|
Can we define a "charismatic"
church? How can any church not be charismatic if teachers teach,
musicians sing and play, and those of hospitality serve, etc?
I'm not sure gift surveys and "knowing your gift"
helps. But maybe they do. If I ask someone to try to teach,
they try, Almost too much to process - maybe more time to process. I would like in my packet all the words to the songs that were used in worship times as well as all the A.B. Simpson quotes that were used. I would like more immediate response time to each message. I need to take time to hear from Jesus and personalize the message; and it's hard to fit that in with such a packed schedule. Although the ministry has been glorious and I'm drinking it all in I still would like scheduled solidarity time. We are so busy. I haven't even had time to pray with my prayer partner in all this. One speaker 1 ½ hours and then time 1 ½ hours. One workshop and then time. I would like to have heard, "If you would like to be baptised in the Holy Spirit come forward and we will pray for you." Thursday evening was very helpful. It brought out a theme that is so needed: ministering in the overflow of God's Spirit - not our own strength. This is the need of 90% of Alliance workers and may explain the 1500/month leaving ministry. Thank you for hosting and serving us with such excellence. The conference was a time of great challenge and spiritual refreshing. We return home with a renewed vision of God's desire for the C&MA. Thanks for the vision and the faith. I have a sense we need in some way to do corporate repentance for the truth we have hidden (2 Corinthians 4:3). Sanctification (deeper life) gifts and power, even salvation and assurance evidently. We have not preached the whole gospel. Open a website and make this kind of thing available. The sessions were long! Two hours is about the limit of the U.S. isssue bladder and butt. Don't do back to back major sessions. Do one, like Sipley or Roberts and then a break, the Q&A, reflection and prayer. Start at 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. then break then Q&A, etc. and quit promptly at 12:30. 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. - break - Q&A, reflection, and prayer and quit at 5:00 p.m. Whatever it would take to keep people to the very end (i.e. a message like that given by R. Roberts). Offer a time to meet with Spirit filled men to discuss my own experience with the Lord and have him/her pray over us. A great time of blessing but too much sitting. Impossible to take in such extended times of teaching without more interaction and movement. Conference one day too long. Great leadership, facilities and logistics. Early morning prayer and late night prayer sessions. Our kudos to Jonathan and his staff leaders - we would not want to have missed this time together. Praise the Lord! I would like to see more people being prayed for publically…more prayer for the reception of the Holy Spirit. Blessings and kudos to MRCC, Brad and Jon - all the speakers. Thank you so so much for obeying God! Thanks, Paula for getting the names of the songs! If there is one attribute that I am taking home from all that I heard and saw in all the leaders, speakers, and volunteers was a sense of humility. God was glorified! Recommend to introduce to and in a church setting for lay people I think a basic workshop on prayer; history such as was offered. I loved the passion of Rock Dillaman and Richard Roberts. Next time: less identifying present problems, failures - focus on roots, fruits and vision. This time: the confession and identifying of problems was great (and needed): especially President's "keynote". What now? How will the National and District leadership respond to this? How can we get this quality of teaching to our laity? As an Adult CE Leader, we need Sunday School, small group materials that teach all of what we heard this week to our people - we need rich, challenging materials to extend our understanding. Some/much should be based on many works (some, like what was in the book store) materials with their quotes - word of God. We would welcome the opportunity to host this in Canada. Thank you for doing this for us. Special thanks to the host church and their amazing help, graciousness, care…each volunteer was kind and helpful.
Do not export the Rekindle the Flame Gathering as a program. Intercession paved the way. Any church willing to host must be prepared to pay the price of spiritual preparation and prayer. This must be 'owned' by the pastor and people of a host church. Mobilize people in prayer 9-12 months in advance. Look where God is stirring in the heart of a pastor and church and host a Gathering there. Gary Benedict's opening statement of confession and repentance was a defining moment for many who were there. It encouraged a number of people to stay with the Alliance. It instilled hope. Small group sessions lacked direction. They need a designated leader. Keep 'lay people' with the pastors. Paul King's presentation: 1). Make the point more concise, 2). Application needed, 3). More Scripture, and 4). Set in historical context for Simspon and C&MA (i.e. what else was taking place during this time?) Comments from Youth Ministers: apply to spiritual dynamics of cross generational ministry Need more 'intentional' time for corporate
intercession and invitation to receive from Him. Suggestion:
schedule blocks of time - 30 minutes or more between sessions
for corporate prayer. |
|
