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CONVENTION 2005
Convention 2005: Chicago
Thursday, June 2, 2005
The final day of Foursquare
Convention 2005 began with a concerted time of prayer for breakthrough
and victory in pastors' lives, churches and cities. Several prophetic
words also were shared, one by respected spiritual leader Leslie Keegel
declaring that this is a day of new beginnings and that there will be a
release of the miraculous through The Foursquare Church.
Next
was the day's first plenary session at 9:00 a.m. with speaker Al Soto,
senior pastor of Generations Foursquare Church in San Jose, Calif., and
district supervisor of the South Bay Area District.
Ken
Medema opened the service in jubilant and worshipful song. General
Supervisor Glenn C. Burris Jr. then introduced Foursquare Pastor David
Catron, who served on the convention's local host committee; Pastor
Catron introduced Al Soto.
Pastor Soto spoke on the
subject, "Come Holy Spirit: Spirit of Hope." He discussed how if we are
going to have hope, we have to come to the place of brokenness, in
which we will allow the barriers in our lives to be brought down. "A
life broken releases a 'fragrance' that empowers others," he said.
In
an emotionally moving message, sharing from 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, he
talked very openly about difficult experiences in his own life and how
he came to hope and wholeness. "What in us are we willing to be emptied
of that would try to crush our hope?" he asked.
He detailed
five "pillars" for operating in hope: Don't forget your small
beginnings (don't forget where you came from); embrace a lifestyle of
repentance; be cut by the Word yourself (spending time in the Word and
responding to it); be open to correction; and live in real community.
The
service ended in prayer to live life in integrity, prioritizing one's
relationship with God and family. Ken Medema closed the service in a
prayerful song.
During the remainder of the day, convention
delegates browsed the exhibit hall, hung out at the Advance Caf? and
enjoyed the surrounding sights of downtown Chicago. The convention's
second business session also was held in the afternoon.
The
evening service at 6:30 p.m.--the convention's closing plenary
session--began with a greeting by Jack Hayford, who noted that "we have
a lot of reasons to say, 'To God Be the Glory!'" Tommy Walker and the
Christian Assembly Worship band then led the convention delegates in an
upbeat rendition of the hymn as praise and worship commenced.
A
highlight of the worship time was the powerful song "Worthy Is the
Lamb," after which the crowd broke out in praise and applause. This was
followed by everyone present kneeling at their chairs, as at an altar,
to worship with the words, "Holy, Holy, Holy... " Pastor Jack led in
prayer, and everyone sang again "Worthy Is the Lamb." A prophetic word
was also shared to pray over the marriages of the pastoral couples
present.
After a brief time of greeting one another, a
special video presentation of the highlights of the week's convention
activities was shown. This video may also be seen by clicking on the
Web link at the end of this article.
The local host
committee and all of those involved with the logistical work behind the
convention were then thanked and honored with a heartfelt applause.
A
video with Mike Larkin and Kurt Fuller highlighting the ministry of
Foursquare Youth Outreach and WorldBase as well as the many ministry
opportunities available was then shown.
Mike Larkin,
director of Foursquare Missions International, presented to the
convention body the missionaries being deployed to the field. Pastor
Jack led in prayer as hands were laid on and extended toward these
faithful ministers of the gospel.
Mike Larkin also
announced the exciting--and historical--news that The Pentecostal Church
of Indonesia--comprising 11,000 churches--has officially joined The
Foursquare Church. The leaders of this movement came to the platform
and were warmly welcomed by the convention body, who broke out in
applause. Gifts symbolizing this partnership were exchanged, and the
convention body, as a matter of official business, accepted the motion
approving the union.
A video highlighting Foursquare's
national children's education ministry was then shown, featuring Rod
Light, national minister of children's education, Jack Hayford, Glenn
C. Burris Jr., and well-known youth ministry leader Gregg Johnson.
Glenn
C. Burris Jr. introduced Rod Light, who shared more about the vision
for Foursquare's ministry to children and the exciting new things that
are happening to facilitate it. Leaders are coming together more than
ever before to reach our nation's children. Rev. Burris also introduced
Gregg Johnson, well-known as a former national youth minister for
Foursquare as well as for his current tween-focused J12 ministry, who
is partnering with Foursquare in its vision to reach children.
Those
delegates who work in children's ministry then stood as the crowd
honored them with applause. Jim Scott led in prayer over these
ministers as hands were laid on them by convention attendees standing
near them.
Ken Medema ministered in song, after which the evening's keynote speaker was introduced by Pastor Jack.
Ted
Haggard, senior pastor of the 11,000-member New Life Church in
Colorado Springs, Colo., and president of the 30-million member
National Association of Evangelicals, addressed the convention body.
Sharing in part from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 12, he spoke on the
importance of discerning the times, and the incredible privilege of
sharing the gospel in this generation. He also noted the high privilege
and joy in being a pastor.
"There are three questions you
and I need to be able to answer correctly in order for us to live our
lives well," he declared. "They are: (1) Where are we in time? (2) What
is God doing in our generation? and (3) What is our role in what God is
doing in our generation?"
He developed further the thought
that this is a "Sovereignly prepared generation," and that we have
opportunities now to advance the cause of Christ in an unprecedented
way. He detailed the great things happening in and through the body of
Christ today-things that prior generations could never have dreamed of.
"This is your generation," he challenged the pastors
present. "Take advantage of this moment in your movement. Stand up
strong... and say, 'I have received my marching orders, and I know
what to do with the rest of my life. Devil, get out of my way, I'm
marching through!'"
The delegates then stood as he led in
an empowering commissioning prayer declaring victory and a release of
the anointing of the Holy Spirit on the pastors and their ministries.
The
service, officially marking the close of Foursquare Convention 2005,
ended as Pastor Jack Hayford led the convention body in boldly
declaring the evening's theme, "Come Holy Spirit: Spirit of Faith!" In
unity, all of those gathered made a prophetic declaration and, after a
bold outburst of praise, the session closed with singing "All Hail the
Power of Jesus' Name."