In the Abundance of God: Deep South Men’s Conference

Story by Margot Bass 
Photos by Tom Price, October 2019

The 2020 Deep South Men's Conference will take place Friday and Saturday, October 9-10. Attendees can register online before the event or in-person, before the first session at 7 p.m. The theme of this year's conference is "Dare to be Daniel." 

“The Bible says very clearly we’re supposed to be the salt and light of the earth,” said John Hoppe, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Lexington, SC. “I believe we’re coming toward the end of the age, and God wants us even more so now to be witnessing to our world around us.” CC Lexington hosted approximately 600 men at the Deep South Men’s Conference October 25-26, 2019, to equip them with the Word of God and train them in evangelism.

Deep South Men’s Conference 2019 speakers enjoy a light moment during a panel discussion.

John added, “Jesus has come to give us life more abundantly. The power of that abundant life is the power of the Spirit. We’ve seen guys at this gathering empowered by the Holy Spirit, and I believe they’re going to go back to their homes, communities, and churches as even stronger witnesses.” He believes the spiritual gifts—healing, speaking in tongues, words of knowledge, even visions and dreams—are still effective today. “We need to be not only people of the Word, but people of the Spirit, allowing the gifts of the Spirit to be used through us as a part of our witness to the world around us.”

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me [Jesus] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Men minister to and encourage each other during the conference last year. 

He stressed that the Calvary Chapel movement of churches has been [fueled by] the Holy Spirit. “I’m praying that we’d see one more “Jesus People” revival, one more outpouring of the Spirit, and it’s coming. I’m praying that this conference was a spark in the [holy] fire that’s coming.”

This year’s upcoming conference—October 9-10, 2020—will focus on discipleship. “God wants us to be witnesses, but He also wants us to be disciples who are growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ,” John concluded.

Calvary Chapel Lexington
cclexington.org
803-951-2273

 

Joel Player leads worship at the Lexington, SC, conference.

 

Men experience heartfelt praise and worship.

 

Men eagerly take notes during teachings while exploring the topics of discipleship and evangelism.

 

Conference participants rejoice as Senior Pastor John Hoppe baptizes a man in the church’s outdoor baptismal pool.

 

All verses above are quoted from the New King James Version.

© 2020 Calvary Chapel Magazine. All rights reserved. Articles or photographs may not be reproduced without the written permission of CCM. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.® Used by permission.