Over 25,000 young adults attended ‘Onething’ –an annual worship and teaching conference sponsored by IHOP (International House of Prayer) at Kansas City Convention Center Dec. 28-31.

The conference attracted young people from all across America and from over 50 different countries including folks from as far away as South Korea, China, New Zealand, Europe and South America.

The purpose of the conference was to rise up and equip a new generation of Christian leaders that are dedicated to ‘Onething’ only- living and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world. Learning to love God and people with all their hearts.

In talking about the recent conference, Mike Bickle (IHOP-KC founder and director) said the following:

“We are in the early days of seeing sweeping changes that will confront the status quo in the church and in society. It is in these strategic moments that the disciples of Jesus will become the hinge of history, that pivotal point that determines which way the door will swing.”

“Right now we stand at a critical juncture in history. All across the earth, the Holy Spirit is visiting His people with power as He raises up a generation consumed with God’s zeal—zeal to see the fame of Jesus’ name go forth in the earth. Zeal to see revival in the church. Zeal to see justice established. Zeal to see a great harvest of souls.”

IHOP–KC is an evangelical missions organization based on 24/7 prayer with worship that sponsors a full-time school for training missionaries in Bible, music, and the media. IHOP is also heavily involved in evangelism, healing the sick, inner-city outreach, multiple justice initiatives, and planting houses of prayer. and training missionaries.

Here’s a link to Videos and podcasts of the recent 2010 Conference sessions.

Response: Preparation and participation in major international revival is the major theme and context of ‘Onething’ conferences. Our church sponsored a Onething conference on the West coast several years ago and I can tell you that it is an experience not to be missed if there is any way you can get to one- especially if you can get your young people to attend- it is a life changing event.

The conference in KC is the major one but others will be sponsored all across America this coming year. Check out the IHOP-KC website for the nearest one coming to your area.       *Top

I am attending the BlogWorld Expo in Las Vegas today (Fri. 10/15) A great time to meet new people, see old friends, find new programs and apps. and re-evaluate everything you are doing online. Its like on big ‘Time-out’.

The day started with a ‘key note’ discussion about how blogs and new media are affecting politics and particularly the mid-term election cycle we are currently in the midst of.

The speakers included Mark Penn, a former advisor to President Clinton and PM Tony Blair and Karen Hughes, a key advisor and Under Sec. of State for President George W. Bush. The panelists included two media folks, Hugh Hewett, the radio talk host and law professor plus Reid Wilson of the print media.

Interesting conversation and frustrating at the same time. Not enough feedback and questions from the conferees. All agreed that the Internet and new media had changed politics forever. Mark Penn and especially Karen Hughes seemed to be lamenting that it was nearly impossible to control the message in a political campaign now as compared to the days when there were only 3 major networks to worry about plus the AP and half a dozen major newspapers across the country.

The exhibition is always my favorite part of the conference. I always find something new that I can use. New apps, new programs, new equipment, new companies serving the blogging industry, and lots of new ways to sell stuff and monetize a blog or website.

I will spend the next couple of weeks sorting through all of the brochures and info sheets I picked up and somewhere in that huge bag of goodies is bound to be something that I can really use and not live without.

Plus I was there when the largest cup of coffee was made-2010 gallons- a new Guinness world record. Not only that but the coffee was actually very good indeed.

My only regret is that there isn’t any ‘Christian’ track at this conference. In the past, there were ‘GodBlog’ sessions sponsored by Biola University along with a booth and gathering area in the exhibition hall. I miss the camaraderie of fellow Christian bloggers this time around.

Last month a conference in Greytown, South Africa, drew 250,000 men or more over a weekend event. It was sponsored by Shalom Ministries which was started by a farmer- turned evangelist Angus Buchan. The theme for the conference

was centered around Ezekiel 3:17: 

"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me."

Numerous signs, wonders, and healing marked the meetings as Buchan challenged men to become godly leaders in their own homes and to change their lives.

Response: This is in direct response to the Holy Spirit moving in that nation. There are examples like this all over Africa. Lord let the fire fall here also and fill the stadiums with your power and glory all across America.            *Top

The significance of California in the beginning of number of major revivals and movements was cited and recalled as we looked forward to and prayed for God to move once more across this state and the entire country:

A 1890′s Holiness Movement, Azusa Street/Pentecostal Movement, Aimee Semple McPherson/Four Square Movement, Latter-Rain/Healing Movement, Bill Bright/Campus Crusade, Billy Graham/LA 1950, Jesus People Movement/Colleges/Calvary Chapel, John Wimber/Vineyard Movement…all had ties and beginnings in California.

