2018 DCL Conference Report

The theme of our third annual Deeper Christian Life Conference was BEAUTIFUL PURSUIT: Lessons on Knowing the Lord. The audios from the conference are being made available on the Network.

This is a closed conference for only those who are part of the DCL Network, hence it’s intentionally small. About 150 people attended — people from Australia, South Africa, China, Canada, and all over the USA.

The conference was marked by creative ministry from Frank, sharing Christ in round tables by all who attended, group exercises, and lots of fellowship, interaction, and laughter.

The special surprise song the sisters featured on Friday night made many men in the room teary eyed. 

Testimonials and more photos appear below:

I am 29. What I received this weekend was exactly what I hungered to see and experience: Jesus in Technicolor. He did not disappoint. I saw Him in everything and everyone I encountered. During the weekend it was like the answer to my most plaguing question of “What does it look like when God answers prayers?” was revealed in the most subtle way … Himself, being beheld and beholding. It didn’t come with a light show, a worship band and fog machines; it didn’t come with emotionalism or striving; and I couldn’t quite tell you how it occurred, but I do know that, for myself, it was either seeing and knowing Him. I cannot express how much these three days impacted my life.

~ Ryan

I came to the conference seeking the Lord’s hand, only to be lead into seeking His face. The assignments/exercises/handles were just what I needed. For the past year, as a first time stay at home mom, I’ve felt the Lord leading me into using my unique time to seek Him in prayer like never before. But I was having a hard time with that. It wasn’t until I was encouraged in these “handles” at the conference that it all really came together. By God’s grace, I did receive some fresh experiences of Jesus’ presence during our exercises of Jesus being my rest. Frank mentioned that he hoped we would pierce the veil and I wasn’t sure what that would mean or be like, but I believe I experienced that! I was comforted and assured by Jesus in my times of seeking His face.

~ Christina

The conference was amazing, I wanted to share on Saturday evening but I was already so shaken in a good way that I could not bear crying again. Apart from the ministry sessions which were rich with practical handles on how to fellowship with the Lord, I had a brief encounter that set the tone for the whole weekend. One afternoon I went out with a group to lunch, while eating a sister called Ruth start talking to me about the Lord, for a split second something extraordinary happen. It seemed like the Lord was looking through her eyes into my soul, I felt completely naked, exposed. The thought came to me while this was happening, if I was to really see Him Face to Face I won’t be able to bare it. I traveled for thousands of kilometers from South Africa for one encounter that lasted one second — it was worth it. Even if I didn’t have this encounter, it would have still been worth it. The fellowship was rich and I made many connections. That’s a lot easier when everyone is of one mind.

~ Jaco

I can’t emphasize this enough — this conference was an absolutely amazing abundance of fruitful ministry. I have never seen such an exemplification of Jesus Christ in any of my 25 years on this planet (except the last two conferences, those were great too). I was completely blown away and astonished by this year’s presentation. The conference provided an abundant harvest of practical handles on how to fellowship with the Lord, and how to rest in His ever-abiding presence. I learned about God in ways I wasn’t even expecting. The Lord truly shattered all my preconceived notions I had about Him, and He subverted all my expectations. This year just had it all. I’m still mind boggled by it all.

~ A Single Brother

This conference is NOT simply one in which we walk away with valuable information and tools that we can then apply in our Christian walk the other 51 weeks out of the year. Instead, the DCL conference is experiential. As valuable as the master classes are on their own (and they are!), the relationships that are formed and fellowship that takes place during this weekend is even more life-giving. The main aspect of Jesus that I encountered during the conference was His overwhelming kindness. It was not a voice accompanied by a burning bush, a parting of mighty waters, or some other miraculous encounter—it was just Him. His gentle, loving presence was consistently and clearly manifested to me in every session, every conversation, and every exercise.

~ Jonathan

The teaching about Psalms blew my mind. The way that Frank communicated and emphasized the teaching really impacted me. The “You Don’t Have to Imagine” song by the sisters made me tear up; I don’t do that a lot. I had several new and powerful experiences with the Lord with other brothers as we prayed together and fellowshipped together around the Psalms. The back and forth pouring out was powerful.

~ Adam

I really appreciated the conference being so practical. It was awesome, and the practices revolutionized my spiritual life, and I hope it does for others as well. I had a really rich time with others as we pursued Jesus through the exercises. I’m looking forward to exploring the new things I learned. As always, it was so great to connect with brothers and sisters in person! Can’t wait for next year!

~ Mark

I am obsessed with Jesus now! I can’t wait to talk to Him, read the Word, sing His praises, and in general just spend time with Him. I have loved Jesus deeply but never felt this burning passion for him like I do now. I feel free to worship and adore Him with complete abandonment for the first time! I know there is some emotional excitement spilling over from the conference, but this goes beyond that. It is a factual statement that “I feel free in Christ.” I am still unpacking all that I received.

