More than 2,500 people flocked to Prestatyn in June for
the Elim Bible Week. Direction’s Matthew Murray reports
on the events of the week
‘Fantastic’ family Conference
takes Elim back to its roots
Above
RTC Principal
Nigel Tween
speaks during the
Conference
Main image
Elim Bible Week
2009 went back to
the Movement’s
roots and was
a great success
It was back to our roots for Elim
this year as the annual Bible
Week in North Wales again
proved popular.
Traditional Pentecostal principles were taught, reminding
delegates of the firm foundations on which Elim was birthed
almost 100 years ago.
Each morning, Elim’s national
leaders taught at Bible studies on
Jesus as Saviour, Healer, Baptiser,
Coming King and Sanctifier.
Guests Anne Graham Lotz,
the daughter of Billy Graham,
Mark Stibbe and Simon Jarvis
brought a brilliant mixture of
inspirational teaching, encouragement for church leaders and
fantastic principles for disciple-
ship. Other highlights included
the first night, when Glasgow
Elim’s Simon Foster preached,
seeing a mighty move of God
as many were touched and refreshed by the Holy Spirit, while
the children’s and youth work
again reported great results.
Meanwhile, 31 new ministers
were ordained into the Movement at a special service on the
Monday evening.
General Superintendent
John Glass says it was a fantastic
Conference with a great family
atmosphere.
‘The Conference was almost
packed to capacity and there was
a sense of expectancy surrounding the place this year. There are
so many different expressions of
church today – many fads and
many different styles – that the
NLT felt that it was important to
go back to our roots.
‘Presenting Jesus as Saviour,
Healer, Baptiser in the Holy
Spirit, Coming King and Sanctifier shows the building blocks of
God’s blessing when Elim first
began. When we first came to
look at the Conference agenda
it was deemed a good idea to
state our fundamentals.
‘There are lots of odd things
that have happened in recent
times in Christian circles, but our
priority is to keep the main thing
the main thing which is leading
people to Jesus. However, for
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us, this has much more importance than simply reinforcing
Elim’s key beliefs. Jesus said that
if he were to be lifted up then he
would draw all men unto him.
‘For us, this was also about
exalting Jesus in five areas in
which he ministers and builds his
own church. We’re not out to
build up Elim; we want to exalt
the name of Jesus and make
his name great and extend his
Kingdom.’
NLT member and senior
minister of Kensington Temple
Colin Dye spoke on Jesus: The
Healer at one of the Bible seminars. He was also encouraged
by the atmosphere at the Bible
Week: ‘These five Bible studies reminded ourselves what
happened 100 or so years ago
when Britain was low economically, very low spiritually and
there were lots of threats and
challenges. Yet then the gospel
was able to sweep through Britain and we saw what we experienced as a denomination.
‘This gives us a good reminder to see that things have
not changed. We may be more
sophisticated as a society and
there are more challenges, but
this is about the future! We have
the historic doctrinal beliefs that
never change but we have a
new generation so these things
have to be presented in a different way.
‘There are healthy signs of
growth throughout Elim right
now. I feel that Elim is really
proving itself to be a strong,
established mainline denomination that is doing a job and doing
it successfully. It’s not an explosive thing but it’s incremental,
and I am very encouraged. It
was particularly special to see
31 people ordained into the
ministry.’
Other NLT members spoke
highly of the Bible Week. Says
Dave Campbell, ‘The NLT
bringing teaching on Jesus, Saviour, Healer, Baptiser, Coming
King and Sanctifier was really
important. Simon Foster said 
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 that we could be successful
without being fruitful. In Elim
we want to be fruitful. The
Great Commission is still there
and we have to obey it, and this
was emphasised throughout the
week. The sunshine helped too,
and there was a great sense of
family atmosphere.’
Kevin Peat adds, ‘I like to
celebrate Elim’s diversity of
speakers, like Simon Foster and
Anne Graham Lotz. The first
night with Simon was excellent,
with lots of impartation of the
Holy Spirit. Many came out for
prayer and it was a great start to
the week. There’s been wonderful Bible teaching all week
and a wonderful time has been
had by all.’
Regents Theological College
Principal Nigel Tween remarks
that people were upbeat and
positive. ‘There’s been a real
sense of God at the Conference.
We are all going away inspired
to make a further impact for
God.’
Meanwhile, the children’s
department leaders reported
that God was on the move
among younger delegates.
Dave Ritchie, of Fraserburgh
Community Church in Scotland,
ran the children’s meetings and
says, ‘Things have gone really
well and we’re pleased with the
number of kids that have been
here. We have been doing this
for three years and we’re getting
to build good relationships with
them. We believe that praise and
worship and intimacy with God
is not something you develop
when you’re older but can be
developed right now as children.
We allow space for kids to hear
from God.’
Elsewhere, in the youth
sessions, Serious4God Director Mark Pugh says that young
people connected with God
in powerful ways. There were
teaching sessions on prayer,
along with fun and games, praise
and worship and inspirational
preaching.
Mark adds, ‘It’s been amazing
‘Many came out
for prayer and it
was a great start
to the week.
There’s been
wonderful Bible
teaching all week’
Above
Delegates at Elim
Conference 2009
to see children and young people impacted by God throughout
the Conference. Every year
when I was a kid I would come
to these sorts of Conferences
and I can still remember the
things that God did in my life
during these times.’
