Thursday, March 27, 2025
8 am to 4 pm
Calvary Church
$35 per person
Registration Coming Soon
RSVP Deadline Is March 20th
Compelled by Love is an annual gathering of Lancaster County pastors and leaders that aims to spark a movement of ‘loving your neighbor’ in our congregations and in turn, our community. At Compelled we prioritize being together, diving deep into conversation, and learning from one another.
In recent conversations, many of you identified one of your biggest challenges as a church leader is walking with your people through suffering, loneliness, anxiety, etc. As Curt Thompson would say, it is our grief and our response to it that is the source of so much of what we imagine our mental health crisis to be about. But we are only able to respond and tend to the grief of others to the degree that we’ve begun to address our own. This year more than ever, Compelled by Love is designed to specifically serve you, the local pastor. Join us for a 1-day conference offering some helpful tools and a fresh perspective to equip you to walk with God on a healing journey, not just with your congregation, but with yourself as well. Enjoy conversation with dozens of Lancaster County pastors where we can listen and learn from one another.
8:00 AM – Registration & Coffee
8:30 AM – Welcome & Worship
9:00 AM – Session 1
10:30 AM – Session 2
11:45 AM – Catered Lunch
12:25 PM – Session 3
1:35 PM – Session 4
3:05 PM – Session 5
4:00 PM – Conference Wraps Up
1: In What Story Do You Believe You Are Living?
As pastors who are responsible for shepherding the breadth of their parishioners’ lives, it is important that pastors themselves are equally well cared for. For indeed, we can’t give what we don’t have.
But where do we begin when speaking of such things? For starters, and it may be surprising, it begins with answering the above question. For how we think about it sets in motion everything else.
2: Living as People of Desire: Made in God’s Image
“What do you want?” These are the first words of Jesus in John’s Gospel. And they harken to the first page of the Bible.
Once we are able to name which story in which we are living, we soon see that caring for others — with the care that pastors have been cared for themselves — depends on our answer this question.
3: Living as People of Grief: The Second Wound
It is our grief that sets us apart from all other creatures as much as anything else. For it is deeply tied to our desires that have become entangled with our fear and shame, both a product of what we will explore as the second wound. And it is our grief and our response to it that is the source of so much of what we imagine our mental health crises to be about.
But pastors are only able to respond and tend to the grief of others to the degree that their own has been seen and healed.
4: Practicing for Heaven: People of Hope
Pastors in search of ways to care for their flocks can be encouraged to discover that the healing of our emotional infirmities is merely the beginning of what it means for us to practice for heaven. And we do not practice merely as individuals; we practice as communities.
We will explore the place and development of Confessional Communities and how they can provide a model for the spiritual formation of our churches, while providing healing for our grief in the process.
5: Interactive Discussion with Curt
Psychiatrist Curt Thompson, MD brings together a dialect of interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB) and a Christian anthropology to educate and encourage others as they seek to fulfill their intrinsic desire to feel known, valued and connected. Curt understands that deep, authentic relationships are essential to experiencing a healthier, more purposeful life — but the only way to realize this
is to begin telling our stories more truly.
Jack Crowley has served as President of Water Street Mission since 2014, bringing over 21 years of experience with the Mission. He previously served as Executive Director of Teen Haven, as part of the Senior Leadership Team since 2004, and as Interim President prior to being appointed. Jack has a love for urban communities, youth, and our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
Serving at Water Street allows Jack to fulfill his passion for equipping and motivating others to work collaboratively for the glory of God and the healing and wholeness of our cities. Through his work, he focuses on developing models for maximizing partnerships with local churches and community service organizations.
Jack earned a B.A. degree in Government and Psychology from Franklin and Marshall College. Jack enjoys golfing and playing the guitar. He serves on the Leadership Team of his church, is a worship ministry leader, and serves on the board of Community Basics, Inc. a local developer of affordable housing. Jack and his wife, Tanya, and four daughters reside in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
8:00 AM Registration and Coffee
8:30 AM Welcome and Worship
9:00 AM Session 1
In What Story Do You Believe You Are Living?
parishioners’ lives, it is important that pastors themselves are equally well
cared for. For indeed, we can’t give what we don’t have. But where do we
begin when speaking of such things? For starters, and it may be
surprising, it begins with answering the above question. For how we think
about it sets in motion everything else.
Small Group Session*
10:30 AM Session 2
Living as People of Desire: Made in God’s Image
“What do you want?” These are the first words of Jesus in John’s Gospel.
And they harken to the first page of the Bible. Once we are able to name
which story in which we are living, we soon see that caring for others—
with the care that pastors have been cared for themselves—depends on
our answer this question. For indeed, we are people of desire before we
are anything else.
Small Group Session*
11:45 AM Catered Lunch
12:25 PM Session 3
Interactive Discussion with Curt
Small Group Session*
1:35 PM Session 4
Living as People of Grief: The Second Wound
It is our grief that sets us apart from all other creatures as much as
anything else. For it is deeply tied to our desires that have become
entangled with our fear and shame, both a product of what we will explore
as the second wound. And it is our grief and our response to it that is the
source of so much of what we imagine our mental health crises to be
about. But pastors are only able to respond and tend to the grief of others
to the degree that their own has been seen and healed.
Small Group Session*
3:05 PM Session 5
Practicing for Heaven: People of Hope
Pastors in search of ways to care for their flocks can be encouraged to
discover that the healing of our emotional infirmities is merely the
beginning of what it means for us to practice for heaven. And we do not
practice merely as individuals; we practice as communities. We will
explore the place and development of Confessional Communities and how
they can provide a model for the spiritual formation of our churches, while
providing healing for our grief in the process.
4:00 PM Dismiss
