Your ministry is to serve God with all your heart

Elim gathered in May for the first in-person Elim Leaders Summit since 2019.

Whilst they were there, Chris Rolfe asked a group of pastors which speakers inspired them, what God had to say to them and what ideas they were taking back to their churches.

Gavin Chittick, Elim Erskine
Every speaker had something important to say and the Mission Hearted theme was fantastic.

Rich Villodas stood out, and his call to abide and remain in God was a challenging yet simple principle that God is calling the church back to.

The quote that remains with me is: “We can be in the world for God or in God for the world.”

The other standout quote which really resonated was when Chris Cartwright said, “It’s not your ministry – it’s God’s ministry. Your ministry is to serve God with all your heart.”

I find this equally challenging and releasing.

Jason Beynon, Bont Elim Community Church
So many of us went to the Summit waiting on the Lord for answers to key questions.

He did not disappoint me, speaking clearly through the main speakers and the business sessions. Every speaker inspired me.

A jigsaw was put together through the inter-linked messages; each and every piece had a massive impact upon us at this key time.

My declaration to the Lord was, “I’m here to hear”. I really needed confirmation of some crazy faith steps we need to make.

Whereas we have got it all going on when it comes to community activity, the Lord confirmed the gap – to actively pursue missional community.

Helen Robertson, Bethel Church Oldbury
I loved the variety of speakers across the conference in all venues – they were fast-paced, inspiring, comfort zone-shaking and balanced.

It was great to realise how much I’d missed this vital well of encouragement, inspiring teaching and catching up with old pals and new colleagues.

Rich Villodas and Rachel Hickson were very different but both packed a punch and had a very refreshing, approachable, light-hearted style. I was captivated throughout.

I’m taking back to my church a refreshed focus on prayer and presence-led/fed ministry rather than bowing to the pressures of programme-led structures or the natural bias of an inward-looking church.

Mark Ryan, Kensington Temple
Rich Villodas not only brought a good message but also carried the presence of God in his talk on abiding – we felt we learned about abiding and then actually dwelt in the presence of God.

I felt God tell me, “There is more grace for you for the task at hand.”

One of the things I’m taking back is that encounter shapes us, but it’s discipleship formation that will sustain us over the long haul.

David Redbond, Elim Estuary Group
All the main speakers brought a message from our Heavenly Father; together they were inspirational, intertwined and insightful. They impacted my life.

God revealed that the model of church and missional development we are pursuing is in line with his heart for the current season.

Now we’re back home, we will look to increase our small group engagement and online presence.

Phil Worthington, Mount of Olives Church
I enjoyed listening to Leon Evans and Rich Villodas – they were both clear, insightful and applicable.

God said a lot to me at ELS, but one of the big things was a confirmation of a word I received during Simon Foster’s talk a few years ago; that I was equipped to lift people up and support them to be greater.

Felix Appiah, Elim Rehoboth
This was one of the best Elim Leaders Summits I have attended in years. All the speakers spoke with passion and sincerity.

Chris Cartwright was on fire for Jesus and challenged us to reach out to the lost in our ever-changing world.

He said, “It’s harvest time, and God is never out of season.”

Mark Pugh reminded us we need to die to self and be alive to God. We need a radical shake-up within our movement that fosters growth and a move of God. The church belongs to Jesus Christ and not to a particular individual or group of people.

I learned many things that I’ll be taking on board for the next season, including being more intentional in our outreach for the lost and lowly.

Glen Podd, Romford Elim
Rachel Hickson was fantastic, bringing a prophetic edge to the conference.

Personally, God confirmed our plan to release and equip people more quickly. The harvest is waiting and labourers should be pouring out from our churches.

Phil Weaver, New Springs City Church
I was inspired by Mark Pugh and Rich Villodas.

A number of speakers asked us to put our hands on our hearts, which caused me to ask myself, with hand on heart, am I doing everything I possibly can to extend the Kingdom of God? 

Duncan Clark, Coventry Elim
Rich Villodas explained how an experience of ‘encounter’ is not enough; we need to learn how to abide.

Leaders need to be intentional about spending time with God in private before talking about him in public.

I felt I was recommissioned to return to Coventry with a passion to prioritise moments of encounter along with an intentional lifestyle of abiding.

Ross McBride, Portadown Elim
I really loved hearing Rachel Hickson and Mark Pugh, and I appreciated how the NLT/ELS steering group were trying to lean into the prophetic.

I felt the Lord challenge me about being more confident. I think the pandemic and the lockdowns have affected and even broken many pastors’ confidence.

I sensed the Lord wanting to restore that. I came back from ELS with a fresh desire to lead the church into more opportunities to wait on God and respond to the Spirit.

Paul Dunne, Longton Elim Church
After the dark clouds of Covid it was refreshing and encouraging to hear from Chris Cartwright about “The unstoppable mission of God” and to recognise that all things are possible if we pick up his ministry.

Listening to Mark Pugh gave encouragement and a challenge at the same time: “Jesus searches our hearts to see if we will be the Elim monument or the Elim movement.”

It was a very special conference for us. Just listening to everyone singing in praise with the opening song reminded me of our first day in church after Covid.

Psalm 122 came to mind: “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”

 

This article first appeared in the July 2022 edition of Direction Magazine. For further details please click here.

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