It's Happening Now ... Right Now! Jennie Allen's Gather 25 Global Event to Mobilize Christians Worldwide

DALLAS - In 2022, bestselling Christian author and speaker Jennie Allen was at a low point, not quite sure what the next phase of her ministry should be. As good friends do, one reached out and prayed a prayer over Allen, asking that God would come to her in a dream that very night and provide her with some guidance.

Well, God certainly showed up, revealing to the Dallas, Texas native that He was coming back much sooner than later. This awakened Jennie, creating a fire and passion within her to bring together as many people as possible to unite the global Church in such a way that people have never seen before.

Since she had this dream, Allen has worked tirelessly to create an unprecedented event called Gather 25. A free 25-hour global broadcast/webcast beginning Friday evening at 8pm ET, will bring together Christians from around the world to pray, worship, repent and reveal how Jesus Christ is working from every corner of the globe.

Featuring notable Bible teachers, worship leaders, and musicians such as Allen, Priscilla Shirer, Louie Giglio, Rick Warren, Christine Caine, Francis Chan, Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, Matt Redman, and many others, the event will also go live to hear from church leaders on every continent including Africa, South America, and even Antarctica.

I sat down with Allen just hours before the commencement of this event to discuss the timing of this event, why it is important to highlight the persecuted Church, and some practical tips on how to get the most out of the Global 25 experience.

If you were trying to convince someone to take the time to attend Gather 25 what would you say to encourage them?

You are about to see the glory of God across the earth and on every continent. We are telling stories of revival that are happening in the Church. If you have been discouraged, if you have felt like the church is not growing, it is difficult to see hope for the next generation. If these have been your fears, I would say watch, because you are about to hear a completely different story. The Church is actually thriving. Revival is breaking out on every continent with Gen Z. And it looks the same in almost every place. And it is simple. It is beautiful, and it's so pure. And so you're going to be so encouraged and you're going to feel like you've got God's view of His world. You're going to see it all in 25 hours.

For every creative/author/speaker, there always seems to be a moment where you say to yourself, “I have to create this event!!” For Gather 25, what was that moment for you?

What a great question. In 2022, I was in a low place of not knowing what's next. One of my friends prayed a prayer. She asked would You give Jenny a dream in her sleep tonight and speak to her? And I dreamed the most vivid dream I've ever dreamed in my life. I dreamed that Jesus was coming back in 10 years and it wasn't good news because we had so much work to do. And I went and got as many people in the dream to help as I could. Some people came, some people didn't. And I woke up and thought we should bring together leaders to gather the global Church in the chance that He does come back soon, in the chance that He comes back in our lifetime. You know, I have no idea when he's going to come back. It just put an urgency in me and I thought we are church planters. My husband and I planted a church 15 years ago. And when we planted the church, we used to have potluck dinners, and we would talk all about the Church. 

Everybody brings a total hodge-podge of food. And I just pictured having a big old potluck and everybody coming. And wherever you are coming from, you can watch it wherever you are. And let's have a big gathering and just imagine what we could do together to reach the 5.5 billion people that don't know Jesus. There are 2.5 billion people that say they love Jesus. That's the biggest the Church has ever been. So, we are a large team spread out all over the earth. In Antarctica, we're going to show six churches up there. There's only about 1,000 people right now up in Antarctica, but man, Jesus is moving up there. And so we're going to show it, and you're going to see the breadth and the reach of God. You're going to have wonder, and if it has been a long time since you've felt wonder with God, this is going to restore that. I think it will encourage all of us to ask ourselves, what are we doing? People are dying out there. We're going to talk about the persecuted church. We're giving an entire hour to it, and other stories as well, that will come throughout the event. And when you see that, when you see the people that are laying down their life for the Gospel it should awaken something in you.

People often say that timing is everything for opportunities like these. Why is right now the right time for an event such as Gather 25?

