Holding a long-handled flashlight in one hand and his Bible in the other, Ron Halverson, director of the Evangelism/Church Growth Institute for the Southern Union Conference, drove home the point of his presentation about the ministry of prayer.

The flashlight wasn’t a stage prop. It was an emergency light source during the two-hour blackout that hit Stockton during the 26th Northern California Conference African-American Convocation.

The convocation began with a rousing message by Halverson which left the more than 300 participants uplifted and encouraged. Halverson, author of Prayer Warriors, shared tidbits of his personal testimony while challenging believers to spend more time on their knees and to be more aggressive in their intercession.

Dr. James Doggette, Sr., pastor of Madison Mission Church in Madison, Ala., presented the 11 o’clock worship message that challenged Christians to be more loving. Doggette stated that if a person hasn’t influenced someone to accept Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior, he doubted that the person is a Christian. That strong and sobering thought brought the audience of more than 2,600 to the edge of their seats. The closing appeal drew more than 100 to the altar for rededication to the cause of Christ.

No convocation is complete without music. From the inspiring solos of Cynthia Palmer (a singing evangelist) and the melodious Praise Team from Sacramento’s Capital City Church, to the soulful sound of the Convocation Mass Choir under the direction of Teddy Brazelton and Edna Hendrix-Fultcher, traditional, contemporary and gospel music ministered to every heart during the full day of events. Other musicians included A Few of God’s Men, Waynesha Fultcher, Gospel Dynamics and Tunisia Osborne. At one point, Dr. Ivan Williams took the microphone to lead a song with the Mass Choir.

The timely messages and energetic delivery by the speakers kept the congregation alert. Even during the two-hour blackout at the afternoon program, an a cappella song-service, season of prayer and presentation by the facilitator appeared to hold the interest of more than 500 participants.

During the morning worship, Jim Pederson, executive secretary of Northern California Conference, announced the official appointment of the new African-American/Inner City coordinator, Virgil Childs. Childs succeeds Bobby Mitchell who has become the director of Regional Ministries for Pacific Union Conference.

The period of darkness that came by way of a blackout and the thought provoking messages delivered by the guest speakers made the words of the theme song, written by Teri Simmons and Tina Glen (notation by Teri Simmons Music Source), seem even more profound: “Come, Lord Jesus. Come in all your glory. Come and gather all who wait on Thee.”

Effie Brown works in the African-American/Inner City department at the Northern California Conference Office, and Sali Butler is a secretary for both the Regional Ministries and Communication departments at the Pacific Union Conference.