SUMMERCONFERENCE - Christian Conference Every Summer in Pembroke

Conference Ethos

Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones used the terms "truth on fire" and "theology on fire". These phrases capture the ethos of the Conference. We desire, with all our hearts, to see the truths of the Scripture, and especially the message of Jesus Christ crucified, anointed with Heavenly power. Such blessings cannot be organised, for we are dependent on the Sovereign Spirit to visit our meetings. Yet our hope is in a sovereign active God, who hears the prayers of His people and delights to bless those who look to Him.

Many are agreed that there is a great need of a Divine Visitation. We read of days, where the Lord walked in His garden. We long for Him to do so again. This is not to say that we do not endeavour to give our all to Gospel work. It is just that we know that there is a missing ingredient. The missing ingredient is God, and a greater degree of His presence.

As we move from Summer Conference 2008 to Summer Conference 2009, and plan for Summer Conference 2010, may there be a date, as of yet unknown to us, which will be singled out for a remarkable blessing.

Letters of Thomas Charles of Bala 1791-92

Within these fifty years there have been five or six very great awakenings. I am persuaded, that unless we are favoured with frequent revivals, and a strong, powerful work of the Spirit of God, we shall, in a great degree, degenerate, and have only a 'name to live:' religion will soon lose its vigour; the ministry will hardly retain its lustre and glory; and iniquity will, of consequence, abound.

Spurgeon preaching in 1882 on the text 'Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.' (John 7:38)

"Am I not so happy as to have in this audience some who will immediately ask for this blessing. I pray that some who have never received the Holy Spirit at all, may now be led while I am speaking, to pray ‘blessed Spirit, visit me, lead me to Jesus’. But especially those of you that are children of God, to you is this promise especially made. Ask God to make you all that the Spirit of God can make you. Not only a satisfied believer who has drunk for himself, but an useful believer who overflows the neighbourhood with blessing.

I see here a number of friends from the country who have come to spend their holiday in London. What a blessing it would be, if they went back to their respective churches overflowing, for there are members of churches that need flooding. They are as dry as a barn floor, and little dew ever falls on them. Oh that they might be flooded! What a wonderful thing a flood is! Go down to the river and look over the bridge and see the barges and other craft lying in the mud. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men cannot tug them out to sea. There they lie dead and motionless as the mud itself. What shall we do with them? What machinery can move them? Have we a great engineer among us who will devise a scheme for lifting these vessels and bearing them down to the river’s mouth? No it cannot be done. Wait until the tide comes in. What a change! Each vessel walks the water like a thing of life. What a difference between the low tide and high tide. You cannot stir the boats when the water is gone, but when the tide is at the full, see how readily they move. A little child may push them with his hand. Oh for a flood of grace! The Lord send to all our churches a great spring tide!

Then the indolent will be active enough, and those who are half dead will be full of energy. I know that in this particular dock, several vessels are lying that I would like to see afloat. But I cannot stir them. They neither work for God nor come out to the prayer meetings, nor give of their substance to spread the Gospel. If the flood would come, you would see what they are capable of. They would be active, fervent, generous, abounding in every good work - and work. So may it be. So may it be. May springs begin to flow in all our churches. And may all of you hear me this day get your share of the streams. Oh that the Lord may now fill you and then send you home bearing a flood of grace with you. It sounds oddly to speak of a man carrying home a flood with him, and yet I hope it will be so. And that out of you shall flow rivers of living water. So may God grant for Jesus’ sake. Amen."