I need to be super clear that the genesis of this was from God and he has pulled it off. No man could have pulled this off. Seven continents, leadership on every continent. It's a huge undertaking. It'd be too much. Nobody could do it. So let me just be really clear and give all glory to God. God wanted this to happen. So I can't tell you all of His ways and why now was the right time. But I can say just from my human perspective, that we are more willing to work together than we ever have been. I think post COVID, the Church thought, ‘Oh gosh, we're shrinking. We've got to work together.’ I think too, we are hungry for a movement of God. I think we are over any artificial posturing around faith. And we want to see a true movement of God. It brings hope to people when they say, ‘Oh wow! That doesn't feel manufactured. That feels sincere.’ And I think what you're going to see is sincere faith spread out all over the world. I think we're craving a movement.

Can you share some of the ministry events that will be happening at Gather 25?

The Watoto Children's Choir is going live in Africa. They dance, they sing. It's the most glorious thing you've ever seen. And they're all rescued out of child warfare. They've literally been child soldiers that have been rescued and love Jesus. And you can tell they love Jesus. They're going to perform live in Kigali, Rwanda. From Peru, we will have an artist there that is going to paint all 25 hours on a huge board for every continent. And you're going to watch and drop in to him painting over 25 hours. You're going to hear the best preaching. You're going to hear Louie Giglioand Priscilla Shirer. All the best, but also the best from Africa, the best from Asia. You're going to hear Mark Varughese from Asia. He is one of the most humble leaders, but leads one of the biggest churches in the world. You're going to hear from some of the best in the world. You're going to see cultural worship experiences from every continent.

As you have already mentioned, you have a great lineup of speakers and guests. People like the aforementioned Priscilla Shirer, John Mark Comer, Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes, Louie Giglio, Christine Caine, Matt Redman, just to name a few. How were you able to get so many great people to participate?

There's one answer to that. It is God. It is a favor of God. I've got relationships. I don't have relationships like this. This is impressive. This is the Lord. And you know what? It's so cool. I've been thanking people all week because it's about to happen. And you know what? Almost every person has said, ‘I want you to know I'm not doing this as a favor. I'm doing this to serve God and to be obedient to Him.’

So He has called them. I really believe He went before us and prepared people's hearts. Nobody should trust me, we've never done this before. We've led the IF gathering for 10 years. And certainly that helped build some trust. But we've never done this. Nobody's ever done this. So, there's not another answer. It is literally the favor of God. 

Why is it so important to share inspiring stories of the global Church?

It changes our lives more than any sermon, more than any experience you could have. To watch Pastor Q in one of the most persecuted countries in the world. In fact, where he ministers in northern Nigeria, more Christians die every year than the rest of the world combined.

And when you watch this story, you're going to feel confused because halfway through you're thinking, why is he smiling? Why is he so happy? Why is he so public? And you have to remind yourself, he is risking his life every time he opens his mouth about the Gospel, every time he prays, every time he knocks on a door and he is smiling ear to ear. He's already counted his loss. He's already counted his life lost. He thinks that eventually God will take me home and I don't care. He's already laid it down. He's laid down his life already. When you watch that, it does something to you. It changes you. It convicts you and it changes the way you view your own life. So, you can't hear these stories of my friend who lives in Turkey and walked in on his three friends having just been beheaded and he was supposed to be there. And he gives his life to publicly declaring the Gospel against persecution. He's been beaten 10 times since then. People here in America need to hear these stories. People are sacrificing so much for their faith.

For people attending and watching online, can you provide any practical tips on how to get the most out of their experience?

Do it with friends. Even though you're reading this and you're thinking it's happening right now. Sure. Grab a few people in your living room and watch it together. Because what it's going to do is this, you're going to feel convicted. You're going to feel awe and wonder. And it's so much better to do all those things in community. Even if it's your family. Sit your kids down. Show them the world. Show them what God's doing on earth. Some of our biggest fans of this whole project have been kids that just saw the trailer and they were like, ‘Mom and Dad, we have to do this. We have to do this at our church. Kids are hungry to see God move. They want to see what God's doing on Earth. Sit down with your family, sit down with your friends, and watch. It's simple but you're going to love it. 

What is your greatest hope for Gather 25?

That the church across the world would reignite their love for Jesus and awaken their heart and passion for souls.

TO WATCH GATHER 25, PLEASE VISIT GATHER25.COM (The event will be live from 8pm February 28 through 9pm on March 1st with the streamed webcast available thereafter).

WATCH A TRAILER FOR GATHER 25: