A fresh awakening
Consecrating, commissioning, equipping and envisioning. This year’s ELS was a powerful time for Elim’s leaders. Here, ten pastors share their highlights
ELS is always an invaluable opportunity for Elim leaders to gather and be enriched, but this year’s event was especially poignant.
It marked the commissioning of Mark Pugh as the movement’s new General Superintendent, while honouring Chris Cartwright as he stepped down after eight years in the role. With its theme of ‘awakening’, it also served to bring messages of inspiration, hope and envisioning, with powerful times of worship and a fresh call to consecration.
So what were the highlights of this year’s ELS?
Shiv Rapley, City Gates Church and Elim’s Aspire team
Damilola Makinde’s message had a huge impact on me – from pausing her message to worship Jesus to bringing a powerful and life-changing word.
Not only is she a gifted speaker, she’s a great teacher who brought the Scripture to life. I left that session feeling inspired, empowered and full of hope for myself and others. I also really enjoyed ‘Leadership Health in Every Season’ with Leon Evans and Shirene Agbelusi. This session was very insightful and practical. Both Leon and Shirene have a wealth of wisdom and my notepad is full!
Other highlights include the consecration service with Mark Pugh. I’m excited to welcome him as our new GS and anticipate great things for us as a movement!
Damilola Makinde paused her message to worship
Harry Goodwin, The Well Church Wakefield
I was most impacted by Rachel Hickson’s message. It has seemed like there has been a feeling of impending doom in the Western church for some time and it has certainly been a painful few years. It was phenomenal to hear that truth acknowledged by Rachel, but then contexted in the position of hope.
She highlighted that the Lord’s awakening begins with him cleaning his house out, so this pain is actually a good thing. Rachel articulated so beautifully that we must persevere through the pain into the promise of our Pentecostal roots; knowing we are called to be a house of miracles, a voice to our nation, a holy offering to the Lord!
What felt bleak now feels full of hope. Hallelujah!
Felix Appiah, Elim Clapham
Once again ELS was fantastic and impactful. There was an awesome line-up of brilliant speakers, however I was particularly drawn to Chris Cartwright’s message titled ‘Awakening a Heavenly Vision’.
Chris stated that great awakenings always start with small beginnings, and most of the time they happen on ordinary days. I cannot tell you how those statements have ignited a sense of hunger in my spirit. I have a longing to see a move of God in our country and other nations across the world.
As a church community in Clapham we will be positioning our hearts towards God’s so we can be a blessing to the community around us. And we will be stepping out in faith, knowing God has promised his presence will be with us always.
Tim Cooling, Glossop Elim
I was deeply impacted at ELS. I encountered God’s powerful presence in a way that I am still trying to articulate.
During the final session we were called to a moment of consecration, to set ourselves apart for the purposes of God. We were reminded of the immense holiness of God, who calls us to join his side. In a previous session, Damilola Makinde had said that “those whom God purchases, he fully possesses”, and that “there is passionate jealousy in the heart of God for a people who will worship him and honour him as he ought to be worshipped.”
The time of consecration ended with prayer. I felt burdened to pray for the church I serve. I prayed they would not only know God’s wisdom but experience his transformative power. It was then the power of God rested on me and I began to weep, burdened with God’s heart for the people he has called me to. I want to thank all the team who made ELS happen. It was a significant time for myself and for the team who came with me.
Elim Sound led powerful times of worship
Carl Johnston, Letchworth Garden City Church
ELS was a significant event filled with memorable moments. The highlight was undoubtedly Mark Pugh’s commissioning as General Superintendent, marking a new chapter for the movement with fresh vision and energy.
The final session deeply resonated with me, calling for a renewed commitment to holiness and purpose. The challenge was clear: to embrace a lifestyle of consecration, ensuring every action and decision aligns with God’s heart and brings him glory.
Other standout moments included the palpable sense of the Holy Spirit’s presence throughout the week. Damilola Makinde’s session was particularly brilliant, uncovering new insights from a familiar story in a spine-tingling manner.
The annual opportunity at ELS to re-connect with old friends and make new ones is always a joy. As Elim continues to grow and advance the kingdom of God in the UK, the Summit remains a vital and inspiring event.
Beryl Glass, Clydebank Elim Church
God touched my heart in a profou nd way at ELS, through the messages of awakening, culminating in a powerful encounter with him in the final session.
Rachel Hickson spoke on being ‘Awakened with Purpose’. Her words, “Hear his urgent call, the best is yet to come!” caught me off guard. I had struggled with hearing that message, especially in times of disappointment.
However, God was working in my heart, drawing me nearer, dealing with my pain, bringing healing and renewing my desire for him! I found myself repenting, praising God for the eternal hope we have and that his work wasn’t finished.
In the final session I was overwhelmed by the power of God’s presence – there was a sense that it was just me and him in that space.
I’m certain that from a position of surrender in the place of consecration, God awakened my heart in a much deeper way to him than I have ever sensed before.
Mark Lyndon-Jones, MPower
One of the sessions that impacted me the most was ‘Awakened with Purpose’ with Rachel Hickson. She emphasised letting God awaken our eyes with fresh vision, our hearts with new compassion and our hands with miracles to advance with the promises he gives. Through the powerful preaching of the Word, blended with her unique prophetic edge, she stressed five key points for awakening:
1. God’s people cleaning up their lives
2. God’s people giving themselves to the Word
3. God’s people focusing on the good news of Jesus
4. God’s people devoting themselves to prayer
5. God’s people giving extravagantly
The session drew from Isaiah 52:1-2 and Ephesians 5:14-15, urging us to wake up, clothe ourselves with strength and live wisely.
It resonated deeply as a call to spiritual renewal, emphasising the transformative power of the gospel and the church awakening through faith and action.
Chloe Swart from Alpha UK was a guest speaker
Dan Bennett, Beacon Elim Church Malvern
The message that impacted me most was with Damilola Makinde. She captured something incredible in what she communicated about the life and struggles of Hannah.
She took her message into the place of heartache, pain and sorrow, and examined how God can use that in our lives. It was a difficult message to hear, but it’s also true and authentic. Alongside the preaching, it’s the spontaneous conversation with fellow ministers and friends you haven’t seen for a while. That’s what energises me and causes me to realise, again and again, the importance of journey and relationship.
Jamie Lavery, Elim Church Crawley
There were many God moments at ELS that I could ref lect on, but the most impacting message for me wasn’t in words; it was the message of the transition between Chris Cartwright and Mark Pugh as General Superintendent.
The sense of love, cheering each other on, embracing the new season and honour for one another was heart-warming and humbling to witness.
In that moment, there was the acknowledgement of what God has done through Chris, bringing the movement to where we are, and the encouragement to press on and keep in step with what the Spirit is doing under the stewardship of Mark.
Leanne Mallett, Aspire
There were many highlight moments this year at ELS, making it difficult to pick just one. However, one standout moment occurred on Tuesday evening when David Hall reminded us of some fundamental truths about who we are as Pentecostal believers.
He made impactful statements such as “the word of God stands forever” and “we believe in the Bible,” encouraging us “to preach the gospel like Jesus is coming back.”
David emphasised the importance of believing once again for signs and wonders, affirming that God still heals in 2024. These were powerful reminders that reignited our faith and commitment afresh.
This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.
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