Christians love their conferences. Calvinists love their conferences. Put the two together and, well, you’ve got an awful lot of events in any given year. Many major ministries offer their annual conferences along with a selection of regional conferences; churches offer small conferences designed to serve a local constituency; ministries like Together for the Gospel and The Gospel Coalition offer bi-annual conferences designed to attract and coordinate pastors or ministry leaders from around the nation and around the world. If you live in the United States, it is likely that you do not have to travel very far to find a great conference in the coming year.
All of this got me wondering: how many conferences do you anticipate attending this year? I’ve changed up the poll on this site so you can vote and let us know how many you’ll be at least attempting to attend.
Do note that if you are reading this via RSS, you’ll have to click through to the site to actually answer. All voting is anonymous…
How many Christian conferences do you anticipate you will attend in 2009?
Comments (56) »
1. Nancy
December 27, 2008
11:52 AM
My husband and I spend the summer AT a Christian Conference center, so … we will hear 4 or 5 speakers this summer and then a few more during the course of the calendar year.
2. caroljean
December 27, 2008
11:54 AM
How about “zero”?
3. Craig
December 27, 2008
12:03 PM
Zero.
4. Kim
December 27, 2008
12:15 PM
You didn’t give a zero option, but that’s the number I’ll be attending!
5. Tim Challies
December 27, 2008
12:24 PM
Sorry about that. The Zero option disappeared somehow. I’ve added it back in.
6. John Kuvakas
December 27, 2008
12:31 PM
I’ve found that, with careful consideration of the speaking schedule and the speakers, conferences can be a tremendous asset to my personal growth and learning. We strive to find conferences that are heavy in General Sessions and additional break out sessions so that our time away from the congregation is most effectively used.
As such, the conferences become focused and information intensive ongoing education for our staff and ministry heads. Our attendance at the Shepherd’s Conference, T4G, Basics and others has had a lasting impact on our church and our teaching/preaching. The congregation has seen this and has voted us larger Conference Budgets each year for the last 5 years. Whenever possible, we take as many folks as we can when we go. Last year, we has 10 people at Begg’s ‘Basics’ conference which is a 6 hour drive from us. We also had 6 folks “The Shepherd’s Conference” last year.
Our confeence attendance has not only increased our chances to learn but has also served to solidify our leadership team as we get away for some great teaching and sweet fellowhsip with each other for a few days.
Bring on the new season!
7. David Porter
December 27, 2008
12:52 PM
Tim,
I think it would be a great service for you to do a post on the different conferences available, and your perspective on them.
I can’t really answer the poll, because I am not really familiar with them all, but I would love to attend a conference or two.
8. E.G.
December 27, 2008
12:53 PM
Likely zero.
9. Kevin
December 27, 2008
12:56 PM
do you have a comprehensive list of conferences in the US for this year? I want to choose based on location and speakers.
10. MarieP
December 27, 2008
1:05 PM
Two, but they are both local. One is the ladies conference at church, which consists of my own church as well as folks from nearby churches. The other is the Andrew Fuller Conference at Southern. There is also the missions conference at Heritage Baptist Owensboro, which is a possibility (several hours away). There may be others, but if I go they will be local.
11. Tim Irvin
December 27, 2008
1:27 PM
zero
12. Alex Philip
December 27, 2008
1:33 PM
Interesting poll. Why did you separate “Christians” and “Calvinists”?
What conferences are available in the GTA?
13. Ben Brown
December 27, 2008
2:21 PM
Woohoo for New Attitude!
14. Kristina
December 27, 2008
2:39 PM
0 - the conferences never seem to be near me (with the exception of the True Women 08) and I really can’t afford to go to them anyway. I do, however, read and listen to a lot of the stuff that comes out of them.
15. Tom Hardy
December 27, 2008
2:39 PM
Zero
I have always wanted to attend conferences but unfortunately I have never found any conferences that I am interested in attending that I am interested in going to. This is mainly because of the distance I would have to travel to attend one.
