| Impact the Nation Conference 2008 |
|
Meeting in the picturesque valleys of South Wales, ITN 08 exceeded organizers expectations. Trying to demonstrate the relationship between Prayer, the Prophetic and Social Action (Mission) is a slow and difficult road to navigate, yet biblically you see the three working seamlessly particularly in the early church experience as told in Acts. Over the last two years, the conference has successfully demonstrated, that it’s not enough to attend and simply seek to be blessed. With an emphasis on action after the event, previous years have seen eight churches being built in Chennai, India, mission trips to Uganda. The conference has encouraged and sponsored a speaker to publish a book and brought together a mind-boggling array of speakers covering a wide variety of topics. This year’s theme was ‘Let’s get the job done’. Trying to encourage, motivate and assist conference delegates in their own vision, twenty speakers delivered what everyone thought was the most impacting conference to date. With dynamic worship delivered by Godfrey Birtill, a worship group led by Tim Riley and a long standing worship leader to the conference Chris Ross, delegates gathered to attend daytime sessions and then open meetings were well attended to listen to the Key Note speakers, Dick Eastman and Lee Grady. The conference team was also a delight. Over fifty people giving of their time, energy and effort, nothing was too much to ask and often when requests did come, the staff went out of their way to help turn a small problem into a solution. The staff mainly comprised the members of Oasis Church in Blackwood, were both an asset to the conference as much as they must be an asset to their local church. New Venue The venue was moved this year to Blackwood, around fifteen miles north of Cardiff. This decision being taken to ensure as many people as possible could link into the event, at a low cost as possible. The venue which could easily hold four hundred delegates was excellent for the break out groups, catering and parking, being as convenient if you were from mid Wales, or Bristol. With reasonable train and airport links the rest of the UK was only a few hours away. One of the surprises of Impact the Nation was the fact the conference was free entry, you only had to register your details. The fact that even the offerings in the evening were low key was a testament to the commitment the organizers have to encouraging people to come and to support the delegates own missions and ministries. The conference forms a part of a National Prayer Strategy, which is being developed. The concept is simple; to mobilize prayer for every person, in every place, prayer for every issue in society, every moment of the day. As the strategy grows the conference will fill up with people totally committed to seeing this vision become a reality. Rounding Up All in all, to report on a conference that does what it seeks to do, and deliver more to delegates than it takes from them, is a refreshing change. The organizers certainly did all they could to help people get as much from the sessions and speakers as possible. The twenty two sessions that were delivered are also fairly unique, with sessions giving insight into the prayer needs of Westminster, Welsh Assembly, Scottish Assembly and Isle of Man seat of Government, along with other sessions on Mental Healthcare, Urban Intercession and women in ministry, the whole thing was summed up well by an enthusiastic delegate who said, the speakers were ‘world class’. In 2009 the conference is focusing on ‘Teamwork’, the organizers even brought a reminder to that by giving away very nice pocket diaries with Teamwork emblazoned on the front, and the dates for the next conference penciled in the 2009 calendar. ITN 2009 Next time, Prayer Magazine will be well represented at the event and fully supports the vision and heart behind the Endeavour. We would encourage you to join in. Mark the dates in your diary, and you’ll only have to get there and find accommodation, oh by the way the organizers have already listed all the best local hotels and guest houses on their website. Carl Brettle
|