The Chautauqua Experience Ridgecrest North Carolina
October 19th-23rd, 2026
Theme: Arise
Arise, Shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
Isaiah 60:1
Planning your
Chautauqua Experience
Schedules
Monday arrive/check in starting at 4 PM, Dinner and Worship
Friday after breakfast Departure by 10 AM, &:15 AM Breakfast, 8:30AM Large group Prayer and Worship send off
Mornings include morning devotions, sessions, bible study
Afternoons include breakout sessions of choice, one afternoon free for sightseeing of one’s choice, times of reflection, fellowship, game
How to Register:
Registration for the Chautauqua Arise Conference follows three simple steps to help individuals and groups reserve their place with confidence.
Step 1: Submit Your Initial Deposit
Submit a non-refundable initial deposit of $125 per person as soon as possible to reserve space for your individual or group registration.Include an estimated number of attendees with your deposit.
Deposits may be submitted through Aspiretoday.org under the Ridgecrest Chautauqua Experience, and both groups and individuals should complete the online form by clicking here.
You can also mail a check to The Aspire International Foundation. 11760 US Hwy 84W Rusk, Texas 75785 or with card or through your bank using ACH click here to register online with a 3% processing fee with card or 1% through ACH.
Step 2: Reserve Your Hotel Room and Meal Plan
Call Ridgecrest Conference Center at 1-800-588-7222 to reserve your hotel room and meal plan.
Rooms have been blocked for the conference at Ridgecrest and are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. A one-night room deposit is required to secure your reservation.
Step 3: Request Additional Information
For questions or additional information, contact us here.
We look forward to worshiping with you at Ridgecrest.
John Stanley
Composer, Arranger, Music Producer, Percussionist, Author
Featured artist John Stanley recently composed the score for the highly acclaimed Great Passion Play, recorded with the Budapest Scoring Orchestra and Choir. He currently serves on staff at Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, and is an internationally recognized composer, arranger, music producer, percussionist, and author. Known for fusing cinematic orchestration with modern production, his work spans film, television, stage, and contemporary worship, with collaborations alongside Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, Juno, and Dove Award winning and nominated artists. His music has been performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall.
With special guests: Jeremy Good (concert pianist), Doug Dervies (flautist), Bill Drennan (bagpipes).
Kent Butler
Actor (Jesus) - The Great Passion Play
Kent Butler has been a featured actor playing at times the role of Jesus in The Great Passion Play for more than two decades. He currently serves as Director of Operations for the nonprofit organization that produces the Play. In this role, he oversees a staff of more than 250 personnel.
In 2025, Kent stepped into the role of Director of The Great Passion Play, leading a comprehensive audio-visual modernization of the production to enhance both artistic excellence and audience experience.
Kent is deeply committed to living out the Gospel both on and off the stage. He has faithfully served as a youth pastor at a local church since 2008, demonstrating a lifelong dedication to ministry, mentorship, and service.
Frank Jones
Aspire Nights of Worship
Hymn sing with Choirs on Monday through Wednesday
Explore
Visit such places as the quaint mountain town of Black Mountain, Montreat home of Billy Graham and his retreat conference center in Asheville as well as the Biltmore estate in Asheville a city in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s known for a vibrant arts scene and historic architecture, including the dome-topped Basilica of Saint Lawrence.