Meanwhile, delegates also
said they had a great time. Deborah Stevenson was at her first
ever Elim Conference. Having
become a Christian two years
ago, the Nantwich Elim member
was particularly blessed.
She says, ‘There’s lots of
variety at Elim Bible Week and
you can dip in and out of different seminars and meetings
which I find useful. On one of
the days I watched a seminar
from my room which was great,
and I also enjoyed the seminar
on evolution. The worship has
been contemporary and lively.
People think that it’s about an
old woman playing an organ but
it’s not like that here.’
Carolyn Seeman, of Chelmsford Elim, saw her old youth
leader at the Conference for the
first time in 25 years.
She says the ministry was
fantastic: ‘I like to pick up certain things from all the different
preaching and then go home
and reflect on them. It was great
seeing my old youth leader.
Conferences like this are great
for connecting and reconnecting
with friends.’
Andy Watkins, of Caerphilly
Elim, adds, ‘I met lots of people
who I know from the regions
and it was great to share and
chat to them. The first night
with Simon Foster was brilliant.
It was a real word from God for
me and confirmed what we have
been talking about in my church,
about the direction and leading
of the Holy Spirit!’
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Ordained
ministers
• The following were
ordained as ministers in the
Elim Movement at the 2009
Conference.
• To order copies of these
photographs, telephone
0115 824 0777 or email
info@newlife.co.uk
Ian Anderson’s home church is
Beeston (Willoughby Street). He
moved to his current ministry in
Pontypridd in September 2007.
Paul Arthur joined the ministry team
in Carlisle in June 2006. He returned
to his home church in Crawley in
April 2007 and still ministers there.
Daniel Bennett was accepted as a
Minister in Training in January 2006
and serves as Assistant Minister at his
home church in Halesowen.
Lionel Canter was accepted as a
Minister in Training at Liverpool City
Church in 2004. He is pioneering an
Iranian Church in Liverpool.
Edwin Cotter was accepted as a
Minister in Training in 2006 and
appointed as Assistant Minister in
Silverdale where he still serves
Fraser Donaldson was accepted as
a Minister in Training in 2005 and
appointed to his home church in Kelly
Street, Greenock, where he serves.
David Evaniew hails from Canada.
He was accepted as a Minister in
Training in 2006 and appointed to
Nuneaton where he still serves.
Sahlu Girma was accepted as a
Minister in Training in 2006 and is
appointed to his home church of
Birmingham Christian Centre
Philip Glover was accepted as a
Minister in Training in 2006 and
appointed to his home church in
Whitley Bay where he still serves.
Pauline Graham was accepted as
a Minister in Training in 2005. She
moved to Lewisham, London in 2008
to minister there.
Eric Heylen was accepted as a
Minister in Training in September
2007 and appointed to Bognor Regis
where he continues to serve.
Carla Irving was accepted as a
Minister in Training and appointed
to the ministry team at Birmingham
South CLC where she still serves.
Richard Jama was accepted as a
Minister in Training in 1999 and
appointed to his home church in
Bethnal Green, London.
Sandra Jones was accepted as a
Minister in Training in 2005 and
appointed to join the ministry team in
her home church in Lancaster.
Michael Keeping was accepted as a
Minister in Training and appointed to
his current ministry in Aldershot in
December 2005.

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
Jonny Lee was accepted as a Minister
in Training and appointed to the team
at his home church of Birimingham
Christian Centre in 2005.
Nicole Le Goupillot was granted a
Licence to Minister in Dewsbury in
2004 and was accepted as a Minister
in Training in 2007.
Marion Meyers was accepted as an
ECI Minister in Training in 2006 and
appointed to work alongside her
husband in Exeter.
Peter Millward held a Licence to
Minister at his Bristol home church
for three years before becoming a
Minister in Training in 2005.
Kantz Misra was accepted as a
Minister in Training in September
2006 and appointed to Barry where
he continues to serve.
Tony Murphy held a Licence to
Minister in Newport, Isle of Wight,
from 1997 until June 2001 when he
was accepted as a Minister in Training.
Peter Pennant was accepted as a
Minister in Training and appointed
to the ministry team at Birmingham
Christian Centre in September 2004.
Michael Reid was accepted as a
Minister in Training in 2005 and
appointed to join the ministry team
at his home church in Huddersfield.
Howard Roberts was accepted as
a Minister in Training and appointed
to the Liverpool City Church in
September 2006.
Eric Scott was accepted as a
Minister in Training and appointed
to Aberdeen in June 2006 where he
serves as Assistant Minister.
Stephen Smith was accepted as a
Minister in Training in September
2005. He moved to Livingston and
then to Clacton-on-Sea.
James Talbot was accepted as an
Incorporated Minister in Training in
2005 and is an evangelist linked to
Birmingham Christian Centre.
Kevin Taylor was accepted as a
Minister in Training in March 2006
and appointed to join the ministry
team at his home church in Crawley.
Sharon Threlfall was accepted as
a Minister in Training in 2006 and
appointed as Assistant Minister in her
home church in Preston.
Sarah Whittleston was accepted as
a Minister in Training in 2005 and
appointed to Gloucester where she
serves as Assistant Minister.
Peter Wright was accepted as a
Minister in Training in 2006 and
appointed as Assistant Minister at his
home church in Sunderland.
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