~ Barb

What I have experienced in the conference was far beyond my expectation and I feel that I can’t describe it without a several-months reflection. I feel awed for the rich revelation of Christ I had a glimpse of in the conference. What I can say is that this conference is a gift from God and its impact in my life is beyond my understanding. I feel this testimonial can’t fully describe what I have experienced in the conference but I can’t write more now.

~ Abigail

This was my first DCL conference, and I had an amazing time. Now I regret not having gone to the previous two conferences. Since coming home, I have been practicing the handles that Frank taught, and have been greatly benefitted. First of all, the Bible has become fresh and new to me once again. I had stopped reading it for a few months because it was getting a bit boring for me. Not anymore! Also, the fellowship with the other brothers and sisters was priceless.

~ David

This year’s conference gave me a deeper revelation about fellowship with the Lord. After hearing Frank’s teaching and then having the opportunity to immediately put what we learned into practice with other believers, I left the conference and noticed a tangible difference about life’s other endeavors when compared with getting to know our Lord better.  They lost much of their luster.  You can’t put a price tag on that.

~ Michael

This year’s conference had an incredibly deep impact on me in more ways than one. And I believe that will only increase as I hear the messages a second time on the DCLN Master Class in the months ahead. If I had to narrow it down to one over arching thing that impacted me the most it would be the wonderful door of access the Lord has given us, to see it traced all the way back to the Garden of Eden where the realm of heaven overlapped with earth’s realm.

~ Franz

This year’s conference exceeded my expectations. Connecting and reconnecting with my brothers and sisters is such a blessing. Jesus was on full display this weekend and the Father confirmed through these beautiful people SO MUCH of what He has been saying to me these last few months. I feel like I have been marinated in His love.

~ Vara

There is so much I could say. I am still trying to capture on paper what God spoke to my heart in the conference this year. But, for the sake of being concise, let me just give this snippet. After the conference, and being home in my normal routine for a few weeks (with the added practical exercises of pursuing his conscious presence), I find myself, for the first time in my life, preferring the sweetness of personal devotion with the Lord over the corporate setting of worship. I have heard my wife sharing more from this weekend with everyone she talks to than I have heard her share anything else that we have ever received from.

~ Lee and Dawn

Words cannot express how full I am right now. It’s difficult to put into words what I experienced at the DCL Conference, but here are a couple of phrases that come to mind—the love of Jesus new and fresh, God’s accepting family, direction for pursuing the kingdom.  The takeaway was so practical, and the freedom to commune with our Lord without any pre-judging or expectation from others was beyond what I could have imagined.  In fact, that is a testimony to the conference leadership that the expectation isn’t on us to perform, but on the Lord to do His work in our lives.  Praise the Lord.

~ Barry

The conference was simply awesome!! The Lord is working mightily in our network.

~ Jeffrey

The Deeper Christian Life Network Conference was fantastic as it has been in the last two years.  It feels like home to me, and it is the highlight of my year!  This is deep fellowship with a wonderful group of people who are all seeking to put Jesus first and foremost.  The conference title was “Beautiful Pursuit” and gave us many handles and practical ways to pursue the Lord every day, alone and with others in His Body.

~ Susan

The DCL conference was truly outstanding. It increased our desire to pursue Christ in the inner way by giving us practical “handles” that make the pursuit much more exciting. Thank you Frank for those power-packed meetings.

~ Bob

The conference impacted me. It was a funnel that the Holy Spirit took particular pleasure in pouring Himself into and out of my heart and to everyone else’s there. I was especially touched in gaining a fuller orientation toward who we are in Christ’s kingdom, and also practical encouragement in ways to pursue Him. The sweet fellowship with family whose hearts are so obviously captivated, really hungering for Christ was amazing. I appreciated how Frank took this even further, challenging us to love on God together, to know Him more deeply with and through each other. An area I needed more direction and growth in.

~ Priscilla

It was a fountain of living water.

~ Sue

So hard to put into words the impact of this year’s DCL conference.  I will say that it was a stirring up of a passionate love affair with Jesus Christ which our hearts have been so yearning for. Thank you Frank for giving us the tools to begin and continue on this beautiful journey

~ Ann

I feel that the Lord used the conference to prune me and I am still going through that.  On Saturday, after the morning session, I suddenly felt like crying.  The Lord used the conference to soften (break) my heart.  The last night of testimonials was a big part of that healing.  Looking back, I see how the Lord orchestrated every person I met and every table I sat at and every interaction I had.  It’s marvelous to think he has no problem doing that for every single person there.  He is amazing!

~ Carla

Overwhelming and amazing wealth of teaching and practical applications!  A banquet so rich and satisfying it will require the remainder of the year to integrate the lessons into my life and the lives of those around me!

~ Lynn

It was like being born again and again and again….to “see” the kingdom of God! Which we not only saw, but experienced, with other saints who were hungry for His presence! So glad my wife and son both experienced it with me!

~ The Slack family