FYI...

An Important Conference on the Holy Spirit

Sam Storms - Enjoying God Ministries
Mar 31, 2007

I want to alert all of you to an important conference that will be held April 27-29, 2007, at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas.

The purpose of this conference is to explore the person and place of the Holy Spirit in Southern Baptist life. But don’t think for a moment this is a conference for only Southern Baptists. It is designed for all Christians to explore the work of the Spirit today.

The conference is being hosted by Dwight McKissic, Senior Pastor at Cornerstone. Dwight’s name has been much in the news of late, due primarily to a powerful message he delivered at the chapel service of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. Dwight shared his own experience of life in the Spirit, one that was not well-received by the administration at the seminary. The resulting furor led Dwight to believe that the role of the Holy Spirit in Southern Baptist churches needed to be openly and honestly addressed; hence, this conference.

This is not a conference that will only advocate one view of the Spirit’s work. Both continuationists (those who believe all spiritual gifts continue and operate in the church today) and cessationists (those who believe certain spiritual gifts, such as tongues and prophecy, ceased at the close of the apostolic age) will be present. In fact, a lively panel discussion (debate?) will be part of the conference program.

I will be speaking together with a number of other pastors and theologians (including Wade Burleson, Bart Barber, and Ben Cole). I’m also excited because my friend Daniel Brymer will be leading worship!

You can get information and a brochure for the conference by going to www.cbcarlington.org. In addition to the charismatic / cessationist debate, a wide variety of topics will be addressed. These include how the Holy Spirit relates to the family, church growth, the Great Commission, worship, preaching, and prayer, just to mention a few. I also encourage you to attend the Pastors’ Roundtable that will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, April 27, preceding the conference.

I hope you will share this news with others and that you will be able to attend.

Sam