AblazeUK

Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali

Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali was the 106th Bishop of Rochester, for 15 years, until 1 September 2009. He is originally from Asia and was the first non-white Diocesan Bishop in the Church of England. He was appointed in 1994. Before that he was the General Secretary of CMS from 1989-1994. He holds both British and Pakistani citizenship and from 1999 was been a member of the House of Lords where he was active in a number of areas of national and international concern. He has both a Christian and a Muslim family background.

Michael's secondary education was in Pakistan. He read Economics, Sociology and Islamic History at the University of Karachi, and Theology at Fitzwilliam College and Ridley Hall, Cambridge. Michael has been a visiting lecturer in a number of universities and colleges in the UK, Canada, the USA and Australia. He has travelled widely in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America.

He is the author of ten books and of numerous articles on Mission, Ecumenism, the Anglican Communion, and relations with people of other faiths (particularly Islam). In 2005, he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship by Rotary International.

Michael is married to VALERIE, and they have two sons, SHAMMY (Shamaoun), and ROSS.

Michael will be taking a seminar on The Church, Mission and Islam on Wednesday morning.

Dr. John Avant

Dr. John Avant has been the pastor of First Baptist Church in West Monroe, LA since April, 2007.

Before going to First West, John was the North American Mission Board’s Vice President for Evangelization. In addition to having led growing churches in Texas and Georgia, John has led mission work across North America including the planting of a Japanese church, a Hispanic church, and a multi-cultural church in Manhattan. He has helped to plant churches in Belarus, Mexico, Lebanon, and Vietnam. John also trained pastors in many countries including China, Israel, Canada, and Uganda.

John has written three books, Authentic Power, The Passion Promise, and If God Were Real. He co-authored Revival, and was a contributing author to The Believer’s Study Bible and Evangelism in a Changing World. He has also contributed to numerous journals, magazines and newspapers.

Dr. Avant and his wife Donna have three children: Christi, Amy, and Trey.

John will be our key note speaker on Sunday and Monday. Donna will also be the guest speaker at the women’s event on Monday afternoon.

Muyiwa

It is our pleasure to welcome back Muyiwa as one of our guest worship leaders fresh from a sell-out evening of worship at the Indig02 in London.

Nigerian-born Muyiwa Olarewaju has become one of the most prominent and acclaimed figures in British gospel music, entertaining global audiences with his winning and unique mixture of soul, rock, pop and R‘n’B that he tactfully serves on an appetising plate of worship. It is this mixture that has won the star a huge and diverse fan base made up of both Christians and non-believers – a feat only achieved by very few artists within this genre.

As the voice of Premier Christian Radio’s prime time shows, Muyiwa’s honeyed tones are instantly recognisable around the world and have landed the star critical acclaim all across the globe. In 2009 Muyiwa became the first-ever international act asked to perform on America’s popular entertainment channel, BET for the prestigious annual ‘Celebration of Gospel’ show hosted by award-winning comedian and acclaimed author, Steve Harvey.

Muyiwa has also sung at a number of high profile UK events including ‘Soul in the City’ a major urban regeneration outreach in London, alongside the revered Bishop TD Jakes in the popular annual Megafest concert and Nigeria’s RCCG’s Holy Ghost convention, which was attended by over 2 million people.

Tre Shepherd

We also welcome back Tre, who is joining us for the second year.

Tre Sheppard is the front man of the rock 'n' roll adventure that is Onehundredhours. He also serves as the Director of EngageHIVAIDS.com, the activist arm of the EngageHIV Foundation.

Onehundredhours are well known in the UK and beyond for their unique brand of “faith, hope and rock n roll.”

Based in Portstewart, Northern Ireland, Tre helps to lead the Causeway Coast Vineyard and works from his studio "Zero Hour" as a producer/songwriter with a particular heart to serve young recording artists and their development.

Unfortunately, due to the very slow uptake of registration for Nursery places at Ablaze 2010, we regrettably have to cancel our contract for nursery provision.

