Notes and Thoughts from Empowered 21 - Day 2

By Charles Scott

The Thursday night, April 8, service featured a message from Timothy Ross, the young adult pastor of the Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas. Timothy openly shared his personal testimony, but in a way that exalted the Savior instead of glorifying sin. How inspiring! People need to hear not just Timothy's message, but also the method he used. He never used gory, gutter-like, foul or slang language to talk about his past. Instead of dwelling on the sin, he focused on the power of Jesus to deliver. It was a classic message. [This entire service is currently available on streamingfaith.com.]

At 7:00 am Wayman Ming and I joined Karl Hargestam and the Swedish Pentecostal Bishop, Pelle Hornmark for a breakfast fellowship. It was a delight to converse on the various challenges and victories that face our sister churches. Pelle is an anointed leader of vision, dedicated to seeing reformation in the Swedish churches. Primarily, they face the threats of secularism and post-modernism. We look forward to seeing what God has in store for the Swedish Pentecostal Church and the PCG!

At 9:00 am we convened in the general session. Dr. Mark Rutland, of Oral Roberts University, presented honorary awards to many Pentecostal spiritual mothers and fathers. It was so wonderful to give gratitude to those who paid such a price so that we can stand on their shoulders and reach further into the glory of God. Dr. Rutland’s message was a masterpiece; each of you would be blessed to obtain a copy. [This entire service is also available on streamingfaith.com].

These highlights stood out to me:

• “What does power mean? Power means something different based on the context.” When Jesus spoke about power he spoke in relation to the Kingdom of God and Jesus spoke in the language of the Kingdom not in the language of man.”
• “What is the language of God? God speaks in God, not Hebrew or English; God speaks God. When spoke in God, man had no clue of what He was saying.”
• “We face a challenge in preaching because we are dirt talking to dirt about God.”
• “Jesus does not give us power to whack people; Jesus gives us power to serve people.”
• “The power of God is power to love, serve, give and die for the Kingdom.”

Many of the PCG family here joined for lunch at Zito’s Italian Restaurant. Robert Stearns, our dear PCG friend of Eagle’s Wings Ministries along with Jerry Dearman, pastor in Anaheim, California, Tom Bellatti, a theology professor at ORU and our new Swedish friends were our special guests. Professor Bellatti shared with the group how he heard Chaplain Lemuel Boyles present the PCG chaplain program and was so impressed with Chaplain Boyles that he wanted to know more about the PCG!

I missed the afternoon sessions due to my wife and daughter departing to St. Louis for the Girls’ Conference, but it was good to have some time together before they had to leave for this other ministry opportunity.

Five of our six PCG assistant generals are here enjoying the congress. Their personal reports will flow back to respective divisions and districts. Our MC students and staff have been blessed; hopefully they can share soon from their perspective. It is great to let our leaders, students and the PCG see the activity of the Holy Spirit around the world.

Tonight will be Holy Spirit-infused with Ron Luce, Lou Ingle and Jentezen Franklin as the keynote speakers.

And tomorrow... no early morning breakfast meetings(!).

In the first general session, Jack Hayford will speak on Empowering New Generations. Watch it online at www.empowered21.com starting at 9:00 AM CDT.

Notes and Thoughts from Empowered 21

By Charles Scott
This morning we attended the PCCNA meeting as a prelude to the Empowered 21 conference (which began tonight at 7:00 pm). Pentecostal/Charismatic leaders from around the world met at 7:00 am for early morning breakfast and fellowship at the First Watch Restaurant. It was great to connect again with a dear friend of the PCG, Bishop Jerry Macklin of the Church of God in Christ.

At 8:30 am we convened in the plenary session. Dr. Paul Leavenworth presented a case study on “Leadership Development.” Here are a few highlights:

• “The problem today is not a lack of leaders but undeveloped leaders.” Wayne Cordeiro
• Leaders emerge out of discipleship pools.
• Home-grown leaders ought to be raised up to fill needed positions in existing churches, church plants and missions.
• Establishing a leadership pool for both the future and for expansion requires intentional mentoring, sponsoring and coaching of younger, emerging leaders.

Here are some thoughts and questions from this section:

• What is a young leader?
• What is an emerging leader? How long does it take to “emerge?”
• When it time for a leader to dismount and make room for a new leader?

Discussions and opinions abound on these thoughts and questions, but the over-riding issue is the "how" of moving from theory to practical. The proverbial “When God says it is time” does not provide a model we can implement. This leaves us with a sour taste of more talk and less action, and it often comes down to the preference of the leader or those who vote in the leader.

What are your thoughts? How can we better raise and install leaders?

The small group discussion was a bit limiting due to lack of overall direction. Some progress was made in a couple of areas, namely the role of leaders with emerging leaders. Here are some highlights:

1. Intentional Identification – How are emerging leaders identified?
2. Intentional Embodiment – How are emerging leaders embodied in the organization?
3. Intentional Investing – How are we investing in emerging leaders?
4. Intentional Integrating – How are emerging leaders integrated in the process?
5. Intentional Interaction – How are systems of interaction with emerging leaders in place?

A highlight of lunch was an appearance by Ted and Gayle Haggard. Ted Haggard issued an apology to the PCCNA leadership for the shame, reproach and difficulty his actions brought to each member. He expressed that he has truly experienced grace and love from God, his wife, his children and the Body of Christ. It was a moving moment as Ted and Gayle expressed that marriage is for life, that God’s love never changes and that the blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin.

The afternoon session featured a presentation by Ron Luce. Ron challenged Pentecostal leaders to continue the fight for the next generation. He stressed the drop-out rate in the church and the imminent dangers facing this generation. We must be diligent to know the conditions of our flock, and youth are part of our flock! This is a great challenge and one that we are moving on in with partnership with Ron.

We will send you more notes from Empowered 21, along with the insight from Messenger College students, PCG leaders and pastors and the moving of the Holy Spirit.