I have just completed preaching a missions conference at Covenant Community Church in Scottsdale, Arizona. I was so impressed by a congregation giving away more than 17% of their operating budget to missions, plus they give faith promise giving. Is it because they have such a missions heart in this congregation that they are also a people of such rich prayer? One of the highlights of the time for me was the time when the missionaries (and they included me) sat down, and groups of prayer teams wandered from missionary to missionary praying over them. As soft piano music played in the background, we were finally drawn from prayer conventicles all over the sanctuary, to the front, near the chancel, and held hands and sang a hymn to the glory of Jesus. I have preached many mission conferences and hosted many more as a pastor, but I have rarely been to such an extraordinary conference. I commend the pastor, Reverend Billy Barnes and his wife Anita, and Eric and the fine group of people who made this such a wonderful time. Christ was honored. God’s redemptive purposes on earth were pronounced and advanced. One congregation. One vision. One passion.
Thank you for demonstrating what a missions focused congregation looks like. And thank you for a missions conference to remember.