To attend one I would probably need to spend part of my holidays traveling to one, which actually I would like to do. Unfortunately my wife does not share the same interest as me in matters such as this. So I have more than just myself to think about.
16. rebecca
December 27, 2008
2:49 PM
I vote zero, which is not there as an option.
They are all too far from me and it would cost too much for me to attend. Not that I would necessarily go if I lived closer….
17. Derek
December 27, 2008
3:01 PM
I plan on attending one - but it’s a workshop on biblical exposition.
I like the fact that we Calvinists are having so many conferences, but I do wonder if it’s too many. I’m concerned we’re becoming too inward focused.
I think there are two symptoms of a wrong inward focus. 1) an emphasis on Reformed distinctives over and above the simple gospel. 2) an emphasis on home evangelism over and above an emphasis on missions to unreached people-groups.
Not saying we’re in large doing that. But if we we were, I think those two things would happen.
I do love that there are these conferences. And I love that most of them put their stuff up online for free.
18. Karin
December 27, 2008
3:05 PM
I agree with David Porter that it would be great to have a resource where one could find out about up and coming conferences. I’d love to attend a conference and even stay in the area for a few days vacation.
19. Brance
December 27, 2008
3:13 PM
If the elders in your church could attend only one conference together this year, which would you recommend?
Gospel Coalition?
Resurgence?
Other?
20. Benjie
December 27, 2008
4:09 PM
The number of conferences I attend ranges between 0 and 1 every year. I’ve discovered I can conference once or twice every month and not make all the conferences. So often, it seems like more a waste of time than uplifting and kingdom-building.
21. HeatherHH
December 27, 2008
4:24 PM
I’d say zero, but it’s not an option….
22. doug
December 27, 2008
4:48 PM
Early in ministry, I used to be down on some of my fellow pastors for all the conferences they attended. I would say “I don’t know how you find the time” with not a little bit of self righteousness in my heart over how I was “more committed” to “doing the work” while others were at play. But after nearly 20 years of ministry, I have discovered that I, like my parishioners, need to sit under some good teaching and allow God to do a work through His word in my heart so that I can be a better workman for His kingdom. And listening to MP3’s is just not the same as sitting with other brothers side by side being edified and encouraged together. In fact, half the benefit from the conferences is simply being among others- even if I don’t get to know any of them very well- or at all- simply being there with them somehow becomes a work of grace from God in my heart.
The one conference that I have become committed to attending each year is the Banner of Truth Conference. I have been twice and it has been such an encouragement I can’t even begin to explain. There is none of the typical “flash” and entertainment that accompanies many of the conferences (I have not seen a single video at the conferences I’ve attended- can you believe it?) just good expositional preaching and solid teaching which God has spoken clearly and directly to me through, accompanied by simple worship that has often brought tears to my eyes.
So, there is my long-winded response and a recommendation to you all.
23. Jim Brown
December 27, 2008
5:26 PM
I am considering one but reality is zero
24. kevin
December 27, 2008
5:30 PM
True Church Conference!!!
25. Jim Vellenga
December 27, 2008
6:16 PM
I always try to attend the Banner of Truth Minister’s Conference, and usually attend at least one Sola-scriptura conference although this year they are doing a large on Calvin in Toronto Ontario which I very much am hoping to attend. Then I do the local Sola-scriptura conference in London usually as well as I encourage members of the congregation I serve to attend that one.
I sometimes attend a workshop on Biblical Preaching put on by Simeon’s Trust, but it isn’t really a conference as much as a several day long intensive teaching on sermon preparation and delivery.
26. Darrell Anderson
December 27, 2008
8:42 PM
SOLA CONFERENCE - Countryside Bible Church, Southlake, Texas - February. SOLA FIDE: By Faith Alone. James White and Steve Lawson. Will be great!!
27. Rebecca
December 27, 2008
8:54 PM
Zero Went to my first conference this summer. Women of Faith conference and Hated it.
