Every year in early March while the cold is still in the air here in Fallon, the men of FBC Fallon make their way to the Shepherd’s Conference at Grace Community Church in sunny Southern California. I can remember that first conference when I was but a baby in Christ. I kept looking around and saw all these men who had dedicated their lives to Christ in a special way as a pastor and I was in awe of them. I can say that most of the men who visit Shepherd’s Conference for the first time walk around and are in awe of the whole thing including the godly men; but most of all they are in awe of our wonderful Lord!
This year was no different with Joe Mikulak joining us for the first time. Joe was joined by Victor Allende, Geof Stark, John Bogdanowicz, Mike Rosario and me. We traveled to Sun Valley on Tuesday in two groups. The first group left Fallon at 8 a.m. while the second group left around 12:30 p.m. The travel was mostly uneventful except for a little snow encountered by the first group down (Mike, John, Joe, and Geof). We were able to meet up for dinner the first evening along with our brother and friend, Jerod Gilcher. We had an incredible time of fellowship with Jerod and with our fellow brothers from FBC Fallon!
The next morning we arrived for registration at the conference. It is an incredible scene as all the men began to gather for three incredible days. The first session was no let down! As a matter of fact, it was as incredible as the first time I attended the conference! I can only imagine what Joe was thinking as 4000 male voices from bass to tenor began to sing in unison. These men really love and worship our Maker. We sang the old hymns along with newer songs; but no matter what we sang the voices of 4000 men was sweet and deafening at the same time. John MacArthur topped off the opening session by preaching out of Genesis one. He reminded us the importance of holding fast to the Word of God starting at Genesis 1:1! He also exhorted us to put the current green movement in a proper Biblical perspective.
To top it all off our morning, we experienced true Christian service before and after the first session as the entire campus came alive with wonderful saints whose only desire was to show the love of Christ in their service to the men in attendance. It was an incredible start to the first day! The conference never seems to get old even for the guys who have been back for several straight years. What a blessing our time truly was and continues to be.
