May 19 – 24, 2025
Plan to join us for International Conference 2025. This will be our first in-person International Conference since 2017, and we are excited to have the CEF Family together again at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC.
You can look forward to:
- Rich fellowship with God’s people
- Time studying God’s Word under the preaching of Trent Casto and Crawford Lorritts.
- Wonderful times of Worship led by Niah and Allisha Merrill
- Praying for one another and for the ministry of CEF
- A wide array of workshops to help you grow spiritually, minister with excellence, and endure the tough times
- A Friday evening concert
- The opportunity to network with other believers
Whether you are CEF Staff, a volunteer, a member of a board or committee, a ministry partner, you will want to set aside the time to be refreshed at Ridgecrest.
We look forward to seeing you in North Carolina from May 19-24.
Registration will open online in early 2025.
Dear CEF family around the world,
I am excited to see our staff, volunteers, ministry partners, and board and committee members from around the world at our 2025 International Conference at Ridgecrest.
The Lord has entrusted us with the children of the nations. As we come together to praise what God has done, to envision God’s desire for children from every nation, every tribe, and every tongue, and to hold God’s great vision for them in our hearts, we will take bold steps of obedience to reach 100 million children.
We will build ministry highways among the nations and disciple children and youth into God’s army to advance the fulfillment of the Great Commission. We will form a global network, intercede for one another, encourage one another, and run hand in hand to fulfill the mission the Lord entrusted to us.
Let us come together in the presence of God and seek to accomplish great things for Him.
Every Child, Every Nation, Every Day.
A servant of the Gospel,
Speakers and Musicians
Crawford Loritts
Dr. Crawford Loritts is President and Founder of Beyond Our Generation. He has served on the staff of Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) for 27 years and was the Sr. Pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, Georgia, for 15 years. You’ll be inspired by his commitment to helping the next generation of Christian leaders. To learn more about Crawford, visit Beyond Our Generation website.
Trent Casto
Dr. Trent Casto, Originally from West Virginia, Trent and his wife Emily served as missionaries in the Czech Republic and in pastoral ministry in St. Louis, Missouri and Dallas, Texas. He became an Associate Pastor of the Covenant Church in Naples, Florida in 2010 and became Senior Pastor in January 2017. He enjoys playing tennis, running, and going on adventures with his wife and three children. Dr. Casto earned his M. Div. from Covenant Theological Seminary and his D. Min. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. To learn more about Trent, visit his website.
Phillips, Craig, and Dean
Randy Phillips, Shawn Craig, and Dan Dean will be in concert on Friday night. For more than two decades, this trio of pastors have produced wonderful worship songs that grow out of what God is doing in their lives and churches. They sing many well-known songs, including “Revelation Song,” which spent 17 weeks as number one. To learn more about Phillips, Craig, and Dean, visit their website.
Niah and Allisha Merrill
Niah and Allisha Merrill are the real thing! As soon as you meet them, you will know that they love the Lord and love His people. Your heart will be stirred by their excellent singing, and you will sense their passion for the work of CEF. Niah and Allisha represent musical excellence and genuine worship. Niah and Allisha will provide special music throughout the conference and will also lead us in times of congregational singing. Come prepared to be blessed and encouraged. To learn more about Niah and Allisha, visit their website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click each question to expand the answer
Who is invited to attend International Conference 2025?
International Conference 2025 will be a wonderful week of information and inspiration for CEF staff, volunteers, ministry partners, and board and committee members. General sessions will provide ministry insight and examples, and Bible sessions will encourage and challenge each of us as we seek to reach every child every nation, every day. There will also be ample opportunity to network and fellowship with other believers and workers that will enrich the conference.
I will require a letter of invitation to receive a US visa. How do I make this request?
Please contact your regional office on this matter.
When and where is International Conference?
International Conference will be held at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC, from May 19-24, 2025. Located at 1 Ridgecrest Dr, Black Mountain, NC 28711.
When will registration for the 2025 International Conference start?
We are hoping to open registration for the conference in early 2025. You will be able to complete your registration process completely with CEF.
How much does it cost?
Registration is $250 per adult, age 12 and up, $125 per child, age 4 to 11, and age 0 – 3 are free. Meals, starting with dinner, Monday May 19 – Saturday, May 24 breakfast costs $206 per adult, $119 per child, age 6 – 11, and age 0 – 5 are free. Information on how much lodging cost per room type can be found in the chart below.
| Lodging Choice |
Five Night Lodging Fee |
Per Person Conference Fee |
Per Person Meals Fee |
Calculating Your Conference Cost |
|
Mountain Laurel Queen/Queen Max 4 people |
$820 As low as $205 per person |
$125 Children Age 0 – 3 are free |
$119 Children Age 0 – 5 are free |
Your conference cost has three components: lodging, conference fee, and meals. If you plan to room with someone, one of you will register and pay for all parties. We cannot split cost for you. If you are planning to use the shuttle to or from the Asheville Airport (AVL), there is a $10 charge each way, or Charlotte Airport (CLT), there is a $25 charge each way. If you have questions, please email [email protected] |
|
Rhododendron Queen/Queen Max 4 people |
$760 As low as $190 per person |
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|
Pritchell Double/Single Max 3 people |
$555 As low as $185 per person |
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|
Maple 6 bunks Max 6 people |
$780 As low as $130 per person |
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|
Royal Gorge 10 Bunks Max 10 people |
$1,300 As low as $130 per person |
|||
|
Off-Site Housing |
Find and pay for your own accomodation (transportation not provided) $25 (Campus use fee) |
$250 plus campus use fee of $25 | Meal plan purchased from Ridgecrest |
Will language translations be available?
Language translations will be available for the plenary sessions at the conference.
I have a question about International Conference 2025. Who should I contact?
Please email your question to [email protected]. We will make sure your question gets to the appropriate person and that you receive a timely response.
