The GARBC annual conference in Lancaster, PA, June 26-29, 2007 was a great blessing. We were happy to be among the eight from Willow Creek Baptist Church who attended. The Lord Jesus Christ, in Matthew 16:18, confidently predicted, “I will build my church…” That statement brings confidence and assurance to us believers in these troubled times.

This year, the GARBC celebrates its 75th anniversary; that fact helped to make the days we spent together at the conference very special. People from most states and from around the world (including Africa and India) gathered to lift our voices in praise to our God; praise for who He is and for what He has done. It was definitely a confidence builder.

Doug McLachlan, recently-retired pastor of Fourth Baptist Church in Plymouth, MN was the principal speaker. The grandson of a gangster in Detroit and the son of a bartender, McClachan’s preaching was invigorating and inspiring. Among other things, he said there should be “overflow—the gospel should spill out of us,” and that we should not be “hiding out in our holy huddles” or “holing up in elegant ecclesiastical holy salt shakers.”

Other speakers included John Greening (GARBC National Representative), Richard Van Heukelum, David Strope, Ernie Schmidt, and Jim Jeffery.

All of the music and the preaching were a great blessing. However, we would have to say that, for us, the greatest blessing was to hear our 18-year-old granddaughter, Heidi, sing in a mixed quartet and our 16-year-old granddaughter, Anna, beautifully play the violin in the Talents for Christ competition. Though we will admit to a little family bias, we have difficulty imagining that heaven’s music will be any sweeter.

Next year GARBC national conference, with the theme “The Glory of the Cross” (Galatians 6:14) will be in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Mark your calendar: June 24-27, 2008.

—Jim and Clarene Jefson

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