Indiana Wesleyan University

In the will of the Lord, we will hold our 43rd annual Family Conference as follows:

Dates:

Wednesday, June 29 – Sunday, July 3, 2022

Venue:

Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN

 

 

Theme:

Looking Unto Jesus

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” – Hebrews 12:2

Speakers:

Larry PriceLarry Price, FL

Larry was born in Florida and saved out of a “rough” background in 1978.  He got married to Wanda in 1978 and has three children and six grandchildren.  He launched out into “full time” service in 1980 and was commended to the Lord’s work in 1982 by the assembly in Jacksonville.  He worked for several years in Christian Radio in FL, and subsequently as director of Camp Horizon in Florida from 1993 to 1996.  In 2000, Hiawasa Bible Chapel, Orlando, FL, where they were in fellowship from 1993 to 2006 added their commendation.  His work helped start a new assembly in Clermont, FL in 2006.   Continue to travel and preach and teach God’s Word in the state of Florida and wherever else the Lord leads.

Larry says, “My burden is to help God’s people – as John says …to see them walk in the truth…(II John 4) and to labor among God’s church.  To help strengthen believers in local churches so that they might be better equipped to live for the Lord in this present age.”

Rex TrogdonRex Trogdon, NC

Rex Trogdon and his wife Nancy were commended in 1983 and attend Believers Bible Chapel in NC. They served ten years in the DRCongo. Nancy has an email ministry called, Manna in the Morning. Rex is an elder, conference speaker, contributor for Choice Gleanings, has led Bible Lands Study Tours to Israel, and serves with Everyday Publications in a new video ministry called, Feed My Sheep.

 

 

 

Joshua ChackoJoshua Chacko, NY

Joshua Chacko, from New City, NY,  commended to the Lord’s work by the saints at Maplewood Bible Chapel (NJ) to serve with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship as a campus missionary at Ramapo College (NJ) and Rockland Community College (NY).

 

 

 

George P JohnGeorge P. John, Dallas, TX – George was born and brought up in Chethackal, Ranny, Kerala.  He studied at Bethany Bible Institute, Kottayam (currently in Kumbanad) under the leadership of the late servant of God V.T. Mathai, Kottayam. He also studied at Hindustan Bible Institute, Madras for a year. He helped to establish an assembly in the Dallas area and served as one of the elders for 11 years. Later, as the need arose, he helped establish an English assembly in a new area, known as Edmonds Lane Bible Chapel, Lewisville, Texas where he is serving as an elder for the past 23 years.  He has taken leadership in numerous short-term mission trips to North India, Kenya, Malawi, and Tanzania in Africa and Peru and Columbia in South America, in both gospel outreach and teaching ministry, along with young people from within the assembly and others from across the USA and abroad.  He serves on the board of directors of Gospel Missions of India, Michigan for the past 30+ years and is currently chairman of the board.  He worked closely with the late Dr. C.V. Baby and a few others in starting the IBF conference in 1978, served on the executive board, and now continues to serve on the spiritual advisory committee. He is also part of Shepherd Christian community, Frostproof, an assembly-based retirement community in Florida.  He and his wife Molly have two children and 4 grandchildren.

 

Jaby JacobJaby Jacob, NY

Jaby Jacob works at a medical malpractice insurer in NY.  Along with his wife Betsy, and daughter Anna, he fellowships with the saints at Ebenezer Brethren Assembly, Bellmore, NY.

 

 

 

 

Jacob ThomasJacob Thomas, TX

Jacob Thomas was born in Detroit, Michigan, but moved to Dallas, Texas at an early age where he matured in a Christian home and through fellowshipping with the assemblies. At the age of nine, he gladly received CHRIST as his SAVIOR.  He has a passion for helping others study and apply GOD’s Word to their own lives. In 2016, he left the Dallas area and his job in the defense industry to work for Bible Study Fellowship in San Antonio. In August 2021, Jacob and his wife, Sherry, along with their five children, Rebekah, Rachel, Elizabeth, J.R., and Micah, moved to Lubbock, Texas to work for the Texas Home School Coalition. Jacob and his family are in active fellowship with FreeWay Bible Chapel.

 

 

Sam K JohnSam K John, Bangalore, India

Sam K John was born and brought up as a missionary kid by parents who served in Tamil Nadu as assembly workers for nearly four decades. Sam, after his post-graduate studies, was led by the Lord into full-time Christian service. He worked among university students as a youth worker with the UESI for six years. Subsequently, he pursued theological studies in Bangalore at SAIACS where he specialized in the History of Christianity at the master’s level and served there for a brief time. Since 2010, based out of Bangalore, he has been involved more in itinerant work, preaching, and teaching God’s word. In addition, he serves as the director of Emmaus Academy of Biblical Studies (EABS), an online Bible school that caters to believers across India and the Gulf region. He also heads the training department of Operation Barnabas and edits the magazine Insight India. He has published six books so far including The Mission-Driven Life and Marriage Matters. Sam is married to Jiji and they are blessed with two children – Kripa and Kevin. They are in fellowship with the Byrathi Brethren assembly in Bangalore.

 

Sherry ThomasSherry Thomas, Lubbock, TX

Sherry was a child when she believed in the salvation offered by Jesus Christ, but it was as an adult that she understood the importance of growing in her relationship with Him through Bible study, prayer, and Christian fellowship. Sherry is married to her husband Jacob and together they have five children. In 2009, The Lord called her out of a corporate job to become a stay-at-home mom and eventually led the family to start homeschooling. Today, she and her family live in Lubbock, Texas, and are in active fellowship with FreeWay Bible Chapel.  In addition to her work at home, Sherry also enjoys participating in Bible Study Fellowship, as well as in young adult and women’s ministries.

