Changing Hearts in Derbyshire

An overnight visit to Swanwick Conference Centre in North Derbyshire for the Biblical Counselling UK Conference.

It was publicised as 'A focussed 24 hour introduction to Biblical Counselling in the local church' and 'especially suitable for busy pastors'...

It was a packed 24 hrs, with excellent sessions on how, through preaching, small groups, evangelism and others ways we apply  'the riches of scripture to the realities of life', and see God at work changing our hearts to make us more into the likeness of Christ. Particularly memorable was the evening session by Tim Chester on 'Biblical Counselling and Preaching', but any one of the sessions would have been worth the trip.

We looked at a new 6 week course - Real Change' - which aims to teach how the gospel changes us from the inside out.

I come home with plenty of material to read and to reflect on, and excited at the prospect of putting some of it into practice. Chat with me if you'd like to know more - or to Stuart Cookson who came with me. There is a 2nd part to the conference which continues through to Thursday, and a couple of HT members (Nicci Durant and Rachel Hart) arrived just as we left, to attend that. 

A busy 24 hrs, but managed a bit of time to sit in the sun and admire the Derbyshire scenery!