UK Ministers’ Conference 2025

2025: A Lifetime in the Ministry

*Conference update*: we regret that Mark Dever will not now be able to join us as expected, due to a health challenge in his family. Please pray for Mark, his wife Connie, and their children at this trying time.

We are grateful that Stuart Olyott and Jeff Kingswood will take on the titles Mark had hoped to cover, and we look forward to their ministry. Please uphold them in prayer as they prepare.

All Spaces Now Fully Booked

The conference will be livestreamed. Non-delegates who would like to join the livestream may buy a ticket for £25. Click below to register:

register for the conference livestream (via ringcentral)

A Lifetime in the Ministry

The theme for this year’s conference is A Lifetime in Ministry. The three main sessions will focus on Starting Out, Pressing On, and Finishing Well. The topics to be taken up at the other sessions will complement these and help to fill out the picture of what a fruitful and God-honouring gospel ministry looks like over the long-haul and how we can both achieve it and maintain it.

It seems hardly possible to overstate the importance of this subject. Our adversary the devil is busy at every stage of our life-work, seeking to discourage and destroy. Through every phase of it, too, we have to carry a heart that is only too susceptible to sin and error. Many have begun well and sadly fallen. Others are weary and ready to throw in the towel. For the glory of God and the blessing of others we want to be among the many who have pressed on, notwithstanding their struggles and temptations, and have finished well. It is the prayer of the conference organisers that through our days together the Lord will be pleased to help us to that end.

Speakers

Stuart Olyott

Stuart Olyott has pastored churches in London, Liverpool, and Lausanne, and, in recent years, has focused particularly on encouraging young and inexperienced pastors. He has written a number of books, including I Wish Someone Would Explain Hebrews to Me.

David Campbell

David Campbell is minister of North Preston Evangelical Church, Lancashire, and a trustee of the Banner of Truth. He has written ‘Sanctification’ in the Banner mini-guides series.

Andrew Lucas

Andrew grew up in England, studied theology in Wales, and has ministered within the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ireland for twenty-five years. He is presently minister of Omagh EPC where he has been for the last seventeen years.

David Johnston

David Johnston was ordained as an assistant minister within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in 1981. He went on to minister in two congregations in Waringstown — 11 years — and Bangor — 25 years — retiring at the end of 2019. He currently serves as a preaching associate in a Presbyterian congregation in Belfast. David has been married to Olive for 44 years. They have four married children and eight grandchildren.

Garry Williams

Garry is the Minister of Ebenezer Chapel, Luton. He also serves as the Director of the Pastors’ Academy at London Seminary, where he teaches systematic theology. He is the author of a number of books, including His Love Endures Forever and Silent Witnesses. He is married to Fiona and they have four children.

Warren Peel

Warren is pastor at Covenant Christian Fellowship, Galway, Ireland (Reformed Presbyterian Church) and a trustee of the Banner of Truth.

Jeff Kingswood

Jeff Kingswood serves as senior pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church (ARP) in Woodstock, Ontario. In addition to his pastoral work, he serves as a member of the board of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and as a trustee of the Banner of Truth Trust.

Conference Schedule

Monday, April 7th

5.15pm : Opening Sermon (Andrew Lucas)

8.15pm: Starting Out (Stuart Olyott)

Tuesday, April 8th

7.25am : Conference Prayer Time

9.15am : The Lifetime Ministry of the Son of God, Part 1 (Garry Williams)

11.15am : Lessons in Life and Ministry — A Biblical Perspective (David Johnston)

5pm : The Lifetime Ministry of the Son of God, Part 2 (Garry Williams)

8.15pm : Pressing On (Jeff Kingswood)

Wednesday, April 9th

7.25am : Conference Prayer Time

9.15am : Lessons in Life and Ministry: A Personal Reflection (David Johnston)

11.15am: When a Call Comes to a New Ministry, Pt. 1 (David Campbell)

5pm : Global Updates (Chair: David Campbell)

8.15pm : Finishing Well (Stuart Olyott)

Thursday, April 10th

7.25am : Conference Prayer Time

9.15am : When a Call Comes to a New Ministry, Pt. 2 (David Campbell)

11.15am: Closing Sermon (Warren Peel)

FAQs

Who attends?

The UK Ministers’ Conference is arranged for men who are (or who have been) in pastoral charges, or who are theological students in training for the ministry, and for men who are serving in missionary work at home or overseas. Please do not apply if you do not fit into one of these categories.

Where is it located?

Yarnfield Park, Yarnfield, Stone, UK

Situated in the village of Yarnfield in Staffordshire, and easily accessible from the M6, Yarnfield Park is a purpose-built conference centre and is well-equipped with modern facilities, has an excellent standard of catering, super-fast internet, and an on-site Costa coffee shop. Attendees will also have access to the nearby sports centre.

Accommodation is in ensuite bedrooms, each equipped with a desk, tea and coffee making facilities, and super-fast wi-fi. Towels are provided. As in previous years, a fully-stocked Banner book room will be open throughout the conference.

Arrival details

Unless special arrangements are made, no one should arrive before 2.00pm on Monday. Registration of conference members will be from 3.00pm to 4.45pm in the atrium. Thereafter keys can be collected from reception. The full address for the venue is Yarnfield Park, Yarnfield Lane, Yarnfield, Staffs, ST15 0NL. The nearest railway stations are Stoke and Stafford. Please visit yarnfieldpark.com for further travel information.e

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