seminar
“The Stones Cry Out are passionate about quality, interactive and inspired teaching that unlocks the Scriptures for believers, so that they can mine the riches so often clouded by the distance of Time, Space and Culture.”
EDEN’S BURNING:
The Sacred Mountain and the Life of Faith
WHEN:
Saturday 29th November 2025
09:30-16:30
WHERE:
St Benedicts Centre
52 Swan Street
West Malling, Kent
ME19 6JX
PRICE:
£40.00 (incl refreshments)
+ booking fee
Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth.
Ps 48:1-2
In the Ancient Near East, mountains were considered sacred space, divine abodes, temples of the gods, bridging the seen and unseen realms. Likewise Eden was no mere garden—it was the original sacred mountain, God’s primeval sanctuary where heaven kissed earth, and humanity walked in perfect unity with the Divine. This was the model cosmic temple, a marriage of the natural and supernatural worlds.
When Adam and Eve’s rebellion torched this sacred space, God’s redemptive plan was already in place. His plan? To preserve and propagate His original Edenic idea and purpose. He then carried this plan forward through a series of glorious burning holy mountains, daisy chained together into one giant story arc that spans the Old and New Testaments; the pinnacle of this mountain story—Jesus himself.
Spend a day with us as we explore the cosmic significance of the original sacred mountain and our critical place in fulfilling its story arc… redeemed humanity, the new sacred space.
SPEAKER: MARK HENDLEY
A Christian since 1993, Mark has been in vocational Christian Ministry since 1999. He is a graduate of Moorlands Bible College and earned a Degree in Applied Theology and the Graduate Preaching Prize. He has trained with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and studied Biblical Archaeology with Bar Ilan University, Israel. Most recently Mark was awarded a Doctorate of Divinity (H.C) by Sutlej Reformed Theological Seminary for his work in Biblical Interpretation and Ancient Near Eastern Contexts.
Mark’s ministry experience spans a wide range of Christian traditions both in the UK and internationally. This broad exposure has shaped his ability to connect with diverse audiences. He has spent time in Iraq, Egypt, Jordan and Israel, which might explain his passion for the Geography, History and Culture of the Ancient Near Eastern world of the Bible.
Mark founded The Stones Cry Out to bridge the gap between modern believers and the ancient context of the Bible. He has spent years chasing the echoes of Scripture across continents and bringing them home to share. He is passionate about quality, interactive and inspired teaching that unlocks the Scriptures for believers. As a consequence he has hosted thousands of Christians at Conferences, Seminars, Tours of the British Museum’s biblical artefacts and the archaeological Land of Israel; so that they can mine the riches so often clouded by the distance of Time, Space and Culture.
Mark is not just a teacher; he’s a bridge-builder—connecting ancient stones to living faith. His blend of scholarship, wanderlust, and pulpit presence has carved out a niche where dusty artefacts and distant lands breathe life into the Bible for anyone willing to listen.
EDEN’S BURNING:
The Sacred Mountain and the Life of Faith.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
EXPECTATIONS
Aim:
To unlock the Scriptures, using the lense of the Sacred Mountain, so that you can mine the riches so often clouded by the distance of Time, Space and Culture.
Goal:
Enabling a deep and nuanced understanding of familiar bible accounts on the terms of the people who wrote and first heard them. A people greatly shaped by the Land. Land integral to the greatest story ever told: The Gospel of Jesus in all its depth and majesty.
Objectives:
- To illuminate how and why almost every story of the bible is deliberately set in a sacred geography.
- To learn and recognise the many diverse Sacred Mountains of the Holy Land
- To understand how those Sacred Mountains shape and carry along the story of God.
- To spot how each location is not just shaping the story but also developing the story of God’s Sacred Mountain.
- To recognise when an author is using a Sacred Mountain to challenge and shape you.
Text:
The main seminar translation will be the ESV.
PARKING
The St Benedict’s Centre is located behind West Malling High Street, off a single lane road. The Centre have asked that you act neighbourly by respecting the local parking conditions. Vehicles parked illegally along the roads around the Centre risk a Parking Fine.
Enter Swan Street from the High Street and turn right into the small driveway (small signage) opposite St Leonard’s Restaurant.
For directions you can use the what3words ///train.before.sheep
At the end of the driveway on the left is a gravel car park
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
West Malling Railway Station is 8 minutes walk.
ACCESSIBILITY
St Benedict’s welcomes anyone with accessibility requirements and endeavours to accommodate any needs you may have. Please get in touch before your visit to make necessary arrangements.
01732 252651
FOOD
You can bring a packed lunch or access one of the nearby cafes/pubs/restaurants 1 minute away in the High Street.
CHILDCARE
We are very sorry but no facilities are provided for children or childcare. The event is not suitable for children (including toddlers and nursing babies) and we reserve the right to refuse entry to delegates bringing children to the event.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Places must be paid for in full – deposits or reservations cannot be accepted.
2. Payment is only accepted by credit/debit card via the online booking facility (there is a modest booking fee charged per ticket but capped at £5 for block bookings). Please do not send cash or credit card details by post.
3. We are unable to give refunds for cancellations.
4. Bookings are not transferable.
5. In the unlikely event of an incident that causes the event to be cancelled refunds will be given.
6. Accommodation is not included in the booking fee.
7. No facilities are provided for children or childcare. This event is not suitable for children (including toddlers and nursing babies) and delegates bringing children to the event will be refused entry.
8. Entrance to the event will be by printed or electronic copy of the tickets attached to the booking confirmation email.
9. Personal filming or recording of any part of the event is not permitted. We may photograph and film the event for commercial and non-commercial purposes. It is possible that you may appear in photographs and video and these may be used online.