Conference in Butuan - Day 1

Today was the first day of our 3 day conference in Butuan on Living in the fear of the Lord. Over 90 pastors and church leaders attended today's meeting which started at 9h00 and finished at 15h00. Today's sessions were used to lay the foundation of what it means to fear God. We looked at the need to make room for the Holy Spirit; God's purpose for creating man and how Jesus came to model and restore mankind to God's original purpose for him on earth. We then looked at how living in the fear of the Lord is living from God by relying on Him to be like Him (godliness); living because of God in response to Him (fellowship); living for God in reverence of Him (co-labour). In the last session we looked at how Jesus feared the Lord and delighted in the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:1-3).

Today was a good start to the conference and I am pleased with the great response and how people are getting excited about God's revelation to the Church to strengthen and encourage her. Tomorrow we will dig deeper and I am convinced many lives will be revived by the Word and the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!

At my hotel they have set up a philippine scaffolding to paint the walls - quite a contrast to the one on my office building in Bockenheim! Below is a picture of pastor Julius (pastor Berwyn's brother-in-law) who is doing a wonderful job at leading the worship at the conference.

"The church...was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord." Acts 9:31

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