Photo: Jhia Chalique Horn and Calvin Whetstone lead worship at ReGen 2017. Photo provided. 

Evana Network held its second annual conference, ReGen 2017, July 1-4 at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. The second of three annual meetings, Evana will switch to a biennial schedule following 2018 to give space for youth groups to participate in mission trips.

This year’s meeting was larger than 2016’s, with 485 registrants from 17 states and 65 churches. Evana currently has 34 partner churches and held informational meetings for those with organizational mission questions as well as an open session intended for listening to what the Spirit is saying to congregations. Though no official voting took place, there was agreement to rephrase the definition of voting delegates and pastors to provide more clarity. Updated language will be voted on in August. During the open session there was a time of silence where those present were invited to pray and listen for God’s voice, followed by a time to share.

Participants were housed in campus dormitories and shared daily meals. Following breakfast, all ages gathered in Rediger Chapel for worship. There were breakout sessions for youth, adults and combined ages through the day, followed by evening worship. Attendees spent evenings sharing, recording faith stories and playing games.

In addition to seminar and worship speakers, the organization GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment) was present throughout the conference and gave a presentation to the adult participants to teach about abuse prevention in congregations. (Editor’s Note: GRACE was one of the organizations recommended to conduct an independent investigation into reports of abuse by the Mennonite Church USA Panel on Sexual Abuse Prevention in 2016.)

The theme of this year’s conference was, “Start with Amen.” The phrase is borrowed

from author Beth Guckenberger, who started an international nonprofit organization that supports orphaned children around the world. The theme focused on praying and living out “so be it” as a starting posture before God, even before the beginning, middle or end of our stories is known and before petitions are presented to the Lord.

Speaker Myron Augsburger, Harrisonburg, Virginia, reminded attendees that this posture is a form of yieldedness that our Anabaptist faith fathers and mothers spoke of as “gelassenheit”—a peace in submission that springs from the gospel revealed within, peace that surpasses all understanding.

From the opening night, in which the youthful rock-style worship band was silhouetted against the black-and-white drawings of faith ancestor Dirk Willems, to addresses by Augsburger, Guckenberger and 19-year-old Elijah Evans, the notion of peaceful submission to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit was emphasized. A Gospel message relevant for all of history, all ages, all generations and all stories challenged those in attendance.

Augsburger reminded participants that yieldedness leads to a life of reconciliation, righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit for those yielding their lives to the kingdom of God. He said, “We’ve been known for our gospel of peace, but it is just one part of the gospel, yet if peace is sacrificed, we’ve let go of the gospel of Jesus.”

Augsburger spoke of salvation by grace alone and invited attendees into the priesthood of believers that brings one into the presence of God and into a posture of submission for all of life.

“All of life is sacred—mind, body, soul, even sexuality and business,” he said. “We are to be agents of reconciliation, not flaunting convictions in judgment” or “hiding our light or compromising it.”

Guckenberger served as a missionary in Mexico for over 15 years. In her talk, she reminded conference-goers of Moses’ climb up Mount Sinai in Exodus 19. He was nearly 90, and his bones must have ached, as the mountain was nearly 6,000 feet high, and God said, “Come up here, I want to tell you something.”

Guckenberger noted that Moses submitted himself to the climb into God’s presence without knowing the full significance of his life story. She said, “We don’t always submit ourselves to the climb, and [God’s] asking us to listen and obey, stay the course, make room for me, and I will fill it if you surrender.”

She recalled stories and times when her prayers were pleading with God to meet her petitions on her terms, but the most transforming stories came when she inverted her prayers, starting with the word “amen.”

Speaker Linda Rodriguez, pastor of Iglesia Cristiana Valle de Jesus in Brooklyn, New York, told how Mary’s posture of “so be it” in the Bible impacted her dating relationships, led her to her husband and moved her into ministry. Rodriguez spoke in Spanish, which was translated for attendees. Her words held the attention of the youth as she revealed her conversation with God throughout her life.

On the final night, Elijah Evans, an advocate for ending child abuse, shared his faith journey. Evans experienced childhood abuse that resulted in third-degree burns over 40 percent of his body. Later adopted by a caring nurse who nurtured him in faith, he started an organization called No Use for Abuse, which has provided thousands of dollars in Christmas gifts to foster children. Following his address, those with stories of brokenness were invited to come forward for prayer.

The conference closed in worship and with an address by Wes Furlong, Evana Network director of church development. Furlong reminded attendees of the single thing he said separates Jesus Christ from all other religions of the world: his resurrection. Furlong said, “Jesus’ resurrection from the dead was the single event that divided history” and is the only power that divides our personal stories as we encounter the risen Lord Jesus, the Christ who reconciles all our stories.

Anne Love attends Clinton Frame Church, Goshen, Indiana. She is a published auothor with Barbour Publishing and represented by Sarah Freese at WordServe. You can find her at www.anneloveauthor.com.