During the last hour there was tremendous unction for revival prayer. Prophetic words were given over a call for light to spring forth from the darkness of San Francisco and Berkeley in particular.

The rebellion that typified my generation–the baby boomers, started in San Francisco in the 60′s with the Hippies and in Berkeley at the University of California.

There was a call for a new generation to rise up and reverse what happened in our American culture that started in the 60′s. A Call for revivals to spring up in San Francisco and in the California colleges and Universities, starting with Berkeley.

Interestingly, there were quite a few young folks there from the universities, probably 7-8,000 in attendance, including a student Christian group from Berkeley. The U. of California campus now has a majority student body of well disciplined Asian-American kids and lot’s of them are Christian. A real contrast to the 60′s.

The last 1/2 hour, there was a call for high school, college, and university students to dedicate themselves to God in a new more radical way, a call for prayer and fasting for revival on their campuses and in their cities.

From where I was siting, I could see the Holy Spirit blow through that group of 8-10,000 kids which was on the field standing in front of the stage–it was a sight to see–a real blessing and hope for the future.

There was a real response–followed by songs of rejoicing and celebration–which I will never forget, I’m still singing!

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According to the news reports, there were 33,000 at Qualcomm. Also, according to the paper, we were all bigoted anti-homosexuals there to spew out hate and to rant and rave for an entire day against same-sex marriage.

I guess that reporter phoned the story in without ever bothering to show up. If he did come, he must have been there between noon and 1 pm only when we were praying over Prop.8 on the California ballot—which would authorize marriage between a man and a woman only, and over-turn homosexual marriage in the state.

During that time we were joined by the Catholic Bishop of San Diego who had arranged for 1,500,000 Knights of Columbus who were committed to pray with us during that hour for California and Prop.8.

Those who showed up yesterday were an encouraging mixture of different kinds of churches and races.

The usual evangelical and Charismatic leaders were there taking turns leading us in prayer, including Dr. James Dobson and his wife Shirley.

The Black church was well represented in the stadium, with a number of pastors and worship leaders who lead us in prayer and some flat out wonderful/powerful worship music–including one group who did Christian Rap–the 10,000 or so kids on the field went crazy.

Also, there were tons of Latino Christians there –at least once an hour or so a Latino pastor would lead prayer in Spanish, also some of the worship music was in Spanish and along with some bi-lingual songs.

Everywhere I looked there were Asian Christians, Korean and Chinese pastors also lead in prayer along with a number of Asian worship leaders. A huge number of Asian kids were among the 10,000 or so down on the field.

Well that is an account of the sights and sounds, GodTV covered the event live and is planning on running replays so you might be able to catch some of it.

I found the day to be invigorating for my faith and encouraging for the future of the church in California. Stay tune, there is more–and it’s revival related!             *Top 

CAN A NATION BE CHANGED IN ONE DAY?

  THE CALL is in progress today in Washington DC.  Right now, Lou Engle is leading thousands in prayer and intercession for the nation and for revival. Here’s their website for info. The conference is live on GodTV (DIRECTV 365) and also on online @ GOD.TV.

"…but the reality is we don’t have praying churches that are longing for revival. If there’s not prayer and brokenness in revival, our churches are not going to do a better job of evangelism because carnal people don’t have a burden for lost people."  …

"The Pastors’ Conference needs to be for guys who are rolling into town on four flat tires, ready to resign. I’m praying that God so moves in that room that it’s no longer about where are we going to eat but it really stirs the hearts of every man and woman in that room toward doing something different for God. What would happen if 5,000 pastors — who influence between 2.5 and 3 million people each week — got desperate before God and walked into their pulpits different men the next Sunday?"

Response: Pray for the SBC Baptist pastors. I really do believe that God wants to bring revival to that denomination and touch the millions in their churches in a fresh way.            *Top

• "You’ve exited your calling when you seek to please people."

• "The overriding power of a church is in simplicity."

• "I am committed to still believing that we don’t have to acquiesce or surrender the power of God in order to win a generation. If we’re going to win the Muslim world, if we’re going to win America over, we need to demonstrate the power of God.

• "Moves of God and revivals themselves are not the endgame; the kingdom of God is the endgame."

Response: It is good to see some of our Pentecostal/Charismatic leaders dealing with some of the issues that have plagued the American church in this generation. Follow the link and read all of the quotes. Also read this article written by Steve Murrell who attended the meetings.             *Top

Since then, we sent out a team to minister with Randy Clark at a conference in Brazil, and right now there is another team of youth ministering for several weeks in Mozambique with Rolland and Heidi Baker. Can’t wait to hear their reports.

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