Dear Aletha & Council Members,
It was evident long before we arrived in Nashville that God was going to do some extraordinary things with our group. I was charged as District Coordinator for the Indianapolis district to once again publicize and coordinate our district effort to get our ladies hungry for the fire. Like last year we mailed letters to every church on the district speaking of the dates and anticipation of God meeting with each of us. I spoke at every opportunity available and distributed the CDs with testimonies that were shown between services at many of our district churches and at district functions. I prayed along with district council members that God would place the hunger in women’s hearts across our district to attend and be fed.
The previous year we had 10 women from across the district. This year you could feel God moving as women were indeed responding. We had a total of 72 women from our district in attendance and added women right up to the day before we departed for Nashville! I woke up two days before we left thinking how excited our ladies were and how excited God must be that from across the nation and beyond, His daughters were traveling to meet with Him.
It is hard to explain Come to the Fire, it is so much more than a conference it truly is an experience that is so personal it is difficult to find the appropriate words. It is a revival, a holiness summit, a worship experience and a journey!
I was blessed to arrive early and participate in a meeting early in the day to prepare altar workers and to anoint each other and the facility. When I arrived I could feel God there waiting for us in that sanctuary. It is so special how many women had been bathing this event in prayer for months, seeking God’s will and anointing from the first session to the last and beyond as each woman returns to their lives, taking the fire home with them.
Thursday night we opened in worship and it was awesome, Melinda and the worship team set the atmosphere for an attitude of worship. Beth Coppedge spoke that night; she has such a gift for allowing the Holy Spirit to use her to deliver messages that are entertaining in presentation but serious for the soul. Our ladies arrived back at the hotel and although tired from the trip there, alert and buzzing from the opening service. The sense of anticipation was building in each of them.
Friday morning was again such a wonderful beginning as we began the day as sisters joined in common heart and pursuit of finding Him. We had a special blessing in our time together during the Healing service, Carolyn Johnson walked her sisters through a process of repenting, forgiving, receiving and committing. I was blessed to be part of the anointing team for that special service. It was so special to see women freed from the bondage that some had been carrying for 30 years, they had indeed ‘Received their Inheritance’.
Concluding with communion on Saturday was so appropriate. It was dining with our Father before we left our special time with Him. Our ladies were excited to take the fire home but disappointed to leave our time with our sisters and our Father.
Thank you so much for your obedience and commitment in allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and direct the planning of this event. The Council reflects such evidence of their sensitivity of the Holy Spirit in their participation and preparation. This event has changed generations to come. Women are leaders; in their homes, work place, communities, schools and churches. When we have women who are passionate for God they shine that light everywhere they go. Families have been forever changed because of women responding to God’s leading at this event. Many have come ready to give up on their lives, marriages and children but have left with a new sense of purpose and the power of the Holy Spirit to enable them in their journey.
We are excited to have Come to the Fire coming to Indiana in 2010. Our ladies have already been inviting and talking about their next Come to the Fire experience.
In His Love & Service,
Rev. Vanessa H. Betancourt
District Coordinator, Indianapolis District
It was evident long before we arrived in Nashville that God was going to do some extraordinary things with our group. I was charged as District Coordinator for the Indianapolis district to once again publicize and coordinate our district effort to get our ladies hungry for the fire. Like last year we mailed letters to every church on the district speaking of the dates and anticipation of God meeting with each of us. I spoke at every opportunity available and distributed the CDs with testimonies that were shown between services at many of our district churches and at district functions. I prayed along with district council members that God would place the hunger in women’s hearts across our district to attend and be fed.
The previous year we had 10 women from across the district. This year you could feel God moving as women were indeed responding. We had a total of 72 women from our district in attendance and added women right up to the day before we departed for Nashville! I woke up two days before we left thinking how excited our ladies were and how excited God must be that from across the nation and beyond, His daughters were traveling to meet with Him.
It is hard to explain Come to the Fire, it is so much more than a conference it truly is an experience that is so personal it is difficult to find the appropriate words. It is a revival, a holiness summit, a worship experience and a journey!
I was blessed to arrive early and participate in a meeting early in the day to prepare altar workers and to anoint each other and the facility. When I arrived I could feel God there waiting for us in that sanctuary. It is so special how many women had been bathing this event in prayer for months, seeking God’s will and anointing from the first session to the last and beyond as each woman returns to their lives, taking the fire home with them.
Thursday night we opened in worship and it was awesome, Melinda and the worship team set the atmosphere for an attitude of worship. Beth Coppedge spoke that night; she has such a gift for allowing the Holy Spirit to use her to deliver messages that are entertaining in presentation but serious for the soul. Our ladies arrived back at the hotel and although tired from the trip there, alert and buzzing from the opening service. The sense of anticipation was building in each of them.
Friday morning was again such a wonderful beginning as we began the day as sisters joined in common heart and pursuit of finding Him. We had a special blessing in our time together during the Healing service, Carolyn Johnson walked her sisters through a process of repenting, forgiving, receiving and committing. I was blessed to be part of the anointing team for that special service. It was so special to see women freed from the bondage that some had been carrying for 30 years, they had indeed ‘Received their Inheritance’.
Concluding with communion on Saturday was so appropriate. It was dining with our Father before we left our special time with Him. Our ladies were excited to take the fire home but disappointed to leave our time with our sisters and our Father.
Thank you so much for your obedience and commitment in allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and direct the planning of this event. The Council reflects such evidence of their sensitivity of the Holy Spirit in their participation and preparation. This event has changed generations to come. Women are leaders; in their homes, work place, communities, schools and churches. When we have women who are passionate for God they shine that light everywhere they go. Families have been forever changed because of women responding to God’s leading at this event. Many have come ready to give up on their lives, marriages and children but have left with a new sense of purpose and the power of the Holy Spirit to enable them in their journey.
We are excited to have Come to the Fire coming to Indiana in 2010. Our ladies have already been inviting and talking about their next Come to the Fire experience.
In His Love & Service,
Rev. Vanessa H. Betancourt
District Coordinator, Indianapolis District