The Real All-Star Showdown

The National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star game takes place on February 16-18 in Los Angeles. However, the REAL all-star gathering takes place a couple of weeks later in Sun Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles on March 7-9, for the Shepherds Conference. What makes it an outstanding event is not (only) the fact that it has one of the best line-ups of speakers a conference can put together, but because it is truly a star-studded event in the biblical sense of the term.

Paul says of believers that they are to be “…children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life…” (Phil 2:15b-16a).

Daniel prophesied that, “Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3)

The light of the Gospel is shining during Shepherds Conference. Around 1,000 volunteers from Grace Community church labor before, during and after the conference to provide next-to-none hospitality, putting Christian love and servant-heartedness on display for all in attendance to see.

Pastors from around the country and the world flock in every year to affirm their commitment to the Word of life and be refreshed by the preaching, the brotherhood and the time away from the every-day toils of the ministry. Someone summed it up well by calling it the “Christian Disneyland”.

I have been blessed with the opportunity to go to the US from February 27^th to March 14^th and thus am very excited to be able to spend time with my heroes; those who proclaim God’s Word faithfully from the pulpit and the no-names who serve Him devotedly. I also am granted the privilege to be of the speakers at a missions Conference, where I will talk about the central role of the Church in missions. The TMAI conference I will attend is on the very same topic and the Shepherds Conference will also be on the church! What a feast!

What makes it even more special is that my brother in the Lord and pastor Haja Ralambomanana will join me. We will be able to share this very special time. Very much looking forward to it and would appreciate your prayers for the whole trip.