Servants Conference 2026

From a VERY outside, looking in perspective, it looks to me like a conference of a large church -- not a mega church. It seems like there are remnants of the old days, like a having a conference, i.e., "Pastor's School", each March, but it doesn't appear to really be the same as three decades ago. The same goes for the college -- it's still there, still bears the name, but it actually isn't the school that existed thirty years ago. It's as though the current leadership is trying to maintain some semblance of the past, but recognizing that those days are long gone, but trying to sustain some relevance. And I'm not saying that's a bad thing. I actually think John Wilkerson is probably doing the best he can with the situation he inherited. I am sure that some tough decisions have had to be made, with some still left.
 
Bro Wilkerson sided with the pastor in Ca. who allowed abuse of teenagers to continue without saying a word. Watch let us prey! I lost all respect for him.
 
Sherryh said:
Bro Wilkerson sided with the pastor in Ca. who allowed abuse of teenagers to continue without saying a word. Watch let us prey! I lost all respect for him.
Click to expand...
Has the "Balance of Power" now shifted within the IFB world? I know literally next to nothing these days and am blissfully ignorant of most things IFB.

Have things dispersed among smaller camps or IFB "Sleeper Cells?" Has Paul Chappell now become the defacto "IFB Baptist Pope" or is there anyone else angling for this "title?" I know that Jack Trieber is getting up in age and has now been pretty much eclipsed by his at one time "protege" to the south of him. What of the "Sword" crowd? I did a quick check of the National Sword Conference and hardly recognize any of the names. Seems to me that if there was a "King Maker," it would certainly be the SOTL but I am not seeing anyone who is particularly standing out but perhaps someone from the "Inside" would have better insight here? All of the "Old Guard" (Neal, "Texas" Bob Gray Sr, Etc.) have cut and run down to Florida where they likely have their wagons circled and are "Holding the Fort"

I believe that Wilkinson painted himself as a "Kinder-Gentler" version of the old "Hyles-Schaap" regime but he is most certainly "One of Them" cut from the same cloth and it seems to me that he is mostly toeing the line that is enforced upon him by the "Old Guard Establishment" that is firmly embedded there and the ones who had given Wilkerson his "Rubber-Stamp" approval in the first place.

Perhaps they ought to have a Servetus Conference instead? Let their motto be "Why Damn them to Hell Without a Chance?"
 
For those who may have missed the story, here is the controversy about Pastor Wilkerson allowing a long-haired hippy to preach at Hammond. Allen Domelle, "Mr. Old Paths," had conniptions about it.

www.oldpathsjournal.com

FBC Hammond & Hyles-Anderson College Accept Compromise

FBC Hammond and Hyles Anderson compromise
www.oldpathsjournal.com www.oldpathsjournal.com

www.christianpost.com

Baptist pastor, Christian college president apologizes for allowing male speaker with long hair

Pastor John Wilkerson of First Baptist Church of Hammond in Indiana, who also serves as president of Hyles-Anderson College apologized to church members after he was criticized for allowing a man
www.christianpost.com www.christianpost.com

www.newsweek.com

Christian pastor apologizes after "long-haired hippie" invited to speak

A pastor in Indiana has apologized for letting a man with hair deemed too long address church members.
www.newsweek.com www.newsweek.com
 
Sherryh said:
Bro Wilkerson sided with the pastor in Ca. who allowed abuse of teenagers to continue without saying a word. Watch let us prey! I lost all respect for him.
Click to expand...

"It was at this point in the meeting that I specifically referenced the fact that your decision to platform attorney David Gibbs and Pastor Jack Trieber at your upcoming Servant’s Conference was a massive slap in the face of survivors of sexual abuse.

"I told you directly that David Gibbs supported men with credible allegations of abuse a few times at First Baptist Church of Hammond, IN, alongside then-pastor Jack Hyles. You can easily find videos of these meetings online – notably, one held in support of Bill Winninger.

"I told you directly that Jack Trieber, the pastor of North Valley Baptist Church, said of Cameron Giovanelli after his conviction as a sex offender, 'I love that man so much. I’m indebted to that man.'

"I also told you directly that it was a poorly kept secret in IFB circles that Trieber helped cover up sexual abuse against minors by his brother-in-law, Mike Strouf.

"You said you hadn’t heard of this, using ignorance as a shield.

"I’m writing you now so you can no longer claim ignorance of these matters.

"In case you weren’t already aware, on October 24, 2022, two former members of Jack Triebers’ church, Christina Cheetham and Kim Craig, filed a lawsuit against North Valley Baptist Church and Mike Strouf, bringing forth credible allegations of childhood sexual abuse and an ensuing cover-up by Jack Trieber.

