West Coast Ministers’ Conference 2025

A Lifetime in the Ministry

(Inclusive of food and accommodation)

A Lifetime in the Ministry

Lifetime in the Ministry

The theme for this year’s conference is A Lifetime in Ministry with three main sessions on Starting Out, Pressing On, and Finishing Well and other surrounding topics to complement these. This will help fill out the picture of what a fruitful and God-honoring gospel ministry looks like over the long-haul for the new, established, and experienced pastor – how to both achieve it and maintain it.

It is hardly possible to overstate the importance of this subject. We have an adversary, the devil, who is busy at every stage of our life-work – seeking to discourage and destroy. Through every phase of our ministry, we have to carry a heart that is only too susceptible to sin and error. Statistics tell us that many have begun well, but sadly fallen, and others are weary and ready to throw in the towel.

For the glory of God, the blessing of our churches, and the witness to those outside the church, we want to be among the many who have pressed on, notwithstanding struggles and temptations, to finish well. As we prepare this retreat/conference, we pray that our days together will be blessed by the Lord to help us to that end.

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Speakers

David Whitla

David Whitla, originally from the UK, emigrated to the U.S. in 2000. After teaching high school, he trained for ministry at RPTS, later earning a PhD from Queen’s University. In 2018, he became Professor of Church History at RPTS. He also directs the seminary’s Theological Foundations for Youth Program and serves as a Trustee of Banner of Truth. David is married with five children.

John Tweeddale

John is vice-president of academics and professor of theology at Reformation Bible College, FL. He has advanced degrees from Reformed Theological Seminary and the University of Edinburgh. He is also a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the author and co-author of several books about John Owen.

Alex Tabaka

Alex has served as a church planter in Monument, CO, as a pastor in in Broomhall, PA and is currently as the pastor of Los Angeles Reformed Presbyterian Church – a church set in a culturally diverse area of California. Alex trained for the ministry at RPTS in Pittsburgh, PA and is studying for his PhD at Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia – where he is an on-line instructor on Church History.

Mack Tomlinson

Mack Tomlinson has been a Baptist minister serving Christ for the last 47 years in both pastoral ministry, writing, and a wider international preaching ministry context. He currently lives in Denton, Texas where they are members of Providence Chapel, where he served as an pastoring elder for 25 years. Mack is the author of ‘The Indomitable Brainerds’ about the ministry of David Brainerd and his lesser-known brother, John.

Robert Hill

Rob Hill has been a pastor of West Springfield Covenant Community Church (PCA) in West Springfield, MA since 2015. Prior to that he served in church ministry in Mississippi for 11 years. Rob is a graduate of Grove City College and Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS.

Jeff Kingswood

Jeff Kingswood has served as senior pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church (Associate Reformed Presbyterian) in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada for twenty-two years. Jeff also serves as Chairman of the Banner of Truth Trust, has served as the Chairman of the Board of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, as Moderator of the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and continues to serve as a Board member of the Christian Hospital Sahiwal, Pakistan.

Conference Schedule

Tuesday October 21st

1:00pm–3:15pm                Registration and room access                    Welcome Center: Lobby

1:00pm                              Bookstore Open                                          Newton: Creekside Room              

3.30pm                              Session 1: Jeff Kingswood                            Newton: Cascade Room

5:00pm                              Dinner                                                          Dining Hall

6:00pm                              Bookstore Open                                          Newton: Creekside Room

7:00pm                              Session 2: John Tweeddale                          Newton: Cascade Room

8:15pm                              Refreshments                                              Newton: Lobby

8:15-10:00pm                    First-Timers Book Tour                             Newton: Creekside Room

Wednesday October 22nd

7:30am                              Prayer time                                                 Newton – Cascade Room

8:00am                              Breakfast                                                     Dining Hall

9:00am                              Session 3: Alex Tabaka                               Newton – Cascade Room

10:15am                           Refreshments/Bookstore Open                 Newton:Lobby/ – Creekside Room

