The 2021 Reawakening Conference
On the morning of October 8, just under 200 people (including 80 clergy) from all over New England gathered at Northpoint Bible College in Haverhill, MA for the ADNE’s 2021 Reawakening Conference.
The two years following the ADNE’s 2019 Synod have seemed long and tumultuous for many of our churches in New England. Last year, the diocese gathered on the lawn of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary for an outdoor morning worship service, but this year, Bishop Andrew wanted to provide a more comprehensive opportunity to not only worship and fellowship together as a family of churches, but to invest in our region’s lay people and clergy - those on the front lines - by providing more scriptural teaching, prayer ministry, and practical equipping over two days.
It was Bishop Andrew’s hope that, by God’s grace, those who attended would experience personal reawakening in their own lives along with fresh vision and tools to bring reawakening to our New England region.
The conference began both days with Morning Prayer and included Evening Prayer on Friday night. Each session began with a call to worship: Dave Edwards set the stage for the conference by singing Rich Mullins’ Creed over those in attendance; that evening, Rev. Paul Thuo, Edith Mercy Kanuthia, and Anne Wilson led the room in singing Usikiaye Maombi in both English and Swahili; on the second day, Rev. Piper Runnion-Bareford and Rev. Evan Pillsbury performed Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring on harp and cello. Prayer was led by Rev. Paul Thuo, Rev. Amy Howard, and Ms. Carrie Wolf with various ADNE lay leaders and youth reading.
Dave Edwards, a good friend of the diocese, was welcomed as this year’s conference worship leader. Dave is a renowned music director that has worked with some of the world’s top talent, but his main passion is to equip artists in the pursuit of spiritually building up the church through worship arts and music ministry. This passion shone through everything he did, and his intentionality to bring out the best talent in others allowed our musicians and vocalists to lead with a unified sound. One such musician, Kathryn Miller, reflected, “Dave’s gifted ability to bring a wide variety of people and their music together made it such a joy to work and worship with him. I was surprised to read his impressive bio after I had already discovered what a fun and humble musician and leader he is!” Kathryn concluded Friday’s evening prayer with her new arrangement of a traditional collect: For Your Love’s Sake, a song she had introduced to the diocese early in the pandemic when the Williamses led daily compline via Zoom. Earlier in the day, Rev. Sean Norris led the conference in exalting Jesus with his original hymn-like anthem, Hail to the Risen King.
During the Daily Offices, Bishop Andrew brought fresh devotionals from the Scriptures. Reflecting on 1 Samuel 18:5-9, he exhorted the ADNE - especially as it gathered together after the varying effects of the last year - to reject unhealthy comparison and competition that robs us of joy and peace, and to instead receive God’s vision for our life in his Kingdom as those belonging to his flock. On Saturday morning, he spoke from 2 Chronicles 26:3-21, encouraging us to rest in the atoning work of Christ rather than offering “strange fire” attempts to re-earn favor with God. As one clergyperson related, “his reflections were spot on in terms of what I needed to hear.”
At various points in the conference, some of our “heroes on mission” shared testimonies of God’s work in their respective ministries. Rev. Brian Barry gave an update on the planting of St. Nicholas House, a new ministry serving the children of Brookline, NH through afterschool programs such as martial arts training, gardening, and catechesis. Lori Taylor described how the Lord is working through a healing community gathered around her dining table. Rev. Gabrielle Beam testified to the great work being done through Mary of Bethany Anglican Mission’s partnership with the churches of Bridgeport, CT: youth are coming to faith through VBS and literacy programs; area churches are teaming up to share the gospel with every household in the city within two years. In addition, the ADNE welcomed the Rev. Lyn Baker, a deacon who recently moved to Vermont.
The Rt. Rev. Todd Hunter, Bishop of the Diocese, Churches for the Sake of Others, was the special guest speaker for the conference and presented three thoughtful plenary sessions. The first titled, “The Supremacy of Christ in Life and Ministry,” was an exhortation to let Christ truly be our Teacher in addition to Savior and Lord, trusting that the pattern of living he reveals is the best way to be human. His evening session, “The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit in Life and Ministry,” was an invitation to receive again the person of the Holy Spirit as one who mediates the presence and ministry of Christ to us and through us. The final session, “The Church at the Intersection of Gospel and Culture” gave a paradigm for contextualized mission to a post-Christian culture. If you would like more from Bishop Todd, check out his newest book, Deep Peace.
At the end of Friday night’s session, Bishop Todd gave an invitation to prayer ministry for those who felt particularly burnt-out, wounded, or in need of healing after the last 18+ months. A prayer team organized by the Rev. Amy Howard along with all three bishops in attendance prayed for freedom and restoration as leaders reawakened to the vision and joy surrounding their first call to ministry. We give thanks for testimonies like these:
“I knew I was coasting, but I hadn't realized just how lifeless and weary and beaten my soul was. The conference was like a breath of fresh air that brought emotional healing and renewed vision. I became friends with God all over again.”
