The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) will play host to Relevance 2013. The Student Union will be the main space and is a new and vibrant facility conveniently located off of Maryland Parkway. With over 9,000 square feet of space, the room has a modern theme with plush carpet and decorative walls. Relevance 2013 will feature full audio, visual, and lighting capabilities.

The Theatre in the Student Union is ideal location for LEAD 2013. Conveniently located on the first floor across from the restrooms, the Theatre can seat up to 300 people and will allow for the exchanging the information and ideas.

Located just a few minutes from the world famous Las Vegas Strip, UNLV is less than 1/2 mile from McCarran International Airport.

Expect 3 full days of exchanging and sharing ideas during meals, small groups, and even after hours at the UNLV residence halls.

Click Here to view the schedule

Meet our extraordinary voices and “creatives,” which includes artists and musicians, in our community, church, Jurisdiction and beyond who have a unique story or an unusual perspective -- and will convey it in a dynamic way.

Justin Halbersma
A 2007 graduate of Duke Divinity School he has served as pastor at Chatfield United Methodist Church, campus minister at United Campus Ministry of Winona State, and associate pastor/pastor at Wesley United Methodist Church in Winona. His passions for ministry include technology, young adult issues, and leadership.

Jerry Herships
Jerry's story is a familiar one; former bartender, comedian and mall Santa hears God’s call to leave stand-up and dedicate his life to doing the Lord’s work. You’ve heard it a million times... Jerry was born in Detroit, and lived in both Los Angeles and Orlando before moving to Denver. After being ordained in 2009, Jerry was appointed to plant AfterHours Denver in 2011 in the downtown metro area focusing on the poor & unchurched. He is Chief Love Monger and Lead Spiritual Entrepreneur of that faith & action community that currently hands out lunches & communion to 400-500 people a week and holds their services (Happy Hours) in bars in the downtown area.

Wes Magruder
Wes Magruder is an ordained elder from Dallas. He left for film school in but God appeared and told him that his future was in the United Methodist Church, so Wes agreed to become a preacher. He earned a M.Div. at Perkins, a Doctor of Ministry at Brite, and Doctor of Reality Bites from Valley View UMC, his first appointment. He serves as the Chair of the Board of Church and Society of the North Texas Conference, and is on the Board of Directors of Refugee Services of Texas. Magruder serves as Director of Missional Community Development for The People of New Day, a network of neo-monastic communities. He created Project Daraja, which provides support for refugees self-sufficiency. He has served appointments in London and West Africa.

Richard Kentopp
Often our worship gatherings are designed only to make sense to people who have been Christians their whole lives; Lets begin to help us be more sensitive to how our non-Christian visitors are engaged when invited into our lives together.

Evan Smith
One aspect of this ministry that she is particularly passionate about is the use of electronic music and rave culture in worship. Evan was the founder of the Reverence:Electro-Ministry Team and in her spare time she enjoys camping and going on road trips with her husband and their three kids.

Derrick Scott
Follower of Jesus. Campus Minister for Campus to City Wesley Foundation. Worship Leader. Lover of the Global Church. United Methodist. Living for the dream...loving the life I am losing.

Dan Wunderlich
Dan is driven by the idea that we are not just stewards of God’s creation but of God’s creativity as well. Along with campus ministry, Dan feels called to managing a Fantasy Baseball team each summer, demonstrating how to lose with grace. You can find Dan on Twitter at @defininggrace.

Meagan Harris
Meagan is the Assistant Director of Outreach and Recruitment at Claremont School of Theology. While she loves her job, she is also thrilled to be able to use her M.Div. from Vanderbilt on a daily basis. When she isn't out and about talking to folks about seminary, she can usually be found with some knitting project watching 90s TV shows (Freaks and Geeks = best. thing. ever.)