 

Plenary Sessions:

With so many questions and confusion in our world, the Bible encourages us to focus and look unto Jesus Christ.  Since “God … has spoken to us in His Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2) and our answers can be found in Him, what steps do we need to take so that we “see to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking” (Hebrews 12:25).  In our sessions, we will consider thoughts to see if we are “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).  The following session titles were adapted from The Bible Exposition Commentary by Warren W. Wiersbe (1989). 

Session 1: Am I Drifting from Jesus Christ?
Key Passage: Hebrews 2:1-4
Key verse: “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” Hebrews 2:1

Session 2: Am I Doubting Jesus Christ?
Key Passage: Hebrews 3:7-4:13
Key Verse: “Beware, brethren, lest there be any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” Hebrews 3:12

Session 3: Am I Dull of hearing Jesus Christ?
Key Passage: Hebrews 5:11-6:20
Key verse: “of whom we have much to say and hard to explain since you have become dull of hearing” Hebrews 5:11

Session 4: Am I Despising Jesus Christ?
Key Passage: Hebrews 10:26-39
Key Verse: “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” Hebrews 10:35-36

Session 5: Am I Defying Jesus Christ?
Key Passage: Hebrews 12:14-29
Key Verse: “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks”. Hebrews 12:25

Workshops:

Surviving College

College is a time of transition, as it’s often the first time young people leave home and live independently from their parents. Unfortunately, this freedom often results in a departure from the faith, sin, or other indiscretions. This workshop is specifically aimed at college students so that they will be able to have practical, realistic, and Biblical principles to guard their hearts and minds while studying.

Trusting God: Transforming the “theoretical” into “practical”

We believe in God’s promise that “all things work together for good”, but when we encounter difficulties, we wonder how the cancer diagnoses, or the family problems, or other unanticipated troubles can “work together for good”. How then do we trust God and understand his promise? How do we transform the “theoretical” into “practical”? In this workshop, we will discuss some practical, Biblical methods of trusting God.

Equipped to Go

To help people see God’s heart for global missions and its urgency so that each and every one of us would involve in missions with a renewed outlook.

Marks of a Growing Local Church

One of the difficult questions we may come across is “How to measure the growth of a local church”. In 1 Cor 3:7, “God causes the growth”, however in the prior verse we read “Paul planted, Apollos watered”. Growth may happen naturally however the farmer ought to do his part of the hard work of preparing the soil.

The growth of the local church works similarly. It’s a combination of the blessings of God and the stewardship of man. A happy union of divine intervention and human leadership.

Other Meetings & Opportunities for Fellowship:

In addition to the above Plenary Sessions, Workshops, and Youth Sessions, there are many other meetings and other opportunities for fellowship.  The following is a list of the many meetings and events:

  • Men’s Fellowship Meeting
  • Women’s Fellowship Meeting
  • Young Children’s VBS
  • Youth Classes (KG-3, 4-6, 7-8, and High School)
  • Ministry Reports
  • Nursery during Plenary Sessions
  • Hymn sings
  • Excellent Gymnasium (racquetball, volleyball, basketball, exercise room, running/walking track, outdoor tennis courts)

Registration:

Online registration is now open.  Please click on “Register For Conference” from the menu above.   We will not be mailing registration forms as we have done in the past.  All registration will be online.  If you have any problems with registering, please contact George Mathew (see number below).

Pricing:

IBF 2022 Pricing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Housing:

Indiana Wesleyan University has a beautiful campus.  We have access to Townhouses, Apartments, Suites, and Dorms.  But each of these is limited in number, especially the Townhouses and Apartments.  Please review the information below and select the appropriate housing.

Townhouses are air-conditioned, self-contained units with 3 bedrooms, 3 private bathrooms, a small kitchenette, and a living area. Each bedroom has two twin beds. This can accommodate 6 people comfortably.  This is ideal for a larger family.

Apartments are air-conditioned with 3 bedrooms (two twin beds in each), one to two bathrooms, and a small sitting area, which can accommodate 6 people comfortably. This is ideal for a larger family.

Suites are air-conditioned with 2 bedrooms (two twin beds in each) and share one bathroom connecting each bedroom. This is ideal for an average-sized family or singles rooming together.

Dorms are air-conditioned with 4 bedrooms and two bathrooms.  Thus 8 people share two bathrooms.  This is convenient for a large family or two families or people that want to stay together.

When registering, please indicate if you require first-floor accommodation due to physical disability. We will try to assign you a room that is either on the first floor or in a building with an elevator.  We should have plenty of rooms available to us, but as always, housing is assigned on a first-come-first-served basis. Please register early to ensure that you get your preference.

Transportation:

Airport

The IWU Campus is close to Indianapolis (Indy) International Airport (about 1 hour & 40 minutes away) and Fort Wayne International Airport (about 1 hour away).  If anyone plans to fly into Indy, please call Br. Jaby Jacob at (516) 507-2222 or email jaby_jacob@yahoo.com.

If you are flying into the Indianapolis International Airport on Wednesday and require a ride, please plan to board the IWU bus prior to 2 PM EDT.  The bus will leave the airport at 2 PM.

Contact:

Please contact the following people during the day or early evening.

George Mathew (IL) 847-530-7170
George Varghese (MO) 443-636-0324
Elson Abraham (MN) 651-202-8564
Jaby Jacob (NY) 516-507-2222
Shaji George (GA) 770-513-6973