As people who hold to God’s promise of making all things new, and who join Him as we contend for His renewing work here on the Central Coast, we believe every part of our community matters to God.
 

Financial hardship is one of the places where people are experiencing deep need. It affects far more than finances; it touches mental health, physical wellbeing, families, relationships and a person’s sense of hope.
 

Many people in our communities are carrying financial stress quietly, often alongside shame, isolation and a sense of hopelessness. As the pressures around money increase, the church is invited to respond -- not with judgement or quick fixes, but with compassion, wisdom and the hope of Jesus.

 

Contend Conference 2026

This year, we are partnering with Hope Economy (formerly Christians Against Poverty) to

explore how the church can respond faithfully to financial hardship and the deeper stories that shape the way we think about money.

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Hope Economy partners with churches across Australia to equip ordinary Jesus followers to walk alongside people experiencing financial distress. Their approach recognises that financial struggles are not only about numbers they are often connected to our stories, beliefs, habits, relationships and the systems around us.

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Together, we will explore how Jesus invites us into a different economy shaped by the values of God’s Kingdom—one marked by generosity, stewardship, dignity and shared life.
 

Our keynote speaker, Rosie Kendall, CEO of Hope Economy, will help us explore the deeper realities behind the cost-of-living crisis, the limits of consumerism, and what it means to live Kingdom-shaped lives rather than being formed by fear and scarcity.

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The day will include:
 

A local panel conversation
Hear from people with different perspectives on financial hardship, community wellbeing and the Kingdom economy as we explore what is happening across the Central Coast, what helps, what can unintentionally cause harm, and why partnership matters.
 

Practical equipping workshops
Choose from two workshops designed to help us respond well:

• Our Money Story — reflecting on how our experiences, culture and faith shape the way we think about money, generosity and security.

• Financial First Aid — learning how to recognise financial distress, respond safely, understand healthy boundaries and connect people with appropriate support.
   

A Call to Prayer

Contend Conference is not simply about learning; it is a call to prayer.

As we listen to the realities facing our community, we will gather to intercede for the Central Coast—for people experiencing financial hardship, for families under pressure, for wisdom and compassion in the church, and for God’s Kingdom economy to increasingly shape the way we live together.

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Who is this for?

Contend Conference is for anyone who wants to participate in God’s renewing work on the Central Coast.
 

Perhaps you want to better understand the financial pressures impacting our community, grow in your own Kingdom-shaped approach to money, or learn how to support people around you who are doing it tough.
 

Perhaps you’re interested in becoming a Money Mentor, or you simply want to respond to the call to prayer—for people experiencing financial hardship, for our communities, and for God’s Kingdom economy to increasingly shape the way we live together.
 

This day is for all of us. Because every person has a money story, and every follower of Jesus is invited to be part of God’s renewing work.

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