Members of the Empowered21 Global Council began two days of meetings to hear reports of progress and updates from the fourteen E21 regional cabinets located on six continents and to plot the strategy for the future of the movement.
Empowered21 is inter-denominational with a vision stating, “That every person on Earth would have an authentic encounter with Jesus Christ through the Power and Presence of the Holy Spirit…by Pentecost 2033.”
Global Co-chair of the E21 Global Council, Dr. Billy Wilson, president of based Oral Roberts University, welcomed Council members to Africa, stating the meeting was significant as the continent recently surpassed Latin America as containing the largest population of Christians at 631 million.
Empowered21 is a relational network with four main focus points of ministry for all regions: Next generation, Power of the Holy Spirit, World Evangelization and Christian Unity.
During Tuesday’s gathering of the Global Council, nine “next steps” were outlined for consideration. Among them, the growing need to attract the next generation of Spirit empowered believers across all religious movements. It was proposed for the Next Generation Network (NGN) regional gatherings engage more in planning and hosting events to engage those under the age of 40.
In 2010, leaders, next gen, and scholars established the foundational pillars of the Empowerd21 relational network. A scholars consultation is meeting this week in Johannesburg and is scheduled to address the Council with their research on Wednesday. The newly-released, and now available publically scholar’s project, “The Truth About Grace,” was distributed to members.
The Tuesday afternoon session was highlighted by reports on three key emphases of E21: evangelism, discipleship, and the next generation. Evangelist Daniel Kolenda, a member of the Global Council and head of the internationally-known Christ for All Nations, reported on the formation of an Empowered21 Global Evangelism Alliance.
“If we are to reach the goal establish for the year 2033, evangelists will have to be involved in a big, big way,” Kolenda, who has spoken to millions worldwide, stated. “We need the gifts of the evangelists…together we can connect with the broader Christian world.”
A report on “Spirit-empowered Discipleship” was delivered by David Ferguson, also a member of the Council, who leads the Great Commandment Network. He challenged the Council members to “think generationally” when attempting to train ministers and laity for ministry leadership.
A final report to the Global Council from Chief Executive of One Hope Ministries, Rob Hoskins, concerned E21’s efforts to identify, equip, and lead the next generation of Spirit empowered leaders. Hoskins challenged Council members with the question, “Who will be taking our seats in the next 10-13 years as we head to the goal date of 2033?” After sharing his experiences of meeting with several groups of emerging 40-and-under leaders around the world, Hoskins said, “I have good news to bring: don’t worry. Our sons and daughters are prepared to lead.”
The Global Council concludes its meeting on Wednesday afternoon, prior to the opening evening session of the E21 African Congress and celebration of Pentecost, set to take place at the Word and Life Church in Johannesburg. For more information visit empowered21.org.
The attending Global Council members are David Burrows, senior pastor Bahamas Faith International; Omar Cabrera, senior pastor, Vision De Futuro, Argentina; Ishmael Charles, Caribbean field director, Church of God; Frank Chicane, president, Apostolic Faith Mission; Russell Evans, senior pastor, Planet Shakers Church, Australia; David Ferguson, director, Great Commandment Network; Claudio Freidzon, senior pastor, Reyes de Reyes church, Argentina; Mart Green, chief strategy officer, Green Family Businesses; Arto Hamalainen, chairman, Pentecostal European Mission; Wayne Hilsden, founder and president, Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries; Rob Hoskins, president, OneHope; Cindy Jacobs, co-founder, Generals International; Daniel Kolenda, president and CEO, Christ for All Nations; Ron Luce, president, Generation Next; Henry Madava, senior pastor, Victory Church, Ukraine; Gordon McDonald, general superintendent, International Pentecostal Holiness Church, Canada; Sam Monk, senior pastor, Equippers Church, New Zealand; Niko Njotorahardjo, senior pastor, Gereja Bethel, Indonesia; Opoku Onyinah, , president, Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council; Michel Ouedraogo, president, Assemblies of God, Burkina Faso; Oreste Pesare, director, International Catholic Charismatic Renewal; Nick Park, national bishop, Church of God, Ireland; Mike Rakes, lead pastor, Winston-Salem First, North Carolina; Kenneth Ulmer, senior pastor, Faithful Central Bible Church, Los Angeles, California; Gilberto Velez, pastor and founder, Iglesia Cristiana Misercordia, Texas; David Wells, general superintendent, Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada; Billy Wilson, president and global co-chair, Empowered21 and president, Oral Roberts University; George Wood, global co-chair, Empowered21 and chairman, World Assembly of God Fellowship. Ossie Mills is vice president of communications at Oral Roberts University and serves as executive director of Empowered21.