Hospitality has always been a defining characteristic of God’s people.

Whether you’re hosting a Gather Group in your home, church, or somewhere else, thank you for inviting your people to participate in Gather25 and for helping reach the 5.5 billion people who don’t yet know the hope of Jesus.

While this guide will give you some tips about technology and logistics, we recognize that preparing to host begins with a heart for making space and serving others as Christ did.

We know that, for some people, simply being personally invited to your Gather Group will be a powerful encouragement to them. As Rosaria Butterfield said, “Radically ordinary hospitality is indeed spiritual warfare.”

As you prepare to host your Gather Group, we want you to feel the freedom to craft a schedule that is most beneficial for your people. Use the tips and resources we’ve provided to create a framework and infuse it with your own ideas. The goal of your gathering is to create a space where people can celebrate all that God is doing in the global Church and be inspired to take the next steps in their faith.

May God give us grace to welcome others as Jesus has welcomed us.

How do I watch Gather25?

Head to Gather25.com to stream the event! You’ll be able to get to the livestream directly from our main landing page at Gather25.com.

Can I watch Gather25 on a delay?

We are inviting everyone to gather with us live throughout the course of the weekend. While you will be able to “rewind” and watch previous sessions during the broadcast, we want the entire global Church to experience this moment together. Following Jesus was meant to be experienced in community and our prayer is that we would be one global team gathered together on March 1, 2025. If we’re going to reach the whole world, we’re going to do it together.

How long can I access the livestream?

The livestream for Gather25 will be available until Sunday, March 9, 2025 at 11:59pm CST and you will be able to rewatch the stream until this date. A library of key moments from the event will be available on Gather25’s YouTube channel in the spring.

Where can I access sessions that have already ended?

On the livestream feed, you will be able to navigate back to previous sessions. You can also go back to previous sessions through the schedule section on the page. We will have recaps for each session highlighting key moments and experiences so you can catch up on what you missed.

Will you be providing timestamps for the livestream?

We will not be providing timestamps for Gather25, but you can go back and watch each session after it’s finished.

Can I test my technology?

Yes! We will have three opportunities for you to test your livestream during a live test:

• Thursday, February 27th, 12pm CST
• Thursday, February 27th, 8pm CST
• Friday, February 28th, 12pm CST

The livestream page will be accessible beginning Monday, February 24th. Outside of the test times, there will be a prerecorded video on the livestream page that will allow you to run through your technology if you want to test your set-up prior to the scheduled livestream tests.

Will Gather25 be offered in my language?

Gather25 will be available in 87 languages through the combined power of human translators and AI. Please see the following chart for more information on translations. Even if your language does not appear in the chart, you have our blessing to use your own live interpreter and translate the broadcast into your local language. We want every person who loves Jesus to participate.

How do I find my translation?

You will be able to select your language in the video player settings.

Will the Gather25 livestream include closed captions? What languages will include captions?

Yes, closed captioning will be available on the Gather25 livestream. Check out the language options chart to see if your language will be provided in closed captioning.

How do I enable closed captions?

You can enable closed captioning in your language through the video player settings.

Can I pause the livestream during the 25 hours?

Yes, you can pause the livestream! You will have the ability to pause, jump to the current point in time, and catch up on previous sessions.

Will I be able to download Gather25 later?

No, downloads of Gather25 will not be available. You can catch key moments and event highlights on our YouTube channel starting in the spring.

What do I need to watch Gather25?

To show the Gather25 livestream at your Gather Group, you need:

1. To be registered for a Gather Group (Register at gather25.com/#join)
2. Strong internet connection
3. Device to stream the event
4. A way to connect your device to a television

Need 1: Internet Connection

• Best option: Network cable (fastest and most reliable)
• Another option: WiFi (Need to know: the network name and password, where your modem and router are)

Test your internet speed on whatever device you will livestream:

• Go to speedtest.net
• Hit “Go”
• Look at the download speed. You want a minimum of 5-10 Mb/sec.

You can use data from a cell service on your phone or tablet as a backup plan in case your internet is unreliable.

Need 2: A device to stream Gather25

• Best option: Laptop

• 2nd best option: Tablet

• Another option: Mobile phone

Need 3: Connect your device to a TV

If you're using a laptop:

• Best option: HDMI Cable

• 2nd best option: VGA Cable (if you have an older TV)

*You will need an adaptor for most laptops. Google “Your computer HDMI adaptor” to find one that will work for you.

