Pilgrims Covenant Church
2012 Fall Conference
Saturday, October 13, starting at 9:45 AM
Community Center, Main Street, Juda, Wisconsin
The speakers at this year’s conference, Lord willing, will be Tim Williams, pastor of Heritage Baptist Church, Woodstock, Illinois; and Ralph Ovadal, pastor of Pilgrims Covenant Church.
THE DAWN OF THE GOSPEL DAY IN AMERICA
This message by Ralph Ovadal will cover the life, times, and gospel labors of John Eliot and other ministers who preached Christ among the Indians in New England. Beginning in the earliest years of the American colonies, the gospel of Christ was preached among the Indians. A great many hitherto sitting in utter darkness and the shadow of death were savingly led to Christ by sacrificial, godly ministers who went among them preaching the gospel. Churches were raised up, and eventually Indian ministers were ordained. Some historical insight will also be offered concerning the insidious influence Jesuit missionaries had upon the Indians of the New England colonies.
HARVESTERS OF THE FIELD: AMERICAN MINISTERS OF THE FIRST GREAT AWAKENING
In the early 18th Century, America experienced one of the greatest spiritual revivals since the time of Pentecost. Pastor Williams will focus on the leading ministers the Lord used in that awakening, extracting lessons from their lives and ministries for both the individual Christian and the church. The lessons are extremely relevant to the 21st Century American church, which on all accounts is in desperate need of reviving.
LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE – ITS ORIGIN AND RELEVANCY
Today, those living in the West enjoy unparalleled religious liberties. Pastor Williams will trace the development of these liberties within the Baptist associations of colonial America, highlighting the main figures and underscoring the blessing of such liberty. Because these liberties are being questioned and eroded, the pertinence of this matter cannot be underestimated.
AN AMERICAN DAVID LIVINGSTONE
Ralph Ovadal will give the thrilling account of Presbyterian missionary Marcus Whitman who, along with his godly and courageous wife Narcissa, was a missionary to the Indians in the Oregon Territory in the 1800s. Whitman was also a doctor, a patriot of the best sort, and a trailblazing pioneer who earned the friendship and respect of even mountain men such as Jim Bridger. Though he is little remembered today, Marcus Whitman risked everything to evangelize the Indians. Even fewer Christians know the true story of Whitman’s epic and successful effort to also secure the Oregon Territory for America in order to preserve and propagate a strong Evangelical and truly Protestant witness there, while also preventing the native people from falling under the darkness of Romanism. Here too, Whitman nearly lost his life on numerous occasions. In the end, Marcus and Narcissa sealed their testimony for Jesus with their own blood, slaughtered by some of the Indians to whom they ministered.
As always, there is no charge to attend our conference. Coffee, tea, juice, and snacks will be provided during breaks at no charge. There will be book and literature tables, including a Trinitarian Bible Society table with Bibles, tracts, and other materials at a 25% conference discount. Our noon break will be ninety minutes long. Conference attendees are invited to bring a lunch with them or eat at a local restaurant.
