News - Outlook National Conference

               ‘EXPANDING THE VISION’

 OUTLOOK NATIONAL CONFERENCE 21st to 24th JUNE 

                    at Kings Park, Northampton

 

THE LORD ABUNDANTLY BLESSED OUR TIME TOGETHER AND DURING ONE OF THE WORSHIP TIMES, TRACY WILLIAMSON RECEIVED A PICTURE FROM THE LORD AND SHARED THIS WITH US. I SHARE THIS WITH YOU;

I saw a picture of a children’s play area with swings, slides, roundabouts etc.  A child was there on her own and was playing on her favourite ride, the swings.  She always went on this one and would swing slowly and quite cautiously, not going very high.  She never seemed to see or be curious about the other rides. 

Then I saw another child coming in and going on something different, the slide.  This child encouraged the 1^st to come and try it.  The 1^st was very hesitant but eventually went over.  I saw her climbing the slide steps very carefully and trying to hold on as she went down. 

But suddenly it was as if she realised that this could be fun and started going up the steps more quickly with the 2^nd child and then sliding down without holding on.  There was a sense of joy and wonder.  Then more children came in and together with them she was soon running from ride to ride with her new friends and discovering the joy of doing fun things together, the joy of speed and adventure, soaring, lifting up, taking new steps.  Soon the play area was full of children all having fun together.

I believed that the child was representative both of Outlook as a whole and also of the individuals it is made up of.  The play area represents the different ways we have stepped out in our ministry to the elderly.  The swing that the 1^st child was cautiously playing on and sticking to, represents the fact that sometimes Outlook and individual members have maybe had a fixed view of what they can do, what is ‘safe and expected’ 

 There hasn’t been for some a sense of fun and adventure.  But God wants us to have adventurous hearts and open hearts to the encouragement and invitations of others who have different experiences and do things in different ways.  He wants us all to be daring to try new things and discover the joy and wonder of soaring, lifting, taking new steps etc and all of that in a spirit of fun and togetherness.  Will we dare to let go of what we know, not because its bad but because there’s just so much more, and listen to Him and others and see all the different things around us that He wants us to use and step into. 

        --------------------------------------------------------------

DURING THE CONFERENCE, I ASKED SOME OF THE DELEGATES TO GIVE SOME MORE IN-DEPTH FEEDBACK AND WHAT THEY HAVE WRITTEN IS GIVEN BELOW;-(I WILL ADD EACH ONE AS I RECEIVE THEM)

From Trevor and Pamela Blackshaw

General comments: The Programme was excellent with a good balance between Worship, Prayer, Main Talks, Workshops, Information and testimony slots and free time. Also there were very good times of fellowship and sharing.

The Conference Centre was more than adequate with very good facilities and reasonable comfort. Catering was excellent and service good.

The Aims and Objectives:-

1.      To enable delegates to expand their vision of what God can do and to empower them to fulfil the same.

2.     To equip every delegate is able to say. “This is absolutely possible.

We believe this was achieved for us in more ways than one giving us plenty to reflect on and go on to put into action.

Highlights for us were:-

• The worship times with Marilyn Baker and Tracy Williamson, moving us powerfully close with the Lord in wonder and praise. Greatly uplifting.
• The Bible Reading sessions with Michael Mitton were excellent and deeply moving. Challenging us all to reflect on ‘Death and Heaven’ from a Biblical perspective without any morbidity. Lifting any deep anxiety and giving great assurance in the context of three stages; Life now, Paradise and Heaven. The second session was a deeply reassuring devotional approach to death called, “Till He calls me Home” or “At Home with the Lord”.
• The opening session with Norman had set the scene very realistically on the first occasion and one was left with the feeling of looking forward to more that was to come. A first rate presentation and challenge to ‘Expand our Vision’.
• The key note addresses were exactly that, with Denise beginning with a very moving call to emulate Peter the Apostle and Jesus’ restoration of him at the lake side whilst cooking them breakfast. A thoroughly down to earth exposition of healing, restoration and enlarging our vision.

The second key note address by Rosemary Green drew us up against the challenge to allow God to use us in spite of our perceived inadequacies, weaknesses and failures ~ “I  and can’t but God can”. Reflecting on Moses, Joshua, Jehoshaphat, Philip and the early church we were challenged to see God as the God of the impossible.  The early church prayed for power and boldness ~ “Am I prepared to pray the same prayer?”

 

• The workshops were generally good, very helpful challenging and interesting. Trevor attended ‘Faith Stories’, which was an excellent exercise on their value. We were led to explore Abram’s story and draw from it. A well presented workshop by Marilyn and Tracy’s presentation on ‘Drawing close in Worship’, followed, which was interactive. A workshop which certainly drew us close to the Lord.

Pamela had two positive workshops. One of which was with me on ‘Drawing close in Worship’. The other workshop was The Pilgrims Progress presentation, which was extremely helpful with this beautiful art work and illustrative manual.

• The sharing sessions and Outlooks Trustees presentation were very useful, helpful and informative. It was a joy to see the care, respect and co-operation and the excellent working relationships between Trustees and Staff.
• The Book stands were very good in that they conveyed supportive and appropriate literature and material relevant to the sessions and talks. Presentations of reviews and promotions were not intrusive. All good value for money.

Clearly a very prayerfully supported and well organised conference.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Allan and Margaret Payne) OLDER PEOPLE’S MINISTRY

Tony and Sue Williams     ) TEAM FROM THE GLOSSOP

Rob and Judith Moore      )  CHURCHES

 

Venue:                     

Excellent value for money.  Compact and in good situation.       

Good quality food, well presented, variety and extremely friendly staff – spiritual dimension to it all – service was servant hearted.

 

Expanding the Vision:

A good title.  It encouraged us to see where God could lead us.

 

Positive feel to all we heard – reinforcing the need for seniors’ ministry.

We felt that more is now being done across the nation.  Churches are realigning the value of seniors at last.

Talking informally to folk made us realise that we were not the only ones who felt new, younger blood is needed to keep the vision burning brightly.

 

The Conference gave us the opportunity to voice concerns and share approaches with like minded people.  It seemed to us that more ministers were giving their support to seniors ministry.

 

Keynote speakers very good.

 

Workshops not as well received – not enough time to explore the possibilities.  Could have done with learning of ideas we could put in place.

 

Worship:

Excellent, beautiful, uplifting and the way Marilyn and Tracey communicated was so encouraging.  A spiritual instinctiveness came across.

 

Plenty of good quality resources available – well presented.

 

Communion Service was very moving – we loved the Kenyan Rite led by Reverend Denise Critchell.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------