Servants of the Word and Robbo

I spent last week at the Servants of the Word conference held at St George's Tron Church, Glasgow. It was something of a monumental week for the Tron and they are much in need of prayer at the moment.

The conference was a cracking time. Dick Lucas on 2 Timothy and Tim Keller doing his thing on preaching that connects to the culture, informs the mind, and warms the heart. I've not heard much of Tim Keller but if there's an easier preacher on the ear I've not heard him. Alistair Begg was on great form from Romans 12. There were also preaching streams but I've given up on them for a while and so spent the time in silent prayer and meditation.

I am more and more convinced that the speakers at conferences like this are not the main thing. I spent the evenings staying in a Travel Lodge room with the Gibson brothers. 3 grown men in a tiny room with very little fresh air. Out for meals together, mocking one another mercilessly, trying to slip out of sessions unobtrusively, regaling Jonny with tales of the joys of early parenthood. Conferences are about being refreshed and being able to relax with people who understand the nature and frustrations of the work.

I was at the Servants of the Word conference 3 years ago and it was encouraging to see how it had grown and how many good men are doing ministry.The majority of the men at the conference were young, for all the travail of the Cof S and woes of us other Presbyterians in Scotland there are very good indicators for the future.

It was also good to see the very 'relational and radical' David Robertson briefly at the conference. He writes regarding the state of Scotland here. Giving advice to all (for which we're profoundly thankful) he makes the same points that he's been making for the past few years. We (IPC) are particularly grateful to Robbo because, as he states, IPC are only 'barely existing' and so any publicity is good publicity.