28. Dave Bissett
December 27, 2008
8:55 PM
Hey Tim, you’re getting a wide range of comments. You probably needed to separate your constituents into Pastor/Elder Vs. non-P/E folks. i would expect pastors to attend at least two conferences a year for (a) spiritual refreshment with peers, and (b) for ‘continuing education.’ I aim for one per season (with none in the summer, when its family vacation time). There are conferences for most every budget (and some which are not worth attending). If there is not one nearby, perhaps a church should start one! I hope you do some follow-up on this subject as the new year unfolds. db
29. Rita Martinez
December 27, 2008
10:03 PM
Not a lot of conferences where I live and I doubt my parents would let me fly to states to go to a Christian conference, so I guess depending on how many conferences my church or any of the other good churches I know organizes…2 or 3 maybe?
30. Rose Mawhorter
December 27, 2008
10:51 PM
zero! :)
31. Michael Clark
December 27, 2008
10:59 PM
zero. Conferences are expensive (both financially and time); and crowded.
32. Raymond
December 28, 2008
5:05 AM
Are there any reformed conferences in the Vancouver, BC area planned for 2009?
33. Cathy
December 28, 2008
10:17 AM
I go to zero conferences. While I’m sure many of them have outstanding content, I choose not to attend conferences for two reasons:
1) Conferences cost money, and the Word of God to my life is and should be free. I shouldn’t have to spend hunks of money to grow in the Lord or be effective for His Kingdom. And
2) The excitement and power of great Bible teaching apart from the local church is unnecessary (if the local church is doing what it should) and tends to draw people’s attention away from their own pastor-elders’ teaching and focus on “megastars’” teaching. I have more than enough teaching to prayerfully live out in order to grow in my walk with the Lord from my own local church.
34. Ken
December 28, 2008
2:58 PM
I’ve made it a habit to attend the Ligonier National Conference every year. On those infrequent occasions when Dr. Sproul comes near the Washington DC area I try to attend those as well, but the last such was several years ago now. Oddly, I’ve never managed to make it up to Philadelphia to attend the April conference at Tenth Pres.
35. Keith
December 28, 2008
3:13 PM
Zero.
I think too many Christians become dependent of conferences to get their ‘fix’ - as if it is the conference that sustains them and too often they become dependent on their heroes to get inspiration rather than work through the scriptures with an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying.
I wonder at the use of resources to get people to conferences as well: time, family commitments, travel, accommodation, and then all the volumes of books that come out of them, No wonder north America uses so much of the world’s resources. Frankly your so called conference season disgusts me. I also wonder how much Reformed people are doing to get sound literature (translated into the indigenous languages) to countries where God is really at work - Asia, Africa??
36. kelly
December 28, 2008
4:05 PM
Already have pass to the Ligonier conference.
37. joey
December 28, 2008
5:52 PM
Last year I went to NA, Resolved, Shepherd’s, T4G, Resurgence, Aware (at Grace Community Church) and The New Wineskin Conference. Wow, I didn’t realize how many I went to until looking back now.
This year I’m cutting back. Only NA, Shepherd’s, and Resolved.
I really want to go to The Gospel Coalition… but I need some rest.
38. Ken
December 28, 2008
7:58 PM
I hardly know what to say in response to numbers 33 and 35.
Someone once told me he didn’t read any Christian literature other than the Bible itself. I almost wanted to cry in response to such an attitude of pride.
39. Larry
December 28, 2008
8:05 PM
Each year I attend the annual Conference on Reformed Theology held at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Flint, Michigan on the last weekend in October. I have found that each conference is a great experience and a great way to help build my faith. I am looking forward to the conference next year when the subject will be Science and the Bible.
40. Erik
December 29, 2008
12:56 AM
My answer is zero. Partly because on a family of five budget it’s simply too tight around here and secondly because I’m not sold on the notion that conferences really do all that much for my walk with Christ. Here is a short quote from Eugene Peterson that made me think:
“Conferences on the spiritual life are wonderful - occasionally. I think very occasionally. They do not provide the substance for a life of obedient faith. They contribute almost nothing, maybe even less than nothing, to a life of spiritual maturity. They are stimulus. Appetizer. They are not nutritious. High in fat, low in protein.”
