ADVANCE 2023
A Gathering Network Event
A call to bring like-minded leaders together.
LOCATION:
The Gathering @ Shafter
201 CA-43, Shafter, California 93263-2739
(When driving into Shafter, you will pass the railroad tracks- turn left, church is on the right-hand side)
DATES:
October 5-7, 2023 (Thursday – Saturday)
DESCRIPTION:
’Advance’ is defined as moving forward, getting or increasing, promoting, and raising to a higher rank. We live in a season of great acceleration in the body of Christ. God’s passion is that the corporate body would rise as one as never before. Indeed, God’s purpose for the earth cannot be fulfilled unless the corporate body functions as God intends.
Join other like-minded believers who are wholeheartedly pursuing the purpose of God for a time of God-encounters, equipping, and relationship-building. Come expecting to advance in purpose, encounter God, and be encouraged to pursue the lifestyle that God intended for you before the foundation of the world. This event is hosted by The Gathering Network but all are welcome. This event is intended to be a kingdom classroom of encounter with God and collaborative connection.
Ephesians 4:16
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
COST: $30 per person | $20 per student | $45 per married couple
Your registration includes lunch on Friday, a reservation of your spot for all sessions, an MP3 of all conference recordings, and one resource to take home.
NOTE: No childcare will be provided. Please plan accordingly.
SCHEDULE (Oct. 5-7):
THURSDAY, Oct 5
- 7:00pm | Worship & Relational Connection
FRIDAY, OCT. 6
- 9:30am - 12:00pm | Apostle Tonja Peters
- 12:00pm - 2:00pm | Lunch (provided on site)
- 2:00 - 4:00pm | Personal Ministry
- 4:00 - 7:00pm | Break
- 7:00 - 9:30pm | Abner Suarez
SATURDAY, OCT. 7
- 9:30am - 12:00pm | TBA
SPEAKERS:
Apostle Tonja Peters & Abner Suarez
A Gathering Network Event
A call to bring like-minded leaders together.
LOCATION:
The Gathering @ Shafter
201 CA-43, Shafter, California 93263-2739
(When driving into Shafter, you will pass the railroad tracks- turn left, church is on the right-hand side)
DATES:
October 5-7, 2023 (Thursday – Saturday)
DESCRIPTION:
’Advance’ is defined as moving forward, getting or increasing, promoting, and raising to a higher rank. We live in a season of great acceleration in the body of Christ. God’s passion is that the corporate body would rise as one as never before. Indeed, God’s purpose for the earth cannot be fulfilled unless the corporate body functions as God intends.
Join other like-minded believers who are wholeheartedly pursuing the purpose of God for a time of God-encounters, equipping, and relationship-building. Come expecting to advance in purpose, encounter God, and be encouraged to pursue the lifestyle that God intended for you before the foundation of the world. This event is hosted by The Gathering Network but all are welcome. This event is intended to be a kingdom classroom of encounter with God and collaborative connection.
Ephesians 4:16
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
COST: $30 per person | $20 per student | $45 per married couple
Your registration includes lunch on Friday, a reservation of your spot for all sessions, an MP3 of all conference recordings, and one resource to take home.
NOTE: No childcare will be provided. Please plan accordingly.
SCHEDULE (Oct. 5-7):
THURSDAY, Oct 5
- 7:00pm | Worship & Relational Connection
FRIDAY, OCT. 6
- 9:30am - 12:00pm | Apostle Tonja Peters
- 12:00pm - 2:00pm | Lunch (provided on site)
- 2:00 - 4:00pm | Personal Ministry
- 4:00 - 7:00pm | Break
- 7:00 - 9:30pm | Abner Suarez
SATURDAY, OCT. 7
- 9:30am - 12:00pm | TBA
SPEAKERS:
Apostle Tonja Peters & Abner Suarez
Tonja Peters
Tonja Peters has been a faithful wife for thirty-four years, a mother of four children, and “Grammy” of seven wonderful grandchildren! She served in ministry with great joy with her husband, Ken Peters, for over 31 years, until he went on to eternity in 2021. Tonja and her husband were the founding pastors of The Gathering @ Corona, an Apostolic/Prophetic Reformation church. Tonja is the overseer over The Gathering Network of Churches along with a plurality of Apostolic leaders that are called by the Lord to be part of a transformational movement to restore the New Testament model/pattern of the church. Tonja also oversees Elijah Prophetic Trumpet Ministries; an international ministry commissioned to build the Kingdom of God and bless churches abroad. She is also the author of Breaking Free Through God’s Promises: A 22 Day Devotional. Even though continuing on in ministry has been a challenge without her husband, Tonja believes that it pleases the Lord and Ken for her to continue on in all that the Father placed within their hearts to see His Kingdom established biblically on this earth.
