Morning clouds gave way to clear skies this Thursday as pastors and leaders gathered for the Preach the Word conference at the Hangar at the Concorde Conference Centre in Manchester, England. The event provided encouragement, fellowship, and Biblical training to over 200 men and women who serve in northwest England. Many of these church leaders have been working tirelessly in preparation for the God Loves You Tour with Franklin Graham taking place on Oct. 3 in the Co-op Live arena.
Sitting beneath the wings of the world-famous Concorde airplane, these faithful servants of the Gospel had a profound reminder that “he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1, NKJV).
Franklin Graham opened the conference with both a welcome and a challenge.
“We are here to go over the fundamentals of what we believe about Jesus,” he said.
He went on to remind guests of the purpose behind their ministries. Recalling Jesus’ words to His disciples to leave their nets behind, Graham added, “This is what we’re called to do. We are fishers of men. How do we do this? By teaching God’s word.”
To Rise or Fall
Pastor, author, and radio host Skip Heitzig was the featured speaker at the conference. Through five powerful sessions, Heitzig called listeners to proclaim God’s Word in a time of great spiritual need.
The theme verse came from 2 Timothy 4:2: “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (ESV).
“In every generation, the church will rise or fall based on what happens in the pulpit,” Heitzig said. “The truth is always under attack. The church is the battlefield, and the pulpit is ground zero.”
Heitzig explained that preaching is to the soul as food is to the body. While we may not remember everything we’ve eaten over the years, those meals still give us nourishment. In the same way, even if people don’t remember every sermon, God’s Word nourishes the soul. Those who preach must ensure they are giving people what they truly need, not a watered-down version of the Biblical message.
Heitzig also reminded the guests to teach the whole counsel of God and not shy away from difficult passages. When preaching parts of the Bible that some find offensive, pastors must rely on God’s authority, not their own.
“You’re not the manufacturer,” Heitzig emphasised. “You’re the distributor. You don’t have to manufacture anything.” Preachers can stand in confidence, knowing that their job is to faithfully teach the Word and leave the rest to God.
Encouraged and Equipped
Pastors and leaders in the greater Manchester area have noticed a new sense of unity among churches in the months leading up to the God Loves You Tour.
“There’s something special happening in Manchester,” Festival Director Scott Lenning said as he addressed the crowd. “You have complemented each other and not competed with each other. You have prepared the runway for what will take place on Saturday.”
Joseph Amaning, from Gospel Light City Church in Manchester, was one of the pastors in attendance. He was grateful for both the teaching and the fellowship.
“It’s really changing my mind about preaching. I can see that at times pastors have drifted, and I want to get pastors back on track to preaching the truth.”
Amaning appreciated the parallels between spiritual and physical nourishment.
“It’s not about head knowledge. It’s about being fed,” he said with excitement. “And when we realise that what [people] really need is the Word—if [we] just preach the Word—their lives will be touched.”
James Boeteng, pastor of Christ Apostolic Church in Liverpool, was also greatly encouraged. He described the challenges he faces in ministry and his desire for God to expand the church’s impact in their city.
“When you stand for the truth, you will always be under attack,” Boeteng said. “But when you come to [events] like this you can be motivated because you know you are not alone.”
Seeds of Revival
Pastor Andrew Crawford and church leader James Hardy from Connection Church in Winsford were also in attendance. Their church has been involved in preparing for the upcoming tour by hosting the Christian Life and Witness Course.
In recent months, their church has partnered with five others to bring as many people as possible to this Saturday’s event. They shared that these congregations have been meeting regularly as one body, unified to spread the Gospel across their community.
“We’ve got to reach this town for Jesus,” Pastor Crawford said. “We have a heart to watch revival break out there.”
Crawford is encouraged by the fruit he has already seen. “There’s a spiritual awakening happening,” he continued. “It’s been amazing to see the churches doing the training and coming together.”
Hardy also noted how God has been moving in the region. Although it can be difficult to share the Gospel in the U.K., he believes something is shifting.
“There’s a groundswell happening, especially with younger adults,” he said. “They are starting to realise that all of this that we are surrounded with is fake. But the real thing has always been the real thing. And the churches are the way to help them find what it is.”
Crawford and Hardy are excited for what God will do on Saturday.
Hardy added, “We’re here to hold signposts. … That’s what this Billy Graham event is doing—holding up a giant signpost to Jesus. And we’re there to hold our little [signs] in our little communities and do the same thing.”
Please pray for the pastors who are faithfully ministering in northwest England. Ask the Lord to guide and strengthen them as they preach the Gospel. Please also pray for the God Loves You Tour event on Saturday—that many people will find hope and peace in Jesus Christ.
