Gathering in Philly and Camden 2018
Interview With Apostle Arnold Steward Pt 2 by Terrence ClarkIf you have read the Voice of One CNC's interview with Apostle Arnold Steward, hopefully you would see he is not a man to take on a ministerial assignment arbitrarily. As a matter of fact after hearing the voice of God calling him, he would often wait painstakingly for confirmation. Several years ago, he obeyed the Holy Spirit and began a project that would not only embrace, engage, and motivate one city, but two.
In this second part of our interview, he talks about the commission of bringing together segments of the church, separated physically by a river. Consequently, reaching the surrounding world. Apostle Steward: One of the projects we started doing this year is called the Major Prophets and the Minor Prophets. We've been holding minor gatherings in preparation for the major gathering. I have a three-day gathering coming up this month on August 28th through the 30th at Rejuvenate Your Life Through Christ Ministry, located at 932 South Eighth Street, Camden, New Jersey. These gatherings are designed to keep the people motivated, stirred, and focused towards the major gathering on September 22nd on the grounds of City Hall, Camden and City Hall, Philadelphia, simultaneously. We have a number of different team members and team leaders that are working on various aspects of the gathering. Prayer The event runs from 11AM to 6PM, opening up with an all nation’s prayer from 11AM to 11:30PM. During this time, there will be different people praying and interceding over the city in their native tongue. |
Worship choir
We will then have a couple of people working on putting together our citywide choir that will be opening praise and worship from 11:30AM to 12 noon on both sides. The young lady that's working on the Camden side is Joy Adam. The gentlemen that’s working on the Philadelphia side is Keenan Hudson.
For the Philadelphia gathering from 12 to 6PM, on every hour, we'll start out with an artist, whether it's a gospel, hip-hop, or liturgical dance. Each of these groups will be given 15 minutes to show off their God-given talent and share that with everyone at the gathering.
The last 15 minutes of the hour closes with a community speaker, which is someone from the community who will be sharing about various community interests. (For example, we have one young lady talking about the sex trafficking issue, even in the South Jersey area.)
We will then have a couple of people working on putting together our citywide choir that will be opening praise and worship from 11:30AM to 12 noon on both sides. The young lady that's working on the Camden side is Joy Adam. The gentlemen that’s working on the Philadelphia side is Keenan Hudson.
For the Philadelphia gathering from 12 to 6PM, on every hour, we'll start out with an artist, whether it's a gospel, hip-hop, or liturgical dance. Each of these groups will be given 15 minutes to show off their God-given talent and share that with everyone at the gathering.
The last 15 minutes of the hour closes with a community speaker, which is someone from the community who will be sharing about various community interests. (For example, we have one young lady talking about the sex trafficking issue, even in the South Jersey area.)
Buy These great Books on amazon
Follow up teams
We'll have follow-up teams out there, including:
This will make sure that the grounds are kept clean. Site managers will have community resource tables set up at both sites. The goal of this event is to reach people's spirit, soul, and body.
We'll have follow-up teams out there, including:
- evangelism teams,
- prayer teams,
- children's ministry,
- food service,
- set up and break down teams, and
- rounds of managers too.
This will make sure that the grounds are kept clean. Site managers will have community resource tables set up at both sites. The goal of this event is to reach people's spirit, soul, and body.
Secular Community Support
Camden County has been very supportive of our efforts. At our first event, in 2016 , the mayor came and gave us a proclamation for the event. Last year, in 2017, camden city supported us with the stage, port-a-potties, and insurance for the event. The stage alone costs over $500. They took care of the insurances: a million dollar insurance policy that we have to have for an event like this. Christian community support People came from everywhere to help set up. We had people setting up:
|
What I would like to see is the church be our greatest supporter, because it is work to build God’s kingdom. I would like to have Every Bible Believing church become a contributor and supporter of these events and ones like them in the surrounding area.
Advertisement
Kids Get Your Gear Here
Kids Get Your Gear Here
Marlton Assembly of God appeared out of nowhere to make sure we had everything we needed and the. Gave a monetary donation to help with costs. We were so blessed with their enthusiasm and love for God! They even helped in Philadelphia not just in their home state of New Jersey. They have helped us every year since then.
Currently, we have been reaching out to the local churches to support us, and we have begun to build relationships with the different churches in Philadelphia. One of the churches I'm connected with over in Philly is Crusaders for Christ.
In The World's View
I was curious to know what kind of recognition the ministry got from the secular media. It’s always interesting to see how the community at large received what they were doing. Many times, when a Christ-based effort is happening in a city, it’s just a blip in the secular media’s radar, whereas secular organizations tend to receive more coverage.
These last three years was a time of working out the full package of what we do. This was a time of understanding ourselves, what God has assigned us to do, what works, what doesn't work, what our focus should be, and what things are just distractions.
