Running for nearly 70 years, the Bala Ministers’ Conference, organised by the Evangelical Movement of Wales, is a refreshing and encouraging opportunity for those in pastoral ministry to be built up again.
Around 80 men — mainly from Wales, but also from England and even as far afield as Canada and India — came to beautiful Bala in the North of Wales to be encouraged and refreshed together to continue serving Christ in the places He has called them to.
The days were a mixture of preaching, practical teaching, prayer, and conversation over meals. Friends were reacquainted and new friendships and partnerships in the gospel formed.
Michael Reeves (President of Union Theology) led each day, looking at the glory of Christ — and all were well fed. The preaching was rich, warm, and very practical. There were many other helpful sessions too, with some focusing on world mission, marriage, and church history. The singing was undoubtedly a highlight, as 80 booming tenor voices joined together to sing God’s praises.
The staff and volunteers at Bryn-y-Groes Conference Centre cared for everyone brilliantly and all were fuelled by their wonderful cooking and seemingly endless supplies of caffeine and cake. The facilities are excellent and offer a peaceful retreat from the busyness that many are used to.
That serenity is only broken by the thunderous roars of low-flying fighter jets, which regularly use North Wales for military training exercises. But even that serves as a timely reminder that there is a war waging — that we are not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms!
Ultimately, as encouraging as a conference or retreat like this is, as soldiers for Christ, gains for the Kingdom are not made at boot camp. So, on Wednesday afternoon, as we parted ways, we were thankful for the training we had received. We had been nourished by the Word. We had been buoyed and encouraged by the camaraderie and the prayer. We had been equipped to head back to the frontline where God had called us.
Having seen the glory of Christ afresh, we returned with an eager expectation and a longing to see that same glory in the lives of our congregations and communities.
