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CONECAR OPENS
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad – CONECAR opened last night as hundreds gathered at the Centre for Excellence in Tunapuna, Trinidad. From the opening prayer, led by Bishop Dr. Alister Alexander, to the benediction the presence of God was real. In welcoming delegates, Rev. John Smith, 1 st Vice President of the Evangelical Association of the Caribbean, traced the history of the Congress of Evangelicals (CONECAR) from its genesis in 1984 to this the eighth congress. The key note address by Rev. Dr. Gerry Seale set the atmosphere for the rest of the congress. According to Rev. Seale evangelism without discipleship is the Great Omission, not the Great Commission given by Jesus to the Church. Citing national indices that indicate the impact, or lack thereof, of the Caribbean Church in society, he challenged delegates with examples in history where the Church changed societies and transformed nations. Referring to a survey of sexual practices among Evangelical Church-going youth in Barbados, Rev. Seale stated that with 26% of these youth currently having sex outside of marriage there was a significant challenge to pastors and leaders in terms of discipling our youth to live in obedience to Christ.
CONECAR – DAY TWO
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad: The second day of the Congress of Evangelicals in the Caribbean (CONECAR 2007) was a powerful and anointed time in God's presence. Rev. Dr. Gerry Gallimore (Jamaica), one of the Caribbean Christian statesmen, led a powerful morning devotional around the topic of "the Role of the Pastor in Discipleship." Drawing on the example of Jesus in Luke 6:12-18 and Mark 3:13-19 Dr. Gallimore powerfully challenged delegates on the Pivotal Place of Discipleship in Jesus Ministry, the Priority of Prayer in the Discipleship Process, the Selection Process of Choosing Disciples, the Profusion of Personalities Among the Disciples, the Profile of a Disciple, and the Programme of the Preparation of the Disciple.In the morning plenary Rev. Paul Hynam (Barbados) spoke with brokenness on the subject of "The Agency of the Holy Spirit in Discipling." With tears in his eyes Rev. Hynam challenged congress delegates that "the cry of our region is for spiritual fathers and mothers. Men and women filled with the Spirit of God whose burning desire will be to see sons and daughters, the next generation, assuming leadership roles in bringing change throughout this region." At the conclusion of his message the entire congress rose to its feet in applause.
After lunch delegates had the opportunity to participate in two out of eleven workshops that gave opportunity to delve deeper into some of the themes of the morning speakers.
The final plenary of the day brought Rev. Dr. Clifton Charles (Trinidad) to address the subject of "The Response of the Disciple." In a simple but strongly anointed manner, Dr. Charles brought home to each delegate the deep personal response that is needed in each Christian seeking to follow Jesus. As the evening came to a close many delegates stood for prayer as they work through the issue of their own discipleship to Christ.
The congress continues on Wednesday with a full day of plenaries and workshops as we continue to pursue the vast subject of discipling others in Christ throughout the region. The General Assembly of the Evangelical Association of the Caribbean also takes place on Wednesday afternoon simultaneously with the workshops.
Many delegates have stated their appreciation of the subject of discipleship that underlines everything at CONECAR 2007. As Dr. Gallimore stated, "This is the subject for this hour in the Caribbean."
CONECAR – DAY THREE
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad: An awesome day in God's presence with powerful preaching were the comments from some of the participants at the Congress of Evangelicals (CONECAR 2007) at the end of the third day of the congress on Wednesday. Elder Christian statesman, Rev. Dr. Gerry Gallimore, a Baptist minister and former Youth For Christ Director from Jamaica again, led the morning devotional. Dr. Gallimore pointed out that "In no uncertain terms Jesus told a crowd that day, as he would tell us today, that to be a disciple is not some easy, warm, fuzzy feeling that one gets in a religious meeting, but a serious, calculated, radical, no-nonsense, take-it-or-leave it, personal commitment to Him." With passion Dr. Gallimore challenged delegates have locked up the salt for too long in the saltcellar or saltshaker, hence the rot in society stinks to high heaven. Shake us up Lord Jesus! Shake us up Holy Spirit. For too long we have locked up the salt in salt the saltcellar."
