By Liz Fierge
 

If I could summarize Consecration 2006’s effectiveness in one sentence, I would say: Mark Johnston is one of the few Apostolic preachers that I have heard preach mercy, and it convicted me to action instead of patting my own righteous back. 

 

Hosted by the Calvary Church of Cincinnati on November 3-4, 2006, it all began with the host Youth Pastor Jonathan Walker quoting Ephesians 4:6 and reminding us that at Consecration, we are all one united youth group of combined hundreds.  It’s a time of reconciliation, to be real and honest with our God, and reclaim our stolen identity from the enemy.  During the two-minute break before New Revelation expressively interpreted Kirk Franklin’s “Hosanna,” I managed to score another link on EC.  Then Indiana Bible College Choir and Praise wowed the congregation with their impressive rendition of Revelation Chapter 5.  As a musician, I especially appreciated their use of the drum line, violin, and piccolo in the orchestration. 

 
Then He Preached

Bro. Mark Johnston is an unbelievable minister.  The message Friday night, “Unloved, But Not Unseen,” reached a deep place in the hearts of the young people in my group.

 

His message was a retelling of Leah’s story of being second choice in marriage, first blessed in childbirth, and last remembered in death.  Johnston finished up by reminding us that while Jacob loved “Cute Rachel,” he chose to bury ugly ol’ weak-eyed Leah with his forefathers, and his last request was that his sons bury him next to Leah.  That goes to show that while the enemy may be writing more chapters of our life than we would prefer, God is the author and finisher of our story. 

 

Alternately, many people glorify Mary, the mother of Jesus, as sinless, blonde-haired, blue-eyed, and perfect, but that is not the case.  Jesus was born from the womb of an imperfect, but available girl.  She was willing to be shunned in her culture so that Jesus could be manifest in the flesh to accept the burden of sacrifice for sin.  The most perfect form of worship comes from the broken and rejected.  Unloved, But Not Unseen!

 
Meet Me At MySpace!

Saturday morning’s Internet Connection Forum was shared by ninetyandnine.com’s Kent d Curry and Officer Paul Payne from Montgomery, Ohio.  While Curry encouraged those with writing and creative photo/video talents to take over the web with Kingdom-minded content, Payne gave important warnings to be more than careful with personal information, pictures, and those with whom you associate on social networking sites such as MySpace, Everyone’s Connected, and Facebook.  The Holy Ghost does not stop at the computer screen, and our integrity should guide us as to the content we post on our own personal pages.  Curry brought up the excellent point that we can spend so much time social networking and passing along acceptable and legal A/P gossip that we lose touch with the world in all of our patting each other on the back. Seems like Jesus chided the Pharisees for acting like that.

 

An important aside: the relationships that can be formed on the Internet are not an acceptable substitute for personal evangelism.  The Internet should be considered a resource to learn how better to reach people in our real world. 

 
Then He Preached Again

The final message from Bro. Johnston, “Between the Dead and the Living,” compelled attention from the start.  What’s this?  Moses and Aaron disobeying the voice of God to stand with the censor of incense to stop the plague?  Personal evangelism was not exactly a goal of the children of Israel.  On the contrary, separation was the order of the day and of the Law.  Bro. Johnston’s message was about the urgency to get out of the snow globe mentality and be a lifesaver even if it means risking breaking God’s law. 

 

While it wasn’t a funny message by any means, Bro. Johnston gave an excellent example of how A/P’s tend to answer the question, “What religion are you, anyhow?”  Instead of saying “I’m a Christian” and possibly confusing the questioner into having to determine what kind of Christian you are, you just pull out “I’m a Pentecostal.”  They say, “Oh, I’m a [insert religion here].”  Then you go about comparing your snow globes, your little religious worlds, but you can’t reach him or her because you have already put up your barrier to protect your snow globe culture.  The plague is in full force in the world, your family and your schools, and you are content to keep the snow pure inside your snow globe?  It doesn’t take long to start rethinking your priorities after that one.

 
Because There’s A Present and a Future

The next planned Consecration conference is November 7-8, 2008, and I hope to see you bringing someone who is not quite like you. 

 

Take the challenge.

 

Stand between the dead and the living.

 
 
 ninetyandnine.com
 

© 2006, Liz Fierge

 

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Liz Fierge spends too much time on EC, hails from Kentucky, and was thrilled to hang out with some old friends from Ohio after Consecration.  She’s still sorry for spilling the soy sauce on those friends.