Eventually, we want to get our organization to a place where it looks like a model; when what we are doing in Camden and Philly becomes like a model. We look forward to the day when other cities ask us to come in and duplicate what we do here. Im sure God is working on it.
This has been a time to work out the various kinks and the hiccups that we tend to encounter. For instance, at one of our minor gatherings, like other ministry events, we had allowed vendors. This was a one time thing, as the Lord told us not to allow vendors, because it takes away from the spiritual purpose of the gathering.
Currently, we have been reaching out to the local churches to support us, and we have begun to build relationships with the different churches in Philadelphia. One of the churches I'm connected with over in Philly is Crusaders for Christ.
In The World's View
I was curious to know what kind of recognition the ministry got from the secular media. It’s always interesting to see how the community at large received what they were doing. Many times, when a Christ-based effort is happening in a city, it’s just a blip in the secular media’s radar, whereas secular organizations tend to receive more coverage.
These last three years was a time of working out the full package of what we do. This was a time of understanding ourselves, what God has assigned us to do, what works, what doesn't work, what our focus should be, and what things are just distractions.
Eventually, we want to get our organization to a place where it looks like a model; when what we are doing in Camden and Philly becomes like a model. We look forward to the day when other cities ask us to come in and duplicate what we do here. Im sure God is working on it.
This has been a time to work out the various kinks and the hiccups that we tend to encounter. For instance, at one of our minor gatherings, like other ministry events, we had allowed vendors. This was a one time thing, as the Lord told us not to allow vendors, because it takes away from the spiritual purpose of the gathering.
gathering in 2 cities 2017
We want as many resource tables at our gatherings as possible, whether they're the minor gatherings or the major Gathering. With resource tables, we want people to be exposed to the information God wants us to send out.
We do want to include secular things, but we don't want to compromise the Gospel in doing so. We are continually learning how to do that. I'm also focusing on what works and what doesn't work. Sometimes we cloud our purpose and our reason for having an event, by bringing too many secular things into it. |
If the world sees this as a secular event, they see it as an entertainment thing. But it is important that we include the ministering to spirit, soul, and body. We’d love to have ShopRite, Walmart, or other businesses like them to support us, whether it's in food, donations, or cash. We need that, and would want to acknowledge them and thank them for their support. However, it is also important that these things do not dominate over the true purpose of our events.
What I would like to see is the church be our greatest supporter, because it is work to build God’s kingdom. I would like to have Every Bible Believing church become a contributor and supporter of these events and ones like them in the surrounding area.
This is our vision, so at the first Gathering, we decided to have t-shirts made. The shirts said “Operations Camden for Christ”, and we made sure that everybody got one. I would love to see the rainbow color of various ministries out there with their t-shirts on because that shows unity. There are about nine or ten organizations like us and it's going to show the rainbow of God's grace bringing people together.
As we continue to move forward, there’s a lot of things I'm learning about the assignment that God has given my wife and I. We’re still learning what our focus should be, so I'm not in a rush, but I also don't want to be lazy. I'm not in a rush to take it to a certain place without learning the lessons that He wants me to learn from here to there.
The destination is not so important that we forget the journey. In fact, we may not be able to get to the destination without the learned wisdom of that is gained along the journey.
Evangelist Iris Gives Insight
Through my experience, the message I would like to send out, not only to the leaders but throughout the world is one word: Unity.
We need to see more people and more churches of the Gospel come together as one, just like the Spirit is one with the Father. This has been my message for years. I love it when I see people come together, work together, love together. That fills my heart with joy. We cannot be one without the Spirit; a Spirit of love. That's what God is. He is a spirit of love, a spirit of unity, and a spirit of oneness. That is what we must work to be like.
How to help and connect with the ministry
Our greatest need is laborers. Jesus said that the harvest is plentiful, but He says the laborers are few. We are always looking for somebody to come alongside that is ready to put away their own agendas and work on God’s plan.
There are a few websites, noted Evangelist Iris---
The Jesus Question and Answer---Jesus At the Center
If God is not the center of joy and He's not at the forefront of your event or gathering, you're doing something wrong, says Apostle Steward. He must be the forefront. He must be the navigator of the entire event. It has to be His will and His purpose.
The greatest need we have right now is for laborers. We are praying that people feel compelled to join us and are eager to see what God has in store for their lives. It seems the Lord is leading us this year to get more people to join us.
Last year, we received many donations and offerings. Still, a lot of money came out of our pockets. The Lord has been telling us to reach out to different people and ministries and see if they will be willing to donate. Last year, for example, we paid almost $1,700 for sound equipment for both sites
I have reached out to different churches to ask them if they would join us and bring different people who would be committed to different aspects of the work. We just met with them a couple weeks ago. God is good and he put on their hesarts to help us.
They will handle the food ministry for us on the Camden site. That's almost $3,000 alone that we don't have to be concerned about for Camden. This will be such a blessing to our ministry. When people feel led to take on the responsibility of leading a ministry, it becomes such a blessing; a wonderful Godsend.
