- The conference is free. In other words, that means no charge. All people love to be the recipients of things that have no cost attachment. What better way to enjoy freeness than to have our affections for God enlarged by the preaching of the gospel of God’s free grace in Christ?
- The conference is unique for Appalachia and therefore a blessing from the Lord. There are many conferences in the world of American evangelicalism. But theology conferences located in Appalachia for churches of Appalachia are indeed rare, perhaps even non-existent outside of this one. I am not boasting in uniqueness but delighting in the grace of it. You, my friend, do likewise and do not take this wonderful privilege for granted.
- The conference will feature a bookstore with valuable and helpful resources at great prices from publishers such as the Banner of Truth, Reformation Trust, P&R Publishing, and Crossway Books. Access to brick and mortar bookstores containing books from publishers such as these are hard to come by in Appalachia. Therefore, take advantage of this opportunity!
- The conference speaker is both a pastor and a professor. Derek Thomas is the senior minister at historic First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina as well as a professor of Systematic and Practical Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary teaching in both Atlanta, Georgia and Jackson, Mississippi. Why is this important? Because the church needs theologians and theologians need the church. Thomas, with his many years of experience as both shepherd and scholar of God's Word weds the two, as all pastors should strive to do. Come and observe how it is done, for the sake of your own ministry.
- The conference speaker is Welsh. If for no other reason, come to hear an accent different from your own. For a preview, listen here.
- The conference theme, “Assurance of Salvation,” is an oft-discussed doctrine amongst Christians today. The value of a biblically-faithful treatment of this doctrine in order to bring clarity to the discussion cannot be overstated. Do you want to more accurately and faithfully present the Bible’s teaching on the assurance of salvation to others? Then attend this conference. Do you want to know the value of grasping this doctrine for the health and stability of your own spiritual life? Then attend this conference.
- The conference is comprised of three main sessions, all rooted in Jesus' High Priestly Prayer found in John 17: Session 1—“Grounds of Assurance: The Prayer(s) of Jesus”; Session 2—“The Greatest of All Protestant Heresies: Assurance and the Reformation”; Session 3—“So That You May Know That You Have Eternal Life: The Pastoral Problem of Doubt.” That’s 3 for the price of $0.00. Refer back to reason #1 if you have forgotten!
- The conference will include a time of Question and Answer. Do you have a burning question related to the assurance of salvation? Bring that question with you and present it to Dr. Thomas during the Q&A session.
- The conference will showcase through an exhibitor a strategic partnership, wherein a flagship seminary has come alongside the local church to further the advancement of the kingdom of God in the world. Find out more information about this partnership at the conference. In the meantime, check out this website: Academy of Biblical & Theological Studies.
- The conference will be attended by brothers and sisters from various congregations. Enjoy the benefit of Christian fellowship and make connections with others for the cause of Christ locally, regionally, and globally.
- The conference preaching will be expository preaching. As one pastor has explained, “Expositional preaching is the kind of preaching that, quite simply, exposes God’s Word. It takes a particular passage of Scripture, explains that passage, and then applies the meaning of the passage to the life of the congregation. It’s the kind of preaching most geared to get at what God says to his people, as well as to those who are not his people. A commitment to expositional preaching is a commitment to hear God’s Word” (Mark Dever, What Is a Healthy Church, 63-64). Still don’t understand what expository preaching is? Experience it firsthand next weekend and pray that it would be replicated in pulpits throughout Appalachia.
*The conference will be held on November 14-15 at Randolph Street Baptist Church, 213 Randolph Street Charleston, WV 25302. For conference and registration information, click here.