In part one of President John Stumbo’s report to Council, he emphasized how the C&MA seeks to Love, Proclaim, Reach, and Launch. Throughout the report, Aaron Shust and David and Ty King led Council attendees in times of worship and prayer.
Multiple testimonies and updates from the Alliance family demonstrated how C&MA churches, workers, and laypeople are finding creative ways to live out the four priorities.
Spencer Sweeting of City Alliance Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, talked about planting a church “in the heart of our city for the good of our city.”
Matt Cohen of Citylight Church of the C&MA in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, spoke how they released 40 people from their congregation to help plant Citylight Center City.
The C&MA president of two Middle Eastern countries reported, “We still need your prayers. . . . We don’t see a sweeping revival, but we thank God that divine light is coming through.”
Soeuth and Syna Lao, international workers in Cambodia, shared that in the past 13 years, they’ve been part of planting eight Alliance churches in Poipet and raising up 27 church leaders.
Jessica S., who serves as a nurse in West Africa, shared the testimony of a woman who found Christ while fighting cancer.
A marketplace ministries couple in a creative-access country said they’ve seen their local international church grow from 150 people to 400 in six months.
Envision now has 22 sites and nearly 70 staff members, according to Tim Meier, director for Envision.
The new president of The Alliance World Fellowship (AWF), Jura Yanagihara, reported there are now 50 member countries in AWF.
Evening Service
“Friends, without the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing. That’s the heart of the C&MA,” he said.
In John 7:37–39 Jesus shouted, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.” But before asking to be filled, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to empty us. “What needs to die tonight?” David asked. “Secrets are killing our leaders. Secrets lead to shame, and shame erodes our authority.”
Next, to become deeper in Jesus, we must get rid of bitterness. “Sometimes when we bend down to wash someone’s feet, they kick us in the face,” David said.
Sharing the story of a man who had kept a binder of past hurtful conversations, David asked, “Do you have any binders? How about the one upstairs that nobody knows about? Burn it! It’s time.”
In closing, David invited the audience to come forward and be baptized in the Holy Spirit or to ask for more of the Spirit. “This is the one time you get to be greedy in your Christian life,” he said.
As men and women came forward and began to kneel in the aisles, the Grace Church Worship Team led in singing “Oceans” by Hillsong United. Opportunity was also given to be anointed with oil and prayed over for healing.
“Linger in worship; seek the Lord; wait on the Lord,” President John Stumbo said. “The Spirit of God whispers to our hearts. Enter into whatever He’s saying.”
The Day in Pictures
Seen and Heard
“May there be new songs released from us today.” —Ty King, prayer host at Alliance Council 2017
“I have no interest in being part of an ‘Acts 1:8 family.’ If I don’t keep coming back to Jesus, I don’t care about the world after a while, ugly things start arising within me.” —John Stumbo, U.S. C&MA president, speaking to the importance of the C&MA being Christ-centered first and foremost
“God is cracking up the darkness and light is breaking through.” —Edward Awabdeh, C&MA president in the Middle East
“We have to be an advocate for those who have no access [to the gospel]. We have a 130-year call upon our lives that we are not walking away from because the job is not done. . . . Alliance family, let’s stay faithful to this task of taking the gospel to the least-reached peoples of the world.” —John Stumbo
“This is how you always come to Me—empty-handed.” —Aaron Shust, Christian music artist, speaking of a time God carried him
Extras
Following are additional items to remind you of today’s session.