It would be impossible to describe all the ways the Lord worked during Spiritual Leadership Conference 2026. From the very opening moments of the conference, it was evident that the Lord was answering the many prayers for His hand on this meeting.
Our 2026 theme was “God Is Able,” from 2 Corinthians 9:8: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”
The work of ministry is greater than any of us, but our sufficiency has never been in ourselves. It is in the God whose grace is always sufficient and whose power enables us to abound in every good work.
Before moving on from this special week, I wanted to take a few moments to look back at some of the ways we saw God at work and underscore some of the truths our theme brought into focus.
God Is Able to Sustain His Work
Beginning the conference celebrating forty years at Lancaster Baptist Church gave us the opportunity to remember God’s faithfulness and look forward to the future with confidence in His promises.
Anniversary Sunday was a wonderful day to reflect on the past 40 years and re-dedicate ourselves to the work of God in the years ahead.
Sunday morning, our co-pastor, Larry Chappell, preached from Philippians 1 on God’s good work in our church in the past and the confidence we can have in Him for the future. It was a joy to see people saved in each service and dozens of new Christians baptized on Anniversary Sunday.
Sunday evening, we watched the Fortieth Anniversary Video, which tells the remarkable story of what God has done here through interviews with longtime members. This documentary-style video traces the Lord’s provision, guidance, and grace from the church’s earliest days to the present.
We also heard from six former staff members who are now pastoring across the country. Each preached on an aspect of ministry he learned here and is now seeing God bless in his own church: shepherding, reaching souls, discipleship, training leaders, vision, and nurturing the family.
God Is Able to Speak through His Word
The preaching and teaching of God’s Word remained at the heart of the next three days. I was grateful for the opportunity to teach two sessions, including “The Abounding Church” and “What Has Mattered Most.”
On Wednesday morning I taught a session on “What Has Mattered Most” over the past 40 years of ministry. It will be available to download at slconference.com.
Throughout the conference, the Lord used His Word to challenge, encourage, and strengthen us for the work of ministry. I am grateful for every speaker who faithfully opened the Scriptures and pointed us to the truth we need for the days ahead.
The sermons and breakout sessions will be made available for free download in the coming days at slconference.com.
A special highlight this year, as we celebrate the five-hundredth anniversary of Tyndale’s New Testament translation, was an extensive exhibit from the Museum of the Book in London tracing the lineage of the English Bible. Items on display included Bibles from Wycliffe and Tyndale, the 1522 Greek New Testament compiled by Erasmus, a 1611 King James, and many other rare volumes. It was a meaningful reminder of the heritage we have received and the privilege we have to hold and proclaim the Word of God.
God Is Able to Strengthen His Servants
One of the great highlights of Spiritual Leadership Conference is always the fellowship. It is a joy to visit with friends and co-laborers from across the country and around the world.
I enjoyed time with these Korean pastors and families who came to the conference. During my years in Korea as a teen, the Lord gave me a special burden for the Korean people.
Spiritual Leadership Conference also serves as the annual national fellowship for West Coast Baptist College alumni. It is a great joy to have many of our alumni at the conference and to hear how the Lord is using them. I’m thankful for their faithfulness to serve Christ and advance the gospel.
God Is Able to Call Another Generation
As I prayed for Spiritual Leadership Conference, one of my prayer requests was the one Christ gave us—that the Lord of the harvest would send forth more laborers into His harvest (Matthew 9:37–38).
On Monday evening, as I preached from 2 Corinthians 9:8 on the truth that “God Is Able,” many young men responded to God’s call to preach the gospel. Over the next two days, still more men and women responded to His call to serve in ministry.
Please pray for these men and women as they take their next steps of obedience, prepare for ministry, and seek to faithfully follow wherever the Lord leads them.
God Is Able to Use Willing Servants
On every corner of the campus, there were Lancaster Baptist Church members serving! These ladies provided coffee and refreshments at the ministry expo each afternoon.
Only eternity will reveal the impact of the thousands of hours invested by the Lancaster Baptist Church family in preparing for and serving our delegates throughout the conference. From music practices to food preparation to airport runs to childcare to a hundred other areas of willing ministry, LBC members rolled up their sleeves and served with joy. I am thankful for their labor of love and confident that the Lord will bring fruit from their investment in the lives and ministries of those they served.
God Is Able
As I look back on these days, I am thankful for every message, conversation, decision, and moment of fellowship. God answered prayer in wonderful ways throughout the conference, and we praise Him for it.
We began the week celebrating forty years of God’s faithfulness, and we move forward with confidence in the same truth that framed the conference: God is able!
