UPDATE
You can watch the Newday promo video right here:



The summer is officially here, or at least it is in England, although with our odd weather, we can't guarantee what we will experience over the next few weeks! But it is a good time to think ahead to next year and think about what events you are planning to attend. I will share a few of my personal picks. There are also a number of other Newfrontiers conferences in different countries—why not explore their website and look for the country nearest you?

If you are looking for more, or your tastes don't follow mine, Tim Challies also has a list of conferences. There are more conferences still to come this year, but I have also listed some 2009 events.

AUGUST 2008
Newday — Older children and teens conference run by Newfrontiers. Join several thousand young people to worship God and hear his Word.

Together at North — Newfrontiers gathering in the North York Moors.
Contact: north@teesside.org

Together at Borderlands — Newfrontiers Bible weekend in Wrexham.
Contact: eric@rugeleycc.org.uk

Together at Mid UK — Being held in Shuttleworth.
Contact: mailto:mailto:

Together at Wessex — in the New Forest Showground.
Contact: mailto:mailto:

Celebration NorthWest — USA Conference, including Terry Virgo.


SEPTEMBER 2008
The Power of Words and the Wonder of God — The Desiring God National Conference with John Piper, Mark Driscoll, Bob Kauflin, Sinclair Ferguson, Paul Tripp, and Daniel Taylor.


OCTOBER 2008
Together at East of England — Meeting at the Pontins Pakefield Holiday Centre, Suffolk.
Contact: mailto:mailto:

Acts 29 Boot Camp, St Louis


NOVEMBER 2008
Front Edge South West, Winchester.
Contact: office@lifesouthampton.org

Acts 29 Boot Camp, Dallas


JANUARY 2009
Together at London and Surrey, January 23-25, Butlins, Bognor Regis.
I will be there with hundreds of people from Jubilee Church, London and many other Newfrontiers churches. We will take over the whole site for a Bible weekend.
Contact: togetheratbutlins@hotmail.co.uk

Acts 29 Africa Boot Camps


FEBRUARY 2009
Life in the Spirit — "Where reformed theology meets charismatic experience."
UK conference with Sam Storms, Steve Brady, David Carr, Gavin Calver, and Bernard Thompson. Usual attendance approximately 200.


APRIL 2009
New Word Alive
Next year Carson and Virgo return, and there are two weeks — March 30 - April 4, 2009, and April 4 - April 9, 2009. Spaces are likely to sell out, so get yourself booked in soon.


JUNE 2009
Celebration Midwest
Dates not yet confirmed, so watch this space for this USA conference ...


JULY 2009
Together On A Mission 2009 will take place from July 7th to 10th. Book this holiday now!

Celebration Northeast
Dates not confirmed, but watch this space for details of this USA conference ...

Today, we move on to speak about the atonement controversy and the state of the Church today.

There is no doubt that it has been a difficult time in the Evangelical movement on both sides of the Atlantic in recent years. There have been numerous arguments about what the definition of an Evangelical should be and how closely we can work together with people who disagree with us about a range of issues. In the UK, for example, these arguments erupted within the Spring Harvest/Word Alive partnership and have led to the formation of a new conference, New Word Alive, which appears headed for a second highly successful year in 2009.

In the USA, one attempt to define an Evangelical is a manifesto which has received some criticim from leaders such as Al Mohler. The UK's Evangelical Alliance has a definition on their website, and the outgoing leader, Joel Edwards, has recently set forth the Alliance's vision for the future in a book, Agenda for Change. Currently that organization holds together some 7,000 churches across the UK. Joel Edwards has steered the Alliance through some fierce controversy over the years, arguing strongly that the charismatic churches should be seen as part of the mainstream and has avoided a potential split in the organization over Steve Chalke.

There are, of course, many questions about the future direction of the Alliance, and Christians in the UK do need to pray for its Board as it considers who should take the place of the much respected Joel Edwards. I asked the EA for comments about how they plan to select a new General Secretary. Mike Talbot, Chair of the Evangelical Alliance board, said:

“A very clear vision has been set under Joel’s leadership, which focuses the Alliance’s work, and will continue to do so as the new General Director is appointed.

We recognize this is a crucial appointment and that many in the evangelical world have a keen interest in Joel’s successor.

The Evangelical Alliance board members responsible for the appointment have been prayerfully consulting with a wide range of member organizations as they seek to discern God’s will for the future, and their next step is to work on the job description before advertising the post.

The Alliance has a strong leadership team, who will work with the board to run the Alliance until the new General Director is appointed.”

Following the roaring success of the 2008 New Word Alive conference, it has been announced that the event will take place next year over two weeks and be in the same venue in gorgeous North Wales as it was this year. This is a change from what was announced during the event itself, when it was believed it would need to move.

To get an idea of what happened this year, there are, of course, many posts here on my blog, including videos of interviews and summaries of the talks.

You will probably need to move quickly to book since, although there will be double the number of places available in 2009, the on-site accommodation sold out very fast and I predict it will do so again. Over the two weeks, God-willing, around 8,000 people will gather to worship and hear God's Word.

The bookings will open shortly, but if you are not already on their database, go over there now and ask them to send you a brochure. or, have a look round and watch the promo video