This year’s theme, Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, will be examined from various vantage points in eight plenary addresses and three breakout sessions. Our eight speakers will address topics such as, “The Suffering Lamb in Gethsemane and the Sovereign Grace of God,” “Trusting God When All The Lights Go Out,” “Cultivating a God-Centered Theology of Suffering,” “How to End in Christ with All Our Sufferings,” and many more such addresses. Samuel Rutherford once said, “Losses and crosses are the wheels of Christ’s triumphing chariot.” It is our hope that during this year’s conference, with the Lord’s help, the importance of the sovereignty of God in our sufferings will renew a hope within each of us to live soli Deo gloria!

It is our desire leading up to each conference that we would be a humble people, praying that the Lord will richly bless every speaker and participant. It is also my prayer that each one of us will be deeply aware that we are once again gathering to hear God’s Word testify of its own authority concerning our need to grow in increas­ing conformity to Christ (Rom. 8:29). Let it be our prayer that as we come under the preached Word that we would find our hearts freshly renewed and longing for the heavenly Zion and for the preaching of the gospel to the conversion of sinners.