National Sword Conference 2024
The National Sword Conference is now, as always, a scripturally sound, solidly fundamental and strongly conservative event. The preaching is straightforward and bold. The music is traditional and heartwarming. There is something for every member of your family and every member of your church.
We major on building strong Christians and strong churches. If you have a heart for the Lord, love the Word of God and want to see your family, church and country do well, then you will love attending the National Sword Conference.
So, let me give you some of the details about what we have planned. More announcements will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead.
Introducing our Preachers
When you come to the National Sword Conference this year (July 22–25), you will hear pastors and evangelists who are men of God and are serving the Lord faithfully and successfully.
We have seventeen main sessions, two each night and three each morning. The preachers are:
1. Shelton Smith—Monday and Thursday, 7:00 p.m., as well as my afternoon School of the Prophets (for pastors and church workers). With thirty-four years as a pastor and more than twenty-nine years as an evangelist and editor.
2. Jeff Fugate—Monday, 8:00 p.m. Pastor of Clays Mill Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, and president of Commonwealth Baptist College.
3. Jerry Ross—Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. Pastor of the Blessed Hope Baptist Church in Jasonville, Indiana, also speaking at the National Sword Youth Conference on Wednesday afternoon.
4. Lou Rossi—Thursday, 11:30 a.m. After a ten-year pastorate in Baltimore, Maryland, now back in full-time evangelism, preaching in churches all across America.
5. C. K. White—Thursday, 10:30 a.m. After a fifteen-year pastorate in Laurel, Delaware, late last year, he succeeded Lou Rossi at Granite Baptist Church in Glen Burnie (Baltimore), Maryland.
6. Mike Allison, Tuesday, 8:00 p.m. Since 1989, pastor of Madison Baptist Church, Madison (Huntsville), Alabama and president of Madison Baptist Theological Seminary.
7. Joe Arthur—Thursday, 8:00 p.m. Pastor of Harvest Baptist Tabernacle, Jonesboro (Atlanta), Georgia for the past forty years.
8. George Alquist—Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. Pastor of Grace of Calvary Baptist Church, Erie, Pennsylvania, for forty-one years.
9. Norris Belcher—Wednesday, 8:00 p.m. Pastor of Church of the Open Door (Independent Baptist), Westminster, Maryland for almost twenty-nine years.
10. Ron Titus—Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. Pastor of Corner Stone Baptist Church, Owings, Maryland, for thirty-one years.
11. Caleb Martin—Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. Pastor of Ben’s Ford Baptist Church, Bogalusa, Louisiana, for the past nine years.
12. Jim Townsley—Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. Pastor for the past forty-nine years of Central Baptist Church of Southington, Connecticut.
13. Mike Wells—Thursday, 9:30 a.m. Pastor for the past fourteen years of Parkside Baptist Church, Mesquite (Dallas), Texas.
14. John Hamblin—Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. Full-time evangelist for forty-six years, preaching every week all across North America.
15. Cory Knepshield—Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. Pastor of Clearview Baptist Church, Southaven, Mississippi (southern suburbs of Memphis) for seventeen years.
16. Dennis Leatherman—Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. Pastor of Mountain Lake Independent Baptist Church, Oakland, Maryland, for the past thirty years.
Now, believe me when I tell you. This is a strong lineup of good men; you will want to hear each one of them.
Introducing Our Singers and Musicians
In addition to the great preaching, you will be blessed abundantly by the music.
David Chamberlain is the Conference pianist. He, along with Brother and Mrs. Ed Russ, are the Sounds of Faith trio (Evansville, Indiana). Terry Lawson and his family (Reidsville, North Carolina), Marlon Smith and his family (Murfreesboro, Tennessee), Lonnie Moore (Nicholasville, Kentucky), Sterling Walsh (Dover, Pennsylvania), Ford Glover (Greenwood, Indiana), Chuck Harding (Bowie, Maryland) and the Barnes Family (Carrollton, Georgia) will provide lots of great, conservative, evangelistic, revival-style music.
The Ladies’ Jubilee
Melanie Smith will be the hostess for the afternoon Ladies’ Jubilee meeting. The speakers will be Janet Walsh, Joan Titus, Sylvia Wells and Kari Smith.
The Patriotic Workshop
Each day (Tues.—Thurs.) at 8:30 a.m., Chuck Harding will give the following sessions entitled: The Critical Importance of the Biblical Vote (Tues.), The Pastor, the Pulpit and the Body Politic (Wed.) and An Overview of Our Biblically-based Constitution (Thurs.).
The School of the Prophets
All three afternoons, I will conduct these sessions for pastors, staff, deacons, Sunday school teachers, bus workers, soul winners, etc. I will be assisted by Jeff Fugate, Jayson Godsey, Mike Allison, John Hamblin and Norris Belcher.
The Music Workshop
Sterling Walsh will host the music workshop for music directors, choir members, soloists and instrumentalists on all three afternoons. He will be assisted by some of the other music personnel.
The National Sword Youth Conference
William Davis (Lexington, Kentucky) will host the first conference for teenagers (seventh grade and up). Jerry Ross (Jasonville, Indiana), Brad Braudis (Radcliff, Kentucky) and William Davis will be this year’s speakers.
The Children’s Programs
During the morning services, there will be classes for three-year-olds up to sixth grade. There is a nursery provided for children two years of age and younger during the morning and evening services.
Now, here is some more good news. Every seat is a free seat for all these sessions including the workshops. No advance registration!
