Global Gathering FAQ

The Global Gathering is convened by the Wycliffe Global Alliance Board of Directors and planned and organised by the event director (Hannes Wiesmann).

The Wycliffe Global Alliance holds global gatherings once every four years in support of our purpose, mission, vision and core values. The overall theme of the 2024 Global Gathering is Growing Together. This will carry two meanings: Growing together as we grow closer to each other, and growing together as we learn and develop together.

Every element of the Global Gathering is intended to help us grow together—from times of worship and celebration to inspiring stage presentations, community discussions around tables, even meal and break times. All is intended to help us explore and discern God’s presence and direction.

The board chair and executive director/president of each Alliance organisation will be invited to attend the Global Gathering. In the rare occasion of an organisation having a different structure, other invitations may be issued by the Global Gathering director.

Also attending:

• Wycliffe Global Alliance Board of Directors and officers
• Wycliffe Global Alliance leadership team
• Special guests and friends from other organisations within the Bible translation movement
• Personnel to run the Global Gathering

Please note that the invitation is personal to you and therefore cannot simply be passed on to another person (this is also true for invitations of Alliance organisation board chairs and directors).

If you cannot attend the Gathering, please let us know in the pre-registration form and indicate who you suggest should attend in your stead. We will then follow up on this.

Unless you have been informed otherwise in an email addressed to you personally, you are required to cover your travel and accommodation. The Alliance will provide meals throughout the gathering.

Only people with invitations may attend the Global Gathering.

You are welcome to nominate your spouse to serve as volunteer. We will issue personal invitations to nominees who can fulfil a specific role during the Global Gathering.

There are a variety of voluntary roles at the Global Gathering. Participants are invited to nominate individuals to serve in any of these roles.

Everyone who volunteers will need to be able to communicate in English and be able to travel to South Africa for the duration of the Gathering.

Areas where volunteers can serve

• Hosts - Welcome guests and ensure delegates are supported during the conference
• Runners - Move microphones around the conference hall, change stage equipment, get supplies to the right person
• Media team - Provide a daily video update from the Gathering that can be shared with the Alliance. Skills in video production, journalism and photography will be particularly helpful.
• Tech team - Manage the projection system (ProPresenter) in the conference hall, schedule and run presentations in three languages.

Additional opportunities will be determined as planning continues.

To all those invited, information on how to book for the Global Gathering will be sent by the end of April 2024.

There will be no group outing during the Global Gathering.

Please pray for the Global Gathering. We will update this page soon with how you can do this.

You can also subsidise participants who cannot cover the cost of attending the Gathering. Either directly contact your area director or email Global Gathering Director Hannes Wiesmann, hannes_wiesmann@wycliffe.net.

If you represent an Alliance organisation, please get in touch with your respective Area Director.

All other inquiries can be addressed to Global Gathering Director Hannes Wiesmann, hannes_wiesmann@wycliffe.net.