Paying Attention to Prayer

More than 1,500 people from across the nation gathered last month for the third annual Acts 6:4 conference at Van Buren First Assembly of God in Arkansas. People representing over 150 churches came to the three-day event, while more than 4,000 people viewed the Jan. 5-7 services via live stream.

The prayer and Bible conference is a grassroots gathering of Pentecostal ministers and laity who uphold the 16 AG fundamental truths and the Acts 2 experience in carrying out the Great Commission.

Retired AG General Superintendent Thomas Trask served as keynote speaker at the conference, and led prayer times with his son Brad T. Trask, pastor of Brighton Assembly of God in Michigan.

An array of speakers led services held morning, afternoon, and evening. They included Evangelist Martha Tennison of Lake Ozark, Missouri; Pastor John Parish of Lighthouse Christian Center in Eufaula, Oklahoma; Arkansas District Superintendent Larry Moore; evangelist and author Earl Carter; and retired AG Assistant General Superintendent Charles Crabtree. Bible professor Adonna Otwell of Southwestern Assemblies of God University hosted a luncheon for women in ministry.

Salvations, Holy Spirit baptisms, and healings — including one person healed instantly of the effects of a stroke — occurred in the altar services.

"Acts 6:4 was an absolutely powerful modern-day move of God that is needed among the generations of today,” said Britt Brooks, new pastor of the host church. “Mighty men and women of God came together to celebrate our Pentecostal heritage.

Brooks became pastor at Van Buren First AG shortly before the conference. Bobby L. Johnson, who had been pastor at the church for more than 30 years, died in August 2015.

Moore, the Arkansas District superintendent, expressed contentment with the event.

"If I were to single out one thing, it would be the genuine unity of spirit and sincere brotherly love that permeated the atmosphere, not only in every service, but also in the times of unstructured fellowship,” Moore said.

The conference has operated the past three years charging no registration fee. Northpoint Bible College and AG Financial Solutions provided lunches. Many pastors received scholarships for lodging through the new Bobby L. Johnson Scholarship Fund.

Services, including praise and worship, can be found here. 

The conference in 2017 will be held Jan. 3-5, again at Van Buren First Assembly.

Crys Funderburg