Bible Conference 2015 will be held Monday through Friday next week and will feature a theme: “He comes in the storm,” taken from Mark 6. Many of the messages will deal with themes such as how God works and comforts during difficult times and trials.
Karissa Moeller, a freshman biblical counseling major, said the theme is very applicable for the lives of many students at BJU. In the middle of a busy and stressful semester, Moeller said the idea that God is with us through the storms in our lives is the kind of message that everyone needs to hear, even if they’re not presently going through a trial.
The conference will include sermons from eight speakers: Dr. Gordon Dickson, Dr. Edgar Feghaly, Dr. Les Heinze, Dr. Bob Jones III, Dr. David McIlveen, Dr. Matt Morrell, Dr. Steve Pettit and Dr. Mike Sproul. Mr. Kyle Wilcox, special assistant to the president at BJU, said because each preacher has a different style and emphasis, every speaker connects to a different group of listeners.
BJU Chancellor Dr. Bob Jones III said he purposefully chooses a missionary or evangelist to speak at the conference each year. This year’s representatives of that category include Dr. Edgar Feghaly, a missionary to the Middle East, and Dr. David McIlveen, a pastor from Belfast, Ireland.
Jennifer VerWay, a senior elementary education major, said that, based on her past three Bible Conference experiences, students can get the most from the speakers’ sermons by taking notes during the sessions and reading the passages of Scripture along with the speaker. She also recommends that students come into the sessions with an attitude of being ready to learn. But most of all, VerWay encourages students to pray. “Start praying that God would work with you in your life,” VerWay said.
Dr. Bob said he can’t remember a time when there wasn’t a Bible Conference on campus. “Preaching has always been central here,” he said.
Bible Conference sets a spiritual focus for BJU. Wilcox said this special time elevates the Word of God so people see that chapel is not meant just to fill a time slot in each day and that Bible classes are not just to supply course credit, but that BJU highly values the Word of God.
Wilcox said Bible Conference is like an extended Day of Prayer. “It’s a time to take a break from everything else,” Wilcox said, and to spend time in God’s Word.
Dr. Bob said he desires that Bible Conference participants will come away from the conference with God in His rightful place as Lord of their lives, and more in love, more devoted and more obedient to God.
More information about Bible Conference, including information about the schedule, speakers, special events and the Bible Conference offering, can be found at www.bju.edu.
