Carey Conference 2023 Day 2

Our second day, the only full day, began with a prayer meeting led by Andrew Lolley. We then had two morning sessions, first from Bill James and then from Andrew Roycroft from N Ireland. Bill took us this time to Romans 8 and wht he called the resurretion hope and the cosmic hope, concluding with our sure and certain hope. There was a lot in this paper about the world to come, which can be a controversial subject, which perhaps lessened the impact of the firdt message the evening before, though not all would agree. I loved the way Bill ended with a passage from Pilgrim's Progress

The pilgrims then – especially Christian - began to despond in their minds; and looked this way and that, but no way could be found by them by which they might escape the river. Then they asked the men if the waters were all of a depth? They said, "No"; yet they could not help them in that case, for said they, "you shall find it deeper or shallower as you believe in the King of the place." 

They then addressed themselves to the water; and entering, Christian began to sink. And crying out to his good friend, Hopeful, he said, "I sink in deep waters, the billows go over my head; all his waves go over me."

Then said the other, "Be of good cheer, my brother; I feel the bottom, and it is good." Then said Christian, "Ah! my friend, the sorrows of death have compassed me about; I shall not see the land that flows with milk and honey. And with that a great darkness and horror fell upon Christian, so that he could not see before him; also here he, in great measure, lost his senses, so that he could neither remember nor orderly talk of any of those sweet refreshments that he had met with in the way of his pilgrimage. But all the words that he spake still tended to discover that he had horror of mind, and hearty fears that he should die in that river, and never obtain entrance in at the gate; here also, as they that stood by perceived, he was much in the troublesome thoughts of the sins that he had committed, both since and before he began to be a pilgrim. 'Twas also observed that he was troubled with apparitions of hobgoblins and evil spirits; for ever and anon he would intimate so much by words. Hopeful, therefore, here had much ado to keep his brother's head above water; yea, sometimes he would be quite gone down, and then ere awhile he would rise up again half dead. Hopeful also would endeavour to comfort him, saying, "Brother, I see the gate, and men standing by it to receive us." But Christian would answer, "'Tis you, 'tis you they wait for; you have been hopeful ever since I knew you." "And so have you," said he to Christian. "Ah, brother," said he, "surely, if I was right, he would now arise to help me; but, for my sins, he hath brought me into the snare, and hath left me." Then said Hopeful, "My brother, you have quite forgot the text where it is said of the wicked, 'There are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm; they are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men'.

For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Psalm 73:4, 5

These troubles and distresses that you go through in these waters are no sign that God hath forsaken you; but are sent to try you, whether you will call to mind that which heretofore you have received of his goodness, and live upon him in your distresses." 

Then I saw in my dream that Christian was as in a muse awhile, to whom also Hopeful added this word, "Be of good cheer, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole "; and with that Christian brake out with a loud voice, "Oh, I see him again! and he tells me, 'When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee'". 

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2 

Then they both took courage, and the enemy was after that as still as a stone, until they were gone over. Christian therefore presently found ground to stand upon; and so it followed that the rest of the river was but shallow. Thus they got over.

In the second session of the morning Andrew Roycroft "laid the table" as he put it for two talks on conversion. He observed that conversion is a doctrine under threat - a societal threat with a colonial caveat and some internal weakening among believers, who have often disembodied the doctrine or educated without exhorting. He also spoke of the benefits of conversion, including benefits biblical, social, generational and pastoral. He helpfully remiinded us of that observation by Don Carson that "when one generation believes something. The next assumes it. And the third will forget and deny it."

At the same time there was a parallel stream for women led by Julia Jones. There seem to be less women this year maybe.

We then had the afternoon free before reconvening at five for a reports session focussing mainly on work overseas. Robert Strivens chaired and seven men spoke.

• First, Daryl Jones on the work of GBM (more here).
• Then Michael Robinson who, with his wife Ariette, has been a lifelong missionary in De Panne, Belgium. See here.
• Andrew Colclough then spoke of the extensive work of SGA (more here).
• Oliver Allmand-Smith then drew our attention to another part of the world - Africa and the African Pastors Conferences, which to some degree has grown out of the Carey Conference/Reformation Today nexus. Their website is here.
• Martin Tatham then spoke about EMF, the mission Michael Robinson is associated with, with an understandable emphasis on the work in Ukraine. See here. 
• Julian Hirst from Milnrow then spoke of the work of our good friends in Carcassonne. See here.
• The final speaker was Tim Gardner, a home missionary, who is an evangelist with Hayes Lane Baptist Church in Bexley but who also works with other Baptist Churches in the London area.

It was my opportunity to preach again in the evening from 2 Kings 5. As on the previous evening this was preceded by a dip into the 1689 Confession. I got on well and was immediately tempted to feel proud, which can't be right. Anyway, I am very thankful for the opportunity. Sir Walter Scott the novelist wrote "Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive." Worth thinking about.