2008 House 2 Harvest Conference

This last weekend I was at the House 2 Harvest National House Church Conference.  Here was the lineup of main speakers:

Dennis Balcombe - Missionary extraordinaire to the Chinese House Church movement.

Tony and Felicity Dale - Authors of "An Army of Ordinary People", "Simply Church" and other books. Part of the group that founded House2House.

Wolfgang Simson - Author of "Houses That Change The World" and "The Starfish Manifesto".

Frank Viola - Author (with George Barna) of "Pagan Christianity" and many other books.

Paul Young - Author of "The Shack", which has taken the Christian world by storm over the past year.

I was honored to be able to share on gospel poverty on Saturday Night along with David Underwood who shared on the blessings of God in giving.  Ali Eastburn of With This Ring shared on radical giving the night before.  Click on the link I provided to help her dig water wells in Africa.

Here are my very undeveloped thoughts and gleanings from the conference:

1.  Our movement is growing up.  We talked about financial giving.  This has been a taboo subject for so many years.  This year it came more fully to the forefront.  The release of women from spiritual bondage to fulfill their ministry callings was powerfully addressed by Paul Young.  There was a greater focus on the Kingdom vs. house church.  Some great teaching on the Kingdom came from Wolfgang and Felicity.  There was discussion and a connection made between mega churches/ministries and simple expressions coming together for Kingdom expansion.

2.  The ministries and gifts of the Holy Spirit were not shied away from. There was discussion and talk about speaking in tongues, prophecy, discerning of spirits, and signs and wonders.  These were healthy and balanced for the most part and desperately needing to be addressed.  Saturday night we had an exercise in prophesying to one another.  It was very edifying.

3.  The unity and diversity of the Church was beautifully pictured.  There were people from Germany, Finland, Africa, Barbados, and India.  There were mega church leaders and simple church leaders.  There were young and old, rich and poor, as well as marketplace and church ministers.  About 450 people following the pulse and rhythms of the Spirit as He flowed throughout the weekend!

4.  Our COAH team was there, minus John, and received some direction for our regional network.  Some of our second generation leaders were there as well:  Tricia, Michael and Ann, and Richard and Jennie.  What a joy to have them there to hear the Lord along with our equipping team.

5.  Hearing the voice of God and obeying was a constant theme.  Intimacy with Jesus was stressed as a major part of hearing the Spirit and obeying His promptings.

I continue to be amazed how the Father is continuing to do such creative and powerful ministry through ordinary Christians who surrender to His ways and will.  May our tribe increase!!!