An Invitation to the M11 Conference from the USA/Canada Regional Director
“A Sacred Assembly” The shy teenager stood to testify. With a trembling voice she simply said, “I love the Lord Jesus with all my heart.” Those in attendance said it was like a match was lit: the Holy Spirit engulfed the attendees. Many describe this as the beginning of the Welsh Revival in 1904. The word spread from heart to heart and from country to country. From the little testimony of Florrie Evans in an out of the way town called New Quay, Cardigan, historians estimate that 100,000 people came to faith in Christ.
Erudite preaching, friendly surroundings, large offerings, or strategic planning all have their place in our assemblies; however, God works in ways far beyond our human imagination. My heart longs for him to show up among us in ways that supersede our human contrivances. And our faithfulness and obedience are critical to his work. When he comes, his presence overcomes stagnation, exhaustion, hesitation, and fear. In their place, he grants us boldness, joy, resolve, creativity, and passion. I desire to participate in a sacred assembly that will forever change my life and the lives of my children and my church.
We could simply arrange another conference; we know how to do that. You could attend, smile at your friends, participate in some fine workshops, worship in a few inspiring services, collect your notebook and go home unchanged. But I hope you too are hungry for more than that.
Hundreds have been fasting and praying that M11, our Mission 2011 USA/Canada Regional Conference with the theme “Igniting our Passion for Making Christlike Disciples,” February 21-23 in Louisville, KY, would be such an assembly. We are: • Praying that it will be a sacred gathering.
• Praying that God will move on our hearts, believing that this fresh fire will ignite all of the 5,000 churches in the United States and Canada.
• Praying that our hearts will be moved by God to leave behind the shores of mediocrity.
• Praying that we will not only worship together, but that we will experience holy abandon in reaching the lost and hurting in our world. We need more than just nice services; we need to be inspired by the Holy Spirit to cease being respectably boring and become a mighty army. The evils and injustices so prevalent in our society today demand love-empowered Christians to take action. This February’s sacred assembly will intentionally include extended times of prayer. Of course, over 200 workshops/conversations about cutting edge ministries and outreach ideas will be available. We invite you to participate in valuable services, including great preaching, and anointed worship led by choirs, ensembles, and soloists. You will have opportunity to learn of new books and resources. But more importantly, we believe you will be putting yourself in the stream of what God wants to do with us and through us in the United States and Canada.
I sense, as I travel around the church, a desperate hungering for God and a deep desire to engage our reeling world. Among general and district superintendents, pastors and laity, there is a longing for God to do something new in us. Naysayers may opine that the church is too tired, too old, too materialistic, too preoccupied for renewal. I refuse to believe it! I believe his Pentecostal power will pour over us and empower us at M11, and I invite you to the sacred assembly. Pleased with the Prospects, Bob Broadbooks USA/Canada Regional Director P.S. Please find additional details on M11 online at m11conference.nazarene.org.
Click here to view the invitation in Spanish.