UPCOMING EVENTS

ANNOUNCING Called to High Adventure: A Fresh Look at the Holy Spirit and the Spirit-Filled Life A new book by Dr. Clayton Ford, National Chair of Holy Spirit Renewal Ministries, Called to High Adventure is a book whose time has come! Finally, a book about the Holy Spirit that builds bridges rather than barricades, that brings Christians together instead of tearing them apart. This fresh approach to the ministry of the Spirit will greatly encourage pastors and leaders who earnestly desire spiritual renewal but who want to get there with theological integrity, and without creating unnecessary divisions within their churches and organizations. This book will also benefit every Christian who hungers for a deeper and more dynamic life in the Holy Spirit. Called to High Adventure: A Fresh Look at the Holy Spirit and the Spirit-Filled Life, can be ordered on our website through Pay Pal. Cost is $14, including shipping and handling.

To purchase Clay's book on Pay Pal, Click Here

January 12-15,2011 Randy Clark School of Healing at Redeemer Fellowship Church in Monroe, MI. Contact person is Josh Bentley at joshabentley@gmail.com

February 27-March 1, 2011 Weekend of Renewal at First Baptist Church of Mesa, AZ. Contact person is Dr. Rod Layman at pastorrod@fbcmesa.org

April 6-9, 2011 Darren Wilson's Furious Love Conference at Redeemer Fellowship Church in Monroe, MI. Contact person is John Piippo at johnpiippo@msn.com

April 29-May 11, 2011 Weekend of Renewal at First Baptist Church of Sioux Falls, SD. Contact person is Teri Nyberg at terinyberg@gmail.com

June 25-July 1, 2011. Our annual Green Lake Holy Spirit Conference at beautiful Green lake Conference Center, WI, featuring speaker Randy Clark. Contact person: Dr. Clay Ford at claytonford@sbcglobal.net

NEWS

RANDY CLARK: God told me, "Too many of My people don't believe it's My will to heal." A lot of people believe God can heal. That's not the issue. For them, the issue is: Is it His will to heal? Is it His will to heal them?" That's why words of knowledge are so helpful, because it answers that question, and it gives us specific information that he wills to heal specifically this thing on this night.

Repent (metanoia) means to change the way you think. As a Baptist evangelist and pastor, I used to say this all the time, "You know repentance is like this: I'm walking this way, and all of a sudden I realize I am going in the wrong direction, and I repent, I turn. That's repentance." But that's not true. It's biblically inaccurate. Repentance is not just turning. Repentance precedes it. Repentance means changing the way you're thinking. So, I am going this way, thinking this is the right way. Suddenly, I come to the truth that I am going in the wrong direction. I change the way I think. I no longer think this is the right way. In the changing of my thinking was metanoia… repentance. Jesus said, "Repent, because the Kingdom of God is at hand." So, here is good news: Change the way you think about your sickness and disease, because the Kingdom is at hand, it's near."

DR. LEE SPITZER: "The Apostle Paul says that the regeneration of our souls is a work of the Holy Spirit. This is very important to us because when the Holy Spirit regenerates our soul, what He is essentially doing is fixing the tuning mechanism in the human spirit that is unable, because of sin and the alienation of the human condition, to tune into the frequencies by which God likes to communicate with His creation. So what's really happening in the Born Again experience is that it's like God fixing a radio or God fixing a television set so that it may receive the signals that are all around us and ever-present though we are not in recognition of them. So it turns out in the spiritual life, because of human sin that the alienation that has taken place between us and God, is an alienation that is clearly one sided... God is still communicating, God is still reaching out, God is still loving, God is still pouring out life, and grace, and love. The problem is never with God. Even when He feels far away, that's an issue with us, not with Him.

DR. CLAY FORD: "Why do so many people today go to psychics, and spiritualists, and mediums? Because, generally speaking, the church is on the sidelines when it comes to the supernatural. We give it up to the occultists, to the New Agers, and all the other people who believe in the supernatural. Far too often we're content with a cerebral formulation of the Gospel that denies the power of the Gospel. Or we're embarrassed of failure. We fear that if we step out in faith and trust God for the 'immeasurably more' that we'll fall on our faces. So we stay within the confines of our church walls and do not go out into the marketplace... But the church cannot afford to be powerless in a world that is increasingly experiencing the powers of darkness. It's time for the Body of Christ to claim all that God has given us - the power, and the fruit, and the gifts. We're the ones who have the truth; we're the ones who have Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord; we're the ones who have the Holy Spirit, and the gifts and power of the Spirit. Our Father is the One who created the universe. So why are we so often on the sidelines, instead of on the playing field? Jesus said, "As to your faith let it be done for you."

