‘Everyone knows Aber, it’s famous.’ That was the answer a friend gave me when I foolishly asked her whether she had heard of Aberystwyth. Its renown is unsurprising, the conference that takes place there every August has been going for over 50 years now, and it has played host to a number of highly gifted preachers from all over the globe.
The conference organisers (the Evangelical Movement of Wales) have always put the preaching addresses at the centre of proceedings each year. Recent world-class highlights have included D.A. Carson and Conrad Mbewe. This year was no exception, as Paul David Tripp – who had travelled all the way from Philadelphia – preached on three consecutive evenings.
Gospel drenched
The Pennsylvanian pastor will be well known to many Christians worldwide, no less due to his imaginatively titled venture ‘Paul Tripp Ministries Inc.’ But American professionalism aside, his gospel-drenched addresses were excellently received.
Those attending the conference felt doubly honoured due to the fact that Tripp has recently been diagnosed with a serious liver illness, which has led him to cancel the majority of his international commitments. The Aber Conference has been one of a miniscule number of events in recent months where Paul has preached. God’s Word was preached with power, wit and passion.
Stop ignoring the poor
The other main speaker was David Meredith of Inverness. He was honest about the difficulties that can come from sharing a conference with a well-known speaker, ‘but Paul David Tripp will get over it, I’m sure!’ he joked. Meredith ploughed through the book of Joshua and pulled out a number of applications for today’s church. He urged us to stop ignoring the poor and to do more to meet their needs, both spiritual and physical; he also emphasised the need to forget the minor differences in our churches in favour of a firm sense of unity in Christ.
Other preachers included Paul Gamston of North Yorkshire and Phil Hill of the Wales Evangelical School of Theology. The conference speakers had not conferred as to an overarching theme, but remarkably – due to God’s sovereign plan – the reality of amazing grace was palpable throughout the week.
When this reporter asked another conference-goer what he had thought of the conference, ‘I’m marinating’ was the unusual reply he received. But in hindsight, his answer was unsurprising. This was a week to soak oneself in the all conquering work of Jesus on the cross, the tenacious love of God the Father, and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit; truths worth saturating oneself in. We eagerly await August 2016, where Stuart Olyott is set to be the main speaker.
