The be.loved Conference

This past weekend, we hosted our first be.loved Conference.  It was amazing.  What progressed throughout the weekend was honestly stunning to watch.  But let me start even earlier.

The leadership team of the be.loved Conference is truly that.  Leaders leading.  They each took charge of an area of need and were incredibly successful in accomplishing everything they set out to do.  I heard over and over throughout the weekend, “I can’t believe this is the first time you guys have hosted an event this size.” Or, “Everything has run so smoothly this weekend!”  The longer the weekend progressed, the more awestruck I became with the leadership team.  It was an opportunity to watch the family of God do what they were made to do.  From setup, to crowd control, to worship, to tear-down the weekend was spectacular, though not without hurdles…

Friday night started out with less people in the crowd than we anticipated.  Not only that, but it didn’t seem like too many of the attendees actually wanted to be there!  Not exactly what we’d hoped for for an opening session.  I actually overheard a worship leader mention that it was the toughest crowd he’d ever been in front of, and that he was pretty sure someone leaning on the stage was twiddling his thumbs!  What a way to start the conference!  But the Lord would not be denied.  What started out with little engagement, soon began to develop into what we had hoped:  Jesus encountering people and transforming their hearts.  By the end of the night Friday, many people, young and old, had been prayed for and ministered to by the be.loved Prayer Team.  We left Lakeview Arena Friday night encouraged by the work the Spirit was doing.

Saturday started off strong as Heather and Trevor led worship and Adam Tuttle shared from the Word about God’s love for His beloved Bride.  Many who started the night Friday without much interest were being tenderized by the love of God.  As the day progressed Saturday, we could feel and see the momentum of the Spirit of God.  More and more people were allowing God to do a deep work in them, and were being marked by God to become His disciples, His followers, His beloved.

By the end of the night Saturday, those who were twiddling their thumbs on stage in disinterest Friday night, found themselves almost involuntarily dancing with delight as they encountered the Living God for themselves.  You can see the pictures on Facebook under the FireUP be.loved page just to see that I’m not exaggerating.  There were literally between 75 and 100 people dancing before the Lord in front of the stage as the conference ended.  This wasn’t an overly charismatic group performing a learned response, it was young people and old people who had encountered God for the very first time, and some who were encountering Jesus again and renewing their love for Him.  It was amazing.  There was such an incredible change in 28 hours, it couldn’t be credited to anything but the power of Christ Jesus.

We’ve heard many stories of changed lives, and transformed hearts in the past three days.  Maybe you have a story to tell.  Share it on the Facebook page, or through email at: fireup@mqtchurch.com.  We are so incredibly grateful that Jesus met us this weekend.

Planning for next year’s event is already under way.  We’ll be starting our Encounter services throughout the region in December of this year.  Keep an eye on the website and the Facebook page to stay up to date, and stay updated on the School of Life and Ministry website (www.mqtchurch.com/slm) to continue to be challenged and encouraged in your relationship with God as the year progresses.

Thanks for praying with us this year, and we’re looking forward to the next years together with you.

 

One month to go!

We are now just under one month from FireUP be.loved 2011, and our amazing leadership team is in full stride preparing for your arrival.  Registrations are climbing, food vendors are readying their menus, worship teams are excited, and most importantly, prayer for this event is hitting a climax.  To help us out, you can jump online to register yourself and your group so we can ensure we’re prepared for your arrival.  Having your registration allows us to make sure we have enough seating, make sure the vendors have enough food, and connect you with a host church if you have need.

Business aside, I want to share for a few minutes about some of the things you will experience this year during FireUP be.loved.

Worship is our highest calling, we will be enthralled with it throughout eternity, and we want to do on earth what we’ll be doing in heaven, so worship will be a major focus during FireUP, and will be very intense.  Each session will include a couple hours of worship.  It is often while you’re worshiping that God will be gently speaking and probing your heart.  I want to encourage you to allow Him to deal with sin, wounds from your past, loneliness, disappointments.  Often, He will also speak to you about His love for you, who you are to Him, and His hopes, dreams, and future for your life.  Let Him have His way in you during worship.

The Word is also eternal, and unending.  You will hear preaching that is both Biblical, and applicable to what is on God’s heart for this event.  The Word of God is alive, it is active, and it pierces to the depths of one’s heart.  God speaks to each of us individually as we listen to His spoken Word.  And if we are willing to respond to what He is saying, His Word will bear fruit in us.

Respond.  Jesus repeatedly attached amazing promises to phrases like, “if you abide in my word.” Or, “If you obey my commands.”  Phrases in which he required a response to His Word.  And if we respond, He promised great reward.  Abundance of life, freedom from sin, joy, love, peace, hope.  All of these were promised us if we respond in obedience to His Word.  As God speaks to your heart during the conference, be sure to respond.  Many times, I have witnessed life-changing moments because a person simply responded to God’s Word that was spoken to their hearts.  I have seen men instantly set free of lifelong sexual sin, simply because they let someone pray for them.  We have a well trained and loving prayer team.  I know each person on that team would love to serve you by praying for your needs, whatever they might be.

I believe God will move powerfully at FireUP be.loved.  This week we had an incredible prayer meeting in which we were encouraged greatly by the Lord.  My hope is that each of you will receive everything He desires for you during this upcoming weekend.  Come expecting.  Come anticipating.  See you in four weeks!