The long awaited SEC Prayer Ministry’s Retreat 2024 was held on the weekend of 6 -8 September. The theme was, ‘Plug Into The Power.’ It was held at the Delta Marriott Hotel in Milton Keynes, but the demand was so great that the Kent Hill Training Centre close by, was used to accommodate about 50 delegates. The Guest Speaker was Pastor Michelle Hill, Women’s & Prayer Ministries Director - Bermuda Conference and the Devotional Speaker was Pastor Ayodeji Adesina, Blessed Hope Church in Dartford. Leaders from the BUC and the SEC were also in attendance: Pastor Augustus Lawrence, BUC Personal Ministries Director and from the SEC, Ann Swaby, Treasurer; Edith Samambwa, Health Ministries Director; Thembie Mapingire, Counselling Director; Anastasia Ross, Women’s Ministries Director and of course, Linda Asare – SEC Prayer Coordinator and organiser of this annual event. Also present were Area Prayer Coordinators and members from the NEC and the Scottish Mission.
The planning of the Prayer Retreat was covered with prayers, so it was no surprise that the Prayer Intercessors arrived early on the Friday afternoon and continued praying for God’s presence and leading during the weekend. At sunset Friday evening we had our taste of what was to come, when Pastor Michelle Hill did her first presentation, ‘Because You Prayed.’ We went to bed longing for more.
At 5:30 Sabbath and Sunday morning the Prayer Intercessors met and prayed until 6:00am before the start of the session ‘Morning Devotion.’ On Sabbath, Elder Amos Onchiri (Area 7) hosted ‘Morning Devotion, before Pastor Adesina made his presentation.’ Playing on the theme, Elder Onchiri gave us the catchphrase, ‘Plug into the power, get charged – get connected!’ We were truly charged and connected throughout the weekend by the Praise and Worship by Sis Carmen Graham-Bascombe and her team, the testimonies by the delegates, the many prayers and the presentations by the speakers.
On Sabbath morning, Pastor Ayo Adesina’s topic was, ‘My Helper’. We were reminded that the Holy Spirit is our ally, helper and encourager, who rouse in us the desire to pray, refines our prayers and then usher them into the presence of God. During the session before the Divine Service, the SEC Leaders and later the children and youth, were invited to the front and prayed for by Bro J Fraser and Elder Gloria Onchiri, respectively. Pastor Michelle Hill’s topic for Divine Service was, ‘The Power of One.’ All of this happened before our Sabbath lunch, yet there was still plenty more at the spiritual banquet table to feast on.
During the Sabbath afternoon session we were again blessed by the presentations of Pastor Adesina and Pastor Hill. Pastor Adesina’s theme was ‘Special Prayer & Deliverance.’ He used Daniel 10:12-13 to demonstrate that God hears our prayers from the first time we pray, and God’s delay is not His denial. Later in the evening, Pastor Hill presented on the topic, ‘Plug Into The Power’. She boldly stated that prayer was the answer to every problem in life, and shared a quote from Steps to Christ; ‘Our heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing.’ Following such a powerful message, after sunset the delegates were eager to purchase books written by Pastor Adesina – When I Pray, The iDeclare series and Stand (an expository study of the Christian armour).
Sunday, ‘Morning Manna’ was the start of the final day’s spiritual feast. Elder Clarence Jackson, a member of Elder Alex’s Area 6C Team, discussed the first four words of Jeremiah 29: 11, ‘For I know the thoughts...’ Using various Bible texts he showed that God’s thoughts for us were high, deep, wide... This was followed by Pastor Adesina presentation, ‘By The Spirit’, based on Zechariah 4:6 and other texts. He lamented the fact that when we are not led by the Spirit, we have more Board Meetings than Prayer Meetings.
The ‘Concluding Service’ on Sunday included an Anointing Service followed by the final presentation, ‘Stay Plugged In’ by our Guest Speaker, Pastor Michelle Hill. We were charged to ‘Stay Plugged into the power’ whatever the circumstances, as we are no longer standing in the shadow of the cross, but in the glory of a risen Saviour. The session ended with gifts of appreciation been given out.
Sis Linda Asare commented on the number of children and youth who not only attended, but participated. Pastor Adesina remarked that the move of the Holy Spirit was undeniable and he was blessed to be part of such an awesome experience. What an endorsement to a spirit-filled Prayer Retreat! Can you afford not to attend next year’s Retreat and miss out on the chance to revitalise your spiritual life as you ‘Plug Into The Power?
Written by: Maxine Donovan, Area 6A Prayer Coordinator
