2005 Shepherd’s Conference in review
Gary Takahashi
The Shepherd’s Conference has changed quite a bit since Nam, David and I used to attend as seminary students in the early to mid 90’s. What used to be a much more cozy gathering of about 500 pastors has now ballooned into a full-fledged event, yielding a whopping 3300 pastors. In our seminary days, there were no refreshments, meals or freebies provided. That all changed in 2001, when the Shepherd’s Conference underwent a face lift under the leadership of then executive pastor, Tom Pennington (no relation to Chad). Now conference attendees are served lunch on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and are provided with unlimited refreshments such as coffee, tea, soda, Krispy Kreme donuts, muffins, ice cream, and even fruits. As part of our conference freebies, we were given a stylish Bolivia watch (retails at $99), and seventeen Christian books (estimated value of $230). My how things have changed since we were students.
The Shepherd’s Conference is a great time of instruction, exhortation, and reminder of what our priorities as pastors are. I think of the Shepherd’s Conference as a ministry tune-up, wherein I can go to be refreshed by good preaching and teaching and to ensure that my ministry motor is functioning in good working order. There are always areas of ministry and theology that I can always use sharpening in and this is one of the real values of the Shepherd’s Conference. It’s almost like going back to seminary for a couple of days. Dr. MacArthur focused very passionately on our responsibility to earnest contend for the faith (Jude 3) and to preach the word of God faithfully (2 Tim. 4:1-5) despite the defection in many evangelical churches today that are influenced by “seeker-sensitivity� and “purpose-driven� models. Dr. Sproul excellently articulated the doctrine that the church stands or falls on, the doctrine of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. This doctrine is what separates biblical Christianity from all other religions and to get this one doctrine wrong, is to get the whole thing wrong. Dr. Mohler spoke on the foolishness of the Cross and how clever preaching is the enemy of the gospel. Preachers are not called to market the gospel but to faithfully proclaim the message. I was once again reminded of how great a responsibility I have before God to faithfully preach His Word rather than get caught up in the latest church fads.
The Shepherd’s Conference was a great blessing this year and am quite glad and grateful that I had the opportunity to attend once again. It is such a necessary time for us as pastors to be in the company of other pastors to focus on our ministry responsibilities. It is an invaluable time to be able to talk ministry with other pastors and to encourage each other to keep on fighting the good fight of the faith.
Immanuel Bible Church