Henry Blackaby will be the featured speaker at a Returning to God Conference Sept. 5-6 at Moore, First.
“I believe this conference will be different, more powerful and more urgent than any before,” said Greg Frizzell, Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma spiritual awakening specialist.
Highlighting the conference will be three plenary sessions led by Blackaby, special sessions with pastors, staff and church leaders and bivocational pastors and staff, plus breakout sessions on prayer, evangelism and revival.
Following the plenary sessions will be time for significant, guided prayer.
Frizzell said with a crucial election, troubled economy and escalating moral decay, it is hard to miss the critical need for heaven-sent revival.
“In fact, it is historically accurate to say America has never been more desperate for a return to God,” Frizzell noted.
Frizzell pointed out that this conference is different in that there is only one plenary speaker for all general sessions.
“As perhaps no one in our generation, Blackaby is a God-appointed messenger concerning revival,” he said. “In recent months, God has given Blackaby fresh, timely words for Christ’s church. The conference will certainly be unique in its dynamic word, but also in devoting significant time to powerful united prayer. If ever there was a time for believers to unite in fervent prayer and repentance, that time is now.”
Frizzell revealed that the conference will also be unique in the number of workshops focused on bringing greater prayer into all areas of life and ministry.
“Participants will have their choice of special sessions for greater praying in evangelism, Sunday School, leadership, women’s ministries, ethnic outreach, conducting powerful corporate prayer and dynamic solemn assemblies and dynamic family prayer.”
Breakout sessions will include “PowerUp Your World Through Sunday School and Prayer,” led by Bob Mayfield, BGCO Sunday School and discipleship specialist; “Power and Renewal for Christian Leaders,” led by Scott Phillips, BGCO Church and Family Equipping team leader; “The Role of Prayer in Reaching Our Ethnic Communities,” led by Jesus Pacheco, BGCO ethnic evangelism strategist; “Prayer and Evangelism, a Powerful Combination in Reaching Our World,” led by Alan Quigley, BGCO evangelism group leader; “The Power of a Praying Woman in Ministry and Daily Life,” led by Kelly King, BGCO women’s missions and ministries specialist; and “Leading Powerful Church Prayer Meetings and Solemn Assemblies” and “Experiencing Powerful, Personal and Family Prayer,” both led by Frizzell.
Worship for the meeting will be led by Keith Haygood, minister of music at Edmond, First.
Child care will be provided for children through the 6th grade. To register, call Stefanie Wall at 405/793-2646 or e-mail deanna.field@fbcmore.org.
Frizzell said interest in the conference is building, and his office is getting inquiries from several states.
“Many churches are bringing groups, and others are sending key church leaders,” he said. “Because there could be space limitations, Oklahoma churches are especially encouraged to request child care as quickly as possible. Estimates of numbers attending would also be helpful for planning the amount of printed material.”
Conference sessions will begin at 1 p.m. Friday, with the time for pastors, staff and church leaders concluding at 3 p.m., and the first breakout sessions starting at 3:15. Friday evening’s session will be from 6:30-9 p.m., and the Saturday morning session will begin at 8:30 and conclude at 12:30 p.m.
“It is hard to imagine a “Returning to God” conference occurring at a more strategic moment in time,” said Frizzell. “If ever believers needed a return to God in fervent prayer, that time is now.”
For full conference information, registration or child care, contact the BGCO office of prayer at 405/942-3000, ext. 4517 or register online and download the conference brochure at www.bgco.org/5072.
