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.
 
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.
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.



 
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.

"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."


 
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?
 
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