West Coast Ministers’ Conference 2025

A Lifetime in the Ministry

October 21 – October 23, 2025
Felton, CA, USA
$315-$670

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.

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.

Conference Schedule

Tuesday October 21st

1:00pm   Registration and room access                        Welcome Center

1:00pm   Bookstore Open                                           Newton – Creekside Room

3:30pm   Session 1 – Opening Address                         Newton – Cascade Room

5:00pm   Dinner                                                          Dining Hall

6:00pm   Bookstore Open                                           Newton – Creekside Room

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

8:30pm   First-timer’s exclusive Book Tour                   Newton – Creekside Room

Wednesday October 22nd

7:00am     Bookstore Open                                          Newton – Creekside Room

7:30am     Prayer time                                                  Newton – Cascade Room

8:00am     Breakfast                                                      Dining Hall

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

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

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

Noon         Lunch                                                         Dining Hall

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

Bookstore Open                                         Newton – Creekside Room

3:15pm       Session 5 (short address)                             Newton – Cascade Room

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

5:00pm       Dinner                                                        Dining Hall

6:00pm       Bookstore Open                                         Newton – Creekside Room

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

8:15pm        Ice Cream Social                                        Coffee House

Thursday October 23rd

7:00am         Bookstore Open                                        Newton – Creekside Room

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

Noon            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
June 31st, 2025		July 1st to
August 31st, 2025		After
August 31, 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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