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Print On November 5-6, 2004, Consecration 2004 had the Apostolic usuals (anointed guest speakers—Jeff and Miquel Hennigan, Jonathan Moore; anointed singing—from IBC Praise, and Moore; hundreds of unified young people), some unusuals (Friday night video clips on Saturday morning, separate sessions for males and females, spontaneously calling forward a 23 year-old pastor for prayer during the Friday service), and—if you’ve been working with teenagers today—an expected: the willingness of the young attendees to stop the service for extended, sincere prayer; a willingness to shun aisle running for drop-to-your-knees communication with our Savior; a willingness to know the will of God. This is the fourth year for the Calvary Church of Cincinnati, OH to host Consecration, but their continued priority on emphasizing a deeper walk with God hit a special level this time. Friday night had included the usual (an opening address, music, special prayer), yet when Miquel Hennigan delivered a short address on “The Difference Between the Called and the Chosen,” to die so that He might live, God began stirring hearts. Her call for a “Radical Generation” led directly to a pandemic of prayer. It continued in individual petitions and with peers ministering to peers, with no sense of the time. When it was over, the service could continue. Eventually, IBC Praise led everyone into another level of worship, then Jeff Hennigan hit a related note, explaining “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” With an exhortation for a continual fresh vision as, “America attends church, but church is not in us. We don’t need more church. We need more Apostolic people who are the church. You gotta know who you are. You gotta know what you are.” After exploring the comfort zone many Americans trap themselves in, and the imprisoned hearts that result, he ended with, “The caged bird sings because life is good, but you’re not free! Escape the cage!” This altar call started at 11 p.m. and continued through 11:30 p.m. as twentysomethings and teens flooded the front seeking God. On Saturday (mercifully starting at 10:30 a.m.), the genders were separated so that Moore could challenge the males and Sis. Hennigan the females, both touching on the importance of understanding and implementing discipline into a daily rapport with God. Or, as Moore put it, “Ninety-eight percent of living for God is discipline, two percent is last night (‘s service)” Moore focused on the habits that create (or resist) discipline, quoting an English poet, who wrote, “We make our habits and then our habits make us.” Wowing the teens with his knowledge of RPGs (Role Playing Games), he related how most RPGs allow you to choose every characteristic of your character, and how those choices affect your possibilities of success. As in real life, “You create your own experience.” In real life, God is there to help you make those choices. Hennigan elaborated on her “Radical for Christ” theme by encouraging everyone to dream big for God. To do that, Christians must create an availability for Him, by killing the flesh (in thoughts, actions, feelings) then pray for the anointing. After all, she said, it hurts God when He knows you don’t want to be with Him. We’ve got to get radical, she encouraged, for God will reveal Himself. God will pass us by if we don’t get in love with Him, so get the hunger! Quit pressing the snooze button and wake up! If it doesn’t happen to you, it’s not going to happen—it will happen to the hungry. You may have Jesus name, but you don’t have God. She also recommended David Nasser’s A Call to Die, which is hot with hungry youth in denominational churches wanting more of God. Both sessions led straight into an abbreviated service before Bro. Hennigan preached on “Like No Tomorrow.” Starting with a quick story about Saddam Hussein’s capture, he explored how we must lose our addiction to tomorrow and act today. “We have been silent too long,” he pointed out. “He is ready to be heard around the world. What is it that you as a believer have? It’s the Holy Ghost and we’ve got to act!” “Don’t give your friends religion, please give your friends Jesus!” he urged. “End your addiction to tomorrow!” And then the altars were again overwhelmed as the teens ministered to each other and to Him. This spiritual hunger is the dominant characteristic of this generation. They are not interested in just events or purely emotional experiences. They are drawn to authenticity in everything. The annual Consecration conferences are tapping into this trait, recognizing that Apostolics are in a unique position, via communications technology, leadership, and rapid worldwide growth, to reshape our current culture. If this occurs, it will be due to wise leadership directing hungry young people toward God’s untainted glory and perfect will. ninetyandnine.com © 2004, Kent d Curry and Kat Wieland ---------- Kent d Curry is an executive editor of ninetyandnine.com, while Kat Wieland didn’t realize she was going to get drafted into being a reporter without proper notice. She attends the Apostolic Church in Barberton, OH.
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