Contact: Carissa Bratschun, Oral Roberts University, 573-823-5989

KYOTO, Japan, Oct. 17, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- The first Empowered21 All Japan Conference recently wrapped up a record setting conference for the nation at the Kyoto International Convention Center. The final registration data showed 5,000 Spirit -empowered believers came to this 4-day event that featured worship, prayer and teaching. This makes the All Japan Conference one of the largest in Japanese History. Portions of the conference can be viewed at www.ustream.tv/channel/empowered21aj.

Anne Gimenez, senior pastor of the Rock Church and presiding bishop of the Rock Ministerial Fellowship, at 81, spoke for the first time on Japanese soil at this meeting. "It is time for awakening in Japan," said Gimenez.

"We have been very blessed to be at the E21 All Japan Conference. The E21 Asia cabinet believes that we are at the beginning of the 3rd Pentecost and we believe we saw evidence of that this week," said Niko Njotorahardjo, leader of the Healing Ministry Movement, pastor of over 200,000 believers in Indonesia and E21 Asia chairman.

The event closed with a special impartation service conducted jointly by Njotorahardjo and Lawrence Khong, senior pastor of Faith Community Baptist Church in Singapore and E21Asia co-chairman. There was also a significant and groundbreaking dialogue between the Spirit-empowered and Evangelical pastors in Japan.

A consistent theme throughout the conference was the call for change and revival in Japan. There has been great cooperation between the Spirit-empowered and evangelical Christians to reach more people in Japan with the Gospel, especially in the wake of the tsunami that devastated the nation in 2011 and the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

"Leaders were awakened to the importance of prayer, not only for their families, churches and their own work, but for all Japan," said Akihiro Mizuno, chairman of E21 All Japan. "On the way home people started sharing the Gospel and people are get saved so easily, anywhere! Some said they can't stop talking, and when they open their mouths, nothing but the Gospel comes out!"

"As one of the largest gatherings of Christians in Japan, this is a historic meeting for the Spirit empowered believers in the nation," said Empowered21 Global Chairman and Oral Roberts University President William M. Wilson. "I have been impressed with a deep sense that the Christians in Japan are earnestly seeking the power of the Holy Spirit and I believe this conference could be a catalyst for revival in the nation."

The Empowered21 All Japan Conference has been coordinated by the Empowered21 Asian Cabinet. Speakers for this four-day conference included Gimenez, Khong, Njotorahardjo, Paul (Kiichi) Ariga, president of The All Japan Revival Mission; Geron Davis, musician and composer at Christ Church Choir; Djohan Handojo, senior pastor of Bethany Church Singapore and E21 Asia delegate; Makoto Hosoi, chairman of Assemblies of God Japan and senior pastor of Cathedral of Praise; Elmer Inafuku, senior pastor of Shinjuku Shalom Church; Yoshinobu Murakami, co-chairman of E21 All Japan; Tsugumichi Ohkawa, senior pastor of Yamato Calvary Chapel; Minoru Okuyama, president of Missionary Training Center; Dan Scott, senior pastor of Christ Church in Nashville, Tenn.; Akira Takimoto, All Japan Revival Mission; Caleb Wehrli, Empowered21 Asia delegate; and Wilson.

The fastest growing segment of Christianity is the Spirit-empowered category -- boasting approximately 620 million worldwide. These Christians believe that the full power of the Holy Spirit that came at Pentecost is available to them today. Spirit-empowered Christians take many forms from Charismatic Catholic to long-standing Pentecostal denominations to non-denominational churches.

Empowered21 aims to help shape the future of the global Spirit-empowered movement throughout the world by focusing on crucial issues facing the movement and connecting generations for intergenerational blessing and impartation. Their vision is that every person on Earth would have an authentic encounter with Jesus Christ through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit by Pentecost 2033.

As a part of a global celebration around Pentecost, a special conference will be hosted by the Empowered21 Asian Cabinet in Hong Kong June 5-7, 2014. More information will be posted in the future at www.empowered21aj.com.

The next Empowered21 Global Congress is scheduled for Jerusalem May 18-24, 2015. This meeting is poised to be one of the largest gatherings in modern Jerusalem history. The Jerusalem 2015 Congress plans to host main sessions in a new arena in Jerusalem, which is now under construction as well as at Caesarea and Bethlehem. Breakout sessions will be offered on varying subject areas throughout the day. Some of the up to 15 tracks will focus on prophecy, leadership, church planting, and worship arts. Get more information or register at www.jerusalem2015.com.

Empowered21 is a Kingdom initiative facilitated by Oral Roberts University. Find out more about Empowered21 at www.empowered21.com and more about Empowered21 Asia at www.empowered21aj.com.