“The Spirit leading Bishop Todd to invite ‘those who have been hurt in ministry’ and ‘those who feel like they've lost something they were passionate about in ministry and fear they'll never get it back’ was very powerful for me. I was described by both. Even though I had walked through forgiveness with the past hurts and betrayals I have experienced over the years, many of the emotions were still there. Receiving prayer for those wounded places again brought great comfort to me. I felt specifically addressed and known by the Lord.”
“I was burning out and tired, ‘like butter, stretched over too much bread.’ The prayer ministry time at the end of Friday was really necessary for me. I was able to open myself to the Holy Spirit and get prayed over.”
To maintain a cohesive conference experience, a diverse collection of workshops were offered based around the theme of “reawakening,” whether that was creating space for reawakening within our own souls (creative art response, rule of life), promoting reawakening within our families and churches (parenting, pastoring the next generation, leadership & gender), or reawakening an unchurched culture via outward mission (prophecy, discovery bible studies, healing/deliverance ministry, etc.)
Feedback collected after the conference affirmed that by and large the workshops were excellently presented and inspiring.
“I attended Rev. Dan Wolf’s workshop ‘Starting a Movement,’ and since then, inspired by the Holy Spirit, I have started taking a walk through my neighborhood every day to pray for my neighbors.”
“Rev. Amy Howard explained healing ministry in the most logical way I have ever heard. For once it didn't sound like Christian voodoo. I'm seriously and prayerfully considering following up on her workshop.”
“Drew Thurman’s workshop gave me language for how the Lord seems to be forming my church and presented a larger kingdom context for it.”
“I appreciated how [the conference] kept the topics focused on encountering God, discipling others, and creative missional engagement - things we so desperately need here in New England.”
While we were unable to record the workshops, we might direct people interested in learning more to the following:
Take the Kingdom Course taught by the Rev. Amy Howard.
Receive tips or more extensive coaching from Rev. Cn. Craig Vickerman, ADNE Canon for Youth & Families (family@adne.org)
Read Dr. Katia Adam’s book Equal
Learn more about Revs. Kate & Sean Norris’s work at Dandelion Ministries (including their plans to host future Creative Salons)
Connect with other clergy and leaders (such as Rev. Amos Kimera & Rev. Dan Wolf) for further insight.
The conference culminated in Saturday afternoon’s celebration of Holy Eucharist. Clergy, vested in albs and stoles, processed in to the hymn, “Come Thou Fount” and sung worship continued with songs such as “Who You Say I Am” and “No Longer Slaves.”
Bishop Andrew preached from Matthew 18:1-5, presenting Jesus’ invitation to return to a wholehearted, childlike love of God distinguished by three humilities: the humility of trust, the humility of restored intimacy, and the humility of surrender; to live faithfully in a dark world confident in our identity as children of God.
As this conference took the place of the usual diocesan Synod worship and ministry celebration, ADNE clergy took this opportunity to renew their ordination vows as lay people in attendance stretched out their hands in prayer for God’s grace to strengthen and equip these leaders for the work ahead.
Bishop Andrew presented his Building for the Kingdom Award to Rev. Geoff and Blanca Little for their faithful leadership at All Nations Christian Academy. For over 14 years, All Nations Christian Academy has provided inner-city, low-income families with high-quality private Christian education. Blanca, “the heartbeat of the school,” was unable to attend, but Rev. Geoff graciously accepted the award and gave testimony to the enduring impact the school has on the students. An offering was taken to fund the work of All Nations during a jazzy rendition of All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name by Dave Edwards.
Bishop Andrew celebrated the Holy Communion with Bishop Bill Murdoch concelebrating at an altar carefully prepared by the Rev. Wendy Dixon and Dcn. Samuel Alberty. Bishop Andrew gave the final blessing, but not before he and Elena received spontaneous blessings from the diocese first. As one leader remarked, “before this conference, I hadn’t really done much with the rest of the diocese, but during this conference I realized: this is my family.”
He wasn’t alone in the sentiment. Again and again, we heard from attendees: it was so good to be together. One leader spoke of a meal taken with someone from literally the other end of the diocese: “The Friday night dinner break gave us a chance to grab sushi with newfound friends from another state in our diocese, giving us a glimpse of how the Lord is moving all around New England.” At every break, attendees gathered outside to meet or reconnect with others.
As the biggest event the ADNE has run in years, the Reawakening Conference was a resounding success. The diocese is so grateful for the hard work of so many volunteers - this was truly a team win. Kathryn Miller of Pittsfield, Maine was the Reawakening Conference coordinator (as Bishop Todd remarked in awe, she can administrate and lead worship!) and the person that put most of our plans into action. Canon Ross Kimball, Elena Williams, and Scott DeLong made up the rest of the core planning team that met regularly. The team would also like to thank all those who provided helpful feedback to make next year’s fall conference even better.
The success of the conference is perhaps best summed up in the words of one of our ADNE clergy, “I don't know when I experienced a better conference in my 10+ years at the ADNE. [It was] all about as good as I have experienced. By God's grace, the churches, clergy, and people of the ADNE have been strengthened in word and Spirit for what is next in our mutual Kingdom calling and life together in Christ.”
To God be the glory! Amen.
Photos by Ian Drummond of Drum Drum Photo. See below for a full gallery.
