A concentrated, multi-day experience of great Christian teaching, worship, prayer, confession, alone-time with God and celebration has an impact that is hard to describe. This reality is not just true in our spiritual lives but in other parts of our lives as well.
Many language programs have extended “immersion” programs to see rapid improvement in language acquisition and skills. Athletic teams have week-long and sometimes summer-long intensive training programs to dramatically move students forward in their athletic abilities. What’s true of your mind and true of your physical body is also true of your soul and spirit. You were designed to have these multiple-day Christian conferences for your spiritual well-being but many Christians are unaware of this, even though this has been true from the beginning!
As you may know, the ancient Israelites were told to keep three feasts per year: the Feast of Unleavened Bread for one week, the Feast of Pentecost which was a weekend, and the Feast of Tabernacles which was a week long. During these times there was celebration, public reading of the Bible, teaching, praise and worship and confession of sin (see: Exodus 23:14-19; Nehemiah 8; and 2 Chronicles 30). All families as part of the nation of Israel were required to keep these three annual feasts so that they would be strengthened in their love for God, ready and able to serve Him and walk with Him all year long. Unfortunately, the Israelites did not always keep these feasts and their hearts strayed away from the Lord. But, periodically during the years they would repent, return to God and hold these feasts with spectacular results. As examples, read Nehemiah 8 and 2 Chronicles 30 to notice the extraordinary joy and zeal for God that would develop during these feasts.
What was true for the Israelites is also true for all seekers after God through the ages.
Church history is littered with accounts of powerful moves of God coming out of extended Christian conferences. The Scots had events called “Holy Fairs” which were extended Christian conferences with powerful spiritual impact. At Oasis of Healing Ministries, we hold these to be true, and for this reason, The Inspire Conference was conceived by the unction of the Holy Spirit.