Over a hundred gathered for this year’s ‘Connected’ leadership conference at Dewsbury Evangelical Church, drawing in (mostly) men from the North of England.
In a period of profound changes in our culture, the theme of this year’s conference was ‘Things we dare not forget’. John Benton was the main speaker, giving two papers and sharing an afternoon Q & A platform with Luke Jenner (Pastor, Grace Baptist Church Halifax). There was also an informative and encouraging church reports session with six ‘messengers’ from across the footprint of the conference.
In his first message, John focussed on the great need for the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in the church. In Acts, we see that the sovereign Spirit is the initiator of mission. The church runs to keep up with what the Lord is doing. In contrast, the modern church often seems to make plans and then prays for the Spirit to bless them. There is a great need for the church to wait upon God - in urgent prayer - for the Spirit.
