MAIN SPEAKER - GEOFF HARPER

Geoff Harper oversees and promotes Sydney Missionary and Bible College’s higher degrees by research program. He also lectures in Old Testament. Originally from Dublin, Geoff has been lecturing “down under” since 2012. When not thinking about Leviticus, Geoff loves all things ocean: swimming, fishing, snorkelling, kayaking—with or without his kids! The Harpers attend Petersham Baptist Church in Sydney’s Inner West.

Geoff has done quite a bit of thinking and writing on Leviticus. He will be helping us explore preaching the Book of Leviticus.


WHAT IS THE PREACHERS CONFERENCE?

The Preachers Conference is an annual conference to equip and enthuse preachers in New Zealand. The conference runs over three days and is focussed on the practical tasks involved in the hard work of a preaching ministry: Bible exposition and application.

“To preach is to open up the inspired text with such faithfulness and sensitivity
that God’s voice is heard and God’s people obey him.”
- John Stott.
This is the pattern of preaching ministry we are aiming to promote. Our goal in the conference is to teach the Bible to teachers in order that they in turn can teach it to others.

Our hope is that through the conference pastor-teachers will be refreshed spiritually, stimulated theologically, engaged pastorally, and encouraged in the great task of preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ from the living and enduring word of God, the Bible.

The core components of the conference are: biblical expositions to feed the mind and fire the heart; preaching workshops to help sharpen ourselves as ‘approved workers’ of the Word; and addresses on key issues facing preachers today.

There will also be the benefit of the informal conversations with fellow gospel workers, similarly committed to the demanding task of being faithful preachers.

CONVICTIONS SHAPING THE CONFERENCE

We are unashamed to follow the whole truth of Biblical Christianity, and are committed to the paths of historic Christian orthodoxy and evangelical doctrine.
We are unashamed to call ministers to the work of Biblical preaching and teaching, believing that this alone will equip the saints for the work of ministry.
We are unashamed to witness to the sufficiency of Scripture and the power of the Gospel as the only hope for genuine Christian unity.



WHO IS THE CONFERENCE FOR?

The Preachers Conference is for active ministers who are regularly engaged in Word ministry. As space allows, we also welcome those training for a preaching ministry, and others in full-time Bible teaching roles.

Workshop participation will require preparation on an assigned biblical text before the conference. This will be presented and discussed with peers in a small group facilitated by an experienced preacher.

None of us can ‘go it alone’, so fellowship with others across the denominations - who share in the struggles of authentic, biblical ministry - can be a vital source of strength and encouragement.

So, if that is you, we welcome you to join us.


WHEN AND WHERE

Tuesday 3 September - Thursday 5 September, 2024



The Preachers Conference will be held at Hastings Baptist Church.

We start with morning tea at 10.30am on Tuesday and finish with lunch at 12.30pm on Thursday. (That should help with those travel plans).

REGISTRATION

Accommodation & Food
The conference is non-residential but Hastings Baptist Church will be able to offer a limited number of billets.

HBC will also be organising lunch and evening meals (which are included in the registration fee).
Limited Numbers
In order to maximise the benefits of the small group workshops, the overall conference numbers will be capped.

Places can only be allocated to those who have registered and paid. The cost for the conference is $200.
Close-Off Date
The practical workshops for expositors will require some pre-conference work by those attending.

In order to leave time for the work on the assigned Bible passage registrations will close on 2 August, 2024.