I may be biased, but to me the 7 Essentials Seminar was a blast! 79 people from 16 States and 1 Canadian province made the effort to come together for a time of sharing and learning things together and it was memorable! Here’s a little bit of what happened and I’ll closed with giving you feedback from the adults who attended and the kids who participated in the special evening Service on Friday. It was a short seminar, crammed from morning ‘til evening with all kinds of goodies and even better was the fact that the Holy Spirit was felt so strongly in the meeting room all through the event.

We were able to get someone to lead us in live worship and we had a wonderful time. So much so that the doors on the chapel two floors down were vibrating with our praise/worship…we definitely made the rafters ring. Then, we went through each of the first three Essentials and had times of interaction and demonstration. Lots of good ideas were shared by all who attended. Then, after lunch on site, the workshops got into full swing. We’ve heard good things from them as they were hands-on training and experiences.

We served dinner then as we were beginning to go forward with some discussion about our next meeting (and if we should have one), the fire alarm went off and we had to exit the building into very cold, windy conditions. What an interruption! People were saying that it confirmed the importance of what was going on as they felt it was an attack by the enemy to distract us, to keep us from experiencing everything God had for us. When we were finally cleared to re-enter the building the evening started with a bang. A youth band led us into worship as we were joined by over twenty children for the evening.

Now this is when things got interesting. For the first time ever, the kids who joined us from two separate churches, were given the reins of their “segment.” There were no time constraints, rules, or adult leadership guiding them. They were simply instructed to follow what they felt the Holy Spirit was leading them to do. We did all kinds of things, were prayed for in all kinds of ways and enjoyed quite a time of dynamic intergenerational ministry.

After a brief word of encouragement about incorporating children into the Body of Christ, we entered into a time of “reconciliation” praying done between the generations. The grandparent generation came first and repented for their ways of thinking about the grandchildren generation, as they bowed before the kids. It was beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. Then the children responded by forgiving and praying for the grandparent generation. About half way through one little girl said, “It should have been us apologizing, because we’ve been disrespectful. You shouldn’t have to apologize.” From then, something broke in the hearts of all present. After their time of response, young and old turned to minister to the generation between them…often forgotten, many times frustrated. Everyone in the room was ministered to before going home in a deep and personal way. It was absolutely beautiful to see. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Saturday we wound up going through the remaining four Essentials…we were so full and processing so much information that it seemed the “cup was running over.” I was deeply impacted by those who attended and by all the Lord did in our midst. We’ve heard good things back already and are excited and the possibilities this seminar will bring to the surface.

Now for some of the comments from the adults…

• "Great format. Great resources. Continue to keep it real-life and down to earth."
• "It was a very spiritual and exciting seminar."
• "I believe in the power of prayer to change the lives of children in our community...[our] small rural church [has] become the lighthouse to a lost generation of kids."
• "I have worked with children since I was 13 years old, and I have always had this vision for the children I work with. Thank you for showing me how to accomplish it."
• "...I have been freed in my own worship."
• "...thank you for helping us get back on the right track."
• "Wow!! Look what the Lord has done...we will help spread this fire on our local level!"

…and children.

• The Lord really helped us. I felt His power surging around. I knew He was helping people. I wanted to cry and shout out His Name. He really did it! He really enjoyed the “drumming part” cause I felt the walls were actually coming down!
• It built my faith. I’ve only experienced church when older teens or adults were allowed to minister but in this case we were able to minister to everyone as the Lord led us. I really liked the drumming cause I was able to completely give myself to worship. I was impacted greatly when the Grandparents came before us and apologized. They didn’t have to do that.
• It was cool to be in a service and be able to pray with a bunch of young people and feel the presence of God. I heard something but I wasn’t sure if it was God, but then I hesitated, and then someone else went to the mic and spoke exactly what I had been told, so it was a confirmation to me that I heard from God. I like the drumming part and being able to walk around with everyone. It was neat but also different.
• I liked how we were able to minister to the adults and how the adults let us minister unto them and how they respected us enough to trust us with their request. I was moved greatly when the Grandparents knelt before us and repented. I liked the drumming part because it different but I felt the Lord as well.
• I thought it was really cool to express my inner being by being able to worship Him using the drums. During the drumming God spoke to me saying that “walls were falling down”! The event was like a stepping-stone for the “World Changers” so that He will use children to minister in a mighty way. Also I felt the power of God throughout the service. I felt a liberty to minister to those present at this event, and I heard God speaking to me during the service many times…it was hard to breathe when He spoke to me!