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The What’s Next Conference: Finding Your Purpose in the Next Chapter

The What's Next Conference is a special one-day event designed to help members of The Vine Community Church, aged 50 and up, explore their unique purpose and calling in this exciting new phase of life. We'll be creating a welcoming and engaging space to connect with others, share your stories, and discover how your wisdom and experience can continue to impact the world by following God’s leading for this season of your life.

Date: Saturday, January 24
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Who: All members and attenders of The Vine Community Church, ages 50 and older.

Conference Schedule

10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Session 1: Stories of Impact

Join us for an inspiring start to the day. We'll begin with a welcome and a recap of the conference vision. Then, you'll hear powerful testimonies from last year's attendees about how the conference equipped them to make a difference in their communities, families, and personal lives. These are real stories of real people, showing the tangible impact of embracing your gifts and experience. We will have generous time for time discussion throughout the conference.

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Lunch

Enjoy a delicious and complimentary lunch provided by Reva Ziomek and her wonderful team. This is a great time to connect with friends, old and new, and share your thoughts on the morning session.

12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Breakout Sessions

Choose from one of our breakout sessions, each focused on topics relevant to the specific opportunities and challenges you may face in this stage of life. Each session will be led ideally by Vine members/guests and have real life conversations and provide practical insights.

Preparing for Purpose Driven Retirement

This conversation will focus on getting people ready for retirement. It will address basics to prepare for retirement and discuss helpful learnings. It will give practical wisdom redefining retirement as repurposing for kingdom impact.

The Unique Challenges of Your First Year of Retirement

This conversation will address the emotional, spiritual, and relational "surprises" of the first year of retirement through Christ centered lenses.

Rekindling the Spark—Marriage in the Third Third Season

This session is designed for couples navigating the unique joys and challenges of marriage in the Third Third season.

Parenting Up

This section will focus on the unique role of caring for your own parents. We’ll discuss practical strategies for navigating difficult conversations about health, finances, and living arrangements, all while honoring and respecting them.

The Power of Grandparenting

We will explore how to become a positive and influential presence in your grandchildren's lives. This isn’t about just being a "fun" grandparent, but about intentionally pouring into them spiritually and emotionally. We'll share ideas for creating special traditions, sharing your faith, and building a lasting bond.

Finding Hope in the Midst of Loss

This session will focus on dealing with the experience of loss. Loss comes in manner different packages: for example, the loss of a loved one, a dream, or even the changes experienced in a new life season.

A Long Obedience: Perseverance and Joy to Finish Well – Mike and Pat Little

(Breakout for our Oldsters – mostly 80’s and 90’s)

Here are a couple of breakouts (if we find the right trained counselor or instructor):

  • Stewarding Your Finances for a Faithful Finish
    Facilitator: Recommended that we have a Christ centered, Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or a financial counselor.

    Goals:

    • Trusting God with whatever He has provided and using His resources as a tool to promote His kingdom.

    • Address the anxiety surrounding longevity, healthcare costs, and giving with an anchor in God's faithfulness.

    • Provide attendees with clear, actionable steps for managing cash flow in retirement (drawdown).

  • Navigating Estrangement from Adult Children with Grace and Hope
    This session is a dedicated and compassionate space for parents experiencing the deep pain of estrangement from an adult child. This is a topic often shrouded in silence and shame, and this breakout is designed to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment to hear and discuss the unique complexities of this heartbreaking situation. We will explore how to approach this painful and sensitive topic with grace, seek healing, and hold onto hope.

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Session 2: Looking Ahead

We'll gather one last time to reflect on the day. You’ll have a chance to share your biggest takeaways with others at your table and then hear from a few attendees who will share their key learnings with the larger group. We’ll close the conference with Jon and Liz Anne Adams, who will recap the day and share tangible next steps to help you continue to live out your purpose.