Reports of Flames of Fire conference

We praise God for answering our prayers and filling us more and more with His Holy Spirit.

Many of us come to give our time and God-given talents, but how wonderful it is when He blesses us mightily in so many indescribable ways. Right from the start the Lord met with us, and was waiting for us. The first staff communion on Saturday morning was an awesome experience only to be improved by Sunday morning and the abundance of the grace of God which left me speechless. And that was just the beginning.......!

The words that spring to mind are full of awe and indescribable thanks that by relying upon God and not our own strength, He will work out His vision for us.

My thanks go to all who, in smaller and larger ways, gave themselves to ensure that our delegates and guests were provided for in all things, so that their time at Fflamau Tân/Flames of Fire was as fulfilling as possible. Thankfully most of the gaping holes in the organising were not fully apparent and usually plugged by an observant helper. The close unity of the Staff spread through the site and my overwhelming sense was one of "family". People met with each other openly and with Christian love, offering and receiving in equal measure. Receiving is important but giving is so much more essential, so please don't hold your blessings close, jealously hoarding them. Scatter what you have been given widely, let others share in God's goodness. I know (more than most) that “gospelling” the good news is not easy because you are afraid that people will think you are off the wall. Keep it simple, just tell it how it was, and is, for you. If your words come from the Lord and your heart they will bypass common sense and speak directly into the heart of another.

This year we doubled the numbers of children compared with last year, and our team strength went up to six.

There was a group of ten 4-5 year olds, with four aged 3-4, three aged 2-3, seven aged 1-2 and three less than a year old. Quite a challenge with need for a variety of activities.

We were able to include:

Children’s songs, we used Spring Harvest material,
Stories - based around the daily theme, using pictures and cartoons to explain it. This appeared to work well with the children.
Activities – for example we made flowers when we looked at plants, tasted fruit when the children looked at fruit, and we made a frieze to show the day and night animals.

In the afternoons we had a playtime. The use of face painting really worked well and matched at times within our theme of creation, there were lots of lions, tigers and dogs.

At this time we still do not yet have enough outside play toys. We would like to hear from anyone disposing of good quality, robust toys.

The materials we prepared worked well, especially the use of a dark room and glowing stars and Mr Happy proved a good investment and was well liked by the children. And he wants to come next year (PS he has no money so needs to be sponsored).

I would like to personally thank the other members of the crèche team for their hard work and support.

This year we were once again blessed to have the wavemakers’ team with us, from whom we have learned so much. Their programme will provide us with the basis for building our own in the years to come.

The children are eligible to come from the age of five and move on into the youth programme when they reach the entry point to secondary education. It is necessary for some activities to be done on an age basis, so the children are divided into two main groups, consisting of the five to sevens and the eight to tens. Within these two age ranges, the children are divided into small groups of up to twelve children, depending on numbers, each with its own group leader. The children register with these leaders at the beginning of each session. security and safety are paramount and so a ticket system operates which enables parents and children’s workers to ensure the whereabouts of both parents and children at the relevant times of day.

The programme is based on a theme for the week, in the same way that the adult programme is. Each day is made up of a mixture of worship, teaching, craft activities and games. Much of the teaching is done in a fun way, using drama and puppets, as well as more straight forward teaching done in small groups.

To say that there is such a thing as Children’s Ministry, is a bit like saying that everything that takes place in the main pavilion is adult ministry. In order for the work of the adult programme to happen a myriad of ministries are needed, the overhead projectionists, the ushers, the site crew, the intercessors and prayer warriors, the administration team and Nam’s Tape-away to name but a few! So it is with the children’s work.

For next year we will be needing to recruit to our team, first and foremost, people who love and have committed themselves to Jesus and secondly, people who feel his call to work with children. Amongst those people we will need giftings and skills such as prayer warriors, teachers, musicians, people who can organise games or art and craft activities, administrators, people who can build a set, make and/or operate puppets, organise a sound system, tea makers and general factotums! This list is not exhaustive.

Sometimes concern is expressed, that in doing this kind of work, one somehow misses out on ‘being fed’. The Wavemakers’ team has always brought with it, its own pastor and there is team prayer and worship, both morning and evening and we intend that this will continue. Furthermore, we do not have a God who confines feeding times to lectures and seminars. Working alongside children can be very nourishing, Jesus is there too!

Finally, you may have noticed that we did not have a logo on the front of our new T-shirts. This is because we have not as yet got a design for one. We are to be called Messengers and need any artists and craftspeople out there who feel the call, to design us a logo. The only stipulation is that it must be bilingual and therefore contain the Welsh translation, which is Cenhadon.

