Attend or skip the Pastors Conference this year? Here’s why you should go.

The title has always intrigued me, at least the last word in the title — Alabama Baptist Pastors Conference. Is it actually a conference?

A quick glance at the agenda might lead a person to think of it as a day-long church service with a slate of guest preachers. In some ways, that would be accurate.

The agenda also mentions several segments of musical worship, again much like a church service.

Best of both worlds

The annual gathering also showcases a few leaders from the platform, and they share announcements, take up an offering and provide an opportunity to vote — so another similarity to both a church service and a church business meeting.

However, if a conference is an event offering instructional sessions that help participants learn and grow in a specific area, inspirational speakers intending to motivate and the opportunity to network with other liked-minded folk, then it seems the Alabama Baptist Pastors Conference does indeed meet that criteria as well.

So, yes, it’s a conference and, yes, it’s a worship service — and it happens to be held in a church sanctuary too.

This year’s conference

This year’s Pastors Conference will take place Mon., Nov. 16, at First Baptist Church Trussville ahead of the Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting Nov. 17–18 at the same location.

Conference president Carl Williams hopes the experience equates to a “divine appointment,” and I’d like to encourage you toward that end as well.

It’s not all about the preaching sessions or even the time singing worship songs together, even though those moments provide an opportunity to draw closer to the Lord as well as hear from Him through a fresh encounter.

In fact, many a believer through the years has ended up in one of the Pastors Conference sessions and unexpectedly experienced God in a way that provided the encouragement, hope and/or affirmation for the next steps they needed.

At the same time, the tremendous opportunities to share a cup of coffee with a friend you haven’t seen in years or to mingle through the exhibits and meet countless new friends is truly priceless. And don’t forget about all the resources you can explore — the vendors would love to show you what they have to offer. Stop by to say hello.

You will never know what you don’t know as well as who all and what all you missed out on if you aren’t there.

Partnership

Our team at TAB Media Group is honored to assist each year’s Pastors Conference officers in planning, organizing and executing the annual event. I’d especially like to thank Susan Stevens, Amy Hacker and Maggie Evans for their attention to detail and all the effort they pour into helping the officers’ visions become reality. Several other TAB staff members, former staff members and various volunteers also assist in the effort.

As we look toward the Nov. 16 Pastors Conference, we can say without a doubt that Carl and his team of officers as well as the incredible staff at FBC Trussville have worked diligently to bring you a quality experience.

Coffee, water and snacks are our gift to you as you bounce between the sanctuary and the hallways. Lots of the booths you’ll visit will have a candy dish or some type of snack available too.

And while lunch will likely need to be on your own that day (unless you are part of one of the specialty groups), you’ll enjoy the variety of restaurant options near the church.

Come visit us

So, plan to clear your schedule Monday and come visit us. You never know which one moment will make the entire day worth it.

Plus, I’m hoping to break my record with how many selfies I can take with all of you, so be sure to find me when you get there.