It takes some doing for a follower of Jesus to keep his or her head screwed on right while living in a society that offers a comfortable, efficient, enjoyable, and tasteful form of slavery.  The allurements of our consumeristic cultural milieu draw us into spiritual deadness and away from the new humanity into which we are called when baptized by the Holy Spirit.  Those who want to get a taste of authentic Christianity should attend the SURRENDER conference. Everything about it challenges us to meaningful discipleship.

—Tony Campolo, Eastern University

The hearts of the oppressed, the poor and the needy are crying out for God’s justice not just in Galilee but in every part of the world. SURRENDER calls you to find your own Galilee — your own place of reconciliation and forgiveness where you must be a living witness to God’s love. I am inspired by the young followers of Christ who hear the message of SURRENDER and respond in Kingdom action. My prayer is that many more will choose to involve themselves in the plight of the poor because of SURRENDER. With great joy I endorse SURRENDER about which I keep very special memories from 2008.

— Elias Chacour, Archbishop of Galilee

SURRENDER is one of those places where you converge to remind each other that you are not crazy… or at least not alone.  It is an eclectic mix of people who are convinced that our faith in the God of heaven has to affect the way we live on this earth —  that this whole Jesus thing is not just about going up when we die, but about bringing God’s Kingdom down… “on earth as it is in heaven.”   This is a gathering that not only protests but protestifies… inviting you not just to see the world as it is, but to imagine the world as it could be.  It is a place to dream with God.  It is a place to worship the God who is close to the poor and suffering… and to discover that we have a God who doesn’t want to change the world without you.

—Shane Claiborne, Activist, clown and author of The Irresistible Revolution

SURRENDER has been an incredible journey of discovery for me. I have been able to interact with and challenge myself, Christian youth, leaders and many people from other countries about a whole range of issues that are important for Australian Christians to come to terms with. And although the issues of my Aboriginal people are of utmost importance to me, SURRENDER also gives me an opportunity to learn and interact with the struggles and issues of other people and nationalities.

—Ray Minniecon, Director of Crossroads Aboriginal Ministries in Redfern NSW

Regardless of what people say, ideas change the world. Get a whole bunch of people together discussing ideas with the conviction to put them into practice and you really have something special. SURRENDER has grown over the last few years to become one of those rare gatherings, in which you can immerse your self in a sea of challenging ideas that will inspire and provoke you to attune your life to God’s redemptive kingdom plan for our world. Make sure you get there in 2010

—Mark Sayers, Author of The Trouble with Paris: Following Jesus in a World of Plastic Promises

When history shines it’s light on our times it will expose massive conformity to excess, injustices a plenty and the gaping spiritual vacuum of a generation. Yet, in the darkness of that legacy there will remain a city on a hill – a ‘confessing’ remnant of ready and willing radical disciples who have heard the gospel call of Jesus and who follow Him. People who chose to live counter-culturally, being salt and light in the world – becoming the change they want to see. This good news of God’s kingdom come is spread, caught and celebrated at SURRENDER. Not just a conference – but a movement of God’s people towards the fullness of God with us. Fools, radicals, crazy, full-on, off the rails and many more titles are worn as badges of honour in a grand celebration of the upside down Kingdom of God. Join the revolution.

—Cpt Danielle Strickland, Social Justice Director, The Salvation Army

SURRENDER is more than an event, it is a process that will take our spiritual journey into uncharted waters. It is not a call to the comfort zone of  ’burden free’  ’bless me Lord’ Christianity! SURRENDER is a call to follow Jesus radically by going against the cultural norms of consumerism, greed and apathy.  It is about being part of the resistance movement with Jesus and feeling the sting of being faithful disciples to a desperately needy and broken world.

—John U’Ren, Concern Australia

SURRENDER does what I’ve been longing for a conference to do for some time. It restores the perfect fusion of God’s heart for justice and his supernatural power, that in the laziness of our imaginations we have allowed to become separate. Why does it have to EITHER/OR? Why can’t it be BOTH/AND?  With SURRENDER, it is.

—Andy Flannagan, Director, The Christian Socialist Movement, UK

As a Missional leader on the margins SURRENDER represents a different way forward. To me this is not your normal Christian conference, it is not about how you feel or what you get, it is about placing yourself in the midst of people who have allowed Jesus to turn there world upside down. It is about shaking out your religious superficiality and hearing some new fresh words about loving and serving in this broken world. It feels different not just from the front on the stage but from the back where the children play and the conversation is sparked with the little revolutions going on in hearts.  Finally and most importantly over the years I have witnessed the fruit; lovers of Jesus amongst the poor. Go.

—Mike Hercock, Darlinghurst – Hopestreet, NSW

This space is different to all others Australia has to offer. SURRENDER is a coming together of a tribe of people, and therefore creates strong links between communities committed to living missional lives amongst those who are pushed to the margins.  This strengthens the movement.  Strong links have been made, due to SURRENDER between communities all over Australia and New Zealand, providing a sharing of knowledge and resources. SURRENDER is a key point in the calendar of many communities who use it to come together to be inspired, stimulated, motivated and encouraged to continue their calling to live in the harder places in the world. I can only speak highly of this conference, as it has been a place of great support and ‘refueling’ for many of my colleagues and I.

—Ann Van Leerdam, Concern Australia and Minister, St Martins Collingwood

At SURRENDER I had a great time meeting up with people of like mind – and being reminded of Christ’s call upon our lives to surrender to no-one but God. Many of us left SURRENDER with a renewed resolve. We won’t raise our hat to status. We won’t bow our knee to wealth. But we’ll sing and dance for justice with the wretched of the earth.

—Dave Andrews, Waiters Union, QLD

Urban Vision has brought a contingent of kiwis to the last 4 SURRENDERS. As a contemporary Order on the margins of New Zealand society, we have benefited immensely from the challenge, encouragement and companionship offered by SURRENDER. To realize that others also across New Zealand and Australia have heard God’s invitation to involvement amongst the poor and that we are part of a wider move of God’s Spirit is vital. SURRENDER fulfils a unique need for practitioners to gather and learn.

—Justin Duckworth, Urban Vision, New Zealand

All across the world, God’s Spirit is moving and raising up communities of hope and resistance, communities of disciples who have said “enough is enough! Enough gluttonous consumerism. Enough empty materialism. Enough banal, culturally conformed Christianity. Enough risk free churchianity”. SURRENDER is a part of this new and beautiful thing God is doing – raising up followers of Jesus who are surrendered and willing to go wherever he says go. Why not join them?

—Kristin Jack (Asia Coordinator, Servants)

The time for talking is long over and the urgent needs of action based Jesus centred mission is upon us. Surrender is a movement that aims for action – we are not what we say, we are what we do. Use this occassion and celebrate this movement of counter-cultural revolution to change and challenge your world – be a revolutionary. As Catherine Booth (co-founder of The Salvation Army) once said, ‘there is no changing the future without disturbing the present.’ Come and join the legendary list of holy disturbers and help us change the world.

—Major Brendan Nottle, Co-Leader, Order614, Melbourne

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