Interview Series: Tony Carter (Part 2)

6) Favorite biography?

The Autobiography of Malcolm X with Alex Haley.  It is a most moving, dramatic, and telling story of the soul of America.  Malcolm is one of the most complex and compelling figures in the last 100 years of American life.  He reminds us of the hate that hate can produce.

7) What will you be speaking on at T4G?

Gospel Unity: Maintaining the Gospel as the Main Thing.  The conference is Together for the Gospel.  What does the Bible have to say about this?  How does the Bible actually illustrate us being together for the sake of the gospel?  How do we reconcile important disagreements with our call for unity in the gospel?

8) Which of the main T4G speakers could you “take to the mat” so to speak?

In his heydey RC was a most accomplished golfer.  I feel quite confident I could beat him now, but back in the day it may have been a different story.  Also, CJ and Thabiti think they can handle the rock a little bit.  But between you and me, I have seen them both and I would have no problem breaking them down and leaving them on the side of the road.

9) Why are you excited about T4G?

Ask me in about 6 months.

10) Anything else we should know or you’d like to say?

Yes.  What course are we playing in Louisville?  When are our tee times?  Should I bring my own clubs?

Thanks, Tony, for your interview. Looking forward to hearing more at T4G.

Interview Series: Tony Carter (Part 1)

Tony Carter, a breakout session speaker, graciously allowed us to interview him.  Here’s part 1…

1) Where do you pastor? I pastor East Point Church in East Point, GA.  It is a new church.  In many ways we are still testing the waters of congregational life.  East Point is located next to the airport in Atlanta.  And so, if you have ever flown into Atlanta (and who hasn’t?), you likely flew right over us.

2) How did you come to Christ? I grew up in the church and became a victim of what Michael Horton has called, “Christless Christianity”.  It was not until I was on my own, trying to survive a world that was not friendly to my efforts that I realized how many of my problems were the result of my own sin and how desperately I needed a Savior.  By God’s grace, my Christianity went from Christless to Christ himself.

3) Describe your call to ministry. When I came to saving faith in Christ, I desired nothing else except to know him and make him known.  I fell in love with the church and my call to preach naturally flowed from my desires to experience Christ and lead others to do the same.  In a real sense, God made sure I was restless and discontented with anything else.  I have not always been faithful to the call, but Christ has.

4) Tell us about your family. I am married to Adriane.  We have five children:  Anthony, Jr., Rachel, Sarah, Siera, and Ana.

5) What are some of your favorite activities with your family or personal hobbies? The family enjoys playing games, worshiping, and traveling (though the latter they enjoy far more than me).  I enjoy the sanctification that golf provides.  Lately my greatest pleasure has been watching my son progress in his game.  His goal is to beat me one day.  My goal is to be there when he does.

Part 2 coming soon…

Interview Series: Kevin DeYoung (Part 2)

This is part 2 of the interview we did with Kevin DeYoung, one of our breakout session speakers in 2010. (Part 1 is here)

Continuing on…

6) Favorite biography?

Iain Murray’s two volume biography of Martyn Lloyd-Jones.  I devoured it during a Christmas break in college.  It confirmed my call to ministry, shaped my view of ministry, and inspired me for what gospel ministry could be like.

7) What will you be speaking on at T4G?

“Tis Mystery All, The Immortal Dies: Why the Gospel of Christ’s Suffering is More Glorious Because God Does Not Suffer.”

I try to answer three questions: 1) Why has the old heresy that God suffers (theopaschitism, patripassianism) become the new orthodoxy?  2) What are the reasons for still affirming the doctrine of God’s impassibility?  3) How does the view that God does not suffer help us in pastoral ministry and help to glorify God?

8) Which of the main T4G speakers could you “take to the mat” so to speak?

