The Shepherd Who Prays

Basics 2002

At this, the third annual Parkside Pastors’ Conference, Alistair Begg had the joy and privilege of introducing the three men who have had a significant influence on his ministry as a pastor and preacher - Derek Prime, Eric Alexander and Dick Lucas.

"[These men] are supremely men of the Word. Their enduring effectiveness for the Lord is grounded on the steady conviction that the Bible is God’s one and only means of making His voice heard in the church and the world today." - Alistair Begg

Derek Prime pastored an independent evangelical church in London and Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he served for 18 years and where Alistair was his assistant. Derek has written extensively and helpfully, and his warm pastoral wisdom and effectiveness as a leader have influenced many pastors throughout the UK and abroad.

Eric Alexander was for many years Minister of St. George’s Tron, a Presbyterian congregation in the city center of Glasgow. He continues to bring Bible expositions to numerous conferences and conventions, where a strong passion for Christ pervades his winsome and powerful preaching.

Dick Lucas is an Anglican evangelical who was rector of St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in the city of London for 30 years. There he taught the Bible to large congregations of students on Sunday evenings and businessmen at Tuesday luncheons. In 1986 he founded The Proclamation Trust, which equips and encourages pastors in Word ministry. Alistair maintains Dick’s insistence that "listening" to the Bible is the key to speaking its message and has profoundly changed his preaching.

It is hoped that young men involved in church leadership will find these sessions to be supremely useful as these remarkable men share extensively their lives and ministries.

Basics 2003

As we gathered at Parkside it was to affirm and express our partnership in the gospel and our complete dependence on "The LORD, the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth...who gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak." (Isaiah 40:28-29). In his Word God draws near to us and speaks of his mercy in Christ, it is by this Word that we bring a message of hope to a lost and needy world. As Christians and no less as pastors our life and strength come by the basics of hearing and handling the Word of God.

At a time when alluring success stories and attractive methodologies shout from all sides, we need the basics more than ever - to be reminded that the Word is the way; to make time to hear it afresh; to be challenged by its timeless message and life-changing power; to be renewed in our passion to know Christ and make him known. Be encouraged and exhorted once again to preach the Word from Basics 2003.

Speakers for this conference include: Kirk Cameron, Dr. Dale Ralph Davis, Dr. Bryan Chapell, and Alistair Begg.

Basics 2004

In May of 2004, pastors from across the country and around the world came to Parkside Church to express their partnership in the gospel and to renew their commitment to the basics of prayer and the Word of God - those activities the Apostles themselves found indispensable and which we so easily evade.

You are invited to join with them as they gather with friends and fellow workers to affirm and renew an unyielding commitment which is the very essence of the calling as pastors:
"we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word"(Acts 6:4).

Speakers include: Alistair Begg, Sinclair Ferguson, and Dr. Albert Mohler

Basics 2005

Each year in early May, pastors from across the country and around the world come to Parkside to express their partnership in the gospel and to renew their commitment to the basics of prayer and the Word of God - those activities the Apostles themselves found indispensable and which we so easily evade.

We urge you to join us this year as we gather with friends and fellow workers to affirm and renew an unyielding commitment which is the very essence of our calling as pastors: "we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word" (Acts 6:4).

Speakers include: Alistair Begg, Derek Prime and Iain Murray

Basics 2006

No concern is more vital to the church than the gospel itself, the life-changing message of Christ that inspires worship, equips for service, enables fellowship, and compels outreach. "You will be my witnesses," said Jesus..."Go and make disciples of all peoples." While owing its very existence to the gospel, the church can be easily distracted from this fundamental calling.

In keeping with this year's theme, Evangelism In and Through the Local Church, conference addresses, question-answer sessions, and Bible expositions emphasized that the gospel is less than a project or program and more the very heartbeat of a living church. The speakers expressed that the gospel is not for unbelievers alone, but meant to engage the hearts and minds of believers as well.

John Dickson is an evangelist and best-selling author from Sydney, Australia. He has a knack for getting into people's shoes and taking an honest look at the questions and dilemmas they face. His evangelistic books like If I Were God I'd End All the Pain are models of empathy, clarity, and brevity, and relate to unbelievers exceptionally well. johndickson.org

Vaughan Roberts is Rector of St. Ebbe's Church in Oxford, England. Vaughan has a passion for teaching and training others to share Christ. His writings, such as True Worship and God's Big Picture are concise, compelling assessments of what the Bible teaches. His church is known for its evangelistic efforts among university students. stebbes.org.uk

Alistair Begg is Senior Pastor of Parkside Church and our conference host. His ministry of Bible teaching is heard daily on Truth For Life, which is broadcast by more than 1,000 radio stations. He has written several books, including Pathway to Freedom. truthforlife.org

Basics 2007

Of all the responsibilities of ministry none is more important than the continuing labor in God’s Word. That’s why our yearly pastors’ conference always places such strong emphasis on the Scriptures. We really believe that the Word is the way. Considering how many ministry models are now put forward, it is important to bear in mind what Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."