"Allowing someone with such serious allegations against them to speak at a Pastor’s conference broadcasts a highly negative message and would undermine the integrity of any event."

https://www.facebook.com/preacherboysdoc/posts/915687793893216
 
Could someone shed a little light on this blog post of Paul Chappel, dated August 5, 2012, speaking of the Schaap incident of 2012:

"The pastor involved in the current situation is Jack Schaap from Hammond, Indiana. Some years ago, a number of us realized we could not fellowship with him due to some of his teachings and practices. (I clearly stated our philosophy which outlines the basis for our fellowship in a book I wrote fifteen years ago, Guided by Grace). Sadly, when well-intentioned men tried to warn him, he would not receive it."

What exactly was the "teaching [or] practice" over which Chappel broke fellowship with Schaap?
 
Here are the complete posts from Paul Chappell. I believe he deserves credit and admiration for speaking up in this manner. He may have had this concern in mind: "It is sad and tragic when men who have failed morally previously are placed back in the pastorate."

paulchappell.com

How I Feel After a Pastor Falls

The past several days Terrie and I have been in Australia ministering in local churches and at a national pastors’ conference. While here, I have been getting reports of a fallen pastor back home. …
paulchappell.com paulchappell.com

paulchappell.com

A Clean Name or a New Name?

Thoughts for Independent Baptists Over the past several years, there has been an increase of internet dialog and major network reporting on various types of scandals and abuse in religion. A recent…
paulchappell.com paulchappell.com
 
illinoisguy said:
For those who may have missed the story, here is the controversy about Pastor Wilkerson allowing a long-haired hippy to preach at Hammond. Allen Domelle, "Mr. Old Paths," had conniptions about it.
Click to expand...

The "long-haired hippie":

1773261177107.png

Clearly he's some sort of anarchist. His hair almost reaches his collar.

"Hippie." :ROFLMAO:

Edit: Of course I made the same comment two years ago...
 
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illinoisguy said:
Here are the complete posts from Paul Chappell. I believe he deserves credit and admiration for speaking up in this manner. He may have had this concern in mind: "It is sad and tragic when men who have failed morally previously are placed back in the pastorate."

paulchappell.com

How I Feel After a Pastor Falls

The past several days Terrie and I have been in Australia ministering in local churches and at a national pastors’ conference. While here, I have been getting reports of a fallen pastor back home. …
paulchappell.com paulchappell.com

paulchappell.com

A Clean Name or a New Name?

Thoughts for Independent Baptists Over the past several years, there has been an increase of internet dialog and major network reporting on various types of scandals and abuse in religion. A recent…
paulchappell.com paulchappell.com
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I became a member of Lancaster Baptist in 1995 and even back then, Paul Chappell had largely separated himself from Hyles stating that he "had not had him in to preach in several years" but since this was before my time, I can only guess that this was likely in response to the fallout from the Sumner articles among other things. He had no anymosity towards Hyles though and many on staff were HAC graduates including the one associate he mentions in his article. Jack Schaap was never there nor was he mentioned aside from a video clip during an evening service where he (Schaap) "Challenged" the church to be faithful in their participation during an upcoming "Stewardship Banquet" where the Church was raising funds for the new auditorium. seemed kind of awkward and cringy and he came across like an arrogant little twit but of course this is just my opinion. Under the circumstances, I would say there were still some "degrees of separation" being practiced here.

Paul Chappell is big on personal moral integrity and I think we can all agree that this is a good thing. He was personally impacted by moral failures around him with both his father and brother so I believe it is fair to say that this plays a big part on who he is and his strong feelings on the matter. I don't think we could ever accuse him of sweeping matters such as this under the proverbial rug! If you were on staff at his church (or WCBC) and there was any perception of moral compromise, you were out! I may take issue with him elsewere but not here!

When I walked away in 2003, I was walking away mostly from much of the nuttiness in the IFB world that he was right in the middle of and of which it took years to sort out afterwards! I am guessing perhaps he has also had to go through a similar sort of process with the exception that I was well outside the camp while he remained in the epicenter. I have no idea of his affilliations these days but he is conspicuously absent from the "Sword Conference" lineup (used to be a highlighted speaker) and I do not see any "closeness" between himself and Trieber (his one-time "mentor") so it appears that he is able to rise above the "nuttiness" and if there is any sort of scandal, nothing appears to stick (or at least not for long). I know I am a different person today than I was in 2003 and perhaps he is as well? Rest assurred though that I am still very much a "Renegade" but hopefully for all the right reasons!
 
Ransom said:
The "long-haired hippie":

View attachment 8504

Clearly he's some sort of anarchist. His hair almost reaches his collar.

"Hippie." :ROFLMAO:

Edit: Of course I made the same comment two years ago...
Click to expand...
Just goes to show how misplaced and nutty their priorities are! Wilkerson and his ilk still have a long way to go!

Who gives a dying rip about his hairstyle or manner of dress! I am certain he had lots of great information that the attendees could have and should have benefited from! I would take him over nut-case Hovind any day! Moral perverts certainly know how to avoid any "appearance" of evil though don't they?

Perhaps Wilkerson still prefers speakers who "Polishes Arrows" during youth conferences?
 
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