{"id":111186,"date":"2022-03-11T18:26:50","date_gmt":"2022-03-11T17:26:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bcc.no\/conferences-finally-we-can-gather-again\/"},"modified":"2025-01-30T11:45:23","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T10:45:23","slug":"conferences-finally-we-can-gather-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bcc.no\/en\/conferences-finally-we-can-gather-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Conferences: Finally, we can gather again"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Ever since the church began over 100 years ago, the conferences have been central, and for over 65 years they have been held at Brunstad. The conferences are an oasis for faith-building, fellowship, and friendship across nations, cultures, and generations, and have been crucial to the church\u2019s development as an international community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the last decade, the conference facility at Brunstad, which BCC rents for its conferences, has been expanded by NOK 3.6 billion. Now it is finished and has become a unique place to further develop the conferences and youth camps. For BCC, it is an important part of our objective to be able to ensure that the next generation can also have opportunities to gather around the gospel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We meet the leader of BCC Event, Peter Tischhauser, a very enthusiastic person, ahead of this weekend’s conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe corona pandemic has put the planned development on hold for a couple of years, but now society has opened up, and we are where we need to be,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Peter is not unfamiliar with organizing large conferences, as he has previously led the work of developing the international youth camps. These have been a great success, and now, the camps engage the young people all year round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is BCC Event<\/strong>:<\/h3>
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A non-profit foundation and member of the BCC Federation<\/li>
Plans and implements all international events the religious community has at the Oslofjord Convention Center<\/li>
All the foundation’s events are non-profit and Christian, and based on the beliefs of the BCC Federation<\/li>
The organization is under development, and is led by Peter Tischhauser<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
The conference format is being upgraded<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now he is looking forward to taking on the challenge of developing the conferences further and is already well underway. But to get to grips with the background to the changes that are taking place now, we need to take a few steps back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Parallel to the development of Oslofjord, BCC Events has prepared for the future by developing the form of the conferences. 2022 is an important year for us, where a lot of new things are happening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nPeter Tischhauser, leader of BCC Event.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Last year, the Assembly of Representatives supported both the conference plan and BCC Event’s budget for 2022, which includes nine conferences and four youth camps. These events follow a new concept for conferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOriginally, we were to gradually move over to a new conference model from 2019-2020,\u201d says Peter, \u201cbut the corona pandemic caused the development to be delayed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He adds that the new concept will be further developed and significantly improved over the next few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the most important changes from 2022 are:<\/h3>
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Conference programs that more clearly support both the fellowship between the local churches, but also the international unity, across countries and cultures<\/li>
Local churches become more involved, participating in the further development by contributing voluntary efforts to create content for the conferences<\/li>
New meeting places and arenas for fellowship with meals as an integral part of the conference program, meaning everyone participates on equal terms, no matter where they come from<\/li>
Increased space for activity and enjoyment for children and young people by using multi-purpose facilities and areas for activities during the conferences<\/li>
Larger areas and increased scope of the conferences result in increased participant prices<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
The renewal leads to new prices <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
All local churches have been informed about the conference plan, program and prices for 2022 in order to plan their participation. There will be an increase in participation fees compared to previous years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe opportunities we have after the expansion naturally entail a change in the way we gather, and 2022 marks the start of a new era that we have very much been looking forward to,\u201d says Peter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Around 30,000 square meters will be available when the church now gathers again. It includes, among other things, a multi-purpose facility that provides great opportunities for children and young people, new areas for fellowship and meals, a large kitchen that can serve several thousand at the same time, and a large hall with state-of-the-art technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course, it costs a good deal if you plan to travel to conferences nine times a year, but here it is important that everyone considers what they want to prioritize. I really want everyone to see the value of us now being able to use the facilities in new and innovative ways, and the prices also reflect the total deal you get in the program,\u201d Peter remarks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Example – Easter Conference<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The following is included in the price the local churches pay for the conference:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Menu:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
And this is what it costs:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The conferences bring the church together<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur intention isn\u2019t to facilitate for everyone to eat in their own hotel room when we are together here,\u201d says Peter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He emphasizes that fellowship around the mealtimes and activities for children and young people is a conscious development on the part of BCC Event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShared meals throughout the conference mean that everyone participates in the fellowship program on equal terms,\u201d says Peter and continues: \u201cThis reduces the risk of loneliness and exclusion among those who do not have a large family or many acquaintances at the conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is also the reason why many activities for children and young people are included in the price \u2013 this means that everyone participates on equal terms when they are here, without having to pay extra for these arrangements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since we are now in a transition period, and it takes time to get going again after the corona pandemic, BCC Event has also urged all those responsible in local churches in the West to be aware if anyone with special financial challenges may need support. Friends from countries with low purchasing power have for many years received support to be able to participate at conferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year, three Norwegian local churches are testing a more means-based donor service, and in addition they have chosen that they will participate in the conferences together and thus also include the conference in the church budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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