More reports for 2002

Crèche	Messengers	Big Ideas / Ignite
More Comments	Flames of Fire Site	Return to magazine 29

REFLECTIONS from the CONFERENCE OFFICE

Another year, another Fflamau Tân/Flames of Fire, more friends, more excitement, more memories. What a storehouse to stash away in my already overloaded brain! Each year has been special, to see the efforts of Satan defeated and the Lord graciously prevail through the outworking of His Holy Spirit. So many people touched by the love of Jesus, so many lives transformed and so much love poured out.

Every year I come in the expectation that Jesus will already be at Builth Wells, and then...just before we leave I wonder if I dare believe it.....yet when we arrive there He is, the ground prepared ready for the harvest. Thank you Lord!!

It is such a joy to see so many giving so generously of their time and talents in helping many more to benefit more fully. Through their efforts all the preparations come together to produce almost seamless combination which ensures that the whole week runs smoothly. Without our Staff Team nothing would happen, and this year we say goodbye to Val Rowlands (Bookings), Ray Smith (Administration), Cherril Watts (Crèche), and a part of Paul Thompson (you’d better ask him which part!): all key figures in the development of our family festival. Our most sincere thanks to them.

Most of these posts are vacant, as of course is my rôle as co-ordinator, which provides an excellent opportunity for moving forward to encompass new talents, new ideas and new concepts of spreading the load under different structures. If God has prompted you to become involved in some of the preparatory work then please write to Phil our Chairman giving information of your background, skills, age and the amount of time you could make available.

For me the years have been memorable, filled with challenges, friendships, close fellowships and more support and goodwill than could be hoped for (although not always of the right sort in the right places!). Taking a back seat will be very enjoyable for one thing I will be able to hear some speakers live instead of on tape.

Fflamau Tân/Flames of Fire has been prophetically described as becoming a “significant event in Wales”. We look forward to the future with excited anticipation.

Finally as I say adieu (but not goodbye) I would like to thank each one who has contributed practically and with prayer but most of all my thanks to my wife Kath whose long suffering patience has been tested to the limit, but she has always been a stalwart supporter of everything that I have undertaken.

This year our theme was" Parables" well some of them, and as usually we started with singing and dancing, the children are so good at this and love making a noise . We then had story time , and craft time, and play time, which is very important as God loves to play.

The team and I just hope that the children enjoyed themselves. and the parents were happy with what we did.

I would like to thank all the staff and all who helped run Tiddley Peeps it is a privilege to sever God in this way.

Messengers

I had a dream! A few days before the conference this year, I dreamt that I had completed and been discharged from an assignment and so I was proceeding on my way. I came to a river, which I was determined to cross, even though the river was quite full. I started to wade in and then realised, that l was out of my depth and the force of its current was potentially overwhelming. My first reaction was to strive against it, to avoid drowning and reach the other side at all costs. It was then that I realised, that the water was not overwhelming me, but supporting me, carrying me downstream. I wasn’t sure why I was prevented from reaching the other side, but in the days that followed, I realised that being carried was preferable to going it alone and downstream, to who knows where, can be quite an adventure!

The theme of this year’s conference was ’We need You Lord’ — and we did! Each day we had over one hundred children and we started with less staff than last year, yet every area of need was covered. Both staff and gophers worked extremely hard, yet there was a sense of peace and also of joy. It has been wonderful to see how God has ministered to the members of the team in the preceding months, both individually and collectively. As I said on the Tuesday night, it is our task to try to walk in Jesus footsteps and to encourage the children to come alongside. We can’t do this without Him. Praise the Lord.

By the end of the week, several people had come forward to enquire about joining us. I still haven’t told you much about what we did, but maybe you could, like them, come and see for yourself. Yes, we do have worship, Bible study, prayer, ministry time, seminars, workshops, talks and a lot more, but you just may not recognise the format in which they come.

“It was amazing, as usual, I enjoyed every second of it. It moved me so much.”

Of the all age worship sessions she says, “They were JUST PERFECT for me because I’m Eleven” She also enjoyed being interviewed on the stage.

