REFUGE 2011 is almost HERE!! « Sitting in the Gate

Our faith family at The Gathering church in Pigeon Forge, TN, is so excited to be hosting REFUGE 2011, a PRAYER gathering on April 12-14.  This will be a remarkably unique assembly of Senior Pastors from all across the country and many denominational backgrounds.  Our location in the heart of the beautiful Smoky Mountains provides a wonderful setting for these warriors of God to truly take refuge and receive three days of loving encouragement.

Did you know that 1500 pastors walk away from their calling each month?  Attrition has never been higher in vocational ministry.  The world, the flesh, and the enemy are wreaking havoc in the lives of God's servants through dissension, discouragement, and despair.  Churches are splitting, marriages are failing, children are falling, and finances are in disarray.  It's time for the Army of God to rise up as spiritual armor-bearers to their pastors and declare to the enemy, "Enough is enough!"

It is the mission of REFUGE to bind their wounds and wash their feet.  To fill them with fresh vision and renewed energy.  To ignite such a FIRE in their hearts for corporate PRAYER that they cannot help but carry the fire home to their people and see lives changed.  We expect to witness an EASTER HARVEST of tens of thousands of souls for the Kingdom because the shepherds came together to PRAY for their flocks.

REFUGE is all about loving Senior Pastors, but it is not exclusive to Senior Pastors.  We welcome their spouses, their staff members, their lay leaders, and the Christian community-at-large to attend REFUGE and receive a great blessing.  Full-time, bi-vocational, big church, small church, old church, new church…ALL ARE INVITED!

The line-up of speakers is absolutely second-to-none.  Jonathan Falwell, Steven Furtick, Bil Cornelius, Tim Lee, Chris Stephens, Jerry & Christie Johnston, Ritchie Miller, Brad White, and Jamey Ragle will be sharing the Word.  Charles Billingsley, Ricardo Sanchez, and The Gathering Praise Band & Choir will be ushering us into worship.  Above all, we will be PRAYING for our churches, our cities, our counties, and our country.

Best of all, REFUGE 2011 IS ENTIRELY FREE OF CHARGE TO ALL!!!  This is about ministry, not money.  Our first concern is spiritual integrity.  God Himself has provided and will provide all of the necessary resources to make this event happen.  We even have some FREE lodging available that was donated for Senior Pastors and their spouses.  Our God is faithful!

There is still very limited seating available for the Senior Pastors' private dinners each evening, the Pastors' Wives brunch on Thursday the 14th, and the Breakout Sessions on Wednesday the 13th.  But you must go online to www.myrefuge2011.com and register TODAY to insure your place.

Come to the Smokies on April 12th, 13th, and 14th for REFUGE 2011 and be a part of the mighty work GOD is doing in the lives of His people.  You and your church will never be the same!