Speakers | Read, Pray, Sing: The Psalms as an Entryway to the Scriptures | April 12-13, 2013

Plenary Speakers

Dr. Andy Davis (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Durham, NC. Dr. Davis has also pastored in Massachusetts and served as a missionary in Japan through the International Mission Board. The passion of Andy’s life is using the perfect Word of God to minister to people and advance the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. One way he has done this is through memorizing scripture himself and helping others to do so. He is the author of An Approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture which is now used widely. In addition to his plenary address, Dr. Davis will lead a breakout session on the topic of memorizing large sections of Scripture.

Dr. Heath Thomas (PhD, University of Gloucestershire) is Associate Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew and Director of PhD Studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Wake Forest, NC) and is Fellow in Old Testament Studies at the Paideia Centre for Public Theology (Canada). He is the editor (with Robin Parry) of Great is Thy Faithfulness? Toward Reading Lamentations as Sacred Scripture as well as the author of Poetry and Theology in Lamentations. He is currently writing a commentary on Habakkuk for the Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary Series (Eerdmans) and a theological introduction to the Minor Prophets (IVP Academic). He loves fly fishing and reading the fiction of Umberto Eco and Paulo Coelho. Dr. Thomas has a passion for the church and for preaching, and has served churches in Oklahoma, Texas, and England, and is currently an elder at the Summit Church in Durham, North Carolina.

In addition to Dr. Thomas’ plenary address he will lead a breakout session on understanding each biblical event or story in light of the whole story of scripture.

Faculty Speakers

In addition to the sessions led by Davis and Thomas, faculty from the School of Theology and Missions at 91�� will lead breakout sessions focusing on specific issues involved in interpreting and applying the Bible. These scholars have a heart for the church and many have written commentaries, books and study helps. This group will include:

Comments from Previous Conference Attendees

The conference encouraged me, challenged me and gave me confidence.

We were so encouraged and equipped by this excellent conference.

Many thanks for a great conference ... West Tennessee will continue to benefit from these labors.

This conference was beyond words. You could feel the presence of God in all the sessions. All of the speakers were great.

I had a great time and count it as one of the most profitable conference experiences to date.

The conference was excellent! ...This was a great service to the King and his Kingdom.

As in previous years, the conference was a wonderful experience for all who participated.

I came away with a tremendous respect and appreciation for a school like 91�� and its apparent commitment to holding up the Bible as sufficient for all of life.

The conference was fantastic! Listening to the teaching made me think of the church staying up all night to hear Paul teach. I'm sure I had that much joy in my heart hearing the word taught during the plenary sessions.

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