Basic 2007 focuses on the weighty responsibility, spiritual energy, exacting demands and increasing joy of ministry shaped by ironclad commitment to careful study and clear communication of the Bible. "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and teaching." Taking seriously this charge from the Apostle Paul, Basics 2007 is intended to stir our hearts and renew our minds, that we may proclaim Christ with greater conviction and clarity.

Basics 2008

The Gospel in the heart and mind of the pastor was the focus of Basics 2008, as pastors, evangelists, and Christian workers gathered, not only as servants of the Gospel, but as believers in the Gospel – that life-changing message of repentance, forgiveness and eternal life that is the main theme of the Bible, the heartbeat of the Christian and the lifeblood of the church.

It is our conviction that the power and joy of the Gospel message will keep us going in effective service for our Savior. We warmly invite you to join us for Basics 2008 that we may gladly learn better to believe what we preach.

Basics 2009

As we gather for the 10th year, both pastors and lay leaders come together to have their minds stirred, their wills urged toward obedience, and their affections renewed toward God’s Word. Dr. John Lennox, John Piper and Alistair Begg will consider our primary responsibility of preaching in light of these topics.

Basics 2010

As we gather for the eleventh year, we’ve chosen to return to the basics of our daily ministry. We desire to have our minds engaged and souls stirred as we consider God’s call upon our lives as ministers of the Gospel. In his book, The Priority of Preaching, Christopher Ash reminds us that, “…to be a preacher is one of the most deeply humbling experiences in the world. Preaching drives us to our knees, puts gigantic butterflies in our stomachs, and makes us cry out, ‘Who is sufficient for these things?’”. We pray that through these messages, we may be renewed in our desire to preach God’s Word and in our trust on Him.

Basics 2011

Each year, our return to the basics provides us with the opportunity and privilege to gather together as partners in the Gospel and to renew our passion for preaching God’s Word. This year, we are glad to put our focus on one of the core tenets of our pastoral ministry – doing the work of an evangelist. As Charles Spurgeon reminds us, “Cling to the great truth of electing love and divine sovereignty, but let not these bind you in fetters when, in the power of the Holy Spirit, you become fishers of men.” We pray that our hearts, minds, and souls will be refreshed and fortified by the teaching and fellowship found at this year’s Conference.

Basics 2013

Basics is our annual conference for pastors and Christian workers. Each year, pastors, church leaders, and seminarians are invited to join Alistair Begg and a number of guest speakers for 3 days as we reflect together on the challenges, responsibilities, and privileges that face the modern church. Basics is for men: pastors, missionaries, evangelists, and Christian workers or those training for such roles.

Basics 2014

Basics is our annual conference for pastors and Christian workers. Each year, pastors, church leaders, and seminarians are invited to join Alistair Begg and a number of guest speakers for 3 days as we reflect together on the challenges, responsibilities, and privileges that face the modern church. Basics is for men: pastors, missionaries, evangelists, and Christian workers or those training for such roles.

Speakers: Alistair Begg, Christopher Ash, Gary Millar, Daniel Henderson

Basics 2015

Trusting the Word of God to do the Work of God was the emphasis of the 16th annual Basics Conference for pastors and church leaders. In an increasingly secularized culture where the adherent base of the Church is declining, biblical preaching is, more than ever, a vital and primary means of evangelism. By teaching where the Bible challenges contemporary culture and how societal influences shape our beliefs, preachers can help their congregations distinguish between pop culture and truth. At the 2015 Basics Conference, Tim Keller and David Robertson joined Alistair Begg with the purpose of encouraging pastors to preach the Word boldly as men who will give an account.

Tim Keller is the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan and the author of over 10 books. He is also one of the founders of The Gospel Coalition.

David Robertson is minister of St. Peter’s Free Church in Dundee, Scotland and author of Magnificent Obsession, The Dawkins Letters, Quench and Awakening.

Alistair Begg is the senior pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio and the Bible teacher on the program Truth For Life.

Basics 2016

Burdens. Criticism. Anxiety. The Apostle Paul describes facing all of these as a result of his commitment to proclaiming the Gospel. Yet, through it all, he was able to testify that he did not lose heart and likewise commends those who "have the same spirit of faith" to do the same by looking to things that are unseen and eternal (2 Cor. 4).

Drawing from Paul's model of praying, preaching, and perseverance, Alistair Begg, along with guests Josh Moody, Senior Pastor at College Church in Wheaton, Illinois, D.A. Carson from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, and Jonathan Holmes from Parkside Church, look to Paul's example of ministry as a model for encouragement during the 2016 Basics Conference.

Basics 2017

“I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder...” -2 Peter 1:1 (ESV)

For 17 years, the Basics Conference has provided men in ministry the opportunity and privilege to gather together as partners in the Gospel. We desire to be used by God to refresh and encourage pastors, whether they serve on a team or in a difficult and lonely place. At Basics 2017, we again focus on the teaching of the Bible and opportunities for fellowship that our hearts, minds, and souls might be renewed and fortified.

Alistair Begg, along with guests Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, and Sinclair Ferguson Professor at Redeemer Seminary in Dallas, TX and assistant minister at St. Peter’s Free Church in Scotland remind pastors (and those involved in other areas of ministry) of His truth, that they might be stirred up and encouraged to keep ministering.