A Revived Minister

A Personal Essay Reflecting on the Banner of Truth Ministers’ Conference 2026 “Revival”

There is a sort of nostalgia that occurs when I visit the Banner of Truth Ministers’ Conference. My first was in 2011, two years after I arrived at Catherine Lake Baptist Church as pastor. After the 2011 conference, I continued to attend the conferences in the years, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2024, and this year — 2026. This makes a total of seven conferences in all. I have never once been disappointed with going.

I was asked one year to give a testimonial concerning my time spent at the Banner, for them to share. I wrote as follows:

‘Ministers of the Gospel need to go deeper than their people. They need to go down into the well for their own souls. Having attended the Banner of Truth’s Minister’s Conferences for several years, I can say that it is a good “well”. My soul has been nourished at every one, and I have been able to thoroughly enjoy a time that was personal and pastoral with others laboring in the field of the Gospel ministry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The uniqueness of these conferences is hard to describe, except that I may say it is truly a refreshment to the pastor’s heart and mind that is sorely needed when ministering in the present times in which we live. May the Lord continue to bless these conferences, and more importantly the ministers who attend regularly. Amen.’

— Brian J. Mann, Pastor

In my attending these conferences, I have a noticeable eight year gap between 2016 and 2024. I pondered this a bit and wondered why I had missed those years? 2020 is easy to explain because I was registered to go, but it was cancelled. The four years on the one side of 2020 for which I missed were largely occupied in an endeavor of three years of pouring into training pastors locally through leading an associational fellowship of pastors. But it was more than that. I was endeavoring at that point to attend denominational meetings, including a national one. I also attended a few other conferences which also are remembered to be of some help. Whatever the case, in 2024 I decided to attend, skipped a year, and returned this year to be reminded of the value of the conference that is indeed unlike any sort of conference that I have ever been part of.

The foremost difference is that it is geared for ministers. It is not a general conference for Christians. It comes with a certain gravity about the calling to gospel ministry. Moreover, it comes with a kind of encouragement that stands out from such conferences for pastors that is exceptional. Normally pastors conferences are a sort of beat-up-on-pastors type messages. But the feel of the conference has never been that — it has been a time of building up. It has been so because I believe the Spirit has attended these meetings and blessed them. Practically speaking, it has been such because the focus has been on the Lord, His Word, and historic theology that shapes and builds ministers. There is not a sense of focus upon improving the minister simply for pragmatic reasons, but of glorifying the Lord and enjoying him forever. Ministry is part of enjoying and glorifying God.

As referred to earlier, The Banner of Truth Ministers’ Conference is not the only conference for ministers to attend, but it is in my estimation the best. I had attended other such conferences for which I have benefited. Nevertheless, they were more beyond reach than the Banner not merely in distance, but in cost. The Banner conference is drivable for me as well as affordable. It is set forth at a reasonable price, it includes a place to stay, food to eat, and the conference. In other words, it makes sense for the average pastor to attend. It does not give the feel that you are paying for celebrities to show up and speak to you about their great ministries. The costs reveal this, and likely contribute to the caliber of the men chosen to come speak to others ministers and build them up. It is indeed a fellowship.

The fellowship is quite stirring. For example, at this recent conference I had at one point sat down at a table by myself, when a young man approached and asked if he could sit with me. It turns out the young man was being advised by his church toward the call to ministry, and possibly further education. This young man had already extensive degrees, was an intelligent professional serving as a University Instructor and studying matters. We shared a love for the writings of Lloyd-Jones. And he was obviously able to identify with the Doctor (as he is called) because he was too in a position that to the rest of the world would be considered a lifetime honorable career, when called to the ministry. This brother shared with me his joy in studying the Bible that exceeded what he was doing in his present career. Gladly, he could share how his church and his family noticed it, and he is at the beginning of this adventure! We spoke over a meal, departed, and committed to pray for each other.

I was also with a brother from the church I pastor who serves as a teacher, and often an assistant in handling difficult ministry cases. It was largely because he spurred me on to go, that I attended this year. And it was good to spend that time in travel and conversation to get to know each other more and to continue a shared love for truth; (in addition, he was courageous enough to play in the famed Whitefield Cup Soccer game, a tradition of the conference that is quite a serious competition, held simultaneously with an ice cream fellowship.)

When we arrived at the conference, I really didn’t know how badly I needed it. There was not one message that failed contribute to my soul’s refreshment, and his. And my family also was so kind to let me go and encourage me from beginning to end. I hope that I have come back a better man, a revived man, a man shaped by the gospel so clearly articulated by the speakers, and by the fellowship so deeply held there among the brothers — so as to ultimately encourage the brothers and sisters at the church where I am called to shepherd.

I met another friend at the conference of whom I have connected in past years. He shared of a hardship he had — the loss of his wife in the previous year. We lamented and prayed. It was good for him to be there, and for me as well. Others had reached out to him, spent time with him there, and encouraged his soul. He is still in ministry with at least one other from his church at his side to spur him on, and a host of others present to lament with him.

I met another brother in the ministry quite inadvertently. He was wondering around a bit in the hallway in the dorm where I was staying. It turned out he locked himself out of his room. By God’s grace, I was able to be a help in making a call. We connected from that time and spoke throughout the conference.

I was able to be in the presence of like-minded brothers sharing a deep care for God’s church, we were coming once again to share a time together, buy books to fuel us through the next year, and simply rest in the hope of revival that God has promised to the church in the world to come. It is with thanksgiving to God for my church family for making it possible to go, and the support of family and friends who spur me on to do so. It stands to reason that one major lesson from the conference is that a revived church requires a revived man, and in particular a revived minister.

A collection of the conference booklets that I refer to often, including the most recent one, full of notes from each lecture or sermon.

Books purchased throughout the conference, many of which serve me throughout the year. Banner books are not the only books, but thy are considered the best by many ministers.

The dorm where I slept during the Banner Conference.

The opening of the conference, which progressively filled with ministers from all over the world.

The Whitefield Cup Soccer Game. It’s a tradition that one night a competition is held simultaneously with an Ice Cream Fellowship. I was on the sidelines for this one, cheering my friend on, and the other brothers. There were injuries, but not without joy.

The Whitefield Cup Trophy