My conference has come to a bit of an early end. Because there are so many Canadians heading home from Florida this week, we were not able to find me a flight that left after the conference. Instead I’m having to duck out a few hours before it all wraps up. I’ll be heading home through Montreal and, if all goes well, should be home on time to sleep in my own bed tonight.
It has been a very good conference. Not too many organizations do a better job of putting these things together than Ligonier. You know, earlier I found myself thinking that the Ligonier conference is unique in the attendees it attracts. Some conferences cater to pastors, some to young people, some to parents. This one draws all of the above. Of all the conferences I’ve been to it probably has the largest number of “older” people (I’ll leave that term general and undefined) attending it. Yet I also haven’t been to many conferences that have more families attending together. There are many families here with children and teenagers sitting with their parents; there are groups of teens sitting together. The conference attracts people of all ages.
Also noticeable at this conference is how long and how often some people have been attending it. Earlier on I met a gentleman who is currently enjoying his twelfth consecutive National Conference. It has become an annual tradition, whether he travels with friends or whether he travels alone. I don’t think too many other conferences can boast people who have attended for twelve years running. This is, I am sure, a testament to the long and faithful ministry of R.C. Sproul and the people who serve him and who serve the Lord through this ministry. It is a testament to this ministry’s faithful service to the church.
For those who come from northern states or provinces, it certainly doesn’t hurt any that the weather in Florida this time of year is just beautiful and a full seventy or eighty degrees higher than what we’re experiencing at home. It’s supposed to be over eighty degrees here today. When I get home it will be below freezing.
Comments (7) »
1. Ian Vaillancourt
March 15, 2008
11:42 AM
Hey Tim,
“Because there were so many Canadians attending the conference…”. Does this mean someone (e.g. you and Paul) should start pulling for some Canadian versions of these mega conferences? I think so!
Ian.
2. Stephen Feather
March 15, 2008
12:38 PM
Tim,
I would have to agree with your observations. The content, while often deep, is delivered so that even my children can listen and grasp the teaching.
3. Phil (the Doulos)
March 15, 2008
12:54 PM
Tim,
Thanks for the Ligonier Conference blow-by-blow. This is one I would love to make it to sometime. Reading your posts has got me greatly anticipating the Together for the Gospel conference that I and 16 others from my church (in Nebraska) will be traveling to in a month. I’m going to take my first stab at blogging a conference while I’m there. Any tips for a first-time “live-blogger”?
Yeah, the Orlando weather is a defnite plus. I’ll be there in two weeks for a conference also - unfortunately it is work-related.
4. Jim Vellenga
March 15, 2008
7:16 PM
Ian, if you want something like that check out Sola Scriptura Ministries International. The conferences are smaller, but they hold several of them across Canada. They used to be Ligonier Ministries Canada, but expanded their focus beyond Ligonier material to include various other Reformed/Presbyterian publishers.
5. Keith Edwards
March 17, 2008
8:49 AM
Though I couldn’t make the conference, the webcast was excellent. What a great use of technology!
6. Trey Burdette
March 17, 2008
9:49 AM
Tim,
What did you think about the conference title of “Evangelism According to Jesus” and the topics covered during the conference. This was my first L. Conference and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned a great deal about the various aspects of the gospel itself and the proclamation of the gospel, but not much about evangelism according to Jesus. Do you think they could have done a better job of presenting this topic, i.e., Acts 17 Evangelism or Relational Evangelism according to Jesus, etc…
7. Richard Oldham
March 19, 2008
11:57 AM
This was my first National conference, and I was in tears often as moved to the majesty of Christ and what He did for me and us. I did not go expecting a ‘how to evangelize methodology’, but less than what I did get. I was reminded to just lift up Christ with the Word He gave us, and HE will do the effectual drawing unto Himself. I was reminded that my testimonies, like this are not the gospel. And I was ashamed that it took over a thousand church members for every convert baptised last year! We definitely need help in evangelizing…but I am not sure it is a method, as much a message, and a people who are not ashamed to speak it where ever and to whoever as Joni told us.