The morning plenary was led by Rev. John Smith, General Superintendent of Assemblies of God in Guyana. With passion and a real sense of God's anointing Rev. Smith called delegates to maturity and Christ likeness which he stated this comes from a "process of training ourselves to distinguish ourselves to distinguish right from wrong and then do what is right." Rev Smith strongly challenged the congress when he asked "How is your concern for the poor increasing? How are you positively responding to the HIV/AIDS pandemic? How are you relevant to your society? What impact are you making in your community? Is your sharing of the gospel holistic?"
During the afternoon 10 workshops gave congress delegates the opportunity to flesh out the many of the themes from the morning presentations. Also in the afternoon the General Assembly met for more than five hours to receive reports from the officers and staff and elect officers for the next four years. Rev. John Smith was returned to the office of 1 st Vice President as a representative of the Guyana Evangelical Fellowship, Rev. Veral Blake was returned to office as member of the Executive representing the Association of Evangelicals in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Rev. Dr. Clifton Charles was elected as a new member of the Executive to represent the Worldwide Church of God.
The evening plenary was explosive as Rev. St. Clair Mitchell of Dominica spoke prophetically into the lives of delegates with a message that emphasized the need to embrace new methodologies and the power of the Church to transform societies. Rev. Mitchell called the Church to step out and risk everything to change the society in which they minister. He pointed out that the Church does not exist for the denomination, building or members, it exists for the community.
During the evening Rev. Dr. Gerry Seale was presented with the prestigious Gold Award of Kingdom Investments Unlimited International. The award was presented in recognition of Dr. Seale's "unquestionable evidence of brilliance, fidelity and integrity" and for his role as "being the organizing genius and motivating engine of the biennial staging of CONECAR.
The congress ends on Thursday when speakers will elucidate the biblical concepts of societal transformation through discipleship."
CONECAR – DAY FOUR
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad: The final day of the Congress of Evangelicals in the Caribbean (CONECAR 2007) was a fitting climax to a most amazing week. The presence of God was clearly evident. Rev. Dr. Gerry Gallimore, who was one of the founders of CONECAR, professed this congress to have had the best content at all levels of all the previous CONECARs he has attended. He commended Rev. St. Clair Mitchell for his message of Wednesday evening, calling that sermon "hi-octane, energetic, mind expanding and status quo challenging." He went on to say that he will be processing that message for "a long time to come."
In a message built around the theme of "The Universal Body Making a Difference," Dr. Gallimore challenged participants to emulate the Church in the first century who stood boldly against governmental persecution and preach the gospel without regard to the consequences. He called the Caribbean Church to a similar holy boldness that will transform our nations and challenge Caribbeans with the truth lived out in its fullness.
Pastor Lyall Bethel of the Bahamas challenged the Church to engage the society and recapture the segments of society lost to the influence of the Church. He called for careful research of issues facing the Church in the our islands and spent time teaching participants basic strategies in engaging society at every level, sprinkling the salt of born again Christians. As the Church has withdrawn within its four walls, the devil has quickly moved to fill the void created and we wonder why so much seems to be going wrong in our societies, according to Pastor Bethel. Pastor Bethel called the Church to strategically engage every major sector of society that the Lordship of Jesus Christ may be asserted over every nation in accordance with Psalm 2:8.
The final plenary was presented by Rev. Dr. George Phillips of the US Virgin Islands. In a simple and quiet, but very powerful manner, Dr. Phillips called the Church back to faithfulness to the Church's biblical mandate to disciple the nations.
Many have been the comments of commendation, appreciation for the congress that challenged, provoked, refreshed and the paradigm shifting impact of the whole congress experience.
God willing, CONECAR 2009 will be held in Jamaica, the place where CONECAR was birthed in 1984.
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