Hmm, this sounds like a dangerous question, but I’ll indulge.  MacArthur looks like he’s 45 and still plays football and R.C. looks pretty scrappy, so I’ll pass on both of them.  Thabiti is young and must be well-conditioned for doing ministry on the beach on the Cayman Islands.  No thanks.  And Piper is Piper.  I wouldn’t mess with him.  That leaves the original four T4Gers.  Lig looks impressive.  C.J. is known for his humility and encouragement, so I’m tempted to go with him, but I know for a fact his meekness does not go so far as athletics.  So I guess I’ll take either Mohler or Dever.  They both carried brief cases to school, as I understand it, and can talk faster than they can move (I’m hoping).  But on further thought, Al Mohler read like a thousand books last summer on war and soldiers and how to kill people and stuff.  So I’m going to leave him alone and go after Mark Dever.

9) Why are you excited about T4G?

Meeting up with old friends.  Making new friends.  Taking men from our church with me.  The bookstore (oh the bookstore!).  The signs around town that give the different pronunciations for Louisville.  The stores selling big hats for the Kentucky Derby.  The Louisville Slugger store.  Most of all, being challenged, edified, and inspired by the terrific teaching.

10) Anything else we should know or you’d like to say?

Three things: I detest vegetables, except corn on the cob (which I’m told hardly counts as a vegetable) and lima beans (go figure).  My second son was born in the hospital parking lot and I delivered him (with my wife doing all the hard work I might add).  I am extremely honored to have this opportunity to speak at T4G.

More interviews with the rest of the breakout session guys coming soon…

Interview Series: Kevin DeYoung (Part 1)

Together for the Gospel is excited to host 8 Breakout Session Speakers this year (you choose one) during the conference.  We’ve interviewed each of these guys and over the next few months, will roll out an interview with each of the breakout guys.

First up: Kevin DeYoung.

1) Where do you pastor?

I have the privilege of serving as Senior Pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan, literally right across the street from Michigan State University.  We are a medium sized congregation, around 400 on Sunday morning.  A fourth of those are undergraduates or grad students.  The congregation is fairly diverse (ethnically, culturally, politically, theologically), which makes for an exciting and challenging environment.  I love my church dearly and am grateful to be their pastor.

2) How did you come to Christ?

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know Christ.  My parents are both Christians and we went to church, well, religiously.  While in third grade I distinctly felt the Lord working in my life.  After talking with my parents, meeting with my pastor, reading through the Heidelberg Catechism, and going before the elders, I joined the church in the fourth grade.

3) Describe your call to ministry.

I thought about pastoral ministry from a young age.  My pastor told me one time that I would be his pulpit supply when I grew up.  I figured that meant I would stock the pulpit with tissues and pens before he preached.  As I grew up in the church I often did the short sermon for youth Sunday and liked doing the Bible lessons in Sunday school.  People were always telling me I should be a pastor.  In college I studied political science for my first two years and thought about going that route, but internally I was feeling a strong desire to preach and externally people in the church continued to urge me to go into mininstry.

4) Tell us about your family.

Trisha and I met at First Presbyterian Church in Ipswich, Massachussets.  She was a student at Gordon College and I was studing down the road at Gordon-Conwell (what a great idea to put a Christian college with too many girls right next to a seminary with too many guys).  We were married in January 2002.  We have four children, who bring unspeakable joy into our lives and also put the T in TULIP.  Ian was born in 2003, Jacob in 2005, Elizabeth in 2007, and Paul in 2009.

5) What are some of your favorite activities with your family or personal hobbies?

I like running (jogging is more accurate now).  I also enjoy getting out with our college students to play Ultimate Frisbee (though C.J. is adamant that Ultimate is a not a real sport).  I’m a pretty big sports nut.  Being born in Chicago, I’m a huge Sox, Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks fan (in that order).  Obviously I follow the Spartans too.  As a family we like relay races in the backyard, going to the park, and trying to survive each day.

We’ll run part 2 in the next week or so.  Don’t forget to register for the conference!

Where Have We Gone?

It has been very quiet on the T4G blog. You’ve come to expect nothing from us. Well that’s about to change. We’re gonna light this thing up like a summer thunderstorm so start getting your RSS feeds ready.

More tomorrow…