Mainly for ministers, at the EMA

Taking in is good as well as giving out.

Teachers of the word need to be taught as well as to teach and that's why for many years the Evangelical Ministry Assembly, run by the Proclamation Trust in London each June has been a regular place of spiritual refreshment for me as well as offering a welcome opportunity to catch up with old friends.

For many years the EMA has been hosted by St Helen, Bishopsgate. They can fit in 800 people but its quite a squash.

This year the EMA moved to the Barbican Arts Centre in the City of London and there were 1200 of us, mainly ministers, for the three day event which started on Monday and concluded yesterday.

This year's theme was Faithful: Living and Preaching in an Alien World.

Each day began with a bible exposition from 1 Peter (very relevant to the theme, addressed to 'God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappodocia' etc etc).

After coffee was a lecture related to the theme: Dan Strange, vice principal of Oak Hill Theological College, on the Monday speaking about engaging with 21st century culture; Rico Tice, evangelist at All Souls, Langham Place on the Tuesday speaking about evangelism; and church historian Garry Williams on the Wednesday with some wisdom from the past, mining the 4th century writings of St Augustine of Hippo. Three very different presentations, all of a very high standard.

Lunch followed and then there were a series of seminars scattered around the Barbican (in St Helen's

The Barbican

days we scattered to churches around the City, commandeered for the purpose - I liked that), followed by a final session which, traditionally, I skip on the basis that three meaty lectures a day is about enough (especially if I have a PCC in the evening).

However, I hear those last talks were excellent too, so in due course I will listen to them online - as you can, too, because within the next few weeks all the EMA talks will be available for free download from PT Resources.