March 4-6, 2026 — Los Angeles, California Thousands of men in church leadership attended the annual Shepherds Conference at Grace Community Church, participating in preaching by expositors, breakout sessions with scholars, and fellowship focused on commitment to biblical ministry as servants of Christ.
The conference, a ministry of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, aimed to challenge attendees in their dedication to biblical ministry and provide encouragement among fellow leaders. It emphasized equipping through faithful preaching, learning in breakouts, fellowship with church leaders worldwide, and refreshment via campus amenities.
Session Highlights and Speakers
Organized around the theme “Servant of The Word: The Life and Ministry of John MacArthur,” the event featured 19 messages across general and specialized sessions. Key general sessions included:
- Abner Chou on Jesus as Savior and Lord.
- Joel Beeke on loving the church’s purity.
“We need to be men who love the church and who love her purity. And we need to lay down our lives for the church, so that it will be evident that we possess a Christ-like love.”
- Michael Reeves on seeking God’s glory.
“Seeking the glory of God is the most fundamental need for the leaders of God’s people.”
Other speakers were Phil Johnson, Mike Riccardi, Paul Twiss, John Piper, Nathan Busenitz, Josiah Grauman, Paul Washer, and H.B. Charles Jr., addressing topics like the sufficiency of God’s Word, sovereign grace, pastoral perseverance, and the eternal consequences of ministry.
Breakouts covered servant leadership, such as “Leading the Charge” by H.B. Charles Jr. and “Shepherding the Heart” by Tom Pennington.
Themes of Leadership and Renewal
Sessions highlighted servant leadership through calls to lay down lives for the church, pastoral integrity via opposition to pragmatism and emphasis on Scripture, and equipping for gospel ministry with discipleship and the Word’s power. Spiritual growth was promoted through fellowship with God, heart change by the Spirit, and worship.
A Friends of John MacArthur Q&A featured Al Mohler, Mark Dever, John Piper, Ligon Duncan, and Phil Johnson.
Online Access and Recaps
All general sessions are now available online via the Grace Community Church website and Shepherds Conference media page. Social media recaps, including an Instagram reel of attendees singing “It Is Well with My Soul,” captured the event’s worshipful atmosphere and impact on spiritual renewal.