by George Akers

General Ministry Conference 2009 convened the last week of June in Birmingham, Alabama at the Birmingham Sheraton. The 2009 conference was a week of ministry on purpose. It had all the earmarks of fine tuning ministry for the purpose of becoming a movement of Christianity in our times that is based on “Precision.” The attendance to this conference was tremendous as our main focus was on hearing from God and organizing our efforts to meet the directives given to us of the Holy Ghost.

This was our election year for our national offices. The following was the outcome of our elections:

• General Superintendent: Robert Martin
• Southern Regional Representative / 1st Assistant: Mark McCool
• Northern Regional Representative / 2nd Assistant: Tim Gill
• Western Regional Representative / 3rd Assistant: Charles Hancock
• General Secretary/Treasurer: Roger Gray
• World Missions Director: ML Walls
• Missions America Director: Bill Mills
• Church Growth Director: Randy Tahyi
• Apostolic Crusaders President: Michael Jadrnicek
• Evangelist Director: Kenneth Allen
• Christian Schools Director: Joe Nelson
• Women’s Esprit President: Penny Carpenter

The National Women’s Esprit held progressive business, training our ministers’ wives and women’s leadership and holding a very insightful and informative seminar on “Fine Tuning Minister’s Wives” with Pat Wilson and Faythe Gill speaking.

Pastor Dale Bostic from Lubbock, Texas gave the conference’s keynote address and was mightily anointed of God when he spoke on “No Margin for Error.”

All the sessions on Wednesday morning were instructive and equipped our ministry to return to their respective fields of labor ready to fine tune ministry and reach our world. Pastor Jack Batson (Nashville, Tennessee) taught a wonderful session on “The Gifts of the Spirit” while Bishop Raymond Bishop (New Albany, Mississippi) and Bishop Don Johnson (Memphis, Tennessee) taught on “Fine Tuning Ministry in the Golden Years.” Then Pastor Mark McCool (Knoxville, Tennessee) took the podium and taught us on how to “Fine Tune Ministry Priorities,” and Bishop M.L. Walls (Medora, Indiana) delivered an anointed word on “A Personal Walk with God.” Bishop Walls told us that the farther the apostle Paul walked with God, the less he saw of himself and the more he saw of God. He started out in the first years of his ministry declaring himself “the apostle of God.” But in the course of about 20 years, he sees himself as “less than the least of all saints,” and even further into his ministry and walk with God he calls himself “chief of sinners.”

World Missions conducted a service on Wednesday afternoon with our World Missions Director, Bishop M.L. Walls casting vision. Associate Pastor Chad Erickson of First Apostolic Church of Maryville, Tennessee delivered a very moving and inspiring message on “Intentional Giving.” This message will motivate anyone to get involved in missions giving. The key to revival at home is giving to missions.

General Superintendent Robert Martin challenged us as he ministered the Word of God to our movement, “Finding the Upper Room.” We were challenged to seek out and find the upper room experience that birthed the New Testament Church. Unity is a must today even as it was then.

On Thursday morning I was privileged to teach “Fine Tuning Leadership Staff,” followed by Pastor Kenny Carpenter (Maryville, Tennessee) teaching on “Fine Tuning Outreach,” and Bishop Steve Wilson teaching on “Fine Tuning Young Ministers.” The sessions were informative, inspiring, anointed and directed by the Spirit of God.

A big thank you to Nathan Roberts for ministering to our Kids Krusade each night with his gifted and anointed ministry. Brother Roberts is one of the greatest men to work with and has a very kind and gentle spirit.

This conference that was themed “Precision” was all summed up in the final message on Thursday night by Bishop Billy McCool (Knoxville, Tennessee). Bishop McCool preached in the anointing and wisdom that only Bishop McCool can. His message title was “The Day Jesus Quit the Church.” It is truly a pentecostal classic that made its mark on the history of our organization in the very moments of its delivery. It was destined to be one of the greats. What a challenge came from the Bishop as he warned us of the dangers of becoming a stagnant, empty, aimless church that will lose the presence of Jesus.

Since the closing moments of General Ministry Conference 2009, many have remarked how much they were blessed, moved of God and ready to return home to fine tune ministry for end time revival.

George Akers pastors First Apostolic Church in Sanford, North Carolina.