Report on the Reading Conference
November 15th 2008
Bill Esslemont

Is it really a year since we held our last conference at St. Stephens in Upper Basildon, near Reading? Once again there was a great turnout and it was pleasing to see so many new faces. Mike Penny and Willie Henry were on top form and needed to be, since there were some keen minds there and the question time following each session was most interesting. The subject matter was The Will of God in the 21st Century and what a wonderfully uplifting subject it proved to be.

Session 1 Willie started off with The Will of God in the Old Testament, a hard task to do in 40 minutes, but one he did excellently. This was followed by Mike on The Will of God in the New Testament and Acts. Here he concentrated on the will of God for the Jews (in the Gospels) and for Jewish Christians) in the Acts. Following a good question time we then had a short break for a much needed tea/coffee.

Session 2 – Mike then talked about The Will of God for Gentile Christians  during the Acts Period and finished with The Will of God for Christians in the Post Acts Period. This generated a fair deal of questions particularly from the newcomers who perhaps had not considered the significance of the Acts 28:28 position.

We then had a longer break for more tea/coffee where the conversations around the sandwich bar were mostly about what’s coming next, as so much interest had been generated already. Again the ladies had laid on a nice spread for us (a very important part of any OBT conference).

Session 3: This was the one, I think, most had come to hear; The Will of God in the 21st Century. Willie took this and it was just great. What a wonderful, caring and consistent God we serve. How liberating it is to see how, in all ages, God has made His will very clear and how He has provided for both mankind’s failings and for its guidance.

In conclusion, the conference gave a clear overview of God consistently revealing His will to mankind. His primary will is .... to walk worthy wherever we are and whatever we are doing. And if we do this, we will test the will of God and prove it (Romans 12:1-3)

Thank you Mike and thank you Willie for making God’s will so clear to us and for reminding us of His amazing grace.

CD Recording:
The Will of God in the 21st Century

The four studies by William Henry and Michael Penny on The Will of God in the 21st Century  are available on 2 CDs costing £3.00