PASTOR ED OWENS: "We've got to go back to the God who is "able to do immeasurably more." This is really what faith is all about. Faith is able to see God as he really is. When we are discouraged by our circumstances, ...when our churches are struggling and not bringing much glory to God, faith will pursue the God who is able. ...Each year when I come to Green Lake, I have a building expectation that God is going to do something important in me. I expect him to show up here on the grounds in a recognizable way." (Note: Ed's message above was on Sunday morning; he had a life-changing God-encounter a few days later - see below.)

A testimony from Ed Owens of God touching him at our 2010 Green Lake conference: "When Randy Clark invited people forward for laying on of hands, he asked for those to come whom God was already touching. Nothing was happening in me so I waited and prayed. Later he asked for help catching those who were falling over. I couldn't get through the maze of people so I stood in the back. God began to deal with me asking for me to surrender all of myself. When the crowd began to move to form a new line, I got in that line. Even before Randy and the others who were praying reached me, God began to overwhelm me with His presence. Tears were flowing and I was breathing like I was running. I honestly felt like I couldn't survive much more of His presence. This has had a profound effect on me. I have a much deeper desire to spend time with God. It has changed my perspective on what is important. I have more love and patience than I used to. I am very thankful to God for this fresh anointing."

To read a list of praise reports from the 2010 Green Lake Conference, see 2010 GLC Holy Spirit Conference Praise Reports

View pictures from the 2010 Green Lake Holy Spirit Conference HERE

News from FANNING THE FLAME CONFERENCE

Fanning the Flame, 2010 was held at Green Lake Conference Center May 24-27. This incredible Pastors Conference was organized by the Executive Ministers of ten American Baptist Regions across the country. Keynote speakers were Dr. Wallace Charles Smith, President of Palmer Seminary (2nd from left), and Dr. Clay Ford (3rd from left). Dr. John Piippo (on the left) was a pastors' track leader, and Dr. Lee Spitzer (on the right) is Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey and one of the primary event coordinators.

Six of the eight American Baptist Executive Ministers attending the Fanning the Flame event with some of their pastors. Left to right: Dr. Michael Williams, Michigan; Dr. Larry Mason, Indiana/Kentucky; Dr. Frank Frischkorn, Pennsylvania and Delaware; Dr. Larry Swain, Ohio; Dr. Leonard Thompson, Cleveland; Dr. Dwight Stinnett, Great Rivers Region. Not pictured but present: Dr. Riley Walker, The Dakotas; and Dr. Lee Spitzer, New Jersey. There were over 200 pastors and ministry leaders in attendance.

Hannah Ford was worship leader and provided special music for the entire Fanning the Flame Conference. She did an exceptional job, and many wanted to take her home with them! (hannahford.com) Pictured: Hannah leading with John Piippo providing support guitar (he is an incredible musician!) as 200 pastors and leaders worship the Lord.

Dr. Clay Ford holding a copy of his new book, Called to High Adventure: A Fresh Look at the Holy Spirit and the Spirit-Filled Life. Clay was a speaker at the Biennial Meeting of the American Baptist Churches of the Northwest, held March 12-14 at The Summit Church in Boise, Idaho. He is standing beside a tabletop display for Holy Spirit Renewal Ministries.

Pictured here from left to right: Jim Steiner, Senior Pastor of The Summit Church, host pastor of the Biennial; Efrem Smith, nationally known Pastor and speaker, and keynote speaker of the Biennial; and Dr. Charles Revis, Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of the Northwest. Efrem challenged us! We may have him come to speak at one of our Holy Spirit Renewal Conferences at Green Lake - stay tuned!

Pictured here: Pastors Paul, Clay, Ron, and Ray. Paul and Ron are pastors in Washington, and Ray Schooler is the Director of Church Relations with American Baptist International Ministries.

Clay, Cheri and Hannah Ford very recently ministered in Bremerton, WA at a regional (American Baptist Churches of the Northwest) Tools of the Trade training day and at a Weekend of Renewal, hosted by Manette Community Church, where Ron and Terri Anderson are pastors. Hannah led workshops on Worship, did special music, and led in worship; Cheri taught workshops on "An Esther Spirit in a Haman World"; and Clay was keynote speaker and workshop leader; his Tools of the Trade messages (Calling Us Back to Honor, and Inviting the Presence of God) and his workshop (How to Lead Your Church into a Deeper Life in the Spirit) can all be heard at http://abcnw.org/tools-for-the-trade/

Bremerton Prayer Time: People coming forward for a fresh empowerment of the Spirit

" Cheri Ford teaching "An Esther Spirit in a Haman World" workshop

Dr. Charles Revis, Executive Minister of ABC/Northwest gave a powerful message from Acts 4 on our need for the Holy Spirit.

Clay speaking at Bremerton. What an awesome time with God!

HSRM Leaders

Here is link to view or print the National Service Committee