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Welcome

Welcome to the City on a Hill Conference! I can’t wait to see you at our conference this year. Together, with men and women from across the country, we will gather around God’s Word to spur each other on and lift up the name of Jesus. In 2023, we are dwelling in Romans 8 and exploring the glory of our life as God’s sons and daughters. My good friend Matt Chandler will be one of many great speakers who will open God’s Word and lift our eyes to Jesus.

This is a great moment to strengthen our community, deepen our faith and grow in our love for the Lord and His kingdom. I’m praying for you right now and asking that God’s Spirit will set hearts on fire.


Guy Mason
Senior Pastor – City on a Hill

Schedule

Thursday

  • 5pm – Registration Open
  • 7pm – Session 1: Matt Chandler
  • 9pm – Day 1 Ends

Friday

  • 8am – Registration/Doors Open
  • 9am – Session 2: Guy Mason
  • 10.30am – Break
  • 11am – Session 3: Luke Nelson
  • 12.30pm – Lunch Break
  • 2pm – Breakouts
  • 3.15pm – Break
  • 3.45pm – Breakouts
  • 5pm – Dinner Break
  • 7pm – Session 4: Matt Chandler
  • 9pm – Day 2 Ends

Saturday

  • 8am – Registration/Doors Open
  • 9am – Session 5: Matt Chandler
  • 10.45am – Break
  • 11.15am – Session 6: Guy Mason
  • 1pm – Day 3 Ends
If you have questions about the program or anything else at Conference, please see the Info Desk volunteers, situated outside the auditorium doors in the foyer.

Venue map

The venue is located at 400 City Road, Southbank.
However, the main entrance and City Kids entrance are via Cecil Street.

Main sessions

Matt Chandler

Session 1 – Romans 8:1-4
Session 4 – Romans 8:18-25
Session 5 – Romans 8:26-30

Auditorium

Guy Mason

Session 2 – Romans 8:5-11
Session 6 – Romans 8:31-39

Auditorium

Luke Nelson

Session 3 – Romans 8:12-17

Auditorium

Breakout sessions

Choose the session you would like to attend and go to the breakout room listed. There is no need to register, however some rooms have limited seats, so arrive in advance to secure your spot.

Friday 2pm

Parenting

Graeme & Nicky Chiswell
Auditorium

A practical session equipping parents on how to nurture helpful habits, and discourage unhelpful habits in their children.

Picturing Heaven

Britt Cicognani & MeiMei Hodgkinson
Breakout Room #1

A bible talk and art session where you will learn and then draw heaven.

Trusting God in the Ashes

Andrew Grills
Breakout Room #2

Dealing with grief and suffering in the Christian life.

Church Planting

Guy Mason & Nick Coombs
Breakout Room #3

Reaching 10 cities – a session equipping future Church planters.

Help Me to Pray

Sam Low
Breakout Room #4

Finding comfort, joy and hope in prayer when you just can’t pray.

Evangelism

Julie-Anne Laird
Breakout Room #5

A practical session on how to share and show the beauty of Jesus.

Friday 3.45pm

Parenting

Graeme & Nicky Chiswell
Auditorium

A practical session equipping parents on how to nurture helpful habits, and discourage unhelpful habits in their children.

Digging Deep into the Word

Scott Lindsey
Breakout Room #1

An interactive session where you learn how to dig deeper into God’s word.

Personal Disciplines

Grant Bickerton
Breakout Room #2

A practical session training people on how to nurture helpful habits, and stop unhelpful habits.

Loving the Least of These

Pete Steven
Breakout Room #3

What does it mean for the local church to engage in Mercy Ministry? How do we practically love people and show mercy?

The Gospel At Work

Sharon Cooper
Breakout Room #4

Working and waiting in joy. A practical session to equip and encourage workers.

Art & Worship

Stephanie Judd
Breakout Room #5

A theological and practical discussion about art & worship.

Livestream

Main sessions will be livestreamed on this website for delegates who cannot make it to every session. In addition, delegates are able to watch the main sessions in the following spaces at the venue:

Cry Room
Available for parents of nursing babies and children under 1. Change tables and toilets also available.

Parents Lounge
Available for delegates in the foyer. Children can also watch under parent supervision.

Play Space
Available for parents and children on the Thursday and Friday evenings only. Children must be supervised.

City Kids

Check In/Out
Check-in opens 30mins prior to each City Kids session (see schedule below). Immediately after each session you need to collect your children with the appropriate check out sticker.

Morning Tea/Lunch
Morning tea will be provided for the children. However, they will join you for the lunch break between sessions.

Parents Contact
Please keep mobiles on vibrate during the sessions as we will text you if needed. For creche we will text you if your child needs a nappy change, assistance with toileting or is unsettled.

Friday Day

  • 8.30am – Check-in Opens
  • 9am – City Kids Session
  • 12.30pm – Check-out for Lunch
  • 1.30pm – Check-in Opens
  • 2pm – City Kids Session
  • 3.15pm – Check-out

Saturday Day

  • 8.30am – Check-in Opens
  • 9am – City Kids Session
  • 1pm – Check-out

Evenings

    • • No City Kids Program.
    • • Cry Room and Play Space available with Livestream under parental supervision.
    • • Livestream available for parents to watch from home.
    • • Children are welcome to attend main session with parents.

