PEtra shepherd’s conference 2009

 
 


“They are on a boat to Manila now”, said the fellow missionary who was on the other end of the phone, as he called to register three more Filipino pastors for our conference. It was now the day before the event, and we were so blessed to know that we already  had 400+ delegates pre-registered. They were all ministry leaders, the majority of them pastors serving in the front lines,  coming from as far away as 12-hour boat rides from other islands.  This was the 3rd annual Pastor’s Conference sponsored by our partners, The PETRA Foundation and Greenhills Christian Fellowship.  After going to the Shepherd’s Conference at Grace Community Church in California earlier this year, our team from PETRA/GCF was full of ideas to enhance the conference here in Manila.  The goal was to bless the delegates in both spiritual and physical ways. The conference fee of 300 pesos was waived for anyone in need, and lunch, along with snacks and coffee, was provided for all each  day.  Lodging with three daily meals was also provided to as many as 150 people.

 

in partnership with gcf and petra

August 26th, 27th and 28th

By the end of it, more than 650 ministers enjoyed three days of hearing God’s Word being preached, break out sessions on various topics  such as expository preaching, local church ministry, conflict resolution, missions, ministry to the poor, and three sessions for women taught by my wife Jessica. I taught on preaching and interpreting the Bible to a few hundred ministers and will follow up the conference with two 14-week classes on those topics.  Jessica will do a follow up class for mothers using Tedd Tripp’s book,  “Shepherding a Child’s Heart.”  We were also joined by TMS graduate Roger Ng who spoke on preaching, leadership, local church ministry and missions. It was also such a blessing to watch members of GCF minister to the delegates. They helped provide prayer support, food, rides, clothing, medical/dental/ vision care as well as serving at the conference where needed.  In the words of our conference’s closing song: “To God be The Glory.”