What I have come to understand during my walk with God, is that it's not about doing a lot of church events. The important part is doing what God has assigned you to do and walking in that.
God must be at the center and at the forefront of everything you do. He is our strength. The joy of the Lord is our strength. I thank God that His favor will be upon us. We can do all things through Christ! I also believe that God will lay upon the hearts of his people. It has to be the people who He has chosen.
My husband received a prophecy when we were in Texas that God would begin to highlight these people to him. I am thankful for each of these people. They are a blessing. It's a blessing to have God's hands working through things and to be able to see His wonder-working power.
Foundation Verse
Is there not a cause?
In 1 Samuel 17:29 David asked this question when his brothers were attacking him for disobeying his father and entering the battle in an attempt to slay Goliath. They were accusing him of many, untrue things. That is still relevant to the church today.
David was essentially saying to put behind such trivial things. Is it not a cause to you that we should be focused on?
What I would like to see is the church be our greatest supporter, because it is work to build God’s kingdom. I would like to have Every Bible Believing church become a contributor and supporter of these events and ones like them in the surrounding area.
This is our vision, so at the first Gathering, we decided to have t-shirts made. The shirts said “Operations Camden for Christ”, and we made sure that everybody got one. I would love to see the rainbow color of various ministries out there with their t-shirts on because that shows unity. There are about nine or ten organizations like us and it's going to show the rainbow of God's grace bringing people together.
As we continue to move forward, there’s a lot of things I'm learning about the assignment that God has given my wife and I. We’re still learning what our focus should be, so I'm not in a rush, but I also don't want to be lazy. I'm not in a rush to take it to a certain place without learning the lessons that He wants me to learn from here to there.
The destination is not so important that we forget the journey. In fact, we may not be able to get to the destination without the learned wisdom of that is gained along the journey.
Evangelist Iris Gives Insight
Through my experience, the message I would like to send out, not only to the leaders but throughout the world is one word: Unity.
We need to see more people and more churches of the Gospel come together as one, just like the Spirit is one with the Father. This has been my message for years. I love it when I see people come together, work together, love together. That fills my heart with joy. We cannot be one without the Spirit; a Spirit of love. That's what God is. He is a spirit of love, a spirit of unity, and a spirit of oneness. That is what we must work to be like.
How to help and connect with the ministry
Our greatest need is laborers. Jesus said that the harvest is plentiful, but He says the laborers are few. We are always looking for somebody to come alongside that is ready to put away their own agendas and work on God’s plan.
There are a few websites, noted Evangelist Iris---
- Operation Philadelphia and Camden for Christ, Apostle Arnold Steward.
- Connect on Facebook by searching “All Saints’ Evangelistic Movement” and “The Gathering”.
- Telephone number 856. 352. 5420
- http://allsaintsmovement.org/
The Jesus Question and Answer---Jesus At the Center
If God is not the center of joy and He's not at the forefront of your event or gathering, you're doing something wrong, says Apostle Steward. He must be the forefront. He must be the navigator of the entire event. It has to be His will and His purpose.
The greatest need we have right now is for laborers. We are praying that people feel compelled to join us and are eager to see what God has in store for their lives. It seems the Lord is leading us this year to get more people to join us.
Last year, we received many donations and offerings. Still, a lot of money came out of our pockets. The Lord has been telling us to reach out to different people and ministries and see if they will be willing to donate. Last year, for example, we paid almost $1,700 for sound equipment for both sites
I have reached out to different churches to ask them if they would join us and bring different people who would be committed to different aspects of the work. We just met with them a couple weeks ago. God is good and he put on their hesarts to help us.
They will handle the food ministry for us on the Camden site. That's almost $3,000 alone that we don't have to be concerned about for Camden. This will be such a blessing to our ministry. When people feel led to take on the responsibility of leading a ministry, it becomes such a blessing; a wonderful Godsend.
What I have come to understand during my walk with God, is that it's not about doing a lot of church events. The important part is doing what God has assigned you to do and walking in that.
God must be at the center and at the forefront of everything you do. He is our strength. The joy of the Lord is our strength. I thank God that His favor will be upon us. We can do all things through Christ! I also believe that God will lay upon the hearts of his people. It has to be the people who He has chosen.
My husband received a prophecy when we were in Texas that God would begin to highlight these people to him. I am thankful for each of these people. They are a blessing. It's a blessing to have God's hands working through things and to be able to see His wonder-working power.
Foundation Verse
Is there not a cause?
In 1 Samuel 17:29 David asked this question when his brothers were attacking him for disobeying his father and entering the battle in an attempt to slay Goliath. They were accusing him of many, untrue things. That is still relevant to the church today.
David was essentially saying to put behind such trivial things. Is it not a cause to you that we should be focused on?