June 17, Worship Leaders Forum, Church of Love, Rochester, NY
Friday: Today I’m flying to Rochester, NY, to be with my hosts, Ron & Valery Sykes, and the ministry they have lined up for me for the weekend. Here’s what Ron has arranged:
- tonight is a cookout with some of the Saturday Forum leaders
- Saturday morning is a Forum with worship leaders from the region. They will have a panel-type Forum, after which I will speak for around 45-60 minutes. 8:30 to noon. Venue is Church of Love.
- Saturday 5:00 pm: The regular weekend service at Shepherd’s Heart Church in Spencerport
- Sunday 10 a.m.: The regular weekend service at Church of Love, Rochester
My host, Ron, provides leadership to the Saturday church, and is on the pastoral staff of the Sunday church, leading right now in the areas of children and youth. Plus he’s an exceptional musician and worship leader. Our connection is through our mutual IHOPKC affiliation. He and his wife served on staff at IHOPKC for several years before returning to Rochester earlier this year—the city of their roots. They’re just fantastic people.
Friday 6:00 pm: I’m now at my place of lodging, with Jay and Laurel Lynn. If you’re interested, here’s a bit of some back story. When my brother Sheldon was a student at Elim (early 70s), he attended a church in Rochester called Covenant Church, Paul Garlington pastor. He was very enthusiastic about the church, and took me there once. Turns out I’m lodged in the home of the guy who was the primary drummer of that church back in those days. His first question to me, upon collecting me at the airport was, am I related to Sheldon? He did some recording (drumming) with Sheldon’s Elim choir way on back. Some years later, that church collapsed. My host church this weekend, colfc.org, is one of the city churches that has taken over where Covenant Church left off. This has been Jay and Laurel’s home church for 17 years now.
Saturday 1:30 pm: Today’s worship forum was marvelous. Strong sense of the Lord’s presence. The panelists on the forum did an amazing job, such excellent insight and help for everyone. I spoke on an eye covenant. At the close, a worship team spontaneously came up (whoever felt to do so), and I anointed with oil the eyes of those who desired that anointing of the Holy Spirit. Which ended up being the whole room, smile. Then they just hung out and worshiped — they were still going when I left with my hosts an hour after the closing. (I left to honor my hosts, and also to prepare for this afternoon’s 5:00 pm service.) The Lord honored our gathering with His presence and I think everyone was edified and renewed. I was.
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