Contact: Jeremy Burton, Oral Roberts University, 918-495-6649, jburton@oru.edu

TULSA, Okla., April 23 /Christian Newswire/ -- Leaders from the traditional Pentecostal/Charismatic community as well as leaders in new emerging ministries gathered together for two separate meetings for the Commission on Holy Spirit Empowerment in the 21st Century. The leaders conversation track met on the campus of Oral Roberts University on April 9 and 10 and the next generation conversation track met at Gateway Church in Dallas on April 16 and 17. Each group had deep discussions on issues facing the future of the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement.

"The Holy Spirit is clear about His desire to be embraced by the next generation. I believe we were gathered to confirm His desire. We were split into groups, talked amongst ourselves, and then shared openly. We might as well have talked as one big group because everyone was saying the same thing...we were saying what He (the Holy Spirit) was saying," exclaimed Pastor Timothy Ross, the young adult pastor for The Potter's House of Dallas.

The leaders and next generation tracks, along with a scholars conversation track, will meet three times this year in preparation for Empowered 21: The Global Congress on Holy Spirit Empowerment in the 21st Century where leaders, scholars, believers and youth from around the world will converge to share insights and inspiration for the future of the movement. Empowered 21 will be held in Tulsa, OK April 8-10, 2010.

"The heartbeat of Empowered 21 is to father, coach, and/or mentor the next Pentecostal generation," said Dr. George Wood, General Superintendent of the General Council of the Assemblies of God. "How can the full Gospel be lived out in the young leaders emerging in the Christian community that gives focus to the work of the Holy Spirit; and how can the older Pentecostal generation help in that process? That's what our discussion has been about, and that discussion provides the impetus for the conference next April for Holy Spirit Empowerment in the 21st Century."

Some of the questions being addressed by the conversation tracks include: What steps can we take that will help this generation experience the fullness of the Spirit? What about speaking in tongues? How can we help this generation connect spiritual power with practical impact in the 21st century?

The leaders conversation is being chaired by Jack Hayford president of International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in Los Angeles, Calif. The next generation track is being chaired by Rob Hoskins, Founder of Book of Hope and ORU Trustee. The scholars conversation is being chaired by Dr. Vinson Synan, Professor of Church History and Dean Emeritus at Regent University School of Divinity. Each conversation will meet three times during the year in preparation for Empowered 21.

"Momentum continues to build in this process. Our sense of God's presence and favor is increasing with each meeting. It is obvious that God is preparing a new generation for a fresh wave of empowering grace," said Reverend Billy Wilson, who chairs the Commission and is also the executive director of the International Center for Spiritual Renewal and vice chair of the ORU Board of Trustees. "I believe the Empowered 21 Congress next April will be a very significant moment for the movement."

The participants in the leaders track included Hoskins, Wilson, Wood, Synan, Mary Banks, Founder of W.O.W. Consulting Group and ORU Trustee; Joe Champion, Lead Pastor of Celebration Church; Rick Ciaramitaro, Senior Pastor of Windsor Christian Fellowship; Bishop Malcolm Coby, Victory Temple Church of God in Christ; Shawn-Marie Cole, Chief Visionary Officer of Reign Down USA; Keith Craft, Lead Pastor of Celebration Covenant Church; Billy Joe Daugherty, Senior Pastor of Victory Christian Center; Daniel de Leon, Senior Pastor of Templo Calvario; Dick Eastman, President of Every Home for Christ; Gene Evans, President of Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches and Ministers International; Dr. Ralph Fagin, Interim President of Oral Roberts University; and Mart Green, President of Mardel, Inc. and Board Chair of the ORU Board of Trustees.

Also taking part were Hale Harris, General Secretary of Messianic Israel Alliance; Walt Kallestad, Senior Pastor of Community Church of Joy; Rob Koke, Senior Pastor of Shoreline Christian Center; James Leggett, General Superintendant of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church; Ron Luce, President and Founder of Teen Mania Ministries and ORU Trustee; Charles Scott, General Bishop of the Pentecostal Church of God, Inc.; David Shibley, Founder of Global Advance; Robert Stearns, Founder and Executive Director of Eagles' Wings; and Bob Yandian, Senior Pastor of Grace Church.

The participants in the Next Generation track included Wilson, Gooch, Hoskins, Ross and Green as well as Shayne Walters, Paul Hurckman, Cody Cockerham, and student Justin Plunkett from The Oaks Fellowship in Red Oak, Texas; Ronnie Crudup and Ronnie Crudup, Jr. from New Horizon Church in Jackson, Miss.; Chuck Warnock from Campus Harvest; Randy Olsson from Teen Mania; Andrew Castillo from The Potter's House in Dallas, Texas; Benny Perez from the Church of South Las Vegas in Henderson, Nev.; Kelley Workman, Byron Copeland, Ben Pirtle, Keith Morrison, and students Philip Smith, Ezra Cohen, Chris Capehart, and Katrina Mueller from Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas; Josh Craft from Celebration Covenant Church in Frisco, Texas and a student at ORU; Nathan Fray, worship leader, and Terri Snead from Intimate Life Ministries; and Wes Peterson from International Impact.

Also participating were Brian Hunter from GenesisChurch.TV in Tallahassee, Fla.; Laura Cooke and students Joanna Ames, Joy Gooch, and Anna Miller from ORU; Daniel Rios from New Hope International Church in Fort Valley, Ga.; John Eisenring from New Covenant Church in Kilgore, Texas; Robert Madu from Trinity Church in Cedar Hill, Texas; Caleb Wehrli from Inspire International; Ron Lewis from Morning Star Church in Cary, N.C.; Edward Long from New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga.; Adam Sanders from Victory Christian Center in Tulsa, Okla.; Jonathan Shibley from Global Advance; Reggie Roberson from King's Park International Church in Research Triangle Park, N.C.; Jeff Deyo, worship leader, from Pure Worship Institute; Derek Green from Hobby Lobby; students Shawn Bates, Elonte Carnes, Benson Eapen, Josiah Otto, Kristi Dean, and Michiya Tanaka from Christ for the Nations Institute; and student Chase Gentle from Dallas Baptist University.

The Commission on Holy Spirit Empowerment in the 21st Century is an ORU Board sponsored initiative in cooperation with the International Center for Spiritual Renewal. For more information on Empowered 21 or the Commission on Holy Spirit Empowerment in the 21st Century, go to www.empowered21.com.