I’m not often a conference guy. I know some guys who would probably go to every church-related conference under the sun if schedule and wallet allowed, but that’s not me. I go to one, maybe two conferences a year—and I gotta say that I really like the one that has been on my schedule three years running now.
In 2014, Midwestern Seminary launched their For the Church conference (complete with a change in school motto and website: ftc.co, which has many useful resources). I’ve been each year, and each year I’ve been able to convince more friends to come with me. There is just something awesome about a seminary chapel packed full of pastors, students, and others, singing together to God and being encouraged through scriptural expositions and admonitions.
They had their 3rd annual For the Church conference this past Monday and Tuesday. Went along with four friends, and it was great.
But why go to conferences—whether you’re a guy who likes to go to as many as you can get away with or whether you’re like me and limit it to one or maybe two a year? A few answers:
First, you need the fellowship. How often do we pastors get locked away in our offices, writing sermons or blog posts, reading books, doing counseling, and other “pastoral duties”? All of that is well and good and part of the job, but we also need fellowship. We need to share space and breathe air with other pastors young and old, small church and large. We need that time around other brothers who will encourage us and just plain ol’ hang out with us. During the conference, I got to have a couple of dinners with pastor-friends and the second day rode the hour up and hour back in a car with a good pastor-friend. It’s a time to let the guard down and soak up being around other brothers in Christ who work the same jobs, deal with the same issues, have the same struggles, and need the same friendship.
Second, you need the spiritual food. Yes, sometimes pastoring can be hard when you’re trying to save a marriage through counseling, walk a family through death, or confront the sin of an unrepentant heart. Sometimes you get that criticism from another person who doesn’t see everything that goes on yet somehow concludes that you’re not really doing your job to its fullest. Most days aren’t like this. Most days are quite enjoyable (I do get paid to spend time with Jesus and then share what I’ve gained with others). Yet, even with these other things in mind, if I had one thing that I would call a “major downer” of being a pastor (especially the only pastor in a small-to-average-sized church), it would be that you don’t get too many chances to be fed the word of God through another person.
Oh, sure, we have our books and our podcasts and our favorite preachers to listen to on Bott Radio Network; but there is something intrinsically edifying about being able to make actual eye-contact with someone who is expounding the word of God. We answer the call to do it for our churches most weeks out of the year. So who feeds us? Who encourages us with the word? Conferences can be a great place for us to sit, listen, and be fed.
Third, you need “free” books. Okay, so not every conference out there does this, but many give away free books. I put the bolded “free” in quotes because we know the economic realities—either they are paid for (at least partially) in attendance fees, by sponsors, or by generous donors. I got four free books and a free Bible at this year’s FTC, and last year I think it was five. Somebody paid for them, but if I would have bought them in the store, I would have paid more than my ticket for FTC.
And let’s face it—I’m going to buy books, lots of books, throughout the year and you probably are to. So might as well haul in some free ones at a place where you can fellowship and be fed the word.
In conclusion… If you’re a conference goer already (whether to a bunch or to just a few), then great. If not, then take the time and find at least one conference that piques your interest, make the time, and go. And if you want, super-early-bird registration is already open for For the Church 2017: www.mbts.edu/ftc17.
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Image credit ~ book cartoon: adam4d.com instagram feed
There will be a good conference at SWBTS next week (Oct. 6-7, Thursday and Friday). It is the annual conference of the Great Commission Research Network (formerly known as the American Society for Church Growth). Speakers are Bob Whitesel (Wesley Seminary), Bill Henard (West Virginia Baptist Convention Executive Director-Treasurer), Jay Moon (Asbury Seminary), James Cho (PhD student at Biola), Bill Webster (Upper Ohio Valley Presbytery), George Hunter (Asbury Seminary), George Martin (The Southern Baptist Seminary), Bud Brown (Turnaround Pastors), Gary Westra (Turnaround Pastors), Gordon Penfold (Turnaround Pastors), Kenneth Priest (Southern Baptists of Texas Convention), and Alan McMahan (Biola). Topics are church growth in the context of conflict, church growth in the context of change (especially demographic change), and church growth in small and medium churches.
I’m at a missions conference now. One reason I go to these kinds of conferences is to network: to learn best practices from fellow practitioners, to build relationships with current and potential ministry partners, to discuss ministry with likeminded people, to be encouraged by what God is doing in others’ ministry, to be inspired to go forth with the gospel.
I am a “Conference” guy. I go to “conference” games. Why do I go to “conference” games? Because I am BAMA FAN!
BAMA is in the SOUTH EASTERN “CONFERENCE”, the greatest FOOTBALL “Conference” in the FOOTBALL Universe!!!
Yet, for the life of me, I do not understand why anyone who is not a Fan of an SEC Nation ever goes to “Conference” games. What’s the use? The SEC is never gonna be anything but the best, so why do so many even waste their time going to any other “Conference” games?
STOP THE MADNESS! Go to SEC “Conference” games. Enjoy your “conferences.” Don’t just endure them. Hope this helps.
LONG LIVE THE SEC!!! GREATEST “CONFERENCE” IN THE FOOTBALL UNIVERSE!!!
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!
CB- take a chill pill, brother. ?
That was a 🙂 that for some reason was changed to a question mark.
Hey Tarheel, Remember when I told you Clemson would defeat Louisville and you said some like “how are you so confident?”
Well, now you know.
CB, I think BAMA can go all the way even with 1 loss.
Let’s watch you prove it after losing this week 🙂
WOO PIG!
I never wish harm and sadness on others.
Except this week, may CB sit stunned, silenced, and saddened, as the last second ticks by and the Hogs finally overcome that blasted Elephant.
dheagle93,
I do admit that Arkansas will come into Saturday’s game in good shape at 4-1. I do admit you have a strong O line and a good RB. You are ranked in the Top 25. I admit the HAWGS are strong and well coached this season. I admit you are a true contender and a worthy opponent.
However, we are the CRIMSON TIDE. Jalen Hurts is our QB. And finally, . . . St. Nick Saban is our Coach!
Enough said!
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!
You guys haven’t lost an important game in several years….it’s time 🙂
WOO PIG!
Doug
You are right about one thing, my SEC Brother.
The TIDE-HAWG game is an important game.
It will either make ARKANSAS a major contender or break ALABAMA of any hopes of another National Title.
If the TIDE does win, then the TENNESSEE game is of the same stature for BAMA.
That’s just how it is for FOOTBALL Nations of the SEC. Every Conference game is important. It’s not like that for the Lesser Conferences, like the acc, big 12, big 10 and so-forth-and-so-on.
The SEC plays Big League FOOTBALL and every Conference game is Big. No Little League games for the SEC Nations, unlike Lesser Conference Nations like Iowa or UNC or Texas. – You know, Little League Nations like that. You get my point, I am sure.
LONG LIVE THE SEC!!!
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!
That game went the wire – UL is still around for sure.
By the way have you seen the rankings that came out today – there are three ACC teams in the top 10 – and six in the top 25.
CB, Tarheel, Doug, and others,
You must click on this link, and watch this video. It’s inspiring to say the least. Sniff sniff….
http://buzn1029.cbslocal.com/2016/10/03/watch-this-song-makes-the-ending-to-the-tennessee-georgia-game-funnier/
Vol,
Don’t leave Dave Miller out. I am sure he would enjoy this video as much as did I.
BTW, see you on October 15. and ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!
Vol-
Nice!