Empowered21 Coincides with 50th Anniversary of Charismatic Renewal Movement
Tulsa, OK – The 50th anniversary of Dennis Bennett’s announcement of his Charismatic experience to his Episcopal congregation in Van Nuys, California, believed to be the initiation point for the Charismatic movement, is April 3, 2010. During the very week of that 50th anniversary, Empowered21 (www.empowered21.com) participants will gather on the campus of the university judged by many to be the premier Charismatic University in the world for the first major spiritual gathering there since the funeral of its founder, Oral Roberts.
The generations of the global Spirit Empowered Movement will converge in Tulsa, Oklahoma on the campus of Oral Roberts University April 8-10, 2010 for Empowered21: Global Congress on Holy Spirit Empowerment in the 21st Century. This will be an unprecedented gathering of scholars, leaders, and next-gen voices from all over the world meeting together for three days of radical intercession, academic insight, global networking, deep discussion, and the sacred impartation of the Holy Spirit.
Corresponding to this is a contemporary thrust in prayer and fasting for revival on college campuses across America led by voices like Lou Engle and others. A forty day fast targeting campuses began March 1 and concludes on April 9 in the middle of the event. Hundreds of the movement’s top leaders will converge to minister at Empowered21 as they focus on the future together.
Billy Wilson, Executive Director of The International Center for Spiritual Renewal (www.icfsr.org) and Empowered21 Chair said, “Several recent events cause us to believe that a spiritual convergence is about to happen at Empowered21. When the Congress process began, Oral Roberts was alive and part of the planning as was Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty. Their deaths have signaled clearly to us that the torch of Charismatic fire must be passed to new generations.”
Wilson continued, “As we enter the second decade of the 21st century, we must wonder what the significance of our time is now. Human conflict, post-modern thought, technological advancements and a new generation hungry to change the world all form the stage upon which the 21st century church stands. It appears that the time is right for a new spiritual impetus that will propel the next wave of world evangelization. A fresh empowering of the Holy Spirit is desperately needed in our generation.”
Several months ago numerous leaders, scholars and next gen voices began a process called the “Commission on Holy Spirit Empowerment in the 21st Century.” During the last year, conversation events with these groups have taken place around the world with over 530 people from 54 different nations. The major thrust was a focus on the future of Spirit-empowered Christianity and how to engage new generations for Christ. The culmination of these global conversations is Empowered21.
There are several dynamic, pre-event meetings happening April 8. These include the Spirit-filled Hispanic ministries conference, a gathering discussing the ministry of the evangelist in the 21st century; a seminar on how to reach secular campuses for Christ; and a Catholic Charismatic ministries conference – a meeting with a special emphasis on the Catholic Charismatic community.
Participates can engage in some of the over 210 learning conversation sessions facilitated by an unprecedented gathering of scholars and ministry leaders from around the world who will share information and lead discussion in one of 35 distinct tracks important to the Spirit Empowered Movement. To see a complete list of all general sessions, speakers, learning sessions, leaders and others involved with Empowered21, visit www.empowered21.com/preview_guide. To register visit www.empowered21.com.
