East Region has come to a crucial time of leadership transition. After much prayerful consideration, Nancy and I have felt the leading of the Lord to move forward to the next chapter in our lives. Jesus never said, “I am finished” but , “It is finished”, meaning that He finished His assignment and passed on responsibility to His successors.
Based on that wonderful model, Spring Conference will focus on passing the baton of East Region leadership from Tom Rupli to Joshua Grimes. The East Region Spring Conference, Friday, April 20 through Saturday, April 21, sets the stage for an historic moment as a leadership succession plan becomes a reality.
The East Region Board in consultation with President Randall Bach nominated Pastor Josh Grimes as the new Regional Director, and the ministers of the region overwhelmingly ratified his nomination. As part of the succession process, the Lord placed on my heart that at Spring Conference we should follow the Scriptural “Succession Plan” of Moses and Joshua.
Numbers 27:18-23 (NKJV)
18 And the LORD said to Moses: "Take Joshua the son of Nun a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 set him before,,,,,all the assembly, and inaugurate him in their sight.
20 And you shall give some of your authority to him 22 So Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and set him ,,,,,,before all the assembly.
23 And he laid his hands on him and inaugurated him, just as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
I expect that with the passing of the baton of leadership and the laying on of hands will come a “double portion’ impartation of anointing. Our hope is that as the “company of ministers”, we will say, “The Spirit and Anointing rests upon Joshua!” The Holy Spirit waits to blow a fresh wind on our fire and propel all of us into our preferred future! God is stirring GREATNESS in our hearts, and we look forward to a new day!
Beginning on Friday night and ending after lunch on Saturday, Spring Conference has been purposefully designed to allow maximum participation by the ministers and delegates and friends of the region. I urge you to make every effort to lend your strength to this great convocation!
With anticipation of great things,
Tom