(Editor’s note - Thank you for your return of the questionnaire, God Bless you)

So many delegates had a really wonderful time with the Lord. Many commented that it was the best conference so far, this year taking them closer to God. Never before have we had so many reports of healings of emotions and indeed of physical healing. Throughout the week there were testimonies to backs, knees and shoulders being restored after people attended Mike Endicott’s sessions. He is raising the expectation of all who listen to him. His words were, ” our gracious Lord touched so many - there were times when gifts of physical healing seemed to flow almost like water! Most of the team came home zonked out with the excitement of it all. God is so good!”

The week was described as “one of the best of my life”, as “inspiring and helpful”, as “awesome”, as “gentle, sound based and full of the presence of God”, as “refreshing and encouraging”, as “a little bit of heaven”, as “a safe place where God touched me deeply” and “ I could never put it into words”. So many were deeply moved and witnessed to a growth in faith and to the joy of having all-age worship. The music led by Bob Pitcher and Rachel Halstead’s signing were much appreciated and we thank the Lord for providing us with such a wonderful environment in which to praise Him. Someone said, “I arrived crushed and go leaping and praising the LORD!”
Lis James’ singing of “Mi glywaf dyner lais………” moved many and there were requests for more Welsh. This indicates a move forward in unity, we pray for Renewal to touch all the churches and chapels in Wales. When the vision for Flames of Fire was first given it was hoped that we would provide a festival in Wales that everyone could be a part of, gradually we are touching the other denominations and we hope that we can be seen as “All One in Christ Jesus”. Some of us have not been in Wales long but we have come to be a part of what God is doing here, we welcome too those that come just for the conference, it is good to know that people want to join us, not only from England, but from Scotland and several parts of Africa too.

Regarding helpers we value every offer of help and ask now for more volunteers for next year. Although there is a cost for each volunteer we all have a great time, it is a privilege to serve in this venture. Any volunteers can contact by at Clicking here

Ignite at Flames of Fire 2002

We had an awesome summer this year at Flames of Fire. God always blows me away - when I think that it can't ever get any better unless I was in heaven, God flippin does his stuff and goes one better than the year before!

This summer was the sixth Flames of Fire I have attended and looking back, every year has been amazing and each better than the one before it! HOW INCREDIBLE WILL IT BE NEXT YEAR...???!!!

This was the first time we brought Ignite to Builth, as a week long program. God challenged so many young people. I was incredibly moved on the last night of Flames of Fire when almost all of the young people responded to Nigel¹s talk about being a farmer and sowing the seed "those who sow with tears will reap with joy"! ALL THESE YOUNG PEOPLE DESPERATELY WANTING THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES TO BE SAVED! God is rising up, preparing and equipping a generation of young people to live for his glory and to serve him with all their hearts. It's so exciting!! Our program in general was packed full with vibes of laughter and chilling in the morning with the breakfast show, wise teaching in both the morning and in the evening, quality worship all through the day and laughter and chilling in the late-night slot too. Most of all, our venue was exploding with God! People felt the Spirit of God as they walked in the door!! THAT'S FLIPPIN MASSIVE!!!!

Here's some words from the young people themselves...(for those of you who are not used to internet/text language, now's your chance to learn - a challenge but you will get there!)

Hi guys just 2 let u no im in agreement with all said on Flames this year it was truly lush! God moved so powerfully and now im totally on fire with all the things hes got planned for me, if a little scared!!

Flames of Fire 2002 was gr8 you could really feel the Holy Spirit as you walked thru the door into big ideas and the sighting of angels really got me praising the lord. The worship band were the best thnx guys/jessa. the same song gets me every time and if it wasn't for the band I would of given up hope. thnx to all the leaders you done a gr8 job from Gareth (the 1 with the flag)

I just got back from an amazing week at F.O.F. and I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone on da team for their love, encouragement and support during the week and especially to Gill my pastoral group leader. u guys are amazing. see u all at da reunion. - Jess Wilson

To Lois and co at Ignite, Cheers for helping me become a Christian. Best decision of my life! Love Beccy - Beccy Coster

To everyone at Ignite God Bless all my new friends. Thankyou...this is a hug for you all love from Leighton - Leighton Parry