In Builth Wells once every year I go to Flames of Fire to have some fun and learn more about Jesus. Every year I make new friends, I sing new songs and I learn new things about Jesus, God, the bible and many many more. When I'm in Flames of Fire I feel happy because I'm with other Christians because people make fun of me being a Christian but I ignore them because I'm proud of what I am. When I'm with Flames of Fire we do craft, games, watch puppets, sing and learn about God and his son Jesus. I find everything about Flames of Fire fun and exciting and everyone is very friendly. I feel very sad when I have to go home to Wales and I can't wait to go back next year.

Just to say thank you for a wonderful conference... we were truly blessed if rather exhausted. My Grandson, James aged 8 said he wished it was for two weeks as he had such a wonderful time!!!! Ros Lee

Big Ideas was a fun and exciting way of getting to know loads of people and, most importantly getting to know God.

Every morning began with the 'Big Breakfast' hosted by Lois and Pete, it was an awesome way to start the day! We listened to music reviews, one to one interviews with some cool people and also we heard some terrible jokes!! The best part for me was the five minute quiet time where we read some parts of the Bible and prayed in our own way to God. After the 'Big Breakfast' we split up, the 11-14 year olds stayed in the Big Ideas room and the 15+'s went to another room. In both of the groups we listened to either Nigel or Alison speaking about something that is relevant to our lives as young people today.

In the evening session we had a great time of free worship, then we split up once again into the two groups. In the 11-14's there were some cool games, basically it was a wonderful way to meet and get to know people. In the 15+'s we discussed moral issues that affect teenagers in today's world. I found it brilliant that we could all sit down together and talk freely and confidentially with one another.

Big Ideas was the best thing I've ever experienced, it gave me the chance to meet loads of new people, and also it showed me how much God loves children. I got to know some amazing people while I was there - it was the best time I've ever had and I'll never forget it.

“It was such a great privilege for this "Indianan" to be part of the "Flames of Fire" conference from beginning to end.

At the precise time Bob's hand came down on the keyboard for the first note of the first song of the first meeting so also the anointing came down and the Presence of the Lord rushed into the room. "Let there be joy, Let there be peace, Let there be power, Let there be joy; joy in the Holy Ghost!" filled the room. I and many others were overcome with weeping for joy. Just as in Psalm 65:1 "Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; . . .", praise was awaiting Him in Builth Wells. Indeed, I believe if we had delayed just one minute longer the stones would have cried out! Thanks to the valuable work of faithful intercessors who had arrived weeks in advance a "clear heaven" opened over the conference site. One of those "thin places" between heaven and earth (a Celtic concept I learned from one of the speakers) had been created.

At the last session, Phil Rees' reading from a history of the demise of the 1904 Welsh revival, taking ownership of responsibility for "killing" it, and speaking positively of this next revival was a fitting capstone for the week. The lifting up and honoring of children and young people and those who minister to them was so appropriate. The Joel 2 outpouring on "your sons and your daughters" will have its rightful place and be carefully guarded by the stewards of the next revival.

All during the week I saw what the Lord had prepared me for in a dream a week before the leaving the States. I'll skip the details and go straight to the application. We charismatics from America have something to learn from the Anglican renewal. We have lost something of the awe of the mystery of God. I saw it in the solemn, silent Holy Communion the first day. There was hardly a dry eye in the place. Many were profoundly touched by the Holy Spirit when anointed with oil for service to Jesus Christ. I saw also the recognition of God-ordained leadership in the church. Something some American charismatics have lost sight of. Getting some of these things in better balance may help us to more effectively invite others into the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The dream also indicated members do not have to leave the Anglican church to move in the fullness of the river of the Spirit. The river is coming to them. God has touched men in key positions with readiness to receive the fullness of the Spirit's activity in these days.

“I must say what a privilege it was for us to interpret at this year's conference...I know the other interpreters felt the same. In total there were 3 deaf people who made themselves known and I have been told that another 2 people with hearing problems relied on us to receive the teaching but didn't make themselves known to us. God is so great and provides before the need is even known! We were made to feel part of the overall team (something that unfortunately doesn't happen in many conferences) and I was humbled at how many people, hearing and deaf, were blessed by us. I have never felt such a sense of privilege in my work as this before. Please apologise to Stuart Bell...but if he will use references to animals when there is a sign language interpreter about, he is asking for trouble! Anyway I am looking forward to next year's conference and would love to organise a sign language team again.”

From the Conference Coordinator - Dick Shenton