41. Brendt Waters
December 29, 2008
12:03 PM
Ken (#38): >I hardly know what to say in response to numbers 33 and 35.
Perhaps the point wasn’t to garner a response. Perhaps the point was just a view to consider, given by a couple people who disagree with you.
Case in point, while #35 was (IMHO) unduly harsh and judgmental, the guy raises some good points, particularly that last sentence, if we genericize it by taking out “Reformed” and the snarky “really”. How much do we spend on conferences vs how much we do/give for the translation of “basic” stuff (like, ya know, the Bible) for folks that don’t even have that?
42. Brendt Waters
December 29, 2008
12:15 PM
OK, comment from the token Calvinist at a Calvary Chapel.
CC Costa Mesa hosts a men’s conference every year in the fall. About 7000 guys pack Anaheim Conf Ctr for a day, but they also webcast the whole thing live. Churches all over the globe participate that way, giving the conference an attendance well into the 5-figure range. And even Joe Blow can hook up via his computer at home, if there’s not a participating CC near him.
Granted, the model wouldn’t work for a conference that has break-out sessions, but many of the ones that I’d want to attend don’t have them. I greatly appreciate the ones that post free MP3s and/or videos of the messages (DG usually has theirs up within hours), but I wonder if any of them have considered this model.
43. Kim A
December 29, 2008
1:22 PM
Some of us don’t live near conferences, some of us have too many children , too many responsibilities, and too little money to be traipsing around the country from conference to conference. Not that I wouldn’t LOVE to attend some of these ;-)
I have to survive on blog summaries and downloads when available. Thanks to all who allow me to do so!
44. Ken
December 29, 2008
7:04 PM
Brendt: Agreed, but isn’t there a tacit assumption in #35 that people are spending money on conferences instead of supporting mission and translation work? May not people actually be doing both? I suppose one could be pietistic enough to insist that all discretionary monies should be going to support missions and mercy, etc. But it strikes me that such things are matters of conscience and stewardship between the individual believer and the Lord. Who knows but that the Lord uses the conference experiences of individual Christians as means for furthering the kingdom?
45. Brendt Waters
December 29, 2008
8:49 PM
Ken, yes, there probably is such an assumption. And an over-generalization that it’s an either/or situation is wrong. I just found an “I don’t know how to respond” comment to be dismissive and just as over-generalizing.
46. Ken
December 29, 2008
9:44 PM
Dismissive, no. I genuinely had a hard time writing a charitable reply, possibly because such thinking is foreign to my own.
47. Kenneth Ross
December 30, 2008
6:38 AM
In the Uk, we have a number of conferences; some denominational, others organised by organisations such as Banner of Truth.
I find myself looking across ‘The Pond’, and imagining what a thrill it would be to attend something like ‘Together for the Gospel’, then I start to do the sums, and realise that it would be hard to balance attendance with prudent stewardship.
My solution?
MP3 Downloads, played on my car audio! Who would have thought it! I can drive to (the sound of) all these American conferences, without ever leaving British roads!
But who knows, maybe someday I’ll get there in person!
48. Paul Wilkinson
December 30, 2008
12:37 PM
Eventually, I manage to get one each year, but travel time, expense and purchasing additional travel medical coverage for U.S. conferences makes this prohibitive. Like others, I think the poll should have been set up with a zero option.
There is another issue here. Particularly in the blogosphere, I’ve noticed that some are rather addicted to conferences. A few of these pastor local churches; and while I enjoy reading their blogs, if they were my pastor, I’d be looking for a new church. Seriously.
I know we all need encouragement and there’s nothing like being in a huge room of like-minded people; but let me say it again: I think some people are addicted to conferences with all the pejorative baggage that the word ‘addiction’ brings.
49. Jennifer
December 30, 2008
1:47 PM
Next year, I’ll be attending two: WSC’s faculty conference in January (which is local) and the Sacramento PCRT (which is local in the sense that I’m flying home to attend). I’d love to go to NA again, but, alas, it’s during finals week.
