US Alliance Council: Forward

At the 2017 Alliance General Council, more than 3,000 Alliance members gathered in Columbus, Ohio, May 31 to June 4, to celebrate and be challenged by what God is doing through the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church in the United States and throughout the world.

It was 5 days packed with worship, workshops, teaching and fellowship. The current US C&MA President John Stumbo kicked off the event Tuesday night with a message of freedom, preparing the hearts of each person for a week centered on Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The next days were balanced between fellowship, service and teaching, with more than 50 speakers offering breakout sessions on relevant topics that the church is confronting including race, homosexuality, crisis situations, immigration, technology, church planting, and evangelization, to name a few.

During the event, President Stumbo presented his report to the Council, emphasizing how the C&MA seeks to Love, Proclaim, Reach and Launch. Then, members of the Alliance family shared testimonies and updates demonstrating how C&MA churches, workers and laypeople are finding creative ways to live out these four priorities.

Each night, a different keynote speaker challenged the community and proclaimed truth. The messages touched on the necessity of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in one’s ministry, the importance of shedding ethnic prejudices or nationalistic idolatries, and pursuing the Christ-given mission to reach the lost with the Gospel.

The Council served as a time of uniting hearts around the C&MA common mission of going forward into the world with the Good News. Members left restored, renewed, inspired, refreshed and challenged to continue proclaiming the truth about our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King.