Emyr James
- The Fatherhood of God in the life of the Pastor’
- 1. The loving kindness of the Father
- 2. The loving discipline of the Father
- 3. The loving provision of the Father
- One of the most foundational and familiar teaching of Christian theology is that – through faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God – the believer is adopted as a child of God. However, as ministers, the Fatherhood of God is something that we probably rarely hear applied to our own lives and calling, and so can easily be neglected or taken for granted. My hope and prayer is that as we consider this glorious doctrine together we will be comforted, challenged and encouraged as we serve the one we call ‘Our Father’.
- Emyr grew up in Cardiff and is pastor of the Welsh Evangelical Church. He is married to Catrin and has three young girls who keeps him busy! He regularly speaks at conference in both English and Welsh.
Ken Brownell
- “Overfed, overpaid and over here”: some thoughts on the influence of American evangelicalism on British evangelicalism.
- Like the United States itself in all sorts of ways, American evangelicalism exercises a huge influence on world Christianity. In this session we will be looking at that influence on British evangelicalism. Is it a good thing or a bad thing or a mixture of both? Although speaking a common spiritual language, do Yankees and Brits sometimes not understand one another? Like the so-called special relationship between the two nations, are most American evangelicals largely ignorant of British evangelicalism and pay it little attention, whereas for Britons it is the opposite? The talk will be impressionistic by nature but hopefully it will raise some practical issues and stir up lively discussion.
- Kenneth Brownell was born in Boston, Massachusetts and educated at Harvard University before going on to do a PhD in modern history at the University of St Andrews. Married to Alison, a Scot, he has two adult children who are both married and five grandchildren. Having attended the London Seminary and worked in a Brethren assembly, Ken became minister of East London Tabernacle where he served for 36 before is retirement almost five years ago. During that time he taught modern church history at the London Seminary and led conferences and seminars on preaching in Myanmar and Madagascar. In his retirement he turns his hand to many things, but chiefly to leading walks and museum tours as well as podcasting with Christian Heritage London.
John Stevens
- The Gospel & Nationalism: Christian Identity in the Age of Populism
- ‘The rise of populist politics in the West has ignited passionate discussion about national identity, immigration, multiculturalism and assimilation, to which Christians have sought to respond. At one end of the spectrum some advocate a ‘Christian Nationalism’ whereas at the other some think our identity in Christ transcends any national or patriotic concern. We can only address these complex and emotive issues if we have a biblical framework to understand the role of nations in the sovereign plans of God and the mission of the church. This will enable us to find our primary identity in Christ and our citizenship in his kingdom, but also to care rightly for the human nation to which belong.’
- John Stevens has been the National Director of FIEC since 2010. He was previously a church planter and pastor in Birmingham. He was converted as a student at university and has a career teaching law while bi-vocationally. He is a Trustee of Affinity and a Council Member of the Evangelical Alliance, and is a visiting lecturer at a number of British seminaries and training institutions.
Alun Ebenezer
- Before We Speak: Young People in Wales and the Gospel Opportunity Before Us will explore how the Church needs to respond impactfully to Generation Z and Generation Alpha in contemporary Wales.
- Like missionaries learning a new culture, we must first know the world shaping young people today — a world marked by expressive individualism, digital immersion, mental health pressures, shifting views of authority and identity, and yet real spiritual curiosity.
- While youth itself is not new (as even Socrates and Aristotle observed), this cultural moment is distinct. Research indicates that many young people remain open to spiritual exploration, are willing to accept invitations, and are searching for meaning, even if disconnected from traditional church structures and suspicious of authority.
- This underlines the need to engage — intentionally, relationally and confidently — bringing the gospel into their spaces rather than retreating from them.
Above all, the session will emphasise the call to trust: trust that God remains sovereign over Wales, that Christ is still building his Church, and that the gospel has lost none of its saving power in this generation. - Alun Ebenezer is a headteacher and is interviewed frequently by the media on educational and cultural matters. He regularly speaks at conferences, has authored several books and has written numerous articles for the national and Christian press.
Philip H Eveson
- The Psalms and Pastoral Care.
- Without loosing sight of Christ in the psalms and their place in the church’s worship, Philip will re-emphasise their significance for the believer in all the vicissitudes of life.
- Philip has been in pastoral ministry for many years and became the second principal of the London Seminary. He is the author of a number of Old Testament Commentaries including one on the Book of Psalms. In retirement he continues to teach on the TTC and to preach. He and his wife Jennifer are members of Borras Park Church, Wrexham. They have one married daughter and four grandchildren. He enjoys playing the piano and gardening.