Creche

Ages 1-3

Activities
General play, worship, bible stories, craft activities.

Snacks
Rice crackers (plain or cheese) and Tiny Teddys. Children can eat packed snack boxes from home but must be properly labelled. Please bring labelled drink bottle.

Preschool

Ages 3-5

Activities
Group teaching time, worship, games, craft activities, general play.

Snacks
Rice crackers (plain or cheese), Tiny Teddys, popcorn, fairy floss (Saturday only).

Primary

Prep-Grade 6

Activities
Group teaching time, worship, games, craft activities, general play.

Snacks
Rice crackers (plain or cheese), Tiny Teddys, popcorn, fairy floss (Saturday only).

Public Transport

Train
Flinders St and Southern Cross train stations are a 10-15min walk from the venue.

Tram
From Southern Cross train station you can catch the Route 12 tram and alight at the City Rd/Clarendon St stop. The venue is a short walk under the freeway underpass.

Alternatively, you can catch the Route 109 towards Port Melbourne, Route 96 towards St Kilda or Route 12 towards St Kilda. Each route is about a 5min walk to the venue.

Parking

On Street Parking
Metered street parking is available along Cecil Street, Haig Street, Whiteman Street and Ferrars Street.

Wilsons Parking
Located in the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. Large carpark open 24/7 approx 10mins walk.

Care Park
Located at the South Melbourne shops.
Medium carpark approx 5mins walk.

Places to Eat

Tea and Batch Brew coffee (by Five senses) will be provided in the foyer. Below are some recommended cafes and restaurants nearby.

Ciel Cafe (onsite at Planetshakers)
Open: Tue-Sun 8am-4pm

Trillium South Melbourne
Open: 7am – 2pm (Mon-Fri)

ST. ALi Coffee Roasters
Open: everyday 7am-5pm

AU79
Open: everyday 7:30/8am – 3pm

Chez Dré
Open: everyday 8am – 4pm

Market Lane Coffee – South Melbourne
Open: everyday 7am/8am – 3/4pm

Dead Man Espresso
Open: everyday 7am/8am – 3pm

Prayer

There will be lots of opportunities to draw near to God in prayer throughout Conference.

Prayer Gatherings
Join one another in prayer 45mins prior to each of our main sessions in Breakout Room #2.

Prayer Team
After each session prayer will be available in the Auditorium with members of our Conference prayer team.

Prayer Space
Open throughout all of Conference with prayer stations, the Prayer Space is a quiet and reflective place for personal prayer. Located at the back of Breakout room #1.

Community Meals

On Friday, there will be three opportunities for anyone who would like to join, to head out for lunch, dinner or even kick-on after the Friday evening session.

Schedule
Friday lunch (12.45-1.45pm) – Boat Builders Yard, South Wharf – meet at the Connect Lounge and leaving at 12.30pm (allowing for a 15min walk).

Friday dinner (5.15-6.30pm) – Munich Brauhaus, South Wharf meet at the Connect Lounge and leaving at 5pm (allowing for a 15min walk).

Friday night kick-on (from 9.15pm) – Hotel South Melbourne. Meet at the Connect Lounge straight after the evening session.

Many Rooms Van

On Saturday, we invite you to donate supplies towards our sponsor Many Rooms. One of the services they offer is the Many Rooms van – a mobile meals service, which provides food and other supplies to the homeless and disadvantaged in Melbourne. The van will be parked out the front of Conference for you to make a donation.

If you are able to, please bring something from the following list:
– Canned soup
– Meals in a can
– Instant coffee
– Sleeping bags or blankets
– Canned fruit

Sponsors

Ridley College equips men and women for God’s mission in a rapidly changing and increasingly complex world by providing academically rigorous theological training in the Anglican, Reformed and Evangelical tradition. Their courses and education programs engage seriously with contemporary culture, delivered in supportive communities through flexible study modes.
Bible Society Australia exists to impact and influence Australia and the world by opening the Bible to all people everywhere by all means possible. Bible Society Australia is one of the most extensive mission groups in the world, working in partnership with churches, providing resources and Bible-focused campaigns and community programs.
Compassion Australia’s mission is to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. Through their Child Sponsorship Program, more than 2 million children are currently being released from poverty through tailored, holistic support that meets their specific needs. Compassion Australia is Christ-centred, child-focused and church-based – driving their vision, purpose and global mission.
Many Rooms seek to shine the light of love, justice and hope in our world by caring for our community’s homeless and disadvantaged. Many Rooms’ missional activities seek to meet specific needs in the community including dine-in meals, care pack initiatives, the Many Rooms Van – a mobile meal service, and the Living Room – a companionship program for the elderly.
Logos is a comprehensive Bible study app that helps you dig deeper into God’s word – whether you’re a Bible study leader, in seminary or are brand new to the Bible. The app contains tools to help you study Scripture and consult commentaries, devotionals, Bible dictionaries, and more—all from your computer, tablet, or phone.
Listen to the Conference playlist on Spotify. You can also browse the Conference bookstore located with the sponsors stands or view more books online at Koorong