For years, one of my ministry dreams has been that of attending the annual Keswick Convention in England. This summer, after 25 years in pastoral ministry, I decided that it was time to pursue that dream. So, in late July, Sandy and I took a flight "across the pond" to enjoy a much-needed time of spiritual refreshment and renewal. 
In England, we met up with our friends Lewis and Angie Ecker, who presently live in London. For nearly a decade, Lewis and I served together at the First Baptist Church of Clermont, Florida. In 2008, the Ecker family left Florida, so that Lewis could take up the role of associate pastor of two inner city churches in London. He also works with London's Street Pastors ministry. About 48 hours after Sandy and I landed at London's Heathrow Airport, we and the Eckers boarded a train for Keswick and made our way out into the English countryside.
The renowed Keswick Convention is a Bible teaching conference held each summer (since 1875!) in the village of Keswick in the beautiful Lake District in the north of England. In recent years, the attendance has grown so much that they offer 3 different "Keswick weeks" back-to-back-to-back. We attended the third of the three weeks for 2010. At the end of week 3, it was reported that some 12,000 participants attended the 
combined sessions. (Roughly 4,000 each week.) While some of each week's events are held at different smaller venues, the main worship gatherings are held in a massive tent that can seat approximately 3,500 people. The remaining attendees "spill over" to other nearby venues where they can watch the proceedings live via television. 
The main speaker of the week was Alistair Begg, a Scotsman who pastors a large church in Cleveland, Ohio and who has a popular preaching ministry via radio and the Internet. When I lived in Florida I used to listen to Alistair Begg's recorded weekly sermons via our local Moody Radio station in St. Petersburg. Alistair spent the whole week at Keswick doing an exhaustive expositional study of Romans chapter 8. It was great! What a solid preacher of the Word he is. The worship was led by famous British singer, songwriter, and recording artist Stuart Townend. Townend is HUGE in the United Kingdom, but less well known here in the States. On our side of the Altantic, he is best known for his popular worship song, "In 
Christ Alone." We would do well to learn more of his songs. They typically are rich in great doctrinal truths about the Person of God. Stuart Townend is not only a prolific songwriter, he also is a gifted worship leader. There is a special touch of God on his life. During our week in Keswick, Townend stayed in the condo right next to us. We enjoyed the opportunity of meeting him and fellowshiping with him. A very humble man of God with a worshiping heart.
Christ Alone." We would do well to learn more of his songs. They typically are rich in great doctrinal truths about the Person of God. Stuart Townend is not only a prolific songwriter, he also is a gifted worship leader. There is a special touch of God on his life. During our week in Keswick, Townend stayed in the condo right next to us. We enjoyed the opportunity of meeting him and fellowshiping with him. A very humble man of God with a worshiping heart.Townend's "back up" band for the week was the British Contemporary Christian group Phatfish. Although I was not previously familiar with Phatfish, I have sinced learned that they are quite popular throughout the United Kingdom. (In fact, when we visited Northern Ireland
the following week, we found out that some of our friends there knew all about them.) The lead singer of Phatfish is a young woman named Lou Fellingham. She's also a popular solo artist in Britain. She very recently had given birth to a new baby boy. Yet, she was in fine singing form at Keswick. Truly, she has a great voice with an exceptional range. 
Sandy and I had such a great experience worshiping with other Christians from different lands. I love the corporate experience of 4,000 varied voices lifted as one in praise to God. And I just love meeting and interacting with followers of Jesus from different parts of the world. I always find that so refreshing, because there is so much we can learn from one another. The vast majority of the attendees at Keswick were from England, Scotland, Ireland or Wales. But there also was representation from Africa, the Middle East and Asia. One of the presenters on the program was from the good ole USA, but other than him--and our party of 4--I don't remember hearing anyone else with an American accent all week long. 
After 7 spiritually-energizing days in the town of Keswick, it was kind of sad to finally have to leave. You sort of wished it could just go on and on. (But that's what Heaven is for, isn't it?) Nonetheless, our week in Keswick was an experience that Sandy and I will never forget (in spite of it being cold and rainy!) I wish you could have been there with us. Perhaps someday, Lord willing, we'll go again. Pastor Danny
