Despite the rise and fall of several large conferences (e.g., T4G, G3), conferences continue to be popular in the evangelical world. While this seems especially true in the United States, there are still plenty of conferences and special events north of the border in Canada.
Notwithstanding their popularity, conferences have downsides. They can promote a celebrity culture among men who are to be known for their humility. They involve much effort and incur great cost just for a few days of excitement. They can create dissatisfaction with the local church, your local pastor and his faithful preaching as comparisons are inevitably made. People can turn to the conference circuit rather than the church and long-term, accountable relationships.
Why bother with conferences? After all, Jesus did not say, “I will build my conference.” He said, “I will build my church.”
I will go on record to say that conferences are not necessary. But they can be helpful.
Before I continue with conferences, consider a Bible reading plan. Is a Bible reading plan necessary? Hardly. Is one helpful? Certainly. Are there dangers in using a Bible reading plan despite its good intentions. Of course.
Robert Murray McCheyne, in 1842, warned that Bible reading plans can lead to lifeless formality, a proud self-righteousness, careless or hurried reading, or a yoke too heavy to bear. Yet he crafted the popular Bible reading plan still used today. Despite the cons, a Bible reading plan is useful to (1) read through the whole Bible in an orderly manner in the course of a year; (2) time will not be wasted in choosing what portions to read; (3) parents will have a regular subject upon which to examine their children and servants; (4) the pastor will know in what part of the pasture the flock are feeding; and (5) the sweet bond of Christian love and unity will be strengthened.[1]
What we can see from McCheyne’s list of pros and cons is that we’re better able to use a Bible reading plan, avoiding its danger while benefiting from its good.
In the same way, by understanding and avoid the dangers of conferences, we might enjoy the good that can come through them.
Let me share a short list of blessings that come from conferences and what we hope to cultivate at our King and Kingdom conference happening later this month.
Fellowship
Sharing life with other believers is sweet. You can spend five minutes with another Christian from another city and feel such an incredible bond because you share the same love for the Savior. Rarely do we have opportunity to fellowship together at such a grand scale as we do at conferences. With 1500 people currently registered, representing 200 churches, and hailing from 6 different provinces, the fellowship will be delightful.
Encouragement
With people traveling from all over to assemble in one place to worship our great God and King, conferences give us a glimpse into the size of body we are part of in Christ. They encourage us that we are not alone but have many brothers and sisters.
We are not immune to the Elijah mentality where we believe that our family and our church are the only ones faithful that have not bowed the knee to Baal. Conferences provide us an opportunity to look up and see the Lord’s work in our province and beyond. Christ is building his church!
Pastors or church members who feel isolated and alone will find this time especially encouraging.
Singing
We know that in heaven the gathered people of God will sing with myriads of angels. Until that day, gathering with thousands of others here on earth will be the closest we’ll get to that heavenly reality.
You can listen to a lot of great preaching online but you just can’t replicate a multitude of voices standing shoulder to shoulder in praise and worship.
What a joy it is to be part of such a choir that fills an arena with songs of praise to our Christ!
Teaching
Conferences afford us the opportunity to put away distractions and the regular routines of life and sit under sustained teaching of the word of God. Many messages over many days are like waves of water being poured over our dry souls. Message after message direct us heavenward and cause us to respond in joyous praise for our awesome God.
Resources
Books, Bibles, resources. We are people of the book (and other books to help us understand THE book). Conferences bring together many great resources designed to build up the body of Christ in truth and knowledge. If you’re flying in to a conference, bring an empty bag to carry back all your books home!
Equipping
It may seem that a conference lasts a few days and then over, bearing no more fruit. However, I still remember past conferences that equipped me and directed me toward pastoral ministry. God can use a Christ-exalting conference to inspire young men into ministry, keep the weary pastor from quitting, and spawn ministry in churches, in homes, and in the world for the glory and honor of God. Beyond the few days of a conference, much of its fruit is unseen as people return to their churches and homes, impacted but unnoticed by all those who attended the conference together.
Conclusion
For these reasons and more, I encourage you to see the value in gathering together, across churches, across denominations, centered around the gospel of Jesus Christ, lifting our voices in song, sitting under the preaching of the word, and fellowshipping together—not to see the conference exalted—but to see the church of Christ built up and our great God glorified.
Let’s avoid the cons and lean into the pros and encourage one another to follow Christ wholeheartedly.
Ultimately, let’s gather, not for ourselves, but to declare to the world: he is worthy.
—Pastor Tim
Find out more about The King and His Kingdom conference here.
[1] https://www.benzornes.com/mcheynes-advice-for-bible-reading/