NOTE: We had over 800 people check out the liveblog this weekend. At any given moment, 12 people were viewing the blog. Thanks for checking it out, it was a ton of fun.

Over the days of August 17-19, over 400 people from all across Washington State descended upon the Red Lion Columbia Center Hotel for an awesome weekend of worship, the Word and all the necessary business that made up the 68th Annual Washington COGOP State Convention.

Heritage Ministries Director and Fields of the Wood Representative, Wayne Hall, was the General Headquarters delegate to the convention and really did a nice job preaching to a crowd of over 350 on Friday night. His theme was “Go Into Your Prayer Closet,” and he spoke on the importance of private prayer with the Lord.

Saturday was the only full day of the convention, and the morning session saw nearly 300-350 people at its highest point. Reports were read by various ministry directors, including men’s ministries, women’s ministries and camps. Then Bishop Don Knoblich, Washington state Overseer, gave a great sermon on how everyone is a vital worker in the harvest for Jesus, regardless of their abilities, age, nationality, etc. He asked the membership of each church to “be their pastor’s Force, not his Field.”

After the morning session adjourned, people prepared for the afternoon sessions. I wasn’t there for those but reports I heard was that Bishop K taught a great class on why membership in the church is important, and New Horizons Pastor Frank Smith taught one on why stewardship is important for church leadership.

The Saturday evening sessions are usually the most anticipated of the entire convention, and this one didn’t disappoint. Well over 400 people (some accounts say we may have very well tipped the scale at 500) were in attendance for a wonderful service led by State Youth Director Shelly Symonds.

The worship was inspired and blessed. Sumner’s youth group did an interpretive dance to a song titled “Who Can Stand Before the Lord” and it was great. In a very timely sermon, Shelly implored our youth to get involved in their churches, and the elders of the church to reach out to the youth. When she asked everyone under the age of 30 who wanted a blessing to stand in the front of the convention for prayer, over half the attendees to the service that night responded. We were then led in a powerful time of prayer in which one person under the age of 30 was paired up with someone over the age of 30 to pray for them.

Personally, for me the prayer time was amazing. Paul Symonds, Sherry Johnson and Chris Knoblich all prayed with me during the altar call. It was great especially with me moving out in a week, that these three prayed for my peace of mind, safety on my trip and for God to open doors before I even arrive in Springfield. Sherry told me a word from the Lord, and it was basically for me to have peace of mind and go forth with boldness because I have turned back to God’s will, and He will open the doors for me.

After the youth service, we heard from Spanish Field Secretary Samuel Munoz and Ethiopian Overseer Fekadu Ayele. These men are great men of God who are doing a great work in their respective congregations.

The youth Afterglow followed the service, and we watched some videos created by each youth group. Some were funny, one was serious (New Horizons, again), and we also heard some good music by our young people.

Sunday morning was a great service as well as Bishop Hall issued a departing challenge for us, “The Three Keys of Successful Reaping.” We then had a prayer time, and afterward Bishop K announced the 2007-08 State appointments. A time of prayer followed that and then we adjourned for the weekend.

What a great Convention this was. Not only was it good to see everyone again, but it was great to see the Spirit move and hear from the Lord this weekend. Definitely a great end to a good summer for the COGOP, and also a great end to my time here in Washington COGOP before I move to Missouri.