The 2009
Canadian Carey Family Conference was a wonderful
time of ministry, warm Christian fellowship and family enjoyment!
Almost 400
registrants representing 36 different churches gathered at Braeside Camp in Paris from August 22nd
to the 28th. Most attendees
took advantage of onsite accommodations, half of them campers, the others
staying in the 40 cottages made available to us this year. God has blessed us with kids! During the weekday morning sessions 170
children aged 4-19 received biblical instruction. A record number of meals were served by the
Braeside staff in the camp dining hall.
Thabiti
Anyabwile, our plenary speaker from Grand Cayman
(accompanied by his wife, Kristie and three children, Afiya, Eden and Titus),
preached five richly pastoral messages from the gospel of Matthew in a series
called "Questions for Jesus." During the Thursday evening session, Pastor
Anyabwile wove his testimony through the message, outlining how God had worked
in his life rescuing him from Islam and bringing him to trust in Christ alone. A number of Carey families appreciated the
opportunity to host the Anyabwiles for lunch and dinner through the conference
week, greatly enjoying fellowship with them.
GF pastors
preached the weekend and morning sessions, thoughtfully dealing with practical
topics in a series entitled "Foundations for the Family". The inaugural Friday
morning panel discussion went very well as the conference speakers dealt informally
with questions related to the week's sessions.
The different perspectives brought by each participant and the interplay
between them was both interesting and beneficial.
If you
weren't able to attend the conference or wish to listen again to something you
heard or know someone who might benefit from the messages preached, all twelve
sessions are freely available for download.
Next year's
Carey Conference is scheduled for August 21-27, 2010. Stuart Olyott, a frequent conference speaker
and faithful expositor from the UK,
will be our evening speaker. As plans
for the 2010 conference develop, further details will be available here.
Be sure to mark your calendars
and reserve the week for another superb conference in 2010!
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