Southern California is a vibe, and we’re here for it. Recapping two days of learning, worship, sunshine and connection with passionate church leaders.

Southern California is a vibe, and we’re here for it.

Leah and I just returned from the North Coast Leadership Conference in Vista, California, and wow ... what an incredible experience. Two days of learning, worship, sunshine and connection with church leaders who are deeply passionate about the mission of Jesus.

The theme this year was “Ride or Die.” It was all about the people you walk (or ride) with, the ones who stand beside you as you pursue your mission.

That heartbeat showed up in every session and conversation. Whether we were talking with pastors from Montana, meeting communicators from Connecticut or swapping stories with leaders from Florida and beyond, we could feel it: ministry is hard work, but we’re not meant to do it alone.

The Takeaway: Be with Jesus

The speaker lineup was stacked: Megan Marshman, Chris Brown, Larry Osborne, Kayra Montañez, Jason Mitchell and Glenn Packiam, just to name a few. Each voice brought something unique and powerful to the conversation, encouraging us to lead with humility, courage and joy.

One message that echoed again and again throughout the conference: our churches need us to be with Jesus. Not just to work for Him, plan for Him or talk about Him, but to walk with him.

As one speaker said, “God can do great work through ordinary men and women who simply keep walking with Him.” That truth hit home. In the midst of all the planning, posting, writing and leading, it was a beautiful reminder to slow down and stay rooted.

Fishhook in the Mix

We had the privilege of sharing our own presentation, “From Message to Movement: Communicating Jesus in the Gen Z Era.” We unpacked how this next generation isn’t walking away from faith.

They’re walking away from hype. They’re hungry for authenticity, peace and truth. And church communicators have an incredible opportunity to meet them where they are with honest storytelling and deep hope.

Outside of our session we loved connecting with leaders at the Fishhook booth, swapping ideas, sharing laughs and yes, handing out our new sticker packs (which were a big hit!).

Grateful Hearts

And now we're back in the Fishhook offices with full hearts and deep gratitude for the people we met, the conversations we had and the reminder that ministry truly is a shared journey.

To everyone who stopped by our session or our booth last week, it was great to connect with you!

To everyone in ministry, thank you for what you do week in and week out to walk with Jesus and guide people to Him. You’re the reason we love this work!