Thousands of attendees made their way to The Gathering 2025, a three-day faith-based conference that blended spiritual revival, cultural expression, and community action. Held from June 24 to 26 at the City of Praise Family Ministries in Landover, Maryland, the event united believers from across the country under a shared mission of transformation through faith. The journey to The Gathering represented more than mere travel for many attendees; it stood as a testament to their perseverance, encapsulated the commitment that made every mile traveled to the conference worthwhile. The theme of the conference, Evangelistic Explosion, draws inspiration from Acts 2:41—“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.”
Founded by Bishop Neil C. Ellis, The Gathering is an initiative of the Global United Fellowship (GUF), a network of over 1,400 churches worldwide, according to the ministry’s website. The conference was established to break down denominational, cultural, and doctrinal barriers and create a space for unity, revival, and leadership development. GUF’s mission is rooted in promoting biblical unity among Christian believers and building stronger communities through service, fellowship, and spiritual growth.
The 2025 event lived up to its mission. Worship services were powerful and participatory, featuring renowned speakers and performers who uplifted and challenged attendees to live as better reflections of Christ. A highlight of the event was the Actors Guild Worship Service, featuring nationally recognized actors and influencers, as well as stirring performances in praise dance, music, and drama—including a live stage presentation of the Broadway hit Sistas.
The event showcased a lineup of distinguished speakers and notable guests:
• Bishop Joel R. Peebles Sr, Presiding Bishop of GUF
• Pastor Dr. Ylawnda Peebles, First Lady of GUF
• Bishop Neil C. Ellis, GUF Founder
• Dr. Jamal Bryant, Senior Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church
• Bishop Marvin Sapp, Award-winning Gospel Artist and Pastor
• Bishop John Guns, Senior Vice President of GUF and Dean at Virginia Union School of Theology
• Bishop Carletta J. Vaughn, Senior Pastor of the Holy Ghost Cathedral Church and Author
• Roland Martin, Award-winning journalist and commentator
Many of the notable speakers were also joined by national gospel recording artists Maurette Brown Clark and Byron Cage, who brought the sanctuary to life with spirit-filled praise. Beyond worship and celebration, The Gathering 2025 took a bold step toward social action. Organizers announced a national initiative to adopt and support under-resourced public schools—a response to recent education funding cuts and policy shifts from the Trump Administration. The program seeks to bridge the gap left by public systems, offering mentorship, resources, and faith-based support for students across the nation. The initiative embodies the church’s commitment to extending its reach beyond its walls to support the well-being of children.
Highlights of some of the attendees during Day 3 evening worship service at City of Praise Family Ministries in Landover, MD – June 26, 2025: Photo Credit: Tracey Morrison/The Exclusive Press
Notably, Bishop Joel Peebles Sr. and Dr. Ylawnda Peebles were honored by the honorable Ingrid S. Watson (District 4) on behalf of the Prince George’s County, Maryland, city council body with a proclamation for the couple’s outstanding leadership and commitment to hosting The Gathering and fostering positive change in the community.
The event’s spirit remained unshaken, despite the weather forecast, marked by heat followed by rain and thunderstorms on the last day of the conference. From the writer’s perspective, the storms during the evening session on June 26th represented the struggles of life ushered in by the promise of God for lifting burdens, mirroring the transformation when the storms of life subside if we hold onto God’s unchanging hand.
Just as a rainstorm pours from the heavens—loud, relentless, and sometimes frightening—life, too, brings seasons of trial that seem to fall all at once. But in the same way that rain nourishes the earth, softening the soil and making way for new growth, our storms often prepare us for transformation. The thunder may shake us, the winds may bend us, but God’s promise remains: “After the storm, there is peace” (Mark 4:39). In the downpour, He is our shelter. In the flood, He is our anchor. And when the skies clear, we realize that what felt like chaos was actually the beginning of something new—growth, faith, and breakthrough.
In a time marked by division and uncertainty, The Gathering 2025 served as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when faith, action, and community come together to create a powerful evangelism explosion through the unity of God.
City of Praise Family Ministries offers full segments of the three-day Gathering for streaming on YouTube to readers interested in viewing them.
