W4C Alumni Association will hold its annual Thematic Bible Conference at both northern and southern California sites, this Labor Day long weekend, 31 August –2 September 2024, to the theme ‘Acts: Journey to Rome’ (Acts 19.21–28.31). Participation is available through your own Internet connection via Discord, wherever you are, or else at either of our sites in Los Altos or La Palma, California. Please register here on our registration form.
The 2024 Thematic Bible Conference continues a four-year (2021–24) study of the Acts of the Apostles:
2021: 1.1–6.7 (Jews in Jerusalem);
2022: 6.8–9.31 (Hellenists & Samaritans), 9.32–12.24 (Gentiles & Antioch);
2023: 12.25–16.5 (Asia Minor), 16.6–19.20 (Europe);
2024: 19.21–28.31 (Journey to Rome)
This study of Acts comes in turn after a three-year study of the Gospel of Luke in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Before coming to the conference, please either
read Acts 1: “To the Ends of the Earth!” by NT Wright, or,
watch the following two short lectures if you have not watched them already:
‘Introduction to the Acts of the Apostles by Prof. N. T. Wright’ (2:55);
‘Session One: Acts 1:1–8 with Prof. N. T. Wright’ (15:37).
During the conference, eight more short lectures will feature N.T. Wright on aspects of Acts 19.21–28.31.
On each day of the conference, there will be multiple lectures by Craig Keener. Handouts covering his lectures on those chapters in Acts will be provided to conferees at the conference.
And for conferees fluent in Cantonese or Mandarin, additional exposition lectures (with consecutive interpretation) will feature Stephen Lee (李思敬) during the conference:
膏立與綑綁 (使徒行傳20.17–38)
囚禁與見證 (使徒行傳22.3–21)
癲狂與成敗 (使徒行傳28.17–28) : 請待會議期間始觀看此影片 (laptop only)。
Conference Schedules and Locations
The conference runs three full days from 31 August to 2 September 2024.
If you are taking part on-site in northern California, the address is St Paul’s Anglican Church, 101 N El Monte Ave, Los Altos, CA 94022.
If you are taking part on-site in southern California, the address is 7872 Walker Street, Room Kalani (1st Floor, Joshua Medical Center), La Palma, CA 90703.
Bible Study Leader Training
We are offering three tracks for Bible study leader training:
Track 1: How to Lead Inductive Bible Study: An Introduction
This is our basic training for a literate Christian believer to begin leading inductive Bible studies, whether at school, at work, or at home.
Track 2: Intermediate Bible Study Skills
For those who have already completed our basic training, we offer a second track to further develop Bible study skills.
2a. How to use Group Dynamics to Enhance Objectivity (Richard Yen).
2b. Word Study Techniques (Richard Yen).
2c. Evangelistic Bible Studies (Pak-Yan Liang).
Some trained inductive Bible study leaders wish to hone their skills specifically for evangelism, to help enquirers come through inductive Bible study to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This track is for them.
2d. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation (Michael Yung).
Track 3: Advanced Bible Study Skills
3a. Hybrid Textual Outline (Michael Yung).
3b. Setting Questions from Outline (Michael Yung).
Speakers
KEYNOTE LECTURES
We’ll have four exposition lectures by Dr Craig Keener, Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary, on aspects of Acts 19.21–28.31.
SHORT LECTURES
On each day of the conference, we’ll have multiple short lectures by the Right Reverend N. T. Wright, formerly Lord Bishop of Durham.
EXPOSITION LECTURES
We’ll have three exposition lectures by Dr Stephen Lee (李思敬), formerly President of CGST (中國神學研究院).
BIBLE STUDY LEADER TRAINING
Besides the basic training to become an inductive Bible study leader, we also have intermediate and advanced training for Bible study leaders who are already trained and certified by W4CAA, by the following trainers:
Michael Yung. Founding member of UCLA Chinese Christian Fellowship in the 1970s, frequent speaker of the Winter Conference since the 1970s on topics related to inductive Bible study, biblical interpretations, and apologetics.
Richard Yen. Entrepreneur in biologics; founder of Fibroplate Inc.; founding member of the West Coast Chinese Christian Conference (W4C); founder of W4CAA; frequent conference and church speaker on topics in inductive Bible study, apologetics, and faith and science.
Eric (Pak) Liang. 1979 and 1980 chairman of the West Coast Chinese Christian Conference (W4C); W4C leadership trainer, 1980–1990; PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Stanford University; MBA from UCLA; MS in Biblical Studies from the Master’s Seminary; information strategy consultant; guest lecturer on business administration at the Master’s University; current YouTuber for The World Pulse Digest.
Registration
Registration for the 2024 Conference is now available. Please register and pay as soon as you can! Mail cheques out by 15 August or pay online. The registration fee will be $50 for the general public, but only $25 for students and unemployed. The fee is waived for Bible study leaders leading at least 3 Bible study sessions and for inductive Bible study trainees who are committed to finish in-conference assignments. Personnel at host sites (St Paul’s church members and JMC staff) are invited to register and attend free of charge.
Registration fee does not cover meals or lodging. Assigned staff will be responsible for arranging on-site meals on a cost-sharing basis. Any food exceptions must be pre-approved.
Note: The Bible study leader fee rate is good only through 15 August. Bible study leaders will be trained before the conference. Approved overseas Bible study leaders may be invited to come to our California sites to moderate the inductive Bible study sessions. If you need a formal invitation letter for travel arrangements, please let us know as soon as possible.
When you have completed the form, you will receive a response email. Please check for this confirmation email, which may have gone to your spam box. Everyone attending the conference remotely will need high-speed Internet to connect to the conference. Please make sure you have this, so that you can watch our speakers, participate in our Bible studies, and interact in our question-and-answer sessions with the speakers.