10:45am                           Session 4: Mack Tomlinson                         Newton – Cascade Room

12:00pm                            Lunch                                                           Dining Hall

12:30pm                           Bookstore Open                                          Newton: Creekside Room

1:00pm                             Edwards Cup Ultimate Frisbee game       McAfee Fieldhouse Meadow

3:15pm                             Session 5: Short Address                            Newton: Cascade Room

3:30pm                             Session 6: Rob Hill                                       Newton: Cascade Room

5:00pm                             Dinner                                                          Dining Hall

5:30pm                             Bookstore Open                                          Newton: Creekside Room

7:00pm                             Session 7: John Tweeddale                          Newton: Cascade Room

8:15pm                             Ice Cream Social                                         Coffee Shop

Thursday October 23rd

7:30am                              Corporate Prayer                                        Newton: Cascade Room

8:00am                              Breakfast                                                      Dining Hall

By 9:00am         Please be checked out of your room                                                             

9:00am                              Session 8: Rob Hill                                       Newton – Cascade Room

10:15am                            Coffee Break/Bookstore Open                   Lobby/Newton – Creekside Room

10:45am                            Session 9: Alex Tabaka                                Newton – Cascade Room

12:00pm                            Lunch                                                            Dining Hall

1:00pm                              Session 10: Mack Tomlinson                        Newton – Cascade Room

2:15pm                              Coffee Break/Bookstore Open                   Lobby/Newton – Creekside Room

2:45pm                              Session 11: Closing sermon                         Newton – Cascade Room

4:00pm                              Close of Conference

FAQs

Who can attend?

The West Coast Ministers’ Conference is arranged for:

  • Ordained ministers (including retirees).
  • Missionaries and Chaplains (including retirees).
  • Those being trained for church ministry in a seminary or those who teach in a seminary.
  • Those being considered and encouraged for pastoral ministry by a church.
  • Church officers involved in preaching, teaching, or pastoral care at a particular church.

We only allow men to attend to maximize opportunities for fellowship, accountability, and prayer. We understand the difficulty of being away from family for a couple of nights, but one of the goals of this conference is to encourage men to forge strong friendships with like-minded brothers and fellow gospel ministers.

Where is it located?

Mount Hermon, Felton, CA. With many conferences utilizing large church campuses and off-site lodging, some might ask, ‘Why a conference center?’ A retreat center allows us to keep everyone together sharing meals and down-time with the vast majority of the attendees staying in the lodgings on site.

What does it cost?

Retreat centers allow us to keep rates lower than a normal hotel conference set up. Mount Hermon provides a comfortable retreat setting nestled amongst Giant Redwoods. Our conference fee covers room and full board (six meals, coffee & snacks), conference registration, and the use of campus facilities. There are no hidden costs. See your rooming options below for prices.

Rooms and Registration

Registration RatesEarly Bird RegistrationAdvanceStandardLate Registration
Before April 1st, 2025April 1st to
July 5th, 2025		July 1st to
September 1st, 2025		After
September 1st, 2025
Triple Occupancy1$450$475$500$550
Double Occupancy2$495$520$545$595
Single Occupancy3$570$595$620$670
Seminary Student4$315$340$365$415
Commuter Plan5$335$350$365$395
  1. Triple Occupancy: Three people sharing a room with an ensuite bathroom. Two nights accommodation and six meals (Tuesday dinner to Thursday lunch).
  2. Double Occupancy: Two people sharing a room with an ensuite bathroom. Two nights accommodation and six meals (Tuesday dinner to Thursday lunch).
  3. Single Occupancy: One person exclusively using a room with an ensuite bathroom. Two nights accommodation and six meals (Tuesday dinner to Thursday lunch). Limited availability.
  4. Seminary Student: Utilizing Triple Occupancy accommodation with ensuite bathroom. Two nights accommodation and six meals (Tuesday dinner to Thursday lunch).
  5. Commuter Plan: Arrange your own accommodation. Includes six meals (Tuesday dinner to Thursday lunch).

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