If you're using a tablet/phone: You will need an HDMI adaptor, which plugs from the HDMI cord to your charging port on your phone or tablet. The HDMI cord then plugs into your TV (This is a good option if you don’t have one!)

You can also use:

• Chromecast
• Apple Mirroring/AirPlay
• Projector

Can I use a Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire to watch the event?

No, the Gather25 livestream will not be accessible from any apps. You can watch it only by streaming in an internet browser.

What browsers do you recommend to view the livestream?

We recommend using the latest version of Google Chrome for the best viewing experience.

Have more questions? Read through our frequently asked questions or reach out to our team at [email protected].

If your internet isn’t working:

• When in doubt, unplug it and plug it back in.
• Have someone else connect to your internet on their phone to make sure the internet is functioning. If it works for a friend on their device it means your issue is not with the internet connection.

If your device (laptop/tablet/phone) isn’t working:

• Close the internet browser tab that you are using and reopen a new tab to try again.
• If that doesn’t work, quit your browser, count to ten, open it up again and try again
• If that doesn’t work, shut down or restart your computer and try again.
• If that doesn’t work, use a backup device (tablet, phone, another laptop, etc)

If your device and internet is working, but the video still won’t play:

• Make sure the version of your internet browser (internet explorer, chrome, safari, firefox, etc) is the latest one.
• The livestream might have a universal issue... Pause. You may have to wait it out. In this circumstance, you will likely get correspondence from Gather25 with instructions or tips.

You may have video but no audio:

• Make sure the video isn’t muted (and that volume is up on both your tv and your device).
• You can unplug the hdmi cord and see if the sound will play through your laptop. If it works then you will know that the connection to the tv is the issue.
• You can always huddle around a laptop to watch as a last resort and connect your laptop to an external speaker.

Buffering troubles (the video is stopping and starting frequently):

• Pause it... let it buffer and “catch up” then push play again. Maybe do some conversation time or get coffee refills while you wait for 10 minutes.
• If that doesn’t work, try to close and reopen the tab again so it will reload

Will you be sharing where the broadcast is taking place and at what time?

You can view the latest version of the schedule for Gather25 at gather25.com/#schedule.

Do we need to provide anything for your attendees to take part in the program?

As long as you have a way for your attendees to view the livestream, nothing else is needed. We do recommend you encourage your attendees to bring their Bibles and a journal, or that you provide an extra Bible for anyone who might forget one. We have more tips on preparing for your attendees in this guide!

Is there a worship song bank we can view?

We do not have a song bank available to view ahead of the livestream. While we encourage you to worship with us, you can also mute the livestream and worship in your own language or sing any songs that are best fit for your specific group.

Can I provide my own worship moments at my gathering?

As a Gather Group Host, you have the opportunity to tailor the Gather25 experience to best fit your local gathering. If you would like to mute the program and take time to sing live worship music in your space, do that! Feel free to end a portion of the program early and instead insert a time of worship, prayer, and confession among your people if you feel like that is what the Holy Spirit would have you do, and then jump back in with us for the next live session.

You can also do the same with moments within the program. Perhaps the Lord is leading you to pause and have a time of repentance and confession within your own church/Gather Group - you may feel the freedom to pause the program and spend time praying together before jumping back in.

Think about what it will be like for someone to walk into your home, your church, or your community gathering for the first time.

What do you want them to see? How do you want them to be welcomed?

Spend some time thinking about certain personal details:

• Would you like to have food?
• Would you like to have live worship?
• Do you need a sign to help people know where you are located?
• Will you have people who will focus on different aspects on the event that make others feel comfortable (greeting, helping with children, etc.)?

It's not your responsibility to go above and beyond your means to provide a certain experience, but it is our joy to create space for God to move. Spend some time thinking about how you might do that.

What do I need to provide for me attendees?

To best support your Gather Group experience, we recommend you have the following things available for your attendees:

• Gather25 livestream feed
• Bibles, or ask attendees to bring their own
• Food and drinks: keep this simple! Depending on the time of day you are gathering, you might prepare a dish, have everyone bring a snack to share, or ask people to eat before they arrive.
• If you are hosting a gathering in your church or other large space, you can utilize the Brand Kit to create any materials you would like for your gathering (parking signs, restroom signs, etc.).

No matter how you gather, remember the privilege we have to come together and worship Jesus. Pray that God’s Spirit will be the MOST important part of your time, think through details, and leave the rest in God’s capable hands.

We are grateful for you!