Mission Conference 2011
What an amazing Missions Conference we have experienced in 2011! Brother Hodge from Lake Isabella kicked the conference off to a great start with his message on breaking out of the common prison. Pictured here is Tyler with that great big smile. He's been attending services in Lake Isabella for a few weeks now with his family, and was the third in his family to break out of that common prison and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Brother Hornsby, a missionary to Brazil, prayed persistently with Tyler until he received the Holy Ghost and is seen laying hands on him. Tyler had never received the Holy Ghost previous to this service, but when that fire fell on his tongue, he immediately stopped praying and said to the crowd around him, "Whoa, what was that?" The crowd of people couldn't help but laugh and rejoice with him.
Brother Keith Nix, missionary to Peru, preached the Missions service on Friday night and what a message it was! The night got off to a great start with a surprise song, "Hay Victoria, Hay Victoria", and you probably have the rest memorized, however, it was a great way to lead into the preaching. Be a light, look for that one person that needs a miracle that needs Jesus, was the theme of his message. Since, we had no pictures of him preaching during this conference, here is a glimpse of the church and its congregation in Iquitos, Peru. Every man that you see with a white shirt is a preacher and their wives are there with them. Quite a fleet of preachers eh? Brother Keith Nix and his father are at the bottom left.
What would a Missions Conference be without some good around the world grubbing? Well, we all know and love this special event that was put on by a multitude a people volunteering for booths that catered a particular type of food. There was Barbeque, classic Mexican food, Hawaiian, German, and the Pickle Tongue one, the name of the booth escapes me. Oh, I believe that one with pickle tongue is Basque (Correct me if I'm wrong). There were many others that were also represented this year, but all in all, the food was exceptional. Brother Tovar was quite the star chef, cooking up some fine meats from Tovar's Classic BBQ, the line just wouldn't end! This first picture gives quite a nice view of the world. Mexico is toward your Northwest; Hawaii can be found straight up North.
Sister Mellisa Pettis and Brother Shawn along with their volunteers did a great job with their Hawaiian booth. Wow, what a presentation! Hawaii, definitely came to Bako in high gear. Great job on the presentation guys!
The Around the World Dinner was a great time to relax and learn from others about missions taking place across the globe. Thanks to all of this year's volunteers!
Sunday morning we were back at the plow learning about the work in Russia from Brother Traylor. His testimony is powerful and seemed to affect all of us. He came from a background full of drugs and alcohol, but God gave him grace as he does for us all. "God does not care about your past, he cares about your future" is a resonating statement that Brother Traylor emphasized following his testimony. And right in the big middle of his preaching the Holy Ghost fell like fire upon all of us. Many, felt the waters of refreshment that came from this alter call. It was simply amazing.
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| Sister Terrie Cox is making the best decision of her life. Baptism. Let the Journey Begin.. |
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| Brother Mark feeling the power of the Holy Ghost. |
Then Sunday night came around. This night was special. Many can testify of the great anointing and power that filled the Sanctuary. The worship was deep and from the heart, and God poured out of his Spirit in return. The first altar call was during praise and worship. Then Brother Miles Young came and give his spiel for the offering.
The "Century Shovels" could be a fitting title for his offering spiel. However, he testified to how Brother Franco Platania told him four weeks ago that he was going to take up a $100,000 offering in faith, to help with some funds in the church. At first Brother Young lacked the faith that it could actually happen, then Brother Platania began to do what he does best: object lessons, or in this case an object commitment. Men in the church secretly volunteered to bring out 100 shovels and set them on the platform. Brother Platania then said, if its in your heart to do so, I'd like you to take a shovel, representing $1,000 to help with missions. I can hear him now "Come on, don't be shy", with his smooth Italian accent. Brother Young used this testimony to build up our faith in turn, and he did much more than build it up, he decked it out. By the end of the offering, the amounts that everyone pledged to give totaled to $120,000! God is so good!
We never did get to preaching that night. Everyone was too excited and had a shout-down after the offering was taken up. The Mass choir then came up to sing, and when they hit the verse "Shout unto God with a voice of triumph, Shout unto God with a voice of praise" The place just blew up. Here's a picture of Brother Young singing a special song at the end of the night. God's anointing was all over him when he sang this song too!
Missions Conference 2011 was a tremendous success. Great preaching, tremendous faith, changed hearts, a colossal offering and the mission for us to do one simple task.
GO.
