BTC began in 2008 as a way to encourage the next generation of Reformed Baptists in their service to local churches...

The March evening was chilly, and made colder by the breeze that blew across the plateau. Just outside the city limits of Prescott, Arizona, a quaint, old town with its iconic Courthouse Square and Whiskey Row, three friends sat by the backyard bonfire and enjoyed typical campfire conversation—typical for reformed baptist Christians, at least. The topic: the spiritual health of the church in America, specifically among those who were of the younger, up-and-coming generation of tomorrow. 

Todd and Annie Froman had invested much in the younger generation as they ministered for the past few years to the youth group at Grace Covenant Church in Gilbert, Arizona. David Giarrizzo was one of those teenage kids they had invested in just a few years earlier. Now a college student on spring break, David found himself enjoying a weekend with them at their new residence in northern Arizona discussing the spiritual health of the up-and-coming generation of the church. David had been discouraged to see some of his own friends from high school drifting away from the churches—and faith—of their parents. “How can we encourage those currently being raised in Reformed Baptist churches to stay there and to embrace the confessional Christianity handed down to them?,” he wondered.

As he saw more young adults leave the faith or move to different churches, David’s desire intensified for a conference that would be reformed, relational, and real.

Born out of that fireside conversation was the idea of an annual conference for young adults through which we would seek to encourage them in active church ministry. Of course this conference wouldn't fix the problems that David observed, but hopefully it would provide one more source of encouragement to young people to stay connected to their local churches and faithful in their service to the Lord.

That was in 2004. We had no idea at the time that four years later Grace Covenant Church would host the first such conference; nor that 13 years later, the Building Tomorrow's Church conference would continue to encourage young people across North America each year.

10 years later, the impact of BTC is visible in part through the everyday faithfulness of young people in local churches across the country.

We at Grace Covenant Church are continually encouraged through hosting Building Tomorrow's Church conference each year as we continue to meet men and women who are serious about their faith and intent on serving Christ through their local churches. Christ is continuing to build His Church on this earth and truly, the gates of hell will not prevail against it.