Proclaimer Blog
Dick and Don in da Barbican
We always think carefully about who we ask to speak from the platform at our annual EMA conference. On the whole, we want preachers to speak to preachers, so even when we ask well known writers or scholars to speak we do so because of their experience as preachers of the word of God. We know, we’re sure, that we must keep things real, and for no topic is this more important than for the one of ministry perseverance.
For 2016, we’re grateful to God for a number of top quality speakers, including our very own Dick and Don (Lucas and Carson respectively). The morning expositions will be led by Simon Manchester, a wise and gracious preacher from St Thomas Church in North Sydney. Simon is himself no stranger to the struggles to persevere and his preaching will set us up each morning.
Don Carson joins us for the first time since 2009 to give us a biblical theology of perseverance. Many people have read Don’s book about his father’s ministry and know that his background is rooted not in the cut and thrust of mega church politics, but rather in the crucible of a small struggling ministry where the temptation to give up – financially, spiritually, physically – was ever present. Don is going to show us why and how we should persevere, whatever stage of ministry we are at.
Vaughan Roberts, PT’s Director, will lead us in one session with one of his pen portraits – this time around looking at John Newton, another great pastor who persevered and had an extensive ministry in encouraging many others, old and young, to do so as well.
To close the day, we have asked three UK preachers to bring us back to the gospel and how we are to keep preaching to outsiders, to the church and – crucially – to ourselves. We’ve asked three preachers from different stages of ministry to show how the topic of perseverance is one that we all need to address: Jonty Allcock from the Globe Church in London represents a younger generation who often think themselves bullet proof, Alasdair Paine (St Andrew the Great, Cambridge) flies the flag for the middle stages, where many simply coast along, and we’re pleased to say that Dick Lucas has agreed to take the last session, representing someone who has kept persevering and continues to do so.
EMA 2016, Leaders who last, booking is open here.