Friday, May 12, 2006
Colloquium Conference 3-6 May
The First Colloquium Conference was a great joy and stimulus. There was, in effect, one speaker, Dan Doriani, who worked his socks off. We loved the fact that much space was given to the consecutive exposition of one book of the Bible: James, opened up with a tremendous eye for the big picture. We have never seen that done in a conference in Brazil: we speak a lot about the importance of exposition, but do very little in our conferences. Alongside James, in the morning expositions, Dan gave us an assortment of tips and helps for preaching Christ in all the scriptures: a great help to many, though for us very much the norm of what we teach week in and week out. And in the evenings he opened up the theme of the family - biblical, practical, easy to hear and yet courageous and strong.
With Dan came his wife Debbie, who we came to appreciate and love instantly. It was also a joy to get to know Randy and Sharon Mayfield. Randy is Musical Director at the Central Presbyterian Church, St Loius, Missouri, where Dan is Senior Pastor. He sang in all the meetings (in English, sometimes with a brief explanatory word before the song) and gave a workshop on Christian music.
With a first event of this kind, there are always teething troubles and adjustments to be made, but here was a great start, and we enjoyed the conference very much. The impact of a few days hearing the Word was good. It was good even to hear things we know well, but which are so desperately needed here, and to which people sometimes react badly. The confirmation and encouragement that we are not alone in this work, and that these truths are of universal validity, was a great encouragement.
One other aspect: for obvious reasons, this wasn't the best week to spend much time with Luciano and Luciene Pires, founders of Colloquium and organizers of the conference. But it was a week where we felt even more drawn to them and to their ministry: the work of Colloquium is even closer to the heart of what we are trying to do than we knew. Please pray for them, and for us in this: Andrew has now accepted to be part of the advisory council of Colloquium, and though this will not be onerous, we want to take it seriously.
Dan and Debbie Doriani
Randy and Sharon Mayfield
Dan Doriani in action, with interpreters Luciano Pires and Mauro Meister (bearded.)
Randy Mayfield's contribution to the music, and to thinking about music, was appreciated.
Congregation on the final night.
Music did not dominate the conference, but as ever at First Presbyterian, it was varied, theological coherent and of good quality.
Of course, the number of people who work in such an event, contributing in one way or another, is enormous. Here are a few...
The First Colloquium Conference was a great joy and stimulus. There was, in effect, one speaker, Dan Doriani, who worked his socks off. We loved the fact that much space was given to the consecutive exposition of one book of the Bible: James, opened up with a tremendous eye for the big picture. We have never seen that done in a conference in Brazil: we speak a lot about the importance of exposition, but do very little in our conferences. Alongside James, in the morning expositions, Dan gave us an assortment of tips and helps for preaching Christ in all the scriptures: a great help to many, though for us very much the norm of what we teach week in and week out. And in the evenings he opened up the theme of the family - biblical, practical, easy to hear and yet courageous and strong.
With Dan came his wife Debbie, who we came to appreciate and love instantly. It was also a joy to get to know Randy and Sharon Mayfield. Randy is Musical Director at the Central Presbyterian Church, St Loius, Missouri, where Dan is Senior Pastor. He sang in all the meetings (in English, sometimes with a brief explanatory word before the song) and gave a workshop on Christian music.
With a first event of this kind, there are always teething troubles and adjustments to be made, but here was a great start, and we enjoyed the conference very much. The impact of a few days hearing the Word was good. It was good even to hear things we know well, but which are so desperately needed here, and to which people sometimes react badly. The confirmation and encouragement that we are not alone in this work, and that these truths are of universal validity, was a great encouragement.
One other aspect: for obvious reasons, this wasn't the best week to spend much time with Luciano and Luciene Pires, founders of Colloquium and organizers of the conference. But it was a week where we felt even more drawn to them and to their ministry: the work of Colloquium is even closer to the heart of what we are trying to do than we knew. Please pray for them, and for us in this: Andrew has now accepted to be part of the advisory council of Colloquium, and though this will not be onerous, we want to take it seriously.
Dan and Debbie Doriani
Randy and Sharon Mayfield
Dan Doriani in action, with interpreters Luciano Pires and Mauro Meister (bearded.)
Randy Mayfield's contribution to the music, and to thinking about music, was appreciated.
Congregation on the final night.
Music did not dominate the conference, but as ever at First Presbyterian, it was varied, theological coherent and of good quality.
Of course, the number of people who work in such an event, contributing in one way or another, is enormous. Here are a few...
# posted by Andrew and Cora @ 9:30:00 am 
