2026
Washington, D.C.
A conference for church leaders and volunteers with a heart for restoration, presented by Prison Fellowship® and hosted by National Community Church
Learn, connect, and celebrate 50 years of ministry with us in the nation’s capital! Join us to reflect on God's faithfulness and get fresh vision for how He is leading us forward.
Restore isn’t just for those serving behind bars. It’s for any church leader and volunteer ministering to people who are navigating incarceration and related struggles, such as homelessness, poverty, and addiction.
Discover best practices to expand your church’s impact and effectiveness. Engage with a dynamic lineup of speakers. Connect with like-minded leaders. Leave with a refreshed blueprint for how you can bring restoration to your own community.
Featured Speakers
Pastor Mark Batterson
National Community Church
Washington, D.C.
Mark Batterson serves as the lead visionary of National Community Church (NCC) and the Dream Collective, both located in Washington, D.C. He holds a doctorate in ministry from Regent University and is a New York Times bestselling author. He has written 25 books, including A Million Little Miracles and The Best Worst Day Ever, a children’s book he wrote with his daughter, Summer. NCC owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, Miracle Theatre, DC Dream Center, Capital Turnaround, and Culture House and has been serving Prison Fellowship Angel Tree® families for nearly 20 years.
Bruce Deel
City of Refuge
Atlanta, GA
Bruce Deel is the founder and CEO of City of Refuge, Inc. and of MOST (Men Opposing Sex Trafficking). For decades, Bruce has devoted his life to creating safe, transformative spaces for individuals impacted by poverty, trauma, and sexual exploitation. At City of Refuge, Bruce established a holistic model of care that integrates housing, trauma-informed services, education, workforce development, and long-term support. Under his guidance, the organization has become a powerful force for change. Through MOST, Bruce equips men to take responsibility, challenge harmful norms, and advocate for justice. MOST is reshaping the conversation around exploitation and driving meaningful cultural change.
Breakout Groups
Welcome Returning Citizens in Your Church
Discover how your church can welcome returning citizens and create ministry opportunities that promote restoration and holistic flourishing after release.
Tell Your Story: Using Your Voice To Advance Justice That Restores
Whether or not you have a criminal record or are formerly incarcerated, you can help raise awareness and foster change in our criminal justice system that cultivates a culture of hope and restoration. This workshop will help you learn how to use your personal story to advocate for justice that restores.
Raise Up Champions: Cultivating Ministry Teams That Restore
Bringing justice, mercy, and hope to your community takes the right kinds of champions. Learn how to cast vision and create a robust volunteer culture in your church that elevates justice initiatives, fostering true Kingdom impact through ministry that restores.
How To Start a Prison Ministry
Do you feel your church is called to serve in prison ministry but aren’t sure how to start? With 50 years of experience, Prison Fellowship will lead a roundtable discussion with correctional leaders to share practical guidance on how to encounter Jesus with incarcerated men and women.
Beyond Christmas: Journey With Families Impacted by Incarceration
It starts with a gift, but Christmas is just the beginning. Discover how your church can take your Prison Fellowship Angel Tree® ministry to the next level, fostering year-round connections and ongoing support to families impacted by incarceration.
Ministry Partner Spotlight: Exploring Celebrate Recovery With Johnny Baker
Celebrate Recovery (CR) exists to help people find freedom and healing from their hurts, hang-ups, and habits through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Learn how your church can implement CR to create meaningful groups built on community, accountability, and transformation.
Ministry That Restores
Hear from City of Refuge founder and CEO Bruce Deel, as he unpacks the tenets of ministry that restores. He’ll share his journey of coming alongside men and women leaving homelessness, returning from incarceration, and overcoming addiction.
“Ministry With”
Join Pastor Mark Batterson and other National Community Church leaders and champions as they explore the inspiring call to disrupt comfortable patterns and join God’s work of restoration in our communities. From the birth of the DC Dream Center to lives changed through mentoring and missions, they will share how being “with” God and each other precedes our witness to the world.
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026
4:30 p.m. — Registration opens
5–6 p.m. — Welcome dinner reception
6–6:30 p.m. — Worship and opening prayers
6:30–7:15 p.m. — Kickoff
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026
8–9 a.m. — Continental breakfast
9–12:30 p.m. — Morning general session and breakout sessions
12:30–4 p.m. — Lunch and afternoon breakout sessions
4:30–6 p.m. — Afternoon general session
6 p.m. — Community celebration and meal
Register for only $30
Attend this ministry-defining conference for a $30 registration fee.
Location
A special thanks to National Community Church for hosting this year’s conference.
National Community Church
700 M St. SE
(Entrances on 7th St. and L St. SE)
Washington, D.C. 20003
Places to Stay
Lock in your discounted room rate from one of our partner hotels today!
Hampton Inn & Suites Washington DC-Navy Yard
1265 First St. SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
(.7 miles from NCC)
Thompson Washington DC
221 Tingey Street SE
Washington D.C. 20003
(.7 miles from NCC)