Jesus the name above ev’ry other name, Jesus the only one who could ever save!
These words rung out on the first night of Unbound Leadership Conference 2025 where the theme was “Pressing In, Pouring Out.” Some 200 attendees from across the globe gathered for a March weekend at the Doubletree Hilton Philadelphia Airport to worship, pray, receive Unbound Ministry, learn, and be encouraged. “It was truly a family-like experience. I can't wait for the next one,” wrote attendee Andy Cannizzaro from the Pittsburgh/Greensburg Unbound Ministry team.
The deep, rich worship provided by David and Christine Imler included hymns and spiritual songs which allowed those present to make melody both aloud and in their hearts to the Lord.
Neal Lozano spoke Friday night, with an exhortation at the start of the conference: “There’s always some way to press in before we give out.” On Saturday, Tom Holloway of Global Awakening addressed when life’s experience doesn’t match up to our theology: “You know how God messes up your life? Hopefully He’s still messing up your life – turning it upside down!” Tom talked of seasons in life – different eras and how we might ask the Lord about them. Benedictine monk and author Fr. Boniface Hicks shared in his talk: “The Fourth Key is erasing the story the enemy wants to write over my life. The Father’s Blessing [Fifth Key] is a declaration of my life!”
The conference was blessed by numerous clergy in attendance including Rev. Audrey Cooper from St. John’s Linlithgow, Scotland, and Fr. Charlie Garza whose parish in Austin, TX, has doubled in size since 2019 through application of the Five Keys. Fr. David Frink, chaplain for the Padre Pio Center prayer group in Barto, PA, shared a recent and raw personal story depicting how he came to know the love of the Father: “He was working a transfiguration in my life that would radically change me.”
Testimonies rung out from people like Fr. Escudero Diogo, the Franciscan friar who “dresses like Obi won Kenobi” and ministers to the Philadelphia Brazilian community of some 30,000 people. Helen Stewart, the Unbound regional coordinator for Northern Ireland shared her heartfelt personal story, saying, “And then in that moment, Jesus walked into my darkness!”
Each main session concluded with follow-up questions which participants could discuss with fellow attendees. Forming small groups of three or four, they shared how the essence of the message applied to their own lives.
The final message of the conference was given by Matt Lozano. “God speaks to us in whispers so that we can learn to listen,” he said, and allowed a time of quiet for those present listen to the whisper of the Lord to their hearts individually and to allow Him to be their gentle whisper to others.
The overarching message of Unbound Leadership Conference 2025 was the story that the Father’s heart of love for us is ever full to overflowing. When we press into Him with our own story, He pours His story of mercy and grace into our hearts and lives. This is the essence of Unbound and the message that those who attended the conference will be praying and proclaiming as they return to their homes, churches, parishes, and communities around the world.
