Reflections on Winter Conference 2007

I wanted to share some comments that particularly struck me at the conference and some overall thoughts that I came away with. I hope they are helpful and encouraging to you.

Bishop Church Murphy (Chuck is the leader of the newly named Anglican Mission in the Americas, under the oversight of Archbishop Kolini from Rwanda)

• 1,200+ people registered, 36 states, 15 countries, 6 international Archbishops, 2 retired Archbishops, 9 Anglican Bishops, 8 Anglican Organizations
• Today, 108 congregations in the Mission, 13 affiliated fellowships, 64 new works developing in the US, 9 new works in Canada, on average 1 new congregation every 3 weeks. Expect “great things” – prepare for expansion! What we have achieved so far is just the beginning.

Andy Piercy (Andy used to be on staff at HTB in London, produced albums for Delirious? and now works with our bishop TJ as worship leader)

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1) … this ultimately is our true worship.

• The Church was born singing. Singing is a natural response when we fall in love. Worship must include listening, responding to what God is saying and doing. Transition into a place of intimacy and closeness to the Father.

Becky Pippert (Becky is in the Michale Green mold - an evangelist who seeks to equip the saints. She wrote 'Out of the Saltshaker' several years ago)

• God is a sending God … and an inviting God. “As the Father sent me, so I am sending you”. Goal is redemption for all. Mission is at he very heart of God.
• The incarnation gives us the model for how we are to go into the world. Jesus was able to relate to people from such varied backgrounds and personalities. He was totally delightful, different image to Christians today. Jesus moved into the neighborhood and learned about people’s lives, hopes, dreams, fears, etc. It is all about relationship.
  
• The central problem is still SIN and therefore the solution is the cross. We must beware of pandering to culture, felt needs, feeling that to do so means that we are communicating the gospel.
• Loving relationship gets our ‘foot in the door’, but must use resources of the word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. Tremendous importance of prayer. We have to experience what we are proclaiming about the ministry of Jesus. There is overwhelming brokenness out there but we need to know his healing in us.

Jack Deere (Jack worked for a while with John Wimber - trained at Dallas Theological Seminary where he learned an anti-supernatural gospel, that changed when he saw our God at work!)

“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve--designating them apostles--that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons” [Mark 3:13-15].

• God wants to be with us, but do I want to be with him? He wants us first and foremost not to be his ministers but to be his friends. The essence of friendship is to enjoy being with a person
• We must release Jesus into the marketplace that people may meet him and hear from him.
• Evangelism is a life before a task, being before doing.
• Let us not allow programs to keep us from dependence upon the Holy Spirit and the power of the Word of God and irresistibility of Jesus Christ.

Things that I came away with …

1) Even though what we are doing is somewhat different to most within the mission, sense that God is pleased and involved

2) Need to keep focused upon God’s mission in the world

3) What is important in our own lives is genuine life in God, testimony of life-changing, healing power of the Holy Spirit, connecting with those outside of Christ through friendships, etc.

4) Deepening spiritual life through walking with God, prayer and other spiritual disciplines