What a tremendous and unforgettable time we enjoyed together at this year’s TICCN Conference! We give thanks to God for the wonderful fellowship, the richness of His Word, and above all, the extraordinary sense of His presence among us.
Our conference began on Wednesday evening with a wonderful barbecue, bringing ministers together for a time of friendship, fellowship and encouragement. We then gathered around the Scriptures, particularly Matthew 25 and the parable of the ten virgins. Five were wise, but five were foolish, and the solemn words of Jesus to those who were unprepared, “I do not know you,” became one of the central themes of our conference.
We considered what it really means to believe in Jesus Christ. Not simply to acknowledge Him, but to follow Him, to listen to His words and to live according to His teaching. We explored some of the opposites of genuine belief: disregard, misunderstanding and neglect. We were reminded that true faith cannot be separated from our response to the words of Jesus. If we truly believe Him, we must take seriously what He says and we must be students of His word!
Throughout Thursday and Friday, we enjoyed wonderful sessions of teaching, discussion, prayer and fellowship. But beyond everything we learned, there was something particularly precious about the presence of God among us. I believe those who were present will treasure these moments for many years to come.
One moment that will remain especially vivid in my memory occurred on Friday afternoon as we gathered in prayer. As we prayed together, glorious sunlight suddenly poured into the room. It was almost as though the light was more than natural sunlight, as though the very light of God’s presence was shining among us. The room seemed filled with warmth, brightness and holiness. Spontaneously, we began to worship, to pray and to sing together. There was such a beautiful unity among us, such a sweetness of fellowship and such a wonderful awareness of the Lord’s presence. It was one of those precious occasions when words seem inadequate to express what we experienced.
Friday evening brought the conference to a wonderful culmination with our celebration and ordination service. We enjoyed uplifting worship and heard deeply moving testimonies of the work God is accomplishing through TICCN. It was thrilling to hear from Archbishop Doyle Volentine via a warm and encouraging video message. We also heard from our Bishops and Pastors around the world through video messages, to learn about ministries being established and ministers being trained, and to celebrate the remarkable doors God continues to open.
We were reminded that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. For the poor and the disadvantaged, for those who are suffering, for those who feel forgotten or disenfranchised, but equally for people in every sphere and every stratum of society. There is no one beyond the love and reach of Jesus Christ, and what a privilege it is that God has opened doors for us to minister to so many.
Of course, one of the great joys of the evening was the ordination of four wonderful people. It was a particular delight for me to ordain Louise and Agnes from Living Faith Church, two faithful servants of God who have given so many years of dedicated and loving service to the work of the Kingdom. It was equally wonderful to ordain Stephen from Church on the Street in Burnley, and to hear something of his remarkable journey of faith and service.
We also celebrated the ordination of MK, our new minister based in London, whose story made the evening especially moving. MK and his wife, who are originally from Nigeria, had been deeply touched by the Lord during our time together that afternoon. I had the privilege of speaking with MK about the great Nigerian Archbishop Benson Idahosa, a spiritual father whose ministry had profoundly influenced his own journey of faith. MK shared a remarkable dream in which he had seen himself standing upon the shoulders of Benson Idahosa. Earlier that afternoon, in my home, I had the extraordinary privilege of anointing MK and placing upon his head the actual walking stick of Archbishop Benson Idahosa.
It was an incredibly moving and deeply personal moment. As we prayed and shared together, there was a wonderful sense of spiritual continuity, of one generation encouraging and strengthening another. We even had that lovely sense that Archbishop Idahosa himself was smiling down upon us, rejoicing in what God was doing. It was a precious afternoon, followed by an equally precious evening.
As I reflect upon the conference, I am filled with gratitude. Gratitude for the wonderful ministers and friends who gathered with us, for the lives being changed through our network, for the fellowship we share, and for the glorious privilege of serving our Lord Jesus Christ. But above all, I am thankful for the presence of God. Conferences come and go, services begin and end, but those sacred moments when the Lord ministers so personally and powerfully to His people remain with us.
May we always be among those wise servants who have oil in their lamps, who are ready for the Master’s coming, and whose lives demonstrate that we truly believe the One whom we call Lord.
To God be all the glory for what He has done, for what He is doing, and for all that is yet to come.
Thank You, Jesus, our wonderful Lord and Saviour. Amen.