Evaluation and Questions from the Grace Ministers Conference

Evangelical Joburg is spoilt for choice when it comes to Christian conferences and speakers at the moment. I mean last year alone we had Mark Driscoll, John Piper, Paul Tripp, Tim Keller and many other big hitters grace our shores. On the conference side there was the Grace Minister’s Conference, Rezolution, Shepherd’s Conference, Annual Sola 5 Conference and the Baptist Union Assembly; to say nothing of Lausanne. [editor: any noticeable additions I should diarize for this year?]

Which to attend and which to pass over has become an issue of time management and stewardship.

I found value attending the Grace Ministers Conference; the fellowship was exceptional, the venue was great, the speakers were good, there was worship. I loved being amongst a bunch of Reformed Pastors and the sideline chats were as edifying as the billboard speakers. Below is a synopsis of each address, a link to it and a question I wish I had the opportunity to pose in the Q and A session on Day 2.

Dr. Philip Graham Ryken was wow. Really I mean it. Wow with a capital W.

His expository preaching animated Jeremiah for me. I was convicted; I was exhorted. A character from the text, Micaiah, and his Godly ancestors pricked my conscience as I considered my own relationship with my dad; my children; my extended family. I had to choke back the emotion just to stay in the game.

If he was a cricketer Phillip Ryken would have the batting average of Sir Donald Bradman. He’s really that good.

Could I encourage you to listen his exposition here: http://www.box.net/shared/sy855ooum1.

My question, “When you chatted about Bible translations you mentioned that there was a place for paraphrases. In my mind I couldn’t help wondering, “If paraphrases are ok what about gender neutral translations?” Do translations such as the New Revised Standard Version, the Revised English Bible, and Today’s New International Version have their place?”

Conrad Mbewe was on fine form as usual. This guy really hits the spot for me. His exegesis of Exodus 20 captivated my intellect. I would have loved to hear his response to the question below.

Could I encourage you to listen his exposition here: http://www.box.net/shared/o4gn7pp417

My question, “I found your division of the Decalogue interesting. The concept of the most important command being given first and the final command being a safeguard of sorts got me thinking, “What other examples in the Law are there where Moses uses a similar literary device?”

Flip Buys presented A Biblical and Reformed Perspective on Demonology.

It might have been that he was on the grave yard shift (20:30 – 21:30); maybe I was too well fed and too tired to give my undivided attention; maybe it was the Free State accent but I battled through the final address. Maybe because it was an academic lecture and I was expecting an expository presentation contributed to my state of mind.

I would have preferred to listen to him speak in his native language. While singing from the Psalms before he spoke I was reminded of how poetic Afrikaans is.

You can listen his lecture here: http://www.box.net/shared/uzr1yuc8oj

My question would have been, “Dr Buys, if I understand you correctly you implied that men and woman can be possessed, controlled and influenced by demons in our current day and age.

Given that Mark 16 is unlikely to be part of the original record of Scripture and assuming that Matthew 10:1 and 2 Corinthians 12:12 is an apostolic mandate what do we do with people that claim to be possessed by spirits?”

To answer the unposed question in the first three paragraphs, “What makes a conference worth attending” I’d have to say:

• Exceptional worship (I’m not talking smoke machines and electric guitars but I am speaking about the gravitas and place that it’s given)
• Great speakers
• Good fellowship
• A venue

Did Grace Ministers Conference measure up and would I go next year? I’ll certainly consider it.

Grace Ministers Conference (Late Notice to all Pastors in the Gauteng Area)

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Grace Ministers Conference is up from the 5th – 7th. Actually there were two but I completely missed the first :). In all fairness no one told me. Clearly not in the “in crowd” :(. Click image to enlarge.

Hey there,

Sorry I picked this up a bit late but there is a Grace Ministers Conference happening from the 5th to the 7th of January 2011 at Valley Lodge, Magaliesburg.

The speakers are Conrad Mbewe, Philip Ryken and Flip Buys. I was going to post regarding Philip Ryken today anyway; I’ve recently bought a number of his commentaries and have found them most edifying; now I get to go and listen to him in person.

I’m making every effort to attend. If you’re already planning on being there (or if you went to the first one) drop me a line.

In Christ,

Mark

Dr. P.J. (Flip) Buys, BA, BTh, ThM and ThD, founded Mukhanyo Theological College in 1994. He is an ordained minister in the Reformed Churches in South Africa since 1973. After serving 2 churches as pastor he became a cross-cultural missionary in 1984. He has planted and lead several churches in Sharpeville and vicinity and also in KwaMhlanga and vicinity. In 2003 he was the co founder of Mukhanyo Community Development Centre with the slogan Masibambisane (Zulu for: Let us bear the burden together). MCDC is now taking care of 1500 orphans and more than 500 HIV AIDS patients with home based care and child care programs in 5 day care centres, a Foster Mother and a Support a Family programme. MCDC also runs a peer education program, teaching a value based life skills curriculum, now touching the lives of 400 teenagers. MCDC also runs the Nakekela (Zulu for Caring) palliative care centre where terminally ill patients are cared for physically as well as spiritually with 24 hour medical care, counseling and advice. In 2010 MCDC also started an Independent Christian School with the name Mukhanyo Christian Academy. Dr. Buys was a founding member of Training of Pastors International Coalition (TOPIC) in Manilla in 1999 and of World Reformed Fellowship in 2000. He has recently been appointed as the Associate International Director of WRF and vice chairperson of the Board of Directors of WRF. He serves as an adjunct professor of Missions at the North-West University in Potchefstroom. He has published several elementary textbooks on practical evangelism, the skill of preaching Christ centered redemptive sermons, and Christian family life in Africa. Several articles in academic journals on church growth, pastoral handling of HIV AIDS stigmatization and the need for holistic theological training in Africa from his pen, has also been published in accredited theological journals. He and his wife Hanneke have been married for 41 years and they have two adult children and 1 granddaughter.

Widely regarded as the African Spurgeon, Conrad Mbewe is faithfully and powerfully proclaiming the Word of God in Zambia from Kabwata Baptist Church in Lusaka. Like Spurgeon, he works himself to exhaustion.

I’ve heard Conrad twice, once at Sola 5 event and once at the Rezolution Conference. He was outstanding on both occasions.

Dr. Philip Graham Ryken ’88 (D. Phil., Oxford University) was the senior minister of Philadelphia’s historic Tenth Presbyterian Church when Wheaton’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved his election. He had served at Tenth Presbyterian Church in various capacities since 1995, when he was called to preach under James Montgomery Boice, the senior pastor at that time. After Dr. Boice’s death in 2000, Dr. Ryken became the church’s senior minister, at 33 years of age. He was the twelfth pastor of the church in its 180-year existence.

A Wheaton native and the son of longtime Wheaton professor Dr. Leland Ryken and Mary Graham Ryken, Philip Ryken attended Wheaton Christian Grammar School, Wheaton North High School, and Wheaton College, graduating in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in English literature and philosophy. He met his wife, Lisa, during new student orientation, and they were married before their senior year.

The Rykens have five children: Josh, Kirsten, Jack, Kathryn, and Karoline.

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