The Empowered21 Asia Conference, which opened on Wednesday, May 31, 2017, under the theme: “Wind and Fire,” ended on Friday, June 2, 2017, in Singapore.
The three-day conference brought together Christian leaders from 258 churches from 49 nations with over 7,000 participants including 1,500 young people.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Billy Wilson, the Global Co-Chair of Empowered21, said the Spirit-empowered movement traces its background not just from the Azusa Street revival in the United States of America but to the Upper Room in Jerusalem after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ as recorded in Acts 2:1-4 when the Holy Spirit entered the room like a mighty rushing wind.
He said during creation, the world was in chaos and without order, but the Holy Spirit was hovering above the water; subsequently, God spoke and the Holy Spirit brought about creativity and order into the world.
Dr Wilson, who is also the President of the Oral Roberts University, emphasized that: “when the wind moves, life comes and it is the breath of God.”
An important feature of this year’s Asia conference was the pairing of pastors and their children to preach sermons throughout the conference.
According to the Host Pastor of the conference, Pastor Lawrence Khong of Faith Community Baptist Church, Singapore, Asia is concerned about the future of the church in the hands of the next generation; therefore there is a plan to ensure that tomorrow’s leaders receive adequate training and guidance from Christian leaders around the world.
Among the paired preachers included Father and son; Rick and Jeremy Seaward (Victory Family Centre, Singapore), Pastor Colton and Dishan Wickramaratine (People’s Church, Colombo, Sri Lanka), Father and daughter; Dennis and Sharon Balcombe (Revival Christian Church, Hong Kong), Father and daughter; Lee Seung Bang and Esther Lee (All Nations Church, South Korea), Father and daughter; Cesar and Sara Castellanos (International Charismatic Mission, Colombia), Lawrence and Daniel Khong (Faith Community Baptist Church, Singapore), Host pastors of the conference and Niko and Billy Njotorahardjo (Gareja Bethel , Indonesia).
Other speakers at the conference included Prophetess Cindy Jacobs (Generals International, USA), Wayne Hilsden (King of Kings Community Church, Jerusalem, Israel), Evangelist Daniel Kolenda (President, Christ for All Nations), David Yonggi Cho (Full Gospel Church, South Korea), David Mohan (Superintendent of Assemblies of God Churches, India), among others.
According to Pastor Khong, the year 2017 marks the 500th year of the Protestant Reformation and the 111thyear of the Azusa Street Revival.
“In Singapore, it is the 45th anniversary of a divine visitation, which catalyzed the greatest charismatic renewal movement. Across Asia, hope is rising in anticipation of a historic outpouring of the spirit in the 21st century,” he said.
The meeting also acknowledged and honoured Christian leaders who have helped with the growth of the church in Asia.
The Empowered21 Conference is a Holy Spirit-led movement of World Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches with a vision to ensure that each person on earth would have an authentic encounter with Jesus Christ through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit by Pentecost 2033.
The Empowered21 Africa Conference would take place in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2018 and, it is anticipated that thousands of African Youth leaders would be mobilized to participate in the event. As a result, a preparatory meeting is being held in Accra in June 2017 in preparation towards the conference to be held in Africa next year.