Passing The Mantle

I’m not one to really enjoy church conferences. I’m not into the hype or the fancy clothes; I really don’t care where people bought their new shoes or how much they paid for them. I don’t like sitting in a service, trying to listen and take notes from a preacher, while my thoughts get swallowed up in groupthink of hollered “Amen!”, “Hallelujah!”. I just want to yell at people and shout, “Keep it down, already! I’m trying to listen!” My idea of a perfect conference is one where we can avoid the chitchat, fully digest great teaching, and feel comfortable enough to truly, sincerely pray. But maybe that’s just lofty dreaming.

Yesterday, however, I finally found my conference niche.

I felt heavily led to listen to the “Passing The Mantle” service being held in Ohio at the annual Pentecostal conference. So, since I live in Alaska, I took the morning off of work, got up at 5:30AM, logged onto the live service online, and sat down in front of my stone fireplace to listen to the preaching in my pajamas. Ahhhh…. Now that’s the way to worship!

For those who were unable to watch, here’s a synopsis of the service:

The service began with several worship choruses sung by a group of young women, and then the congregation was lead in focused prayer by three Prayer Leaders. First, Elizabeth Shivers led us to recognize and pray for the hurting people around us, showing that we often see the physical wounds in people, but fail to pick up on the internal, spiritual, and emotional scars. Brooke Pamer led in focused prayer for the U.S. President and a call for a revival of righteousness in God’s people. And finally, Kim Haney spoke on the power of a hungry spirit and prayed for a deeper hunger of desperation to be placed on us all.

Beth Dillon then shared an exegesis on II Kings 2, by providing an acronym for “mantle”.
M – Ministry of a mentor
A – Apostolic authority and greater anointing
N – New dimension
T – Test of faith
L – Committed lifestyle
E – Entrustment: handing over the mantle.

Next, several amazing women were recognized for their leadership and pioneer spirit in the work of God. Nona Freeman, Else Lund, and Eunilah Mean were all ordained ministers during their day, ministering as pastors and missionaries around the world. In addition, Vesta Mangun, Jean Urshan, Sis. Chambers and others were acknowledged.

Finally, Joy Haney spoke to the women on “Your Daughters Shall Prophesy” taken from the book of Joel. She stated that there is an obligation and privilege to pass on the mantle of truth, noting that this does not mean the older generation was relinquishing their mantle, just sharing and enlarging it.

She began by identifying several mantles that people needed to pick up: Sacrifice, faith, prayer, fasting, love, hunger, and character.

While reading the story of Elijah and Elisha, she noted three places that God sent Elijah. 1) Bethel – House of God: This is the place where there was an encounter with the supernatural; a place of prayer. 2) Jericho – Fragrant: This word refers to the sweet savor of the spirit and is connected with sacrifice (Leviticus). She noted that we are to be a sweet smelling fragrance to God (Romans 12:1). 3) Jordan – Flowing down: This indicates the river flowing down from heaven. Jordan is also a place of the supernatural. However, we cannot enter into that place without faith – and faith comes by the Word of God. She emphasized that we need to develop a hunger to devour the Word of God.

She then began to reiterate that many are needed to take up the mantle of sacrifice. When we pray and fast, seeking the supernatural, we will see the power of God come forth. (Acts 4:31 – Boldness & power from prayer). Wherever we are, God will bring people to him through us, if we begin to boldly seek his face for revival. She then began to share stories of the miraculous works that God has done through women of prayer. T. W. Barnes was quoted as saying, “If we want what God wants, we must get back to old fashioned prayer and fasting.”

Declaring the need, she concluded by saying that we need to lay on the altar of sacrifice and tell God, “Whatever you require…”, and prophesied saying that if the younger generation would grasp hold of the mantle of prayer, fasting, and studying God’s work, He would pour out His spirit like never before.

At this point, she asked the younger women to take the following six vows:
1) This day, I will accept the challenge of the Spirit.
2) I will give myself to daily prayer and study of the Word of God.
3) I will establish times of fasting and fervent prayer in my life.
4) I will surrender my body as a living sacrifice to God.
5) I will commit myself to purity, holiness, and Godly character.
6) I will fulfill the great commission.

Finally, the older women gathered around the younger women and placed a symbolic mantle over their shoulders and began to pray that the mantle that God would choose for them, would be represented.

As I sat there on my living room floor, I grabbed the blanket off of the couch and wrapped it around my head and torso. Tears poured out of me as I plead for God’s leading in my life. There were no women praying for me, no woman to share her mantle with me, but I think that was just the way I needed it. Were I in the congregation, I might have wished the woman praying for me were someone I knew was a great warrior in the spirit, or a pioneer in adventurous faith. However, in this private and intimate ceremony, God chose the mantle he wanted for me. It was one of the most beautiful times I’ve ever experienced in God. A moment I’ll never forget.

I took the vows. I grasped the mantle. I won’t turn back.

Then… I stood up, went into the kitchen and made pancakes in my pajamas.

It was the best conference meeting ever!