It was a night to remember and rejoice.

It was a night to remember the blessings of the week, including lessons learned, friends made, and to thank all the servants who made the week possible.

It was a night to rejoice in the children and youth that were represented at the conference--over 700 of them. They were recognized in the final night's program, with the preschool children leading the motions to a psalm from the stage.

During the day, conferees took their final opportunities to enjoy the workshops, seminars, sports, food, and fellowship that the international conference provides. The day was once again a beautiful one. In the morning, Prof. Richard Gamble spoke to adults and college-age youth on "Meeting Christ in Glory" as the last part in the series for the week, "Meeting Christ in Life."

The evening's large-group session in the Fine Arts Center auditorium ended with "in the round" singing by the 1,600 conferees of Psalm 72C, "...O let God blessed be."

 Conference Chairman Donald McBurney announced that talks were underway with Calvin College for a return of the RP International to Grand Rapids in 2012. The dates are July 21-27, 2012. Calvin College's president, who greeted the conferees tonight, said that by 2012 a new sports arena will be completed and the Fine Arts Center will be expanded and renovated. Don McBurney said that, with new dorm facilities being added as well, the next conference could have up to 1,800 participants, and that it would be feasible for all of them to gather in one location for the all-conference meetings.

Wednesday was a picture-perfect day in Grand Rapids, good for every conference activity that was planned--including some serious life reflection.

"Meeting Life in Affliction" was Prof. C. J. Williams' focus in the morning, as he showed from Job 19 that, despite serious suffering, Job had a clear understanding of eternal life with his Redeemer-God.

In the evening, Rev. Anthony Selvaggio challenged conferees to be prepared for whatever calling God may have for them, even though it may mean great sacrifice. He contrasted the incredulous response of the priest Zechariah to the angel's announcement with the virgin Mary's ready response to the angel's message. Consecration or commitment services like the one this evening have been a central feature of many RP conferences. Following the service, conferees were encouraged to reflect on the message and to share their commitment with someone else. There was also a "fireless campfire" on the Commons lawn with opportunity for psalm singing and testimonies.

 Other activities of the day included a chamber music concert, track meet for all ages, field trips to an environmental center and an observatory, swimming, sports tournaments, and over a dozen workshops and presentations.

Tomorrow will be the last full day of RP International '08. 

While there's a lot of time at the RP International Conference allotted for fun and fellowship, the teaching is intentionally not lightweight. This morning, for example, adult and college-age conferees delved into the "hot" theological topic of the Lord's supper. Rev. Wayne Spear, past professor of systematic theology at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, analyzed some current views on communion, and he carefully even took issue with part of John Calvin's view on the topic. Rev. Spear backed his teaching by comparing the Bible texts that speak to the topic.

As with the other days of the conference, there are other very serious and sometimes challenging talks and workshops. Missionaries gave presentations today on work in India, Scotland, Russia, and China. Workshop leaders discussed stem cell research, church revitalization, and discipling new Christians. There was counsel for parents, for the grieving, for pastors, for pastor's wives, for deacons.

 With no large-group evening program planned, conferees were free to take advantage of a wide variety of sports, leisure, performance, and learning opportunities. These included a New Song concert, watching a movie on the history of the seminary, and, for high schoolers, "The Great 2008 Useless Talent Olympics."

Even for people who are veterans of many Reformed Presbyterian conferences, this one is big. When everyone gathers in the two primary auditoriums, the sound of psalm singing is a big, beautiful sound. When the group splits up by age ranges, even the classes seem big. At times you can go almost anywhere on Calvin College's campus and find big groups of Reformed Presbyterians.

Conference organizers had a big task to find things to do for 1,600 people of all ages at all hours of the day, and so even the daily printed schedule was big. Today (Monday) through Thursday, conferees got into the routine of worship/teaching/instruction/discussion in the morning, athletics and special-interest groups in the afternoon, and special meetings in the evening. Tonight that special meeting was a talent show, a perennial must-see among conferees. All 11 acts "brought down the house." Most were musical numbers, ranging from the musically and vocally exquisite to foot-stompingly down-home to cleverly comedic.

Pastor Dennis Prutow of the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary continued the week's theme of "Meeting Christ in Life" with a focus in his morning talk on "Meeting Christ in Worship."  Following the teaching were 11 different workshop choices for adults, including on covenant children, military ministry, conflict resolution, mercy ministry, Christian single life, and a precentors workshop.