50. Keith
December 30, 2008
3:21 PM
David Wells made some pertinent comments over at Let my People Read:
“I go to Africa every year because I serve on the board of a Christian foundation which is building orphanages for children, most of whom have been left behind by AIDS. I am always struck by this paradox, if that is what it is. Here in America we have everything, but despite everything we have (Bibles, church buildings, theological education, colleges, money, know-how), the evangelical church is weak and stumbling. In Africa, amidst great poverty and disease, illiteracy and deprivation, rampant independency and woeful alliances with traditional African religions, there is still to be found courage, vibrancy, and a Christian testimony to the truth of God that is striking by Western standards. Let us not forget who saved the Church of England from their pathetic willingness to capitulate to the homosexual agenda. It was the African bishops, not those from America or Europe! God, you know, does not have his hands tied simply because we in America have all the money!”
His take is that despite having ‘everything’ the evangelical church in America is weak and stumbling.
My comments may have struck a raw nerve for some. But like others have written, some people seem to have become addicted to conferencing. I wonder at what cost? Now that comes from someone who is not from America but who gazes into your backyard from time to time. I’ll repeat it again - you have so much and yet seem so totally blinkered at the reality of how your own culture insists that you have more. To see pictures of the number of books that are given away in piles to attendees makes me squirm. America is the biggest consumerist culture in the world and seemingly so the church follows. To have read of some who seem to go from conference to conference in the season again makes me uncomfortable at really what is happening. Has it become a kind of Christian cultural greed to want so much - in conferencing or obtaining books. Isn’t godliness with contentment great gain?
Sorry if I have offended any in my own particular dark analysis by observation from over the fence. I have been blessed by many sound books, and listening to an mp3 or 2. I do not demean reading at all. I have spent 35 years of reading sound literature and have been blessed through this, as well as listening to taped and mp3 type sermons etc. But some of the best lessons of the Christian life are learnt through being with people (both Christian and non Christian) at the coal face. And by His grace that is where he has humbled me - by being able to serve in Africa and parts of SE Asia - where they have literally nothing cf ‘the west’, yet the richness of His grace in abundance has given them His all - springing up in love and zeal. So yes - continue to conference - but don’t make an idol of these gifts or the teachers who I am sure God has blessed with great gifts.
Grace to you.
51. Carol Blair
December 30, 2008
9:44 PM
I hope to attend one or two of the Founders conferences (founders.org). The ones I have attended in the past have been very good—highlights of my year. At least two of their conferences this year will be “Calvin-themed.”
I have also attended several PCRTs in past years. (Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology—sponsored by the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals [alliancenet.org]), and those conferences are always excellent. In addition to the excellent preaching, robust hymn singing is a standard feature of these conferences. The PCRT is held at four or five locations around the country each year.
52. Doug V.
December 31, 2008
2:13 AM
Like Darrell, I’m attending the Sola Conf in Southlake, Texas. http://solaconference.countrysidebible.org/
53. Michael R. Jones
December 31, 2008
8:09 PM
I’ve known and seen too many Christians who drive or fly all over to attend their favorite conferences faithfully (no matter the cost or time away from their families or jobs) but can’t be bothered to serve, give to, or even show up at, the churches of which they are members.
It is especially bothersome when they claim that their abandonment of said church is because they have no family time, free time, or money.
No matter how you slice it, this just isn’t right.
54. Kenan
January 2, 2009
6:28 PM
I’m not going to any beause of distance. I live in Costa Rica. Otherwise, I would go to (at least) one—The True Church Conference which is at my home church in Alabama.
55. gracerequired
January 3, 2009
11:55 PM
I really wanted to comment on Dec 9 “Don’t Stop Believeing” but couldn’t. However my comment is as relevant here.
I personally won’t be going to any conferences or listening to downloads or anything and my reason is this - I have almost stopped believing. There are too many voices out there. One group or person says one thing another says something else. Often the voices are contradictory or denoucing the “other side”. I am losing my belief in an onslaught of opinion and information. Where is the the quiet still voice?
56. bob
January 6, 2009
12:03 AM
If I wanted to do more than one, what conferences would you say are the best?