Sheperds Conference

The recent Shepherds Conference at Grace Community Church in Los Angeles became a deep encouragement for pastors and church leaders from around the world, reminding us that Christ Himself is the Chief Shepherd who builds His church through the faithful ministry of His Word. What took place during those three days was far more than just a series of meetings; it was a focused call to greater faithfulness, humility, and patient perseverance in pastoral ministry to God’s flock.

A Conference Shaped by Scripture
From the very beginning, the goal of Shepherds Conference has been to encourage and equip church ministers to be faithful shepherds through thorough biblical ministry. This year was no exception. Every element of the conference—corporate worship services, seminars, discussions, music ministry, and fellowship—was intentionally structured around the exposition of Scripture, sound theology, and practical application for the life of the local church.

The conference schedule itself clearly reflected this emphasis. Morning and evening gatherings were devoted to preaching from selected passages of Scripture with the careful, verse-by-verse exposition that has long characterized the ministry of Grace Community Church. During the day, special seminars were held with the aim of applying these biblical truths to the everyday realities of pastoral ministry. Rather than offering innovations, trends, or “life hacks” for ministry, the conference repeatedly brought ministers back to the sufficiency of God’s Word in every aspect of pastoral service.

A special emphasis this year was the reminder of the many years of ministry by John MacArthur. For fifty years he has been an example of consistent expository preaching and unwavering commitment to the authority of Scripture, and many attendees testified to how deeply that example has shaped their own preaching and pastoral ministry. Yet even while expressing gratitude for a man who has been an instrument in God’s hands, the conference continually pointed beyond any individual—to the glory, truthfulness, and lordship of Christ, who alone is the Head of the church.

Rich Preaching for the Good of Christ’s People
At the heart of the Shepherds Conference are the general sessions, and this year the sermons were both theologically rich and deeply pastoral, opening the Scriptures and presenting Christ to the listeners with clarity and conviction.

Throughout the messages, several common themes repeatedly emerged: the necessity of preaching “the whole counsel of God,” the call to courage in an increasingly hostile culture, the beauty and centrality of Christ throughout all of Scripture, and the need for pastors to rely not on ingenuity or technique but on the power of the Holy Spirit working through the Word.
The sermons emphasized the importance of doctrinal clarity in an age of confusion, holiness in the life of the shepherd, and perseverance amid suffering, misunderstanding, and spiritual struggle.

These messages were not abstract theological lectures; they were direct exhortations to men carrying real burdens, serving in difficult circumstances, and often laboring without much earthly recognition. Many participants testified that they were convicted where their hearts had grown cold, comforted where they had become weary, and strengthened where they had grown weak in their work.

Seminars: Truth Applied to Ministry
In addition to the general sessions, a wide range of seminars provided deeper instruction on specific aspects of pastoral ministry. Topics included preaching and hermeneutics, church leadership, biblical counseling, missions, family life, and preparing future ministers for the next generation. The purpose of these seminars was to demonstrate how the eternal truths of Scripture directly relate to the daily tasks and pressures of pastoral work.

Pastors were urged to interpret the biblical text accurately, to preach with clarity and authority, and to resist the temptation to soften or avoid difficult doctrines. Other seminars offered practical guidance on leading elders, deacons, and other ministry leaders, cultivating biblical church membership, and preserving the gospel in both evangelism and discipleship.
Seminars focused on counseling emphasized the necessity of applying the Word of God to suffering, sin, and trials, reminding participants that Scripture is sufficient for the deepest needs of the human heart.

A Global Gathering in a Spirit of Hospitality
One of the notable features of the Shepherds Conference each year is its international character, and 2026 was no exception. The Lord gathered thousands of ministers from across the United States and many countries around the world, including representatives from Latin America, Europe, Asia, and other regions. There were also many participants from the countries of the CIS, united by a shared devotion to Christ and His gospel.

In recent years, the conference has intentionally expanded its ministry to non-English-speaking attendees. This year again included special seminars in Spanish and Russian in order to better serve pastors laboring in those contexts. For many years the conference has also hosted dedicated hospitality rooms for Russian- and Spanish-speaking participants.
This reflects a simple yet profound truth: although we serve in different cultures and circumstances, we labor under the lordship of the same Lord, we share the same Scriptures, and we pursue the same goal—the glory of God in the building up of His church.

The hospitality of the host church itself became a living sermon. Hundreds of volunteers from Grace Community Church served sacrificially throughout the entire week—welcoming attendees, preparing meals, assisting with registration, directing guests around the campus, and praying with and for them. Shared meals and informal conversations between sessions became rich opportunities for fellowship, mutual encouragement, and the sharing of the burdens and joys of ministry from different parts of the world. Many left not only with notebooks full of notes, but also with hearts connected to brothers they had not known before.

Why This Conference Matters for Our Church
Someone might ask, “If most of us were not there, what significance does this conference have for our Grace Family Church?” The answer is that the strengthening of pastors and other church ministers ultimately serves the strengthening of the entire flock. The Shepherds Conference exists so that pastors return to their churches with renewed convictions, a clearer focus, and a deeper love for Christ and His people.

When our pastors and other church servants—home group leaders and leaders of various ministry departments—are once again earnestly called to “preach the Word” in season and out of season, to guard sound doctrine, and to shepherd the flock willingly and eagerly, the whole church is blessed. Strong, Scripture-based preaching leads to healthier discipleship, wiser decisions, more faithful evangelism, and more compassionate pastoral care. Likewise, when our leaders are called to model humility, integrity, and perseverance, the church receives a living example to follow in everyday faithfulness.

For all members of Grace Family Church, this conference is also a gracious reminder of responsibility. Every member of the church is called to pray regularly for those who shepherd them spiritually, to receive the Word with readiness and obedience, and to support the ministry of the church with their time, gifts, and resources. We should all be encouraged to love the local church more deeply, to devote ourselves to its gatherings and ministries, and to hold firmly together to the unchanging truth of Scripture.

A Call to Prayer and Perseverance
Reflecting on what the Lord accomplished at the Shepherds Conference 2026, our hearts are filled with gratitude and renewed resolve. Gratitude—because Christ continues to raise up and strengthen pastors who faithfully feed and protect His sheep. Resolve—because the truths and priorities highlighted at the conference are not meant to remain merely “event topics,” but are intended to shape the life of our church.

Let us pray that our brothers who attended the conference will not lose what they received, but will return to their ministries and to the people they serve with renewed zeal, steadfastness, and joy in Christ. And let us ask the Lord to make us, Grace Family Church, attentive listeners to His Word, grateful followers of church leadership, and active participants in the work of the gospel.

When Christ strengthens pastors and other church leaders, He shows His love for the sheep; when He deepens their convictions, He affirms our joy and perseverance in faith. May He, the Chief Shepherd Himself, use the preaching, teaching, fellowship, and example of Shepherds Conference 2026 so that our local Grace Family Church becomes a place where His Word is highly valued, His people care for one another, and His glory is our highest aim.

Continue supporting the churches working among the people who have suffered from the war in Ukraine:

"So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions."
Romans 6:11-12