Does it get any better than this? With speakers like Brother Andrew, Bruce Olsson and George Verwer, our church community was impacted and challenged for world missions as never before. God provided us with warm weather outside and a blazing Spirit inside on the weekend of Missions Fest (Feb. 4-6, 2000) as we welcomed people from all over Alberta and Saskatchewan. Our aggregate attendance topped a new high once again - 18,000 people in our new location in downtown Edmonton. If we keep growing at this rate, we'll have to move to another new building in two years.

We're not sure why, but everyone wants numbers; and the truth is...we will only know the real number results in heaven, at the end of this age. All our good works are not yet complete -- there may be that one child who has yet to grow up and become the next Bruce Olsson or George Verwer or Brother Andrew!!! But for what it's worth...

The aggregate attendance was 18,000 people over the three days. God is doing an amazing thing among the young people. Over 3000 children and youth attended Friday sessions. In just one Friday Field Trip rally with Maralee Dawn, there were over 300 decisions to follow Christ. Many teens accepted Christ in the Youth Rally and over 270 made commitments to go into missions. (YET all 400 tapes "If You're Not Called to Go then Stay" were picked up!) Over 1500 people attended seminars, which included five new tracks. Over 7000 people were challenged in the plenary sessions. Our tape/video sales reached an all-time high. We continue to receive daily phone calls for copies of audio and video tapes; mission book sales also reached an all time high. Exhibitors were thrilled with the hundreds of warm heart-felt inquiries regarding their missions throughout the weekend.

We praise God for the commitment of His people from sponsoring churches and their faithfulness to organize and sponsor this event: 60 sponsoring churches, 50+ on the Planning Team, 400+ volunteers on the weekend, 18,000+ aggregate attendance, 135 exhibits, weekend donations of $32,000+ and prayers answered and prayers yet to be answered.

When it comes to final numbers, indeed only God knows the end result.

Thousands of people were challenged by each of our speakers and hundreds stood to make various commitments of total surrender, giving up "rights," to go/support/send. Brother Andrew called us "to give up rights" and "total, absolute surrender" as is the case for those who are imprisoned for the cause of Christ. It was wonderful to see the response from hundreds at one altar call; many of whom were young people, openly weeping. Bruce Olsson invited us to release our hold on the things of this world and allow God to use us for His purposes. George Verwer was obviously happy to see the celebration in our closing rally as we sang along with many ethnic church choirs - a taste of heaven "worshipping from every tongue, tribe, people and nation." But reality hit when he challenged us to reach out to billions of unreached people who have yet to sing one word of praise from their lips. George Verwer cannot rest, nor does he want God's people to rest while so many need to know Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

We praise God and give Him the glory for the many lives and world-views changed as a result of Missions Fest. Pray with us, that hundreds who made commitments would have sufficient grace and anointing to fulfill the vision and call given to each of them. The Lord of the Harvest is calling out many from this region to be involved in the Great Harvest. With joy we look forward to planning for next year and anticipate another weekend of God's glory in our midst.