Chipper at Chippenham
About 90 people gathered in Chippenham, Wiltshire, for the seventh Young Adults Conference. Jointly organised by Tabernacle Cardiff and Emmanuel Church, Salisbury, the conference has been held biannually since its launch in November 2006.
Chippenham, located roughly half way between Cardiff and Salisbury, provided a convenient setting with meetings taking place in ‘The Cause’, a former Methodist Church now used as a music and arts centre.
The organisers’ burden is to provide people from 14-30 with teaching that emphasises experimental Calvinism – the truths of the Scriptures preached with heavenly unction.
Kicking off the autumn conference, Pastor David Kay of Whiddon Valley Evangelical Church, Barnstaple, delivered an engaging devotional message. From the words of Jeremiah 6:16, he challenged attendees to stand for the truth, discern the issues of the day, and respond to God in obedience.
After this, Prof. Andy McIntosh from the University of Leeds gave three informative talks on creation. In the first, he drew attention to evidences of design in the anatomy of bird wings, and explained the inconsistencies of evolutionary theory in attempting to explain such intricacies.
The importance of a biblical view of creation was urged upon the congregation, as Prof. McIntosh demonstrated how compromised thinking, in this area, affects all other aspects of theology. He dealt carefully with common objections against creationism, such as those involving fossil evidence.
Throughout, Prof. McIntosh stressed that creation, far from substantiating evolutionary claims, points us to an all-wise Creator. Truly, ‘the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork’ (Psalm 19). Details of next March’s conference from http://www.tabernaclecardiff.org
