Rev. Megan Pardue delivers her sermon, “Eat What is Good.”
Nearly three hundred clergy and ministry leaders gathered at Nazarene Theological Seminary September 25-26 for the 2018 Hugh C. Benner Preachers Conference. The theme of the conference, named after NTS’ first president, Dr. Hugh C. Benner, was “Preaching Hope in Troubled Times.”
Rev. Tim Keel, pastor of Jacob’s Well Church in Kansas City, Missouri served as the conference keynote speaker, opening with a talk from Mark 4:35-41 entitled Crossing to the Other Side. Featured preachers included Rev. Megan Pardue, Rev. Jennell Whitfield Riddick, Dr. Montague Williams, and Dr. Stephen Green. Each preacher delivered a sermon followed by panel discussion in which preachers responded to questions submitted by participants. The conference also included a diverse lineup of preaching labs aimed to educate and equip attendees in the practice of preaching. Rev. Sharon Beck served as the conference worship leader.
This year’s event was enriched by the presence of a large contingency of undergraduate students from various Nazarene undergraduate institutions, many of whom participated in a prospective student dinner and outing in Kansas City called Explore KC. The conference was also enhanced by the gifts of artist and NTS alumnus Brian Timmer who painted a beautiful scene of a sunset and storm over a Kansas plain titled “Hope in Troubled Times.” Limited edition prints of the painting are available for order. 50% of profits from sales of the prints will go back to NTS students.
On Tuesday evening, alumni and friends of NTS gathered for a Homecoming Dinner in the Brookside neighborhood where attendees enjoyed dinner, entertainment from MidAmerica Nazarene University’s Improv Team, and a chance to hear from NTS President Dr. Jeren Rowell and members of the NTS Alumni Council.
The 2019 Hugh C. Benner Preachers Conference has been scheduled for September 24-25, 2019 with the theme Preaching as Formation.
View images from the conference and homecoming event here.
