith, explore how perseverance in the Christian life is a work of God, grounded in the Word, shaped by the Spirit, and lived out in community. Following Jesus was never meant to stop at knowing about Him. At this year’s conference, we’ll explore how our hope of becoming more like Jesus can become a reality in our everyday lives. Come and be formed! For more info on each of our speakers, their sessions, the conference program, and more, head to dc.org.au Be sure to get your early bird tickets today! CONFERENCE TICKETS Each conference ticket includes both keynote sessions, your choice of one breakout stream, and the panel discussion that includes all our speakers. Conference materials, lunch and two tea breaks are also included in the ticket cost. ADULTS (Ages 18 and over) • EARLY BIRD $50 (26 July - 30 August) • REGULAR $70 (31 August - 18 October) • WALK-IN $80 (31 October) YOUTH (High schoolers in Year7 to Year 12 only) • EARLY BIRD $15 (26 July - 30 August) • REGULAR $25 (31 August to 18 October) • WALK-IN $40 (31 October) KIDS PROGRAM (Year 1 to Year 6 only) Each kids program ticket will cover activities and related materials, lunch and snacks. • EARLY BIRD $15 (26 July - 30 August) • REGULAR $25 (31 August - 18 October) • WALK-IN $40 (31 October) Online ticket sales will close on 18 October and will only reopen on Conference day at Walk-In rates. All tickets are non-refundable.