The Carey Conference is a conference for ministers and their wives – which makes it almost unique in the UK.
The conference met at the Hayes, Swanick in Derbyshire, from 5–7 January. The numbers were slightly down this year: this may have been because the main speaker, Mike Bullmore, is perhaps not yet a well-known name in this country. But his ministry to the men and women there was truly outstanding. Mike is the senior pastor at Crossway Community Church, Kenosha, near Chicago. He taught preaching at nearby Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois, but then 17 years ago felt the call of God to plant a church with the help of some Trinity students. The church now numbers 1200 and they have recently planted another. Mike is one of the behind-the-scenes ‘founding fathers’ of the hugely influential Gospel Coalition and has a wealth of both ability and experience that the evangelical scene in Britain would be wise to tap into.
Functioning gospel
Mike’s theme was ‘The functional centrali-ty of the gospel.’ The phrase ‘gospel-centred’ has become something of a cliché in current evangelicalism, but the way the gospel of Christ dying for our sins should connect into our thought processes and so influence our behaviour (and indeed provide power by which we can positively make progress as Christians and as churches) was opened up in a way which was breathtaking, practical and hugely encouraging for everyone who had the privilege of being there. It is the pastor’s job to know and minister those ‘gospel connections’ into every situation which the people of his flock might face. And Mike went on to do just that for men and their wives involved in pastoral ministry, applying his main thesis to the shaping of pastoral character and to fighting the temptations peculiar to pastors and preachers. Listeners felt they had been X-rayed by the Word of God, some visibly squirming in their seats as their hearts were exposed, but also rejoicing with encouragement as they were led afresh to the cross of Christ. Many were left thinking: ‘Please come back soon, Mike!’
Connecting with culture
But Mike Bullmore’s ministry under God was not the only gem of this excellent conference. Dan Strange, from Oak Hill College, gave the participants a wonderful tour de force as he opened up the matter of how evangelism requires us to connect with our culture. Many there had heard Dan before, but he seemed to be at his most lucid, animated and inspired in this very clear message as he explained from Acts 17 and 1 Corinthians 1 how the gospel both confronts every culture and connects with it.
Brother Hicham spoke in a very winning way about befriending and evangelising Muslims. He encouraged pastors not to be afraid, but to introduce themselves to the leaders of the local mosque. He said that many moderate Muslims, embarrassed and worried by Islamic terrorism, are keen to make friends and open up dialogue for the good of their communities. There were other fine contributions, from Phil Heaps of Grace Church in Yate on the doctrine of the Trinity, Gary Brady of Childs Hill Baptist Church in London on the life and influence of the Puritan John Owen, and from Julia Jones who led some very encouraging sessions specially for women in ministry.
The talks from the conference will be available soon from the Carey website.
