Congratulations, Eshelman Family!

I enjoyed getting to meet Nathan Eshelman at the most recent Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference last May. Just to show you the kind of fellowship that takes place and comes out of those conference, I awoke this morning to an email on my Blackberry from Nathan, letting me, this "Banner of Truth guy" know that they were on their way to the hospital for baby #3! (Hey, two guys previously have even sent me ultrasound pictures of their expected little ones when they first got the news!). As you can see, Baby Boy Eshelman (still unnamed) has been born, today, August 31, 2007, weighing in at 10 pounds, 4 ounces and is 22 inches long. Congratulations from all of us here at the U.S. office of Banner of Truth!
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ADDENDUM, Friday night, August 31st - The baby has a name! Watson Truth Eshelman. There you have it, the new brother of Owen Justice and Anna Grace.

Ahhhh, that Special Fellowship at the Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference!

I had no idea, but apparently each year at the annual Banner of Truth U.S. Minsters' Conference, the men attending from the RPCNA and the ARPC get their picture taken together. I just saw this picture recently elsewhere on the Web. Check it out ... young and old, new and "well-seasoned," this speaks to the great brother-to-brother fellowship that takes place each year at the Banner conference. You may have heard me say that, even though I live nearby, I stay on campus with the rest of the guys just to be a part of that fellowship. If your a guy in ministry, or preparing to be one (pastor, elder, deacon, missionary, chaplain, seminary student), give some serious thought to joining us for the 2008 conference, May 27-28, with Iain Murray, Richard Philips, and more. If you have any pictures of previous conferences, let me know. I might like to use some as we put together the brochure for next year's event. Thanks. Steve.

Remembering One of Our "Family"

The following comment was added to a previous post, but I was thinking that few people might see it there, and it was something I just wanted to share as part of the "Banner family." My post referenced the recent homegoing of Pastor Scott Petersen, indeed a part of this "Banner family," and one who enjoyed that special preaching and fellowship of the Banner Ministers' Conference. Anyway, here's the note from Peter to me (thanks, Peter).
Steve
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Dear Steve, on behalf of the family and friends of Scott Petersen, I would like to thank you for your prayers and good work. Scott greatly appreciated your work at BOT and loved the Banner Conference. Though I had bought Banner books and subscribed to BOT, Scott got me attending BOT beginning with the 2005 Conference, and D.V., I shall continue. Scott was a dear friend and mentor to me, and the man who ordained me. He was a champion of biblical Christianity in a place and a denomination where many hearts have grown cold. May his life be a call to all to return to our First Love, whole-heartedly, and at any cost. Because I love Christ and Scott, I say, Soli Deo Gloria!
Rev. Peter Butler Jr.
www.secondrefirvington.blogspot.com

U.S. Ministers' Conference Makes Cover of Banner of Truth Magazine

The new edition, just released, of The Banner of Truth magazine, published 11 times each year, bears a very familiar-looking cover to any of you who were here in attendance at this year's Ministers' Conference. Can you pick yourself out of the crowd? How about a friend or two? For those of you who made the picture, "Congratulations!" You can now add to your resume the fact that your image (even if it happens to be the ... uhm ... backside image) has been published on the cover of an internationally distributed publication! If you happened to have been late for this session, chalk it up to another missed opportunity - and be on time, next time!
:-)
Interested in subscribing to the magazine? Or how about receiving a back issue to review? Email me at steve@banneroftruth.org and I'll set you up for a
FREE 3-month trial subscription to The Banner of Truth Magazine (electronic edition), beginning with this month's issue featuring the U.S. Ministers' Conference on the cover! There's no better way to check it out for yourself. Grace & peace. Steve

MORE Conference Pics, and a Vacation! :-)

Here are a few more pictures from the Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference. Perhaps some of you who didn't make it this year will be encouraged to join us in 2008. I've been receiving a number of comments from those who did attend, from the one pastor who said, "I was a first time attendee and I really enjoyed it" to another who wrote, "This was my 37th conference, I think. But it may have been my 38th. And I have, in their different ways, enjoyed them all." Another comment from a pastor who had not been before was especially heartwarming, "One of the things I sensed was a great sense of warmness from everyone there. The people attending the conference were always very friendly, whether in line to eat, or walking around. I came alone, but I wasn't alone." That is so great, and so true of our time together. "I came alone, but I wasn't alone." I do hope you'll consider joining us next year, May 27-29, 2008.