We have made an alternative arrangement and will provide a mother and baby facility of the very best standard possible enabling both parent and child to enjoy our convention in a comfortable and safe environment. To that end there will be no registration fee for those 0 -3 yrs old.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to seeing you at this year’s convention.

Event Registration

AblazeUK 2010 - Event Registration & Parking Form | Download

Residence

Campus Booking Form & Hendrefoelan Booking Form | Download

Dear Friend,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

It is a joy for me to write to you following the wonderful time that a significant number of us shared together in the presence of God during AblazeUK 2009 in Swansea, South Wales, from 1^st – 6^th August 2009.

At the heart of this letter is a desire to ensure that we do not miss the moment by allowing what God has deposited in us to simply dissipate through procrastination or wilful neglect.

God spoke to us in various ways and at different levels. For those who were present and others who are able to listen on DVD or CD to the various ministries that came, the following brief references should resonate. Through the preached word He told us that He has us at the forefront of His mind. He has a future for us and it is a good one. He wants to increase us spiritually, numerically, materially and in the manifestation of signs and wonders. He challenged us to stop living at the place of inappropriate contentment. That if we are going to know a future of increase, we need to personally and corporately cross over the ‘border town’ of our present experience; with action required now, without procrastinating till tomorrow. It is time to break camp, refusing to allow the voice of the majority to drown out or overcome the voice of faith. If we are to move into our large place, our place of increase in God, we need a ‘because’ in our life; which represents purpose, the key driver or reason for being, as seen in the life of Joseph and Abraham. Fundamentally, our direction and destination is about the increase of the glory of God in our lives; the gold that is Christ, not the glitter of man which is showy, superficially and deceptively attractive, but is no more than flash in the pan.

God also spoke to us through prophecy. Particularly pertinent to my mind is His word that increase comes when we fulfil the mandate we have been given, of bringing the love and life of Christ to our hurting world, as He turns the mess we see around us into a message; play our role as fishers of men; pray for lost sons and daughters to be restored back to Him. We must sow and water the ground. We cannot expect increase if we do not or water the word (through prayer) – where we live and work - which will lead to an overflow of people at next year’s Convention. Last but by no means, God said that His heart is to impart to us the passion and spirit of the pioneer; the spirit of a people who refuse to settle with what they currently have. Let us pray that God will pour that spirit upon us as a people.

The key challenge now is one of next steps. It begs the question, ‘what next? This applies to everyone, particularly leaders; Pastors, Elders, ministry, youth, women, men leaders. The question is: what action(s) does God want me / us to take, in response to the specific word I / we have received in relation to my life and the life of the local Church, in our desire and quest for increase?

A number of people spoke to me saying how God had confirmed something He had seeded in their hearts prior to the Convention. I encouraged them to begin the process of enactment. To use a well-worn cliché, we need to strike whilst the iron is hot. This shows a sense of urgency and creates momentum towards our God-ordained goal. I would encourage both personal and group-based process of prayerful reflection, action planning and practical follow through on the key things that God spoke to each assembly about, which is directed towards growth.

The National Leadership Team (NLT) and I have also embarked on our next steps. This letter is the first. In addition, we have ensured that that the notes presented by the seminar speakers have been uploaded here. We will also be conducting our own review of the conference; reflecting on what we heard, discussing and analysing the delegates’ feedback and using it, in collaboration with the Conference planning Committee, towards preparing for AblazeUK 2010. Above all, we will re-double our efforts in our ministry towards our goal of doubling in number in the next five years; of which December 2009 marks the end of the first year.

Last but by no means least; I understand that a number of people were asking some of the seminar leads questions about practical next steps. Please feel free to contact the Church office via email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and I and the NLT will be more than happy to seek to broker or facilitate support, ideally at a regional level, in order to maximise efficiency in time use.

Yours in His service

Emmanuel Mbakwe
National Leader