Samuel Yun
Also referred to as P. Sam. Currently serves at the Minister of Young Adults at Los Altos United Methodist Church where his primary role is to navigate and shepherd the ministry known as OpenCircle. He is a father of two. Lover of all sports with a net. Follower of Jesus. Immensely broken but constantly healed and strengthened by the love and grace of God.

The Creatives

Sarah Heath (pastor and artist)
Rev. Sarah Heath serves as the teaching and preaching site pastor for Shepherd of the Hills UMC’s site in Rancho Santa Margarita. She also heads up the outreach mission GIVE team and the Worship Arts teams for both sites. She has a passion for music, traveling, acting, creating art, playing and watching sports. Her biggest blessing is her random assortment of talented friends and her amazing mutt of a dog tenor.

Matt Smith/Linda Dew-Hiersoux/The Table UMC Band
The Table is a community where people come to root their lives in Grace, to grow in faith and to reach in love. Anthony Coleman II and the Table's music team create a unique and eclectic blend of music which ranges from jazz to reggae to Spirituals to rock to traditional hymns to Latin and beyond. Linda and Matt weave liturgy, prayer, scripture and a message; together they call it worship at The Table.

The Gentle Wolves (band)
The Gentle Wolves are the house band for Servant Church in Austin and are lead by Richard Kentopp. Servant Church is blessed with numerous talented musicians, one of the benefits of being located right in the heart of the Live Music Capital of the World. They try to incorporate the old and new, the ancient and the modern into their shared music together. They strive to always be local and authentic, and never 'contemporary christian' or 'praise and worship'. The Gentle Wolves always hope to connect people to God and each other as they pastor Servant Church musically each week.

Tiffanie Shanks (spoken word artist)
As a young, passionate, follower of Christ, I enjoy living in ministry for the God of the broken, redeemed, and restored. I love to share the message of the Gospel that has captured my heart and changed my life through the art of Spoken Word. Spoken Word is a form of poetry intentionally

Carl Gladstone (pastor and musician)
Carl believes that music can inform, inspire, liberate and lament and that listeners can be empowered for good and for God by it. With original albums exploring faith and it's questions, benefit projects like the Abolitionist Hymnal and Matchstick, and hymn collaborations like The Wesley Project, Carl hopes to create a library of music that engages people's souls together for mission in the world.

Is Relevance X and LEAD the same event?
While these events run parallel to one another, these are two different events hosted by Relevance Ministries. The purpose of both has to do with developing disciples yet they have two distinct purposes.

Do you offer childcare?
Yes. Childcare will be provided on the campus of UNLV. You can select childcare during registration.

Is there wireless internet available?
YES! In a big change from 2012, all attendees will be able to access free wireless internet in the Student Union. Internet access is available in Campus Housing as well, for a small fee.

I will be flying into Las Vegas. Do you offer transportation to/from the airport?
As the conference continues to grow, we simply don't have the manpower to pick everyone up from the airport. UNLV is less than 1/2 mile from the airport.

Do you offer any discounts on registration?
We strive to keep the registration fee as low as possible. This means we work to identify sponsors as well as write grants. Attendees to Relevance X are encouraged to assemble a group of 5+ to keep the cost low. Plus, it is hard to get prices this low in Las Vegas.

When should I arrive at Relevance 2013?
One week before the event, all those that have registered will receive an email with the details as to when they should arrive, where to go for registration, and how to check in to campus housing.
Still have questions? Our team is here to make your experience enjoyable. Please contact us so we can help.

Weather in February can be chilly, but don't expect the blistering cold. Average highs during the day are in the mid to upper 60's. A light jacket should get you through the evenings.

An information center will be set up through the duration of the event to provide information about the area.

Registration
Registration fee includes conference attendance, 3 meals, campus housing*, materials and access to Relevance X 2013

Click Here to Register

Single Registration
Registration fee includes conference attendance, two meals and materials. Housing is not included

Group Registration
Groups of 5+ save. Registration fee includes conference attendance, two meals and materials. Housing is not included.

Click Here to Register