Coming up next on the blog, I'll begin previewing some of the new titles to be released next month from the Banner. But first, you'll have to excuse me for a bit. It's family vacation week - time to set this all aside and play volleyball on the NJ beach! Then I'll head to Memphis for this year's PCA General Assembly. Will I see you there? Grace & peace. Steve

PICTURES - 2007 Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference

I thought you might be interested in seeing what a Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference looks like, so will share a few of the many pictures taken at this week's event. Next year's conference will be May 27-29, 2008. If you'd like to receive periodic updates on the details for next year as they unfold (speakers, discounts, etc.), send me your email address (steve@banneroftruth.org), and I'll be sure to keep you informed. For lots more about what went on at this year's conference, check out Tony Reinke's Shepherd Scrapbook blog. Tony was with us this year (how did he manage to escape our camera???); he blogged from the conference, has pictures of his tour of the Banner U.S. warehouse, and will be adding more comments and reflections throughout this next week.
One more thing ... If you were one of the guys who attended this year's conference, how about sharing a comment or two here as to what the week meant to you. And be sure to come back in '08! It'd be great to see you all again next May.
Steve
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Here's the chapel at the college, just before we opened the doors. It's a beautiful facility, expecially when filled with hundreds of men's voices singing one of the great hymns of the faith!











Ben Short kicked off the event. I am certain that every guy there can still tell you what Ben spoke on ... For me, to live IS Christ!













There's always time for interaction among the guys who come, pastors fellowshipping with other pastors, or missionaries, or deacons & elders and seminary students.

































































What would a Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference be without a bookstore FILLED with Banner of Truth books? And next year, we're already making plans to make it even fuller; it will truly include copies of every -- did I say every? -- book we currently have in print! Wow.































































The weather was great! Here you see a group of guys heading over to the dining hall for lunch. Eating all meals together, as well as staying together on campus, just adds to the overall fellowship for everyone involved.









In addition to the fellowship of some dear brothers in Christ, the conference also provides those much-needed moments to simply sit and reflect on what we've just heard, and to ponder, and pray.
































It was great having Banner of Truth's Chairman of our Trustees back for another year.














What a time we had Tuesday night in the bookstore! It was Sinclair Ferguson's tour, sharing his incredible insights into so many books, recommending some for specific reasons and - yes - reducing the prices of some to discounts of 65%! I hope he remembers that at the end of our fiscal year!
:-)


















































































Another one of our speakers' this year ... Derek Thomas. I won't tell you how many times he went for ice cream at Brusters! What was that favorite kind, Derek? New York Cheesecake? Mmmmmm.












































Without a doubt, the fellowship is one of the key ingredients of the week. Old and young, mixing together. It's great.

I'll probably put these, and all the rest of the pictures we have (thanks to photographer Ryan Thompson) together into a presentation CD that we can distribute to help promote the event. Let me know if you'd like a copy, and stay tuned.

Did You Know This Is What Happens At A Banner Conference?

Late yesterday, a young guy asked if I would meet him for breakfast this morning. He apparently had been "blown away" by Ben Short's and Sinclair Ferguson's messages.
Last night, some other guys and I were wandering around campus when we stumbled on several Westminster Seminary guys making full use of the "hoops" in a pick-up basketball game.
Today, on my way to lunch, I asked a young pastor, "How are you?" He first replied, "Fine," but then began to cry. "That isn't true," he said, "I'm not fine." We talked and prayed together.
Tonight, a young pastor asked to get together in the morning ... subject yet unknown.
Throughout these days, one can readily see men spending time alone in quiet meditation on the things that they've heard. Additionally, two or three men can be found talking among themselves and ministering to one another.
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As I have told people again and again ... Banner seeks to provide an environment where ministers of the Word can themselves be fed, where their souls can be nourished, and where they can also have some good, laughter-filled enjoyment in the process.
Grace & peace. Steve

A Conference Attendee's WIFE Speaks Out! :-)

This is absolutely TOO GOOD for me not to share. It is a from the blog of a woman whose husband is here at the Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference.
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DATE: Sunday, May 27, 2007
TITLE: "He's Leaving Me"
Well a day, well a day... in 7 1/2 hours my hubbie is leaving me for one week (well okay, 5 days). Justin and I will be holding down the fort without my dear heart by my side. He has new to us tires on the van. He has it all cleaned spic and span. He is all packed and ready to ride. :) Leaving at 6:30 in the morning. Where is he going you ask? He is going to his all-time favourite pastor's conference! The Banner of Truth US Conference. Saying that he is excited is probably the under-statement of the year. He was even asking me today where the iron was for ironing his clothes. He NEVER irons his clothes (not that I do either - just to make the perfectly clear). So, all I can do is blame his excitement. Wish him well with me! :) Oh...what does he like about it all?
1. good solid teaching
2. the ride down with other pastors - he drives the van, they go down a night early, they have all their favourite stops etc
3. meeting other conservative male preachers and elders. :)
4. THE BOOK SHOP!!!! What pastor doesn't like a good book store .. especially one where you get good bang for your buck! AND
5. they give him a new shirt almost every year. He likes new shirts. :)
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I hope he liked the shirt ... and I hope he liked a bit more than the shirt, too! If you find yourself wishing you were here - well - we announced the dates for next year's conference. They are May 27-29, 2008. How about you put it on your calendar, even now?
Grace & peace. Steve

