mrhatch
From unknown
Hi All
i dont know if its me, but i have noticed that we have the same conferences and festivals year after year.
is this really a good thing?
are these events really changing peoples lives?
the purpose of these events are meant to be to equip, empower, release, raise, and mobilise people to go out and to something to reach the lost and help others.
are these events really helping people to do that?
what would happen if we had no more of these events what would replace them?
isnt it about the the organisers of these events did something different?
isnt it about time organisers did something new?
isnt it about time we had a change of events?
have we become to comptable going to the same events year after year?
has the church become too dependant on conferences and festivals?
i must confess i have never been to
Soul Survivor
New Wine
Spring Harvest
Green Belt
why are they so good? what is so special about them?
i did go to the first 2 Hillsong Conferences i decided not to go to any more of them after that.
Worship Central is coming up whats that one like? i havent had the chance to go to it yet.
what are the events i havent mentioned on here?
im not really sure where you are coming from with this mr hatch??
i can only comment on the things ive seen and been to.
for me my church go to soul survivor every summer. why? because we love it! ive been going since 2002 and can honestly say it really helps me in my spiritual life.
if allows me space away from the working week with my family and friends to spend time getting closer to God. i can honestly say my life has changed completely through this ministry. it encourages me to keep going for it for God, it encourages me to keep trusting him when things are tough, it also helps me laugh and enjoy great fellowship with friends. it also resources me with biblical truth, new songs, books and time for God to minister through his spirit which has built me up no end over the yrs, esp this yr.
at soul survivor literally thousands of young people are giving their lives to Jesus every year, i'd say for that reason alone the festival should keep going!
what have you got against these ministries esp if you havent ever been?
Hi Gavin
i have nothing against any of these ministries i mentioned, what i have noticed is that the whole church has become very dependant on conferences and festivals year in year out.
i am just throwing out a random question, is this really a good thing? what would the church be like if they didnt put on any of these events anymore?
if we didnt have any of these events for a whole year, what would the church look like then? would we as christians still have that fire in our hearts, souls, spirits, even if we had none of these events to look forward to?
its a stupid question i know, but its something i have been thinking about for a few years i dont really know why.
I slightly agree with you to be honest, and i slightly disagree with the first reply, i was at soul survivor this year and got bored in the meetings because they did the same songs in the same way the whole time, and yeah i agree that there should be more creativity with the way they do things. They are the trend setters of contemporary worship so should be more creative rather than just doing what other people do.
but then on the other side, over 1000 young people became christians over the 3 weeks i think so clearly it works for people! and to be honest as well alot of the seminars are the same each year with pretty similar messages but again it works for people.
I think that these sort of festivals are really good because it provides a space for young people to bring their friends to where they dont feel comfortable bringing their friend to church.
so I wouldn't write these festivals off they definitely definitely serve a good purpose, but i agree they could do with a bit of shaking up :)
Grace and Peace
i dont know if the church is really dependant on conferences? i would ask why did these conferences get setup in the first place? what was the vision? i know soul survivor was setup as a place for young people to experience church in a completely modern and different way to their home church (which is pretty much exactly what it does). they unashamedly spend a lot of time singing and praising God through music, the ethos is we need more of Jesus to change us, which i totally agree with. does that mean the bible doesnt come into it? of course not, the teaching is really solid.
the main things i love about soul survivor are they allow space for God to move, they have 3 hour long services twice each day! this is really giving over time and space for this, they dont try and hype things up they really look to God to lead the meetings. i love my home church dont get me wrong, but its not like this. our church services are a lot less free and a lot more scripted. does this mean God doesnt move or speak? no of course not, but it often feels a lot of knowledge for the head and not much connection from the heart. we're kinda scared of spiritual gifts and stay away from them.
also i'd love to see more space for young people to lead things like at soul survivor.
so would the church have less fire inside it without conferences to go to? i dont know.........but if all you go to is the same church week after week with the same people doing the same things, its easy to get into a rut to be honest. sometimes a fresh approach, a different place, a different speaker, a new song etc can unlock something . maybe its about being more open i dont know.
sorry for my ramblings!
God bless,
gav,
Lots of questions there and a few too many to answer really.
I haven't been to the conferences for a few years now but did go to soul survivor year after a year not too long ago. I didn't stop going because I stopped enjoying it but more because I felt a bit out of the age group that was going (getting old). If I were to go again, it would have to be as a leader and then participate from that.
Are the events changing lives? Well, I guess the hundreds/thousands of new Christians as result of these conferences speaks for itself?
Does it need change? You don't want something to go stale and you always have to think of ways to improve what you are already doing but if it's working for people, why would you make any major changes?
The festivals provide a place where people can get away for a few days and experience something different from their normal church service. It doesn't have to be big festivals as the same concept is carried out on a smaller scale in the local church through "houseparties" + church away days.
Change and improvement is always welcome but to me, you are asking the questions like it all needs a major shake up, and imo, it doesn't.
Kai
Asking what the Church would be like without festivals and conferences is an interesting question, because far as I can see festivals and conferences are expressions of Church.
Think they're kinda biblical too in a way. Israel had festivals every year where they'd remember stuff God had done or give Him some of their earning and God seemed to encourage celebrating these every year as a community.
And then there's the fruit of them, which seems to be loads of new Christians, lots of people inspired to go and make a difference in their local churches and to go and share the Gospel.
I'd encourage you to try and get to one. I've been going to Soul Survivor and Momentum festivals for several years and have loved it! So amazing to be worshipping with so many Christians and meeting with God so often in a week.
Hope this helps
Steve
Just one other thing that hasn't been mentioned... for a lot of people who serve at their churches week in, week out, conferences are a great opportunity to get filled up, taught, worship and have community with folks from their church without worrying about having to serve. A change is as good as a rest!
I've been to a few now, and usually enjoy going although you sometimes get the feeling there's nothing new that you haven't heard before. However, it doesn't mean it's not good to be reminded...
so it really seems there is really a purpose for these events, dont get me wrong im not putting them down or anything like that.
i have been to a few conferences just none of the ones i mentioned in this post.
Gavin
what you said was really spot on, why did these conferences get set up? i would really love to know this because they came out of nowhere.
i cant even remember when they started.
what was the vision? again i would really love to know this also.
your ramblings were really on point to me, what i liked the most is your honesty.
its a shame your church isnt into spiritual gifts?
mine is the same the gifts of the spirit and communion is only for our connect groups not the main services.
there is also more focus on water baptism, not the holy sprit baptism.
im glad i got saved in another church where i had the 2 baptisms.
I went to New Wine (LSE) this year. The teaching and worship was excellent, and though the format might be the same, it is the chance to be refreshed, meet new and old friends and spend quality time with God and family. For me it's a time when priorities are questioned, when God speaks to me clearly, without the pressures of the day, and where there is time for the Holy Spirit without someone tapping your shoulder because the roast is due to come out the oven shortly ;)
Thoroughly recommend it - will hopefully be going next year!
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Tbh if you havnt been to any of the main events such as
Soul Survivor
New Wine
Spring Harvest
Green Belt
Then why would you assume they need to change???
You say you have been to a hillsong conference twice but thats completely different to any of the above. Each year the festivals have something different e.g. new venues, new worship leaders, new songs, new bands, new speakers and topics, new seminars and best of all, they all have new people going to them! and alot of these people are non-christians and trust me, thousands come back changed! so why is a change in these festivals needed if they do God's bidding? There is always something fresh about them every year.
God Is Good!