Like many others out there in the Reformed evangelical universe, I've been waiting for T4G. "Together for the Gospel" (for you anagrammatically challenged) is a bi-annual pastors/church leader's conference held in Louisville with the worthy goal of promoting the centrality of the Gospel in local church life. This great event brings together some two hundred score of ministers and ministries for 3 days of brotherhood in the Christian Faith. The singing alone is worth the trip to the Bluegrass state, and the bookstore and exhibitors' lineup looks equally strong. Many of you know the organizers, all great friends of Ligonier Ministries: Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, C.J. Mahaney, and Albert Mohler who will be joined by special guests R.C. Sproul, John Piper, John MacArthur, and Thabiti Anyabwile. All together the speakers' lineup has the look of the "Steel Curtain D" of Pittsburgh back in the day doesn't it?
Ligonier was pleased to be there in 2006 for the inaugural T4G and will be back with our fearless leader this week for version 2.0. One of my goals this week is to talk with as many pastors and church leaders as I can about Ligonier's new church outreach strategy. We've got some good things to show you -- lower curriculum prices for church education programs not the least. We have some special gifts for those who check in with us at our exhibition booths, and we would enjoy giving you copies of our freshly redesigned Tabletalk (which we think may be one of evangelicalism's best monthly devotional magazines.) I hope you'll come by and visit with me and others from the Ligonier senior staff team.
So you're coming this week to T4G, what should you expect and how should you prepare for it? Firstly, it goes without saying: show up early and bring an empty suitcase to carry back free stuff and all the books you'll buy! The crush of folks is also part of the charm of T4G. If you are one of the unfortunate caught up in the FAA-mandated airline mess we're sorry for you, but we'll be sure to take your free books home.
Secondly, the conference is noteworthy for the frank, friendly, and festive exchange of ideas between the plenary speakers. Imagine what it must be like to sit down and ask questions with one of your heroes immediately after they've preached one of the best sermons you've ever heard. Well this is exactly what happens after each man finishes preaching. It's fascinating and very useful to preachers and teachers alike who struggle with how to communicate the Gospel faithfully to people in the local church. Our dear friend C.J. Mahaney often brings the house down as he engages vicariously (on behalf of the audience) with the speakers and their topics.
Thirdly, like any good conference, it's best if you take what you've learned and put into practice back home. One of the interesting side stories to T4G is how all over the country smaller, local versions of the conference representing a pan-Reformed fraternity are forming. It's what we are pleased to foster at Ligonier through our own Pastors Fellowships.
Lastly, expect to be connected. T4G has united a lot of online folks the last few years and a few of the die hards have even bandied together to form the "Band of Bloggers" and will meet Tuesday in the Galt House hotel to talk about Christian bloggage and other matters.
By the way, the Galt House where many T4G conferees will stay, has an interesting story in and of itself. It's a famous Louisville hotel on the banks of the Ohio River, where Union Generals planned the invasion of the South during the last part of the American Civil War. Southerners take note!
For those of you who have registered and made plans to come to this sold out event we look forward to getting connected as you journey to Kentucky this week. Ligonier is happy to be in, with, and about Together for the Gospel.
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Tags: Church Relations, Conference
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