Greetings, from the 2007 Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference

We are off to a GREAT start. I can't believe the number of guys who are here from various seminaries and cities that I've visited over the last year, or from last year's Ministers' Conference. It's great to see them again, many of whom I've had email contact with sometime during the past 12 months. I can remember most, even if just the fact that the face is familiar. Ben Short kicked off the conference this afternoon with a great encouragement and challenge - For me, to live is Christ. Tonight, it's Sinclair Ferguson at the pulpit, followed by his whirlwind bookstore tour - what a fun time of sharing his knowledge of many of the books and reducing the price of some of the books he touches! The room was so crowded, and hot! Sorry, guys. Somehow, we'll need to do it a bit differently whenever Sinclair returns in a future year.

FOLLOW THE CONFERENCE YOURSELF:
If you'd like to follow the details of the conference, please visit Tony Reinke's "Shepherd's Scrapbook" blog. Tony is here with us - yes, really! Great to meet you, Tony! - and is "live blogging" all of the sessions, even with pictures! You can visit Tony's site by clicking here.
We're also glad to have Ryan Thompson with us from Iowa. Ryan is a professional photographer who is documenting this year's conference with great photos. I'm sure I'll be sharing some of them with you in the next week or so.
More to come. Steve.

Pre-Conference UPDATE

The Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference is one exciting week! While the actual conference begins Tuesday (May 29), it sort of begins for me tonight. One of our attendees, Mark from Chicago, has a flight that arrives today. So he'll be joining our family and living with us for the next few nights (I met Mark last November at the ETS conference in DC)! Likewise, Paul from Boston will spend a night with us, too. It'll be good to have their help Monday as we set up the bookstore - imagine converting an empty room into a fully functioning bookstore that contains just about ALL Banner of Truth titles (at 40% or more off). If you haven't registered but want to come, and are a pastor / deacon / elder / chaplain / missionary / seminarian, send me an email. It's still not too late, as far as we are concerned. Grace & peace. Steve
ADDENDUM, MONDAY, MAY 28th - We are ready! The bookstore is set up; registration will be prepared in the morning and we will start welcoming you guys at 11:00 a.m. We have two conference attendees staying at our house tonight, they have both quickly become older brothers to our three daughters! It's great. And we had one guy call earlier asking if it was too late to bring his eight friends!! This is already starting off to be a great week. Wow.

If You're Coming, Then We're Praying!

With about two weeks to go to this year's Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference, our U.S. Banner staff has taken all of the names of everybody who has registered so far and we have divided them among us so that we can pray, individually and by name, for every guy who is coming to this year's conference. And here's how we'll be praying:
(1) That the Lord will prepare your heart in advance of you coming.
(2) That the enemy would not cause certain events to prevent you from coming.
(3) For your family as they prepare for the time that you will be away.
(4) We're thanking the Lord for your church's willingness to let you come this year.
(5) For safety in getting to the conference.
(6) That the Lord would use His Word to minister to you during these days that we're together.
(7) That the Lord will introduce you to other Christian brothers at the conference who might best minister to you while you're here.
(8) That this would be a genuine time of spiritual refreshment for you.
If you haven't yet registered, there is still time, to both get in to the conference AND to get on our prayer list. Just go to www.banneroftruth.org where you'll see an image of the conference brochure. Follow that link for more information, and to register online. Grace & peace. Steve

IMPORTANT CHANGE - Banner of Truth U.S. Ministers' Conference

Pastor Walt Chantry, originally listed among the speakers for the 2007 Banner of Truth U.S. Ministers' Conference, will not be able to be a speaker afterall this year. But Pastor Sinclair Ferguson and Pastor Mark Johnston have agreed to take his place, giving us still one great "line-up" of preaching! By the way, do all of you even know about this event? It is ONE EXCITING TIME and ONE INCREDIBLE DEAL! No other conference is like it. First, we bring together men in the ministry - pastors, deacons, elders, missionaries (or training to be there) - for excellent preaching. That's not totally unique. But we combine that with unequaled fellowship in that we do not disperse to hotels for the night or restaurants for meals. Most of us stay right there on campus together, which makes possible great late-night discussions, trips for ice cream, etc., and we eat all of our meals together, also right there on campus. The ONE INCREDIBLE DEAL comes in because, for the fee of $220 (a mere $100 for students), you get everything listed off to the right of my home page here --- sessions, lodging, meals, books, and more! Check it out! Seriously, after last year, I would urge any guy-in-ministry to be here, even if I didn't work for The Banner! If you have any questions, let me know. Or if you've been to the conference before, I'd like to hear your "take," as well. Thanks!

