Do you all recall the huge “Woman Thou Art Loosed” and other gigantic conferences that breezed through the U.S. during the 90’s and early 2000’s?
Everybody and their mamma was going to, returning from, or purchasing the video/audio tapes from conferences.
From time to time, I peek in on the Juanita Bynum website to see what she is up to. Sure enough, she’s planning a mega conference.
There was a time when I’d get excited at the very thought of hearing the “famous” speakers preach.
However, after starting this blog and reporting on the dirt that so many of them are into, I have lost all interest in conferences, TBN, and so on. I later learned that so many of them are in adultery and fornication, perversion and lasciviousness. Some are into child abuse, spousal abuse. Just a total turn off and disappointment.
My interest now is just in serving the Lord and growing closer to Him. Jesus is just plain, down to earth Jesus. The Man who never changes but always stays the same. He is stable an all so loving. Yes, just Jesus. That’s all I need.
Looking back on it, those huge conferences generated a heap of money and what does society have to show for it? Where did the money go? Where was the benefit beyond the fur coats and Bentleys and Rolls Royces that the “bishops” and “apostles” purchased for themselves?
And what about you? What is your take on the conferences? Are you over them?
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lynn: I went to woman thou art loosed in 2000 in georgia and vowed to never go again…Juanita spoke and it was all about money, drama and yelling….there were 100,000 women pushing to get in and not to Godlike…I can’t remember the last time I watched TBN it has to at least be about 10 years…Those conferences are so emotional and seem to focus on weak women. I also began to see that most of the messages aren’t steeped in the Gospel of Repentance, baptism and turning from our wicked ways. As Paul says, Phil 3:13-14
13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
I need God’s Word that shows me the error of my ways and leads me to repentance and a turning away from sin…I do not need a new revelation, a new anointing, a new this a new that, a prophecy, three steps to this, ten steps to that, a book that “will literally change your life” and if you don’t get it you will miss out on God’s best for you…
As I listen and see what is going on in the world and how those that name the name of Christ have been found lacking, I think about this old hymn and is based in scripture…”Oh the world is hungry for the LIVING WORD, lift the SAVIOR UP for men to see, TRUST and do not DOUBT the WORD that HE says I’ll draw all men unto ME…Lift HIM up by LIVING as a Christian ought so the world can in you the SAVIOR see…
This is my prayer of my heart and for me personally and prayer for all Christians as we see the World in its condition and the horrendous condition of the church…Jesus needs to be lifted up more in the church, and as you said Jesus is not that complicated…I know the bible says the gospel is simple that even a child could understand
I tell you, if I didn’t know Jesus for myself and what I know He has done for me and how He has proven himself real and delivered me from so many trials and tribulations, undeservedly I might add, I would’nt go to church at all or be bothered. So to answer your question, Mega (why mega in the first place) conferences that you have to spend money, fly, by clothes, food and listen to someone who I think is mentally unstable….I would rather spend it on a new pair of shoes:) or really give it to those in need….Much love
@ oregonsistah
You are so right; I have not watch TBN and other Christian stations for a while now. Many Ministries are so busy trying to outdo one another they have lost site of the great commission of Jesus. It also bothers me that ministries are so busy having mega conferences spending money to bringing in speakers, elaborate hotel accommodations, and raise offering, in the name of and for who? Are they reaching the community? Please, do get me started the attire of colors for each day of the conference. The church has lost sight and at it really bothers me.
Oregonsistah, you are SO right on with your comments!!! I saw the Woman Thou Art Loosed Conference on tape, and it was like watching a performance! I liked the sermon from one of the sisters, but she was hooping and hollering so much that it was hard to stay focused on the word!!
Wow, some friends and I have been discussing this very topic. Everything has a season and huge conferences are out. I know of a pastor who is about to have a few big names come in but he’s had to rearrange the pay dates for his staff due to low finances coming in. Conferences are a money maker, but you’ve got to know when to say when. Conferences, like the Jakes, Bynum’s and Parsely’s a bring in money you would not believe. It can be a huge, huge amount.
I was never really into conferences. I believe the first conference I’ve attended was one that my own church gave – even then I didn’t really want to go but did anyway and was blessed.
I was never a big fan of any one speaker – well except maybe Joyce Meyer and probably to this day would consider attending one of her conferences. I guess the thing that bothers me the most about conferences are the money lines and the manipulation that is spewed forth to get people to give.
I would love to go to a conference where the ministers are those from your own community and those ministers are ministering to the hurt, maimed, broken hearted, rejected, the sick etc.
I like intimate conferences. Gone for me are the days of the mega conference.
I’m just not doing it anymore. Growth!
You said a mouth full in that one word – G-R-O-W-T-H. This is one of the main problems I have with annual conferences: “woman WHEN will you be loosed and stay loosed?” People were going every year, faithfully.
However, my bible tells me whom the Son sets free is free indeed!!!!!
Very on point topic. I used to get excited about hearing some of these ‘annointed’ preachers speaking. I never attended a mega conference because I could never afford to do so. Besides I attended a mega church and most of these people came through and spoke as guest speakers during our Sunday services anyway. I would however, buy some books and tapes of these pastors.
What I noticed a while back was that these mega conferences were always touted as though, you HAD to be there, or you would miss out on your word from the Lord. I noticed that with the 2000 or so people who paid their registration fees, etc., those who truly wanted to attend, but lacked the financial means (students, those who were living in poverty, etc), were never afforded any sort of sponsorship. These events were strictly geared towards those who could AFFORD to hear from the Lord….not necessarily those who needed to hear from him.
