British Autumn Conference
by Marian Kinahan

This year’s autumn conference was held once again in Castleton, in the beautiful Peak District of England

It was great to be with everyone again and to meet some newcomers. All of us expressed the importance of being together for our mutual upbuilding and encouragement. A very full programme of teaching was planned for the weekend and breaks were kept to minimum.

To understand the full gospel and live according to the truth, it is important to be clear on the basics. Where did it all begin? Why did Jesus the for us? What did his death and resurrection do for us and what is our purpose here on earth today?

Mary Walsh, Christina Duncan, and Meryl Langley, through excellent teaching, covered these questions and more besides. We also benefited greatly from valuable input from Sanda and Page.

Knowing that all originated in God and comes to us from God today makes this world a safe place. God is in charge and His purposes are being worked out perfectly according to His plan. Every problem we meet has a solution already put in place by God. Man’s first problem of separation from God and the inability to keep the Law had the solution of the cross, ordained by God from the beginning.

Knowing who we really are, vessels containing Christ, joined to the Holy Spirit at our spirit centre, we can by faith live fruitful lives for the glory of God. We who have the truth of the full gospel have a commission to fulfil. Isaiah 43:7 says, "Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my Glory, whom I formed and made, Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf."

The lost and suffering are all about us, our families, our friends, our enemies. Through our faith in action these people are saved. How does it work? God shows us the need and causes us to see this need as a "mountain of difficulty." Our desire for them is. God’s desire through us. We cannot do it but Christ through us can. Jesus said, "you can say to this mountain "move from here to there" (Matt. 17:20). The word is the Power because Christ is the Word. So we say the word of faith about the situation and God’s desire is now God’s word for that situation.

The cost to ourselves when we commit to our commission is great: our reputation, our comforts and our self-seeking selves can hold us back from our task. Our question is often "how will we be affected?" The vital question is how will others be affected if we don’t take up our task and the answer to that is DEATH. Can we rest easily with that?

Page finished on Sunday with some powerful and insightful teaching on the Word of Faith and Intercession. Norman wrote extensively on this in a very enlightening way and has left us a wealth of insight in his books for which we should be most grateful.

Paul, in Col. 1:24-29 is clear on his commission and rejoices in the cost! Paul struggles with His (Christ’s) energy which so powerfully works in him to "present every man perfect in Christ"

For all of us this time together was most enriching, as it was also for the youth. With Scott Prewitt they studied John 4 and also considered the four different presentations of the Gospel. How to live life was an important part of their discussions and teaching. They spent time sharing and catching up, which is an important element of all conferences for everybody.

Thanks to Page, Sanda and Scott, through whose dedication to their commission from God, have brought the word of God in its fullness to England, Scotland and Ireland. The changed lives at this conference were testimony to that. Having them with us was a wonderful blessing and encouragement.