A screening of John MacArthur’s “The Essential Church” at the 2023 G3 National Conference had to be evacuated in Atlanta Friday night after a bomb threat was reported.
The annual conference is put on by G3 Ministries, a Christian organization that stands for “Gospel—Grace—Glory,” and was created in 2013 to hold a “theology conference that would focus on God’s Word as opposed to the pragmatism and techniques that are so often the focus of evangelical conferences.”
Due to the growth of the conferences over the years they now also “educate, encourage, and equip local churches with sound biblical theology for the glory of God” throughout the year.
This year’s conference in Atlanta had nearly 8,000 people in attendance and featured speakers Paul Washer, Voddie Baucham, Steven Lawson, Justin Peters, Ken Ham, Phil Johnson, James White, James Coates, Virgil Walker, Darrell Harrison, Owen Strachan, Josh Buice, and many others.
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While details are still uncertain, some reports claim that just before a screening of “The Essential Church” was about to be shown, a man went on the stage and made the claim that there was a bomb in the building.
According to those reports, 33-year-old Timothy Mixon was apprehended by security and later turned over to the the authorities.
Pastor Tom Buck, one of G3 Ministries directors and speakers at this year’s conference, informed ChurchLeaders that information is still being gathered as to what really happened. Buck said he was having dinner with the speakers when they were told they had to evacuate the building.
Shannon Paul Halliday, the writer and director of “The Essential Church,” shared how he was about to speak to viewers at the screening when the bomb threat occurred.
“I was mic’d up and ready to go on to talk about the Essential Church movie, and a bomb threat, came into the building. G3’s been evacuated. Interesting timing @JennaEllisEsq @ArlenysBuckelew,” Halliday posted on social media.
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John MacArthur’s and Grace Community Church’s lawyer, Jenna Ellis, who appears in the film posted, “Praying for everyone at @G3Conference.”
Ellis told ChurchLeaders, “I’m very glad to hear the situation was managed and everyone attending is safe. I hope G3 will afford Grace Productions another opportunity to show ‘The Essential Church’ movie because every Christian needs to see this important documentary and prepare to stand firm in the future for God against tyranny. It is also currently streaming on SalemNOW online.”
Pastor Carl Hargrove posted a video of conference speakers and attendees gathering together in their hotel lobby singing hymns after they were forced to evacuate the convention center.
There is a bomb threat at the Convention Center. Our evening was cut short #G32023 . Many of us made our way back to the hotel lobby. Then we sang some praises to the Lord! God is always in control!  pic.twitter.com/Oc3Pxb2JTU
— Carl A. Hargrove (@CarlHargrove) September 23, 2023
