Courtesy photo

The Marksmen Quartet grace the crowd with songs of praise during the Feb. 4 Rise Up, Recount Love event.

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The ticket tables opened at 9 a.m. on Feb. 4, as people began to enter the doors of the Agri-Exposition Center to encounter the presence of God. As I stood in that building on Saturday morning, I watched person after person enter the door who had come to see God. Preparations for this event stirred in Becky Spell’s heart for years prior to it coming forth. It was finally a reality; all that God had put in her heart to dream. Worship leaders, praise bands, speakers, motivationalists, sponsors, volunteers, and even vendors united together to bring forth the purposes of God.

God moved in the hearts of people that day. This conference was not about numbers, nor was it about any one person. It was about GOD! God reminded us so many times, as we prepared for this event, that he was not impressed by numbers. God is impressed by our faith! And without faith it is impossible to please God…Hebrews 11:6. All the people who worked behind the scenes; all the people who set up spaces for vendor shopping; all the people who prepared and brought forth the message of God; all the people who set the atmosphere for the presence of God through praise and worship did it in faith.

“If only one person is touched.” God spoke this to my heart and to Becky’s heart on several occasions. Remember the flock of sheep that Jesus tells us about in the books of Matthew and Luke. “….will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?” Matthew 18:12. That one person who needed help, that one lost soul, that one broken heart, and that one unforgiving heart…Jesus will come after to save! Jesus is not in the business of getting a crowd! Jesus is in the business of winning hearts!

We believe and know that God’s purpose was fulfilled in this conference. Not only was one soul touched, but God has stirred the hearts of His people to share with us testimony after testimony of how He touched them that day:

“The entire day at the conference blessed me. So much love shown and shared for our Lord!” said Becky Jones Carr

“What a wonderful day it was!!! Ready for the next one. Thanks,” said Paulette Mintz

“It was a wonderful day and made such a great impact on my life. I can’t wait for next year,” said Pinda Rose Byrd