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?
 
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."


 
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.

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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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."


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!
 
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...
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?
 
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?"
Much like my comments about FBCH/HAC, it seems the Sword of the Lord is only a vague semblance of what John Rice left behind in 1980. I understand the Rice family has expressed concerns to the current leadership, but frankly times change. For one, "print on paper" publications have in great numbers gone by the wayside. Second, the style of church evangelism that existed 46 years ago is not prominent any longer. It's hard to "be the same" and survive to talk about it.
 
I went. There are still wrongs that need to be made right I know.
One of the most telling of how deflated the JH legacy is the tepid, polite applause after David Gibbs gave a tribute to Jack Hyles on Thursday night. No thunderous standing ovation. Tepid and obligatorily polite.
 
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I went. There are still rights that need to be made right I know.
One of the most telling of how deflated the JH legacy is the tepid, polite applause after David Gibbs gave a tribute to Jack Hyles on Thursday night. No thunderous standing ovation. Tepid and obligatorily polite.
That's interesting. The legacy that he spoke about so much decades ago, didn't last very long. I wonder if that would have been different if Bro Schaap could have kept his fly closed? I guess I doubt that.

It just seems to me that the church and school are trying to maintain some manner of relevance and feel that to do so they needn't pay too much homage to days gone by and in fact, just might want anyone interested to forget the "Hyles history." I think I agree with that, but wonder why they don't just close the doors of the college and use the sale proceeds to help the church.
 
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?
I don't know what Paul Chapel disagreed with Schaap on but I will give you the items that changed wherher you agreed with the change or think he was right on them i don't care to argue. These are the doctrinal and other changes that came into the church in which I wrote letters to him and staff. I was not staff nor a deacon. I did have an official volunteer involvement which had cause for me to scrutinize the sermons in detail for error of which there were multitudes. Some men including myself were praying for God to change him or remove him. And we who could "slow walked" national exposure due to the overwhelming arrogance.

Again if you believe he was right on these issues I will not argue. But they were not historical FBCH positions.

Pastor School Sermon "For Christ's Sake" where he made up a conversation between a vegenful God who hated mankind and a loving Jesus who stood between God and Man and said I will Go to soothe the Father's wrath. Lowering God and ascribing characteristics than were more human than God.

Pressed and told several of us that he wanted the music to be like Brooklyn Tabernacle.

Music Changes The song "Lord I believe in you" which was a 1999 Crystal Lewis Christian Rock Anthem 16 weeks at #1 as the main song at Pastor School. When confronted over this issue prior to Pastor School he stated "I suppose Amazing Grace was #1 at one time too."

The High School Band began to play Rock Songs from the 60's and 70's complete with Back Beat. Louis Loius is one I remember

In one sermon I was shocked. A book I reviewed for a website I was editor of Rapture Ready/Prophecy Fellowship in which I warned against it 2 years prior, the storyline was use as an Illustration in a sermon. The book is a heretical book that teaches God comes to you in various forms to allow you to handle the Who of who He is and tells the hurt one in the story there are many paths to God as this god is a african-american woman. Later I had come to find out He was giving this book out to those who had been hurt and/or abused. The even later I had come to find out his newly installed Youth Pastor was doing the same with the teens,

About the same time he stirred an unneeded controvery as he decided to use his english degree and teach us and the rest of IFBdom the meaning of inspired as he chose this as an occasion to state the King James Version of the Bible was not 'Inspired" as he defined it as God breathed the words and thus God did not breathe out the words in English as he placed his less than doctrinally sound and experienced son to educate us all in a national teleconference. Then calling "Preserved Inspiration" a "Damnable Heresy".

The Book The Divine Intimacy in which he unartfully tried to explain the intimacy between a married couple and Christ and the church in which several key doctrinal and just plain weird interpretations of scripture we eisegeted including Psalm 119:30 ‘I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.’ interpreting "Laid" as gutter slang for sexual intercourse. Furthermore using pictures of our physical intimacy to show understanding of our intimacy with Jesus. Now this is a common Biblical teaching and taught by a wide variety of preachers Evangelical and Baptist alike, Physical pictures always were a depiction of an aspect of our relationship with Jesus eg Song of Solomon. Completely Pure teaching of love and relationship. Even the physcal act of marriage portrays rightly so, an aspect of intimacy (non sexual, so don't get weird on me) with Jesus. What Schapp did was to make physical pictures then equate to other physical pictures and came up with the lacivious idea that communion/Lord Supper was equivelent of a type of cosmic sex with God. He then went on to do the same with Psalm 119:31 “I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.”

He taught that unrepentant sin could be in "remission" seperating action from standing and allowing iniquitous living and a right standing before God.

He taught that coming forward in an invitation and praying at the altar was a statement stating you were in agreement with the preaching.

He would not allow correction. He would not allow Matthew 18 confrontation.

Later it was determined that there were many lies told to the church concerning the finances of the church. A 17 Million dollar Building program was realized after his ejection was 48 million never vored on. His dealings with a business man who was used in funding much of the other downtown projects was less than transparent. When questiones by anyone concerning these finances he would state "I got this".

As you can determine, the fall of Jack Schaap wasn't a slight error in jugement or even a season of sin. It was a pride filled head long run into self agrandizement, unbiblical teaching, and rebellion against God in every way possible.

All of this pales in comparison to the outright unspeakble, abhorent blaspemies he used to groom the girl that he committed is evil upon. I was sick to my stomach when they were published when his lawyer tried to justify that his supposed good mitigated his evil. I truly understood for the first time what abomination meant. Lately I have found this very common among the NAR charasmaniacs in most every case of SA (Look Into Mike Winger (CC Taught, EV Free pastor) on youtube. Not an endorsement). To be so common as they did not learn it from each other I can only conclude it is a demonic instruction.
 
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