I must say that my church has an annual women’s retreat in which some pretty well known and annointed speakers attend and conduct seminars. One thing that I give my church props for is that women who cannot afford to pay to attend this retreat are offered sponsorship opportunties and members who are able are asked to give above their tithes and regular offerings to sponsor someone who is less fortunate. I actually had the privilege of attending a retreat on year on full sponsorship and was tremendously blessed.
I have to admit I have not been in several years though because at the last one I attended, I observed a spirit of lesbianism running rampant at that retreat. It was very obvious that one of the speakers even spoke on it, and everyone looked at her like she was crazy. But I could tell it was more about being a weekend getaway for a large group of closet lesbians and those looking to ‘experiment.’ That was the only time my spirit felt unclean about those retreats and I never heard the lesbianism issue ever addressed within our own church body, so I never went back.
Diva,
My mother had a strange experience at a conference regarding the lesbian issue.
It was not a mega conference. It was a local one with a group called “Women Aglow”. She said that there was a very talented and clearly gifted spoken word artist who performed. The woman was impressive and my mother said she was anointed to do what she was doing.
In spite of that, my mother somehow felt uneasy about the woman but did not understand why.
That evening, as she was about to pray, the Holy Spirit brought that woman’s face to my mother, and spoke to my mother’s heart saying, “She is a lesbian”.
Once that happened, my mother said it was clear why she and several of her friends were feeling uneasy about the woman. Her spirit was unclean.
Jakes and a few other well-known speakers/christian artist have been invited to celebrate our church anniversary in August. Jakes visted our church in the late ’90’s and we couldn’t get all of the people in the door. There was a five-mile line down the road. This time the church rented a 10,000 seat stadium and is charging $25 to attend. The event has been moved to another venue as they have only sold about 3,000 tickets. I too have become jaded with all of the mega conferences and celebrity preachers and have worked on getting back to basics.
I attended a women thou art loosed conference in 1998 and initially felt that it was awesome to see 60,000 + christians all in one place prasing the Lord. Unfortunately throughout the weekend I witnessed some of the most inconsiderate, rude behavior that I have ever witnessed. I also realized that each of these conference has what I call a “Ringer”. A Ringer is the hottest evangelist/pastor who ministers toward the end of the conference and has the ability to make people give HUGE donations. Juanita Bynum was the Ringer at the ‘98 conference. There is usually a gimmic to collecting the money. She had people give a $98 seed offering and bring it up to the stage. I have to admit I fell victim to it back then. I literally saw ushers carry 40 -50 garbage bags full of checks, money off the stage. A couple of years later my husband went to a TD Jakes men’s conference. We had changed our giving practices by that time and always prayed together ahead of time about what we would give at any service, event, etc. I warned him to be aware of the “Ringer” and not to get sucked in to giving more than we agreed on.
The “Ringer” at that event was Eddie Long. He had attendees ball up there money and throw it at the stage. The men came back talking about how awesome it was to see all that money raining down. (I know some theives made out well that night)! Despite my warning, he fell for it and shelled out an additional offering!
Anne,
Outstanding first post! I really wish that all new posters would first read yours to see how a person should enter a board the first time.
Hopefully you will visit often.
Hopefully, now that “mega-conferences” are “out”, maybe REAL REVIVALS will come back IN! It’s time America experienced revival… a drawing of our spirits closer to the Father. Noting to do with money, and everything to do with our spiritual renewal and awakening…
I attended a women’s conference last year, and it just seemed like everything was about money. It’s a shame. The Scripture tells us that we have freely received and we are to freely give….
I have never been to a mega conference, but I have seen some on video. I have watched a lot of Junaita Bynum’s sermons and I felt in my spirit that they just weren’t right. Namely, one in Toronto where she had folks screaming like they were mad. She even at one point, covered her head with her arms and was swing them violently like someone was trying to beat her over the head. I am sorry, but that is not of God. I am not judging her, but when you have a personal relationship with the Lord and study his word, he gives you a spirit of discernment… So, you can tell for y
ourself whether these conferences and so called “prophets” and “apostles” are truly anointed.
If you pay attention, you can see that none of them use much Word at all unless it is to support some viewpoint of theirs. They go on and on about a “new thing” and a “new revelation”, none of which is in the word. I know that God’s word will not change nor will he send a message through someone that does not line up with it. These people are all about money not to mention the fact that they teach false doctrines that line up with those that the antichrist will have according to the Bible. They play on people’s emotional nature to make them hang on their every word.
Don’t fall victim to these false prophets with “Third Wave” teachings. All we need is belief God’s unchanging Word, the Holy Spirit who dwells in all believers and the fellowship of True Christians to get us to heaven. No mega conference can fulfill those.
I say stop the madness. Stop listening to other people’s revelation. Get in the word and G-d will speak to you. Attend a local church that teaches sound doctrine. Get counseling from your pastor or assigned person at your church. Don’t have itchy ears to hear what the Spirit is NOT saying.
Don’t spend money on the admission to the conferences or the books and tapes. Use that money to help those in need. Take the time to visit those in prison, hospitals and attend to the widows and orphans. Be yourself a mentor to a young-teen who might not have guidance. Be a living witness to those around you, by believing and living the word of the Lord. Get active in pro-life issues. Write letters to state-heads when legislation is trying to be changed to remove our Christian/Judaic values. Be pro-active only then will God equip you with the new word of destiny and anointing to do His work.
Carlos
Miramar Florida.
Outstanding post, Carlos. Thanks!