Gathered & Scattered Conference

Nov. 14 – 15, 2025

Redeemer Presbyterian Church | Detroit

This conference is seeking to establish proper missional categories that allow God to be God, and us to simply be faithful.

Main Speaker: Matt Smethurst

TED-style talks and panel with Detroit area pastors & Leaders

matt smethurst

keynote Speaker | Gathered & Scattered 2025

Matt Smethurst is lead pastor of River City Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. He is the author of several books, including Tim Keller on the Christian Life, Before You Open Your Bible, Before You Share Your Faith, and Deacons. He also co-hosts, with Ligon Duncan, The Everyday Pastor podcast. Matt and his wife, Maghan, have five children.

At the conference, Matt will be preaching on the gathering of the local church, and mission-driven scattering throughout the week as seen through the eyes of the late Tim Keller.

a conference to equip

In 1989 Tim and Kathy Keller packed up their home and moved from rural Virginia to plant Redeemer Presbyterian in the center of Manhattan, New York. As a Reformed minister, Keller held two core convictions concerning the church. First, the “gathering” of believers each Sunday for worship was essential for growth in grace. Second, as believers grow in grace the church ought to then “scatter” into the city for the remaining six days to do good in the name of Christ. God blessed the work of Redeemer as Manhattan saw an uptick in gospel ministry.

“Gathered and Scattered” aims to promote this vision for churches across metro Detroit. Matt Smethurst, pastor of River City Baptist (Richmond, VA) and author of “Tim Keller on the Christian Life” will be the keynote speaker. A number of like-minded churches will be present as we together ask that God would raise up more “gathering“ and more “scattering“ here in our own city

Friday Schedule | Nov. 14

6:00 | Bookstore Opens

7:00 | Conference Begins

7:30 | Praise & Worship

8:00 | Session 1: Matt Smethurst

8:45 | Break

9:00 | Interview with Matt: Tim Keller’s Life & Ministry

9:30 | Good Night

Saturday Schedule | Nov. 15

7:30 | Pastor/Elder breakfast

9:00 | Conference Resumes

9:15 | Praise & Worship

9:30 | Session 2: Matt Smethurst

10:15 | Break

10:30 | Panel: A Vision for Gathered & Scattered with local pastors

12:00 | Conference Closes

1:00 | Bookstore Closes

Register Now!

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Parking Map

THERE WILL BE A BOOKSTORE AVAILABLE WITH HEAVILY DISCOUNTED BOOKS JUST FOR GSC ATTENDEES.