May 17, 2017 – 10:45 pm
Well Dear Readers, it has been a very full day. We were up early and back at the Conference by 8:45 this morning to hear Toby Cavanaugh. His topic was about reaching and developing leadership from the next generation. This statement rather sums his talk up well, “If you want to reach the next generation, you just have to die.” He proceeded to give one of the best and effective teachings I have ever heard on learning to let go of responsibilities and positions and allowing the next generation to step into those very responsibilities and positions. Let go of what you are doing and allow others to lead. It does no good to reach them, train them and then never let them lead. To get them we must be ready to release them.
He spent time going through the emotions and difficulties present leaders have in doing this and why that is so – then worked again on the need to die to all so others can live. It was a powerful time.
(I would love to give long detailed notes on each speaker for today, but it is late and I am very weary. So I will give you a taste of each session).
Next was our “Break-Out session” which was 30 minutes of dynamic teaching by Chris Lonneville, a Senior Pastor, on the whole concept of “Fathering (or Mothering)” the next generation. He described the differences between leaders and fathers. When a leader would take certain action – a father would wait.
He gave us 4 main things needful and necessary:
- Give the next generation ownership and then cover them and be their friend the run into difficulty.
- Give them grace and space. Expect them to be successful and treat them like the leaders they will be.
- Give them authority. Don’t just give them the jobs no one else wants to do, give them important, up front jobs.
- You must give away your position and lead as a father.
It was excellent.
The Women’s Lunch speaker was a young mother (has 4 and #5 on the way), named Jen Campbell – from Lockport, NY – teaching on what it takes to become a confident woman in Christ.
- You have to know who you are and what you are called to do.
- You have to know who has called you.
It was down-to-earth and rich in the Word. I particularly loved the way she was so familiar with the Word and moved easily and in revelation through it. She used Mary and Martha in Luke and John. It was deeply meaningful.
The afternoon session was taught by Bishop Doctor Joseph M. Kilioba, the pastor of Doonholm All Nations Gospel Church, a congregation of over 1,500 in Nairobi, Kenya for many years. He is now the General Overseer of PEFA (Pentecostal Evangelism Fellowship of Africa). His thoughtful and thorough presentation on learning to take the dreams the Lord gives us from activation into increase. It was excellent.
My Breakout track was Leadership and we heard Derek Loperfido (Senior Pastor of Community Lighthouse Fellowship in S. Butler, NY. He walked us through the steps that were taken to transition his congregation from having Pastor Chris Ball (our Elim President) from being Pastor of the church to himself who was the Associate. Pastor Ball was in the audience and at the end, Derek called him forward and they did question and answer time.
This was probably the most intense an effective presentation to date – dealing with transitioning from one pastor to another.
The last session of the day, our evening presenter, was Bishop Doctor Isaiah Majok Dau, the general overseer of Sudan Pentecostal Church, in Sudan Africa. His presentation was again on leadership. His beginning statement is a good summary of the presentation, “Everything stands or falls on the Leadership.” It was a sobering presentation and thoughtfully presented.
Our worship today has been in the Lord’s presence. It’s like all are coming ready and longing to worship together. It has been an exciting day!
So now I am weary and must close down and trust my soul to the one who gives us life – I must lay down and sleep to do it all again tomorrow – just with another line-up of outstanding speakers. It will take me months to unravel it all in my being. The Lord is already using it.
Sleep well and stay blessed!
Mannaword 