Newfrontiers Guest Speakers

20 July 2008

One of the things I love about the newfrontiers annual conference is Terry Virgo’s willingness to invite speakers from outside the movement to address us. While they share many of our core values, they typically bring their own distinctives that complement and even challenge those within our movement. In the last few years, we have had Mark Driscoll, Wayne Grudem, Rob Rufus, and CJ Mahaney amongst others.

So I was encouraged to hear that Terry Virgo is taking steps to get Tim Keller along next year (although sadly not for the Brighton conference). I have a lot of respect for Tim Keller after hearing and reading a lot of his material on the gospel and mission.

It got me thinking about who else I would like to see invited to a newfrontiers conference, either as a main speaker, or to do some training track seminars. Here’s a few of my ideas, along with a suggestion for a subject they could preach on…

Sam Storms - reformed doctrine and charismatic experience

Christopher Wright . Old Testament hermeneutics

Simon Ponsonby . loving God

Mike Reeves . church history

Tim Chester . church and the poor

Ravi Zaccharias - apologetics

How about the other newfrontiers bloggers? Who would you invite…

10 comments

dave bish 20 July 2008

I think Mike Reeves would go down a storm and church history would really serve us well, and Terry knows him. ..My boss Richard Cunningham would give us something similar to Day 2 of Driscoll. ..Storms and Chester are both excellent too, as is Ponsonby (based on one talk I've heard from him). ..I'd be keen to hear Liam Goligher of Duke St Richmond on anything really, Michael Ramsden on evangelism and apologetics (who I noticed has been at Christ Church London recently)...
Blue, with a hint of amber 21 July 2008

John Piper would be a good speaker...I think Jim Cymbala could give us a few pointers about prayer and reaching the city...I would love to hear Jackie Pullinger-To continue the challenge to .remember the poor....As well as different speakers, I would like to see a widening of the worship leaders we use. I love and honour the ones we have - but I do wonder whether people like Tim Hughes or Martyn Layzell may bring something new and fresh for a couple of the sessions alongside our current line up.
Beatthedrum 21 July 2008

How about a left field speaker..The current Arch Bishop of York or current Bishop of Durham...Both of whom are real men of God making a path in the difficult fields of the CofE.
dave bish 21 July 2008

I think I'd also use Matt Giles for worship - we need some non-Brighton people doing that, and there is gifting out there! And I'd have Sean Green (the Amsterdam Church Planter) preach somewhere in the programme.
Dan 21 July 2008

Ah ... a question I have pondered a LOT!!..On worship ... I don't want anybody else apart from Kate Simmonds and Simon Brading doing worship with Phatfish (sorry B-F) ... I love Kate. Forever! ;) Although I would make an exception for Fini and Isi de Gersigny, the guys who lead worship at Glory and Grace in Hong Kong. They are an incredible couple with real sensitivity - I was really interested that Terry Virgo knows them!..On speakers ... I would highly second Sam Storms and John Piper but can I fly a Pentecostal/Charismatic flag and put in a plug for Bill Johnson, Che Ahn and (bring out the stakes and pitchforks!!) ... Todd Bentley!??! I think Newfrontiers as a people committed to Word and Spirit do an EXCELLENT job on drawing on Reformed resources speakers but maybe it could be awesome to benefit from men more traditionally of the Spirit such as these guys...Just my thoughts!
dave bish 21 July 2008

Dan - think the danger is we get Institutional and close the door there... always need new people coming in. Simon Brading is good evidence of the existence of an open door since he's only been doing it for a short time, but it has to stay open to others... others from around the UK and from around the world...Still nervous of the divide between word & Spirit... why do we have to choose one or the other. Driscoll was a great example of that, imho, prophetic, Biblical, and a man who came to both serve us and to learn from us.
Mark Heath 21 July 2008

Great suggestions everyone..I had wondered about putting Tom Wright on my list. He is actually quite influential in the thinking of a lot of newfrontiers pastors, but the whole atonement issue could make a visit quite awkward...I think Michael Ramsden and John Piper may have addressed the conference before, but both would be great choices...Cymbala and Pullinger would both be very inspiring...And Dan, as for Bentley, how about downloading the Julian Adams seminar and seeing what you think? I heard more than a few .BAM!.s. Perhaps we could have a Bentley versus Driscoll smackdown. I can just hear it now - WHAM! BAM! KAPOW! THUD!
Blue, with a hint of amber 21 July 2008

I really do not think that Todd Bentley would be a wise choice for a whole host of reasons that are beyond this discussion...Ram Babu and Rob Rufus were both absolutely nailed on .Spirit. kind of guys beyond any .word. stuff they did. I am still no wiser as to what Rob Rufus actually thinks about anything - but I yearn for the presence of God he lives in...I think we really need to continue to have an open door to people who .bring something to the table. rather than people who just think a bit differently. People who can really speak into a movement rather than just explain a concept. That is the track record that Kriansak, Rufus, Mahaney and Driscoll all bring - not just thinking it but doing it kind of people.
Phil Whittall 23 July 2008

My choices would be Tom Wright somewhere - and I'd ask Bill Hybels, Sandy Millar and Nicky Gumbel - evangelism, mission, big churches, inpsirational leaders. I'd like to see more of our African and Indian or even European pastors on the seminar lists. We're still very white and British and mostly middle aged. Not too many new speakers or young speakers. Driscoll is way younger than most of our guys, so great they gave him the stage. I know PJ and Van Rhyn are from S.Africa....I'd like to see some edgier seminars, that deal with live debates rather than affirming what we already believe.
dave bish 23 July 2008

Krish Kandiah of the Evangelical Alliance... under 40, British Asian Evangelist.