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If Wednesday’s sessions of Foursquare Connection 2011: “Accelerate—The Whole Gospel to the Whole World” brought a call to action, Thursday’s sessions were all about walking in practicality: putting feet to faith. Though the Thursday schedule was shorter than in the past—the convention ended its final session at 12:30 p.m.—the morning was jam-packed with words of motivation and encouragement from several different speakers.
First, however, there was business to be completed. In a business meeting led by Foursquare board of directors member Bill Chaney, senior pastor of Valley Christian Center (Fresno First Foursquare Church) in Fresno, Calif., the following outgoing board members were thanked for their service: Agabus Lartey, senior pastor of Family Life Fellowship (Hyde Park Foursquare Church) in Hyde Park, Mass.; Merrillyn Smith, senior pastor of Terre Haute Foursquare Church in Terre Haute, Ind.; and Steve Schell, senior pastor of Northwest Church (Federal Way Foursquare Church) in Federal Way, Wash.
Also acknowledged during the business meeting were newly elected members Jeff Lamont, senior pastor of New Song Louisville (Louisville 2 Foursquare Church) in Louisville, Ky.; and Peter Bonanno, senior pastor of Grace Capital (Pembroke Foursquare Church) in Pembroke, N.H.
The newly appointed members were also thanked: Greg Campbell, executive director of Foursquare Foundation, and Marion Ingegneri, senior pastor of Grace North Church (Anthem Foursquare Church) in Phoenix.
The convention body then voted to approve implementation of Foursquare Financial Solutions (FFS) as well as five bylaw adjustments. Following the voting, General Supervisor Tammy Dunahoo gave a report from the National Church Office, and led the audience in a candle-lighting ceremony symbolic of placing “a candle in every community.”
“When we work together,” Tammy affirmed, “we can light the world with the light of Jesus Christ.”
Tim Clark, senior pastor of Lifehouse (San Dimas Southwest Foursquare Church) in San Dimas, Calif., and John Fehlen, senior pastor of Salem West Foursquare Church in Salem, Ore., then presented a lighthearted video about baton handoffs, exhorting those who are more experienced to intentionally work toward smooth handoffs of the leadership baton as they mentor and train those who will someday succeed them.
Kelly Tshibaka, who co-pastors Mount Vernon Foursquare Fellowship in Alexandria, Va., with her husband, Niki, encouraged the convention body to “love, liberate, lead and launch” by asking the question, “Who is following me, and where am I leading them?” She was followed by Ted Vail, associate director of Foursquare Missions International—U.S. Missions, who presented a biblical perspective of immigration, noting, “God moves people from place to place so that they can hear the gospel.”
Gateway District Hispanic leader Daniel Prieto, co-pastor of Hope Boulder (Boulder Flatirons Foursquare Church) in Boulder, Colo., was next on the docket. Speaking in Spanish with an English interpreter, he told listeners, “It’s time to release our diversity!” and explained that Foursquare is more than just a missional movement—God has called Foursquare to be a multicultural movement.
The final speaker of the morning was Mike Kai, a native of Hawaii and senior pastor of Hope Chapel West Oahu (Waipahu Foursquare Church), whose message was simple and straightforward: “It doesn’t matter what you have,” he said. “It matters what you are doing with what God has given you.”
As has been customary in recent years, the conference concluded with a time of communion, led by Pastor Jack Hayford. Hearts were touched as the convention body sang a stirring a cappella version of “Holy, Holy, Holy.”
Foursquare Connection 2012 will convene in Phoenix from May 28–31, 2012, and Orlando, Fla., is the planned setting for the 2013 convention gathering. Information will be posted online in the coming months.
All of this week’s sessions on CD and DVD, as well as bonus material, including this year’s story DVDs, are available in the Foursquare 2011 Experience Kit for $149. Additional items, including individual sessions, are also available for puchase online.