From May 17–20, more than 900 pastors from across the world gathered on Moody Bible Institute’s Chicago campus for a time of fellowship, worship and teaching. Moody’s Pastors’ Conference was started more than 30 years ago by former Moody president George Sweeting to excite pastors for ministry and provide tools for effective service.

This year’s conference theme, “Test your heart, transform your ministry,” and subsequent conference sessions, prompted attendees to deeply examine their lives in the areas of giving and finances, purity, persevering through trial, and the pursuit of glory and ambition.

“This conference is excellent for refreshing us, getting us updated in new trends and helping us stay in the right direction,” said attendee Douglas Jones of Pontiac, Mich. “I always leave revived, ready to explore new avenues of ministry.”

Every morning the attendees were lead through powerful prayer sessions by Daniel Henderson, president of Strategic Renewal, which brought fresh and biblical approaches to prayer that dug deeper than the average prayer meeting.

“Men were praying together, confessing sins and learning better ways to approach the Lord through prayer,” said Brandon Chism, event program coordinator. “I cannot think of a better way to start each day of the conference.”

During the sessions, attendees heard from pastors, professors and ministry leaders, including Dr. Paul Nyquist, Dr. Erwin Lutzer, James MacDonald and H.B. London. The session topics focused on the importance of preaching from prophetic books, filling the ministry “shoes” of predecessors, using logic in sermons, understanding the future of America and guarding the faith.

Pastor General Ellis Martin of Cleveland, Ohio has come to the conference more than 11 times.

“I love everything going on at the conference—the music, preaching and teaching," said Martin. "The best part is the fundamental teaching of the Bible here because you don’t get that everywhere.”

Conference attendees also visited the booths of approximately 80 organizations in the Exhibit Hall, such as Crossway Books, the Evangelic Council for Financial Accountability and Jews for Jesus. They received free books, Bible software, electronics and retreat vacations from the exhibitors.

The 2011 Pastors’ Conference will be held from Monday, May 23–Thursday, May 26. For more information, please visit the Pastors’ Conference website.