Ministers' Conference Registration Now Open!

TO SEE THE BROCHURE, CLICK THE IMAGE TO THE RIGHT
I realize that there are many conferences around, but as you might imagine, Banner of Truth isn't out to provide just more of the same. Instead, the annual Ministers' Conference is unique on multiple fronts. First, it's for men in ministry (pastors, elders, deacons, missionaries) along with guys who are preparing for such (students), and we feed them with choice, prime spiritual nourishment directly from God's Word. No seminars on how to make your bulletin prettier. No tips to grow your attendance. Our goal is to feed those who have been feeding others for the past 51 weeks; it's good, solid preaching - living water for some dry and thirsty men of God.
A second unique feature - The fellowship. You see, we live and eat and worship together for the duration of the conference. We stay in on-campus housing. We eat in the college dining hall. The group doesn't split up for meals or lodging. Everyone sticks together. And the fellowship that results, including late night talks about the Word, life, minstry, etc., is precious!
A third unique feature - The worship. No, there isn't a band, or worship team or new songs. Instead, you'll find yourself surrounded by the sound of hundreds of men singing some of the great hymns of the faith with little or no accompaniment whatsoever. Trust me; it's incredible!
Additional conference perks? ALL Banner books are available at hefty discounts. You get a $30 gift certificate when you walk in the door, plus three new releases from Banner, plus a Ministers' Conference polo shirt, plus a one-year electronic subscription to the Banner of Truth Magazine! Need I say more? You get your registration, your lodging, your meals, the gift certificate, the free books, the polo shirt, the magazine subscription, the fellowship, the worship and the prime, choice spiritual nourishment for just $220 ($100 for students) IF you register before 5/1/07 - $240 ($120 for students) after that date. Just click on the brochure image to access a PDF of the brochure, or click here to go right to the online registration page.
It would be GREAT to meet you and have you join us, May 29-31, 2007, on the campus of Messiah College, Grantham, PA. Let me know if you have any questions. Grace & peace. Steve (steve@banneroftruth.org)

The Banner of Truth 2007 Annual Ministers' Conference

Some of you either are a pastor or seminarian, or know of either one, who really ought to be at the annual Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference. In my mind, there are several things that differentiate this event from most any other conference.
(1) The Audience - Men who are engaged in or preparing for Christian ministry - that would include pastors, elders, deacons, missionaries, seminary students.
(2) The Goal - To provide ministering servants with rich spiritiual food in the form of the solid preaching of God's Word. No "How to Make Your Bulletin Prettier" seminars or "Sure Fire Steps to Grow Your Church" sessions. We are out to feed the ones who have been doing the feeding for the past 51 weeks (or preparing to feed the flock of God in the near future).
(3) The Fellowship - I hear time and time again what an incredible time of fellowship it is because we basically all live and eat and worship together during that week. We don't disperse to hotels and restaurants throughout the area for meals and nights; we stay together. It's something that really creates one of the hallmarks of this event.
(4) The Worship - Just stand in the middle of hundreds of men who are singing some of the great hymns of the faith with little or no accompaniment. The first time I heard this last year, I just stopped in my tracks. It was incredible.
Check your calendars and help get the word out. It's going to be a great time together.
THE DETAILS:
Dates: May 29-31, 2007
Location: The campus of Messiah College, Grantham (near Harrisburg), PA.
What Will You Get?
- Solid, reformed preaching and like-minded fellowship
- Two nights lodging and a 6-meal plan
- A gift copy of three new titles from Banner of Truth
- Access to the Banner of Truth Conference Book Room where everything is discounted
- A $30 gift certificate for use in the Banner of Truth Conference Book Room
- Close proximity to our Banner of Truth office and the "slightly damaged," 50% off book section
- A free Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference polo shirt
- One year's electronic subscription to the Banner of Truth magazine.
What's the cost for all of that? Just $220 if you register before 5/1/07 (just $120 for seminary students)
If interested in a brochure, send me an email - steve@banneroftruth.org - and I'll get it to you as soon as we get them from the printer.