1996 British Easter Conference Report
by Richard Gilsenan

This year’s British Easter Conference was held once again at Hothorpe Hall, Leicestershire. Meryl Langley reminded us that this is the tenth annual English conference. This year we had new quarters at Hothorpe which were very comfortable. People from England, Scotland, Ireland, and America arrived by Monday evening, and we did not take long to get reacquainted with each other. Although we were disappointed not to have Sanda, Page, and Scott from the States this year, we were delighted to have Brett Burrowes over to share some of his great knowledge of the Scriptures and how Christ lives out His life by us in our daily lives.

During the conference week, Brett taught each morning, and in the afternoon we discussed how the morning’s teaching related to how we live our lives today. Brett went through the teacher training manual, and we discussed many topics: that there is only one Person in the Universe, how God made the choice to be love and to bring creation into being as a means of expressing His personhood, and how evil came into the world because Satan chose to bring into manifestation what God had rejected for Himself.

We saw from the Scriptures how, when Satan tempted humanity, Adam made the wrong choice, Satan entered into the human race as their spirit-operator, and that God gave the Law to enable people to realize their powerlessness under Satan’s rule. But God provided the perfect solution to humanity’s pitiful condition before Him: Jesus’ death on the cross which atones for our sin and breaks our spirit-union with Satan. We also learned that we humans are only vessels who express the nature of the spirit which indwells or operates us, so we are never self-operating independent selves.

When Brett taught on Body, Soul and Spirit, the youth reminded the adults of some helpful phrases to keep in mind: "This is what I’m feeling (Soul); This is what I know" (Spirit); and, "Everything I think and feel is okay (that is, safe)." During the Body, Soul and Spirit session, we learned the importance of distinguishing feelings from what we know to be true and the importance of getting to the "Spirit truth." We were reminded that Paul’s desire for us is to "keep our whole spirit, soul and body blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 5:23).

Brett also taught on the Word of Faith and Intercession and that, as Christians, we are called to be intercessors. Our word of faith has no power in itself to produce anything; it is an expression of faith in God who produces the results. Intercession is something that God lays on us, not something we conjure up. A Christian doesn’t have an intercession unless God intends to accomplish a goal through him.

During the busy conference week the youth fitted in two bonfires, howling, and a trip to McDonalds while combining their own program with the adult program. After sitting in with the adults during the morning Bible teaching, the youth would come back for the last half hour of the afternoon sessions to share what they had discovered during their discussions. The adults were amazed how often their insights matched or exceeded our own, only the youth expressed themselves more clearly! We were so proud of them and the spiritual maturity they displayed! They deserve much credit for participating so responsibly during the week.

The adults had their fun moments, too. Because of a false fire-alarm, we had to vacate the building quickly in the middle of a crime-solving game. During a game of "Taboo," one of the adults suggested that one might wash her clothes in a geyser, if it was convenient. We also enjoyed a night out at the movies.

At the end of the week, the youth and adults got together and spoke of what the week meant to them. The youth bowled us over with their testimonies once again. "Out of the mouth of babes" best describes it. It was God’s perfect conference.