God has placed a burning desire within her to see biblical apostolic/prophetic ministry restored and released throughout the entire body of Christ and to see apostolic government restored to the local church, and the restoration of functioning five-fold ministers training, equipping and releasing the saints in their God-given gifts to accomplish the work of ministry. Soon we will see the fullness of the body of Christ having freedom to cross-pollinate with the many streams of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the earth.
Tonja Peters has been a faithful wife for thirty-four years, a mother of four children, and “Grammy” of seven wonderful grandchildren! She served in ministry with great joy with her husband, Ken Peters, for over 31 years, until he went on to eternity in 2021. Tonja and her husband were the founding pastors of The Gathering @ Corona, an Apostolic/Prophetic Reformation church. Tonja is the overseer over The Gathering Network of Churches along with a plurality of Apostolic leaders that are called by the Lord to be part of a transformational movement to restore the New Testament model/pattern of the church. Tonja also oversees Elijah Prophetic Trumpet Ministries; an international ministry commissioned to build the Kingdom of God and bless churches abroad. She is also the author of Breaking Free Through God’s Promises: A 22 Day Devotional. Even though continuing on in ministry has been a challenge without her husband, Tonja believes that it pleases the Lord and Ken for her to continue on in all that the Father placed within their hearts to see His Kingdom established biblically on this earth.
God has placed a burning desire within her to see biblical apostolic/prophetic ministry restored and released throughout the entire body of Christ and to see apostolic government restored to the local church, and the restoration of functioning five-fold ministers training, equipping and releasing the saints in their God-given gifts to accomplish the work of ministry. Soon we will see the fullness of the body of Christ having freedom to cross-pollinate with the many streams of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the earth.
Abner Suarez
Abner Suarez’s life is a testimony of the goodness and faithfulness of God upon a person’s life. As a freshman in college, Abner’s life and destiny would be forever altered through a moment of surrender that resulted in a life-changing encounter. Since that moment, Abner’s life has been marked with a deep hunger to know God and to walk in an expression of His character and power as a lifestyle.
Over twenty years after this life-changing encounter, Abner’s journey in pursuing God’s assignment upon life has taken him around the world where He functions as a speaker, prophetic voice, and advisor. His ministry is marked with the ability to call forth the destiny of individuals, churches, cities, and nations of the world. He has been welcomed in a variety of streams in the body of Christ as well as different sectors of society: including government, education, and business. His greatest passion is simply to know God. From a posture of friendship, He has a God-given mandate to equip the people to display the brilliance of God in the earth.
Abner Suarez is the founder and President of For Such A Time As This, Inc. He is an ordained minister with the Apostolic Network of Global Awakening under the leadership of Randy Clark. He holds both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degree from Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina. He also holds a diploma of Master of Ministry from the Wagner Leadership Institute. He is married to the love of his life, Dr. LeAnne Suarez, and they recently welcomed their precious girl Hadassah Joy in July 2023. He is an avid reader, coffee drinker, and New York Jets fan.
Abner Suarez’s life is a testimony of the goodness and faithfulness of God upon a person’s life. As a freshman in college, Abner’s life and destiny would be forever altered through a moment of surrender that resulted in a life-changing encounter. Since that moment, Abner’s life has been marked with a deep hunger to know God and to walk in an expression of His character and power as a lifestyle.
Over twenty years after this life-changing encounter, Abner’s journey in pursuing God’s assignment upon life has taken him around the world where He functions as a speaker, prophetic voice, and advisor. His ministry is marked with the ability to call forth the destiny of individuals, churches, cities, and nations of the world. He has been welcomed in a variety of streams in the body of Christ as well as different sectors of society: including government, education, and business. His greatest passion is simply to know God. From a posture of friendship, He has a God-given mandate to equip the people to display the brilliance of God in the earth.
Abner Suarez is the founder and President of For Such A Time As This, Inc. He is an ordained minister with the Apostolic Network of Global Awakening under the leadership of Randy Clark. He holds both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degree from Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina. He also holds a diploma of Master of Ministry from the Wagner Leadership Institute. He is married to the love of his life, Dr. LeAnne Suarez, and they recently welcomed their precious girl Hadassah Joy in July 2023. He is an avid reader, coffee drinker, and New York Jets fan.
WORSHIP LEADER:
Justine Plaza
My name is Justine Plaza and I'm married to my best friend Elson. Together we have two wonderful boys whom we love dearly. In this season of life I stay home raising and homeschooling my sons. I also help lead worship alongside my family at The Gathering in Shafter CA. We have been helping lead worship for about eight years together. I strive to do my best for my Heavenly Father in obedience and leading my family to love Him and honor Him in all we do.