After #KesCon25: Some reflections

“Hear God’s Word, become like God’s Son, and serve God’s mission.” That’s what Keswick Ministries is hoping to have achieved with its three-week 2025 convention.

This year, the event celebrated 150 years since its first gathering. An estimated 14,000 people, including 3,500 children and teenagers, took part in a programme spread across three weeks (14 July to 1 August).

Three attendees have told en about their experiences of each week, and share their reflections below.

1. Big crowds, warm fellowship, and crazy weather - by Luke Randall
   
   The first week of Keswick Convention – oft dubbed the “Scottish Week” (what with Scottish schools generally breaking up the earliest) – featured big crowds, warm fellowship, and crazy weather.
   
   Cornhill Scotland’s Andy Gemmill preached through James during the morning Bible readings while John’s gospel was the evening focus.
   
   Attendance numbers were healthy, filling what was a larger marquee tent than that which was used last year; perhaps reflected by welcome-problems of capacity during an exciting first Sunday, when St John’s Parish Church in particular struggled to accommodate everyone at their ten o’clock service, where world renowned theologian Sinclair Ferguson was preaching.
   
   It wouldn’t be a week at Keswick without a mixture of weird and wonderful weather; conventioners arrived on the Saturday in the Lake District in 30-degree heat, but by Tuesday evening were almost swimming home in several inches of torrential rain, even prompting the closure of some exit routes from the tent!
   
   
2. Not our faithlessness but His faithfulness - by Lydia Houghton
   
   “We might feel like we’re sinking,” Matt Searles said from the main stage during week two of Keswick Convention, “but it’s not our faithlessness but His faithfulness.” What a way to kick off my annual trip to the convention!
   
   As a 24-year-old, I wasn’t (yet) past the cut-off for attending the 19-24s “track” – it was a real blessing. We were spiritually strengthened by morning seminars in Galatians focusing on the fruit of the Spirit; we enjoyed fellowship and fun during afternoon socials in and around Keswick (who can make the “best” outfit out of charity shop finds?); described as an “eclectic” mixture, we enjoyed interviews, games, prayer, music, and general fun at the late-evening “After Hours” sessions in the heart of the Pencil Factory.
   
   As usual, I came away from the convention with a (small but still substantial) stack of Christian books from the 10ofthose bookstall – perfect for picking up in the coming months when I want reminders of all we learned at Keswick, pointing to the Lord Jesus, His grace, and His love.
   
   
3. Keswick Unconventional: It’s good to laugh - by Peter Duncalfe
   
   Week three was our first week ever at the Keswick Convention – and it was apparently the busiest week of all time. We quickly learned not to bring a bag on site so as to skip the long security queue!
   
   Seeing the excitement, enthusiasm, and enjoyment from our two boys (12 and 14) along with the hundreds of others pouring into and out of the youth venues every day was infectious. The youth programme followed the same passages and themes of teaching that we did in the morning readings and evening celebrations, so we could share what we had all heard and learned together.
   
   Then there was Keswick Unconventional – apparently you only get to experience this if you go to week three, and that’s enough to keep me aiming for this week in the future. Late night comedy, music, and chat-show-type-material with speakers and other notables from the convention was wonderfully brought to the Unconventional-goers by James Cary and Rachel Redeemed. It’s good to laugh at our flaws and foibles, not just as human beings but sometimes the oddities that come as being part of God’s people.
   
   Our first time at Keswick Convention will most certainly not be our last. So, should you go next year? Absolutely, so long as you’re behind me in the queue to get back on site!

Read more en content about Keswick Convention here.