For the past two days, the Texarkana, Texas, Convention Center has been filled with worship and praise, as the the fifth annual Acts 6:4 Conference is bringing together ministers and laypeople alike.
Originally held in Van Buren, Ark., the conference was moved to Texarkana four years ago, according to co-chair Jason Stidham. He, along with co-chair Andy Harris, pastor of Central Assembly of God in Haughton, chose the year's speakers to prepare worshippers for the upcoming year of trial, tribulation and glory.
"The goal is to invest into these hundreds of ministries that are represented and to prepare them for a new year of ministry," Stidham said. "The church, the evangelists, the missionaries, the Christian educators."
While the interdenominational conference is attended primarily by Pentecostal and Assembly of God ministers, Stidham said it was open to laypersons and those of all faiths. This year, he said more than 1,500 people had attended from 35 states and as far away as Kuwait.
Registration is not required and today's events begin at 9 a.m. with a prayer by Joey Rodgers. At 10 a.m., Bridgette Tomlin will lead the worship and Renee Moore will speak. The 2 p.m. service includes worship by Michael Saunders, with J.R. Rodriguez as speaker. The final session begins at 7 p.m., with Melissa Griffin leading the worship and Brian McDonald leading the worship.
Stidham said he and Harris worked together to choose the speakers for the conference.
"Pastor Harris and I try to get the mind of God for what we feel like should be the speakers that year," he said.
For more information on the conference, go to www.theacts64.com. Events are also live-streamed on the website for those who are unable to attend.