How Conferences Help the Church

Many people blessed by Harvest Plains Church's first conference

I don’t know if you’re aware, but February, March and April tend to be conference-heavy months for evangelical Christians. You will seemingly find a conference around every corner. Perhaps you have wondered, “Why does everybody want to have a conference?” I can’t speak for others but let me tell you why I am thankful for conferences and am glad that we held our first one at Harvest Plains Church after four and a half years of ministry.

1. Conferences elevate the ministry of the Word.

Marvel with me for a moment at how bizarre conferences are. A bunch of people come together, sit down and listen to someone preach the Word. It’s not like these are short Ted Talks (at least, not at the conferences I attend). No, each message is nearly 50 minutes long. When it is over, people use the bathroom, grab some snacks, enjoy some fellowship then return for another one.

I can only marvel at the beauty of it all when I think about the knowledge of God as the Bible describes it. Solomon reminds us that it prevents people from going astray (Prov. 19:2). The Apostle Paul reminds us that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). Therefore, every sermon nurtures and grows faith. Shockingly, Hosea reminds us that the loss of God’s knowledge leads to judgment. In Hosea 4:6, God says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”

Therefore, nothing is to be cherished or revered more than the knowledge of God. As it turns out, conferences declare that truth from the rooftops.

2. Conferences reveal spiritual hunger.

Every single week, a number of responsibilities fill a pastor’s plate. I trust you know what I’m talking about. There are events to plan, people to counsel, disciples to make, and studies and sermons to write. Unfortunately, this means a pastor can’t possibly know everything happening in every person’s life, no matter the size of his church. He often wonders, “Who is hurting? Who is struggling? Who is being overlooked?”

Let me tell you something. If you hold a conference, people will come, especially a conference that hits on a particular need. Our conference focused on the family, so lots of people came. We covered everything from preparing for marriage and having a healthy marriage to parenting your children. By no surprise, I am now aware of more struggles than I was before the conference. Just as importantly, I’m also aware of who wants help, support, encouragement, and accountability.

3. Conferences mobilize servants.

Have you ever hosted a family holiday in your home? If so, then you know how much extra work happens before people show up. Your dirty house becomes spotless. Your empty fridge becomes full, and your children are actually wearing something other than sweatpants. Something similar happens in a church during a conference. People rally to put their best foot forward as they prepare to wash the feet of God’s people.

Unfortunately, like people, churches can sometimes push the auto-steer button. We get lazy, unfocused and undisciplined. When you hold a conference, it’s amazing how people lock in. In some respects, it creates the same energy and excitement as a grand opening. The many needs for a conference give plenty of opportunities for people to step up and serve. Even better, you tend to attract servants who might not be able to serve in weekly ministries due to their schedules.

4. Conferences lessen the need for private counseling.

In my second point, I mentioned how conferences reveal spiritual hunger, but I want to expand on that point a bit. One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that the longer I shepherd and the more I get to know people, the more counseling people crave. Unfortunately, I am currently maxed out. In fact, I happened to mention this to our speaker, Jack Hughes. He told me he teaches a series on the family every two years because it tends to be the congregation’s greatest need. Said another way, more people come to him on account of marriage and parenting issues than any other thing. By covering this topic with regularity, he has noticed how it reduces his private counseling load. To that, I say, “Amen.”

I am certain more benefits could be listed regarding conferences, but these things especially stand out to me on the heels of our first one. Attend a conference, hold a conference, help with a conference…it’s up to you. But do not overlook how God works through them.