Cleveland, TN. – The Empowered21 USA Cabinet comprised of numerous Spirit-empowered leaders recently met in Virginia Beach, Virginia at The Founders Inn to discuss issues concerning the Spirit-empowered Church and plans for Converge21. The Converge21 Summit will be a unique meeting inviting 400 Spirit-empowered Leaders, 400 Scholars, and 400 Next Generation Voices. Converge21 will be held in conjunction with the Society for Pentecostal Studies February 29 – March 3, 2012 on the campus of Regent University and Founders Inn.
Converge21 is one of the significant initiatives of Empowered21, which is includes a Global Council and eleven regional leadership teams or cabinets around the world. The first-ever Empowered21 Asian Congress has just been completed in Jakarta, Indonesia with over 14,000 people attending from 49 different nations. Converge21 will provide a platform to discuss current issues specifically related to the church in the United States and examine steps that a more unified Spirit-empowered movement can take to address those concerns. Another key topic of importance will be answering the cry of new generations for spiritual fathers and mothers.
Alton Garrison, Assistant General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God serves as Co-chair of the Empowered21 USA Cabinet with Billy Wilson, Director for the International Center For Spiritual Renewal. Wilson announced Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas has been confirmed as the opening night keynote speaker at Converge21. Wilson stated, “We believe Pastor Morris will deliver a timely message on the opening evening of Converge21 to the leaders, scholars and next gen voices from across the country, who represent numerous Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. If we are able to harness the collective influence of the leaders, scholars, and next generation voices in attendance at Converge21, the ripple effects across the Spirit-empowered movement in the United States could be the beginnings of a sustainable national renewal movement.”
Additional speakers and presenters include inspired leaders such as: Sammy Rodriguez (National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference), James Robison (LIFE Outreach International), Nick Hall (Pulse Movement), Gordon Robertson (Christian Broadcasting Network), Sharon Daugherty (Victory Christian Center), Tim Ross (Tim Ross Ministries), Wayne Hilsden (King of Kings Community Jerusalem), Paul Alexander (Eastern University), Craig Dunnagan (Integrity Media), David Edwards (Regent University), Doug Stringer (Turning Point Ministries International), Jay Mooney (Assemblies of God), Dave Donaldson (Convoy of Hope), David Ferguson (Intimate Life Ministries), Ron Carpenter Sr.( International Pentecostal Holiness Church), Ossie Mills, Wellington Boone (Wellington Boone Ministries), Mark Williams (Church of God), Clifton Clarke (Regent University), Reggie Witherspoon (Mount Calvary Christian Center), Michael Little (Christian Broadcasting Network), Jesse Miranda (Jesse Miranda Center for Hispanic Leadership), Jackie and Cheryl Johns (Pentecostal Theological Seminary), Ricardo Sanchez (Integrity Music), Cindy Jacobs (General International), George Wood (Assemblies of God), and Vinson Synan (Regent University).
A wide selection of learning track sessions will be provided for those attending. The cooperative effort of Empowered21 and the Society of Pentecostal Studies will allow Converge21 participants to attend learning sessions in fields related to their interest or ministry, but also attend scholarly presentations throughout the week by influential scholars in the Spirit-empowered Church.
On Friday evening, March 2, 2012 the Converge21 gathering will change venues for a special commissioning service and time of worship. Bishop Anne Gimenez, Pastor of Rock Church, has opened their church facility for the service. Concerning her involvement with the Empowered21 USA Cabinet and Converge21 Gimenez stated, “Early believers so treasured the scriptures, that they hid scrolls in the Qumran caves to preserve them for coming generations. In the same spirit, Converge21 is imparting Truth to the next generation of leaders, that the revelation of the empowered life of the Holy Spirit might continue on and never drop to the ground.” Area churches are encouraged to attend this open to the public event. Modern day renewalist are expressing excitement about the potential gathering at Converge21 being the catalyst for a Spirit-empowered renewal across the nation.
Additional information on Converge21, or other Empowered21 USA initiatives can be viewed at www.E21USA.org.
(Source: Center for Spiritual Renewal)