National Ministry Leaders Discuss Revival at 'Healing the Land 2005'
by Allie Martin
October 20, 2005
(AgapePress) - Pastors, prayer leaders, laymen and students from around the world are in Fort Worth, Texas, this week to look at ways true spiritual transformation has affected cities. A Seattle-area ministry known as The Sentinel Group is sponsoring the Texas event called "Healing the Land 2005." The three-day conference, which coincides with Texas' National Day of Prayer observances, will feature an international gathering of Christians from as far away as Africa and the South Pacific islands. The conference participants will exchange ideas and talk about revivals that have taken place in their countries.
Lisa Otis of the Sentinel Group says the meeting will not only equip believers with shared information and resources, but will encourage them with new vision for ministry. "We believe that God wants us to raise our sights," she notes.
"We believe that God wants us to expect something much more of Him than we've seen in our communities to date, particularly here in America," Otis continues. "He wants us to begin to partner with Him and understand that He has a great intention to affect every level of life in our communities and not just to be kept within the walls of the church."
The Sentinel Group is a Christian research and information agency. Among its other tasks, it works to document Christian activities in countries around the world. Based on the group's research, Otis observes that Christian spiritual revivals are occurring throughout the world; however, she notes, America has not seen a true spiritual awakening in more than a century.
"Some of what we've seen in these other nations is that, partly due to difficult circumstances, our brothers and sisters in nations like Fiji or up in the Canadian arctic or in the nation of Uganda have come to a place of hunger and desperation for God," the Sentinel Group spokeswoman says.
As U.S. pastors, revival experts from Fiji and Uganda, and other ministry leaders from the participating countries gather in Fort Worth to discuss strategies for spiritual transformation, Otis is hopeful all the participants will be inspired and equipped to be a part of revival in their home countries. The "Healing the Land 2005" conference runs from October 19-22.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
