More than 120 pastors, ministry leaders, and spouses attended Tuesday’s LIFTUP Church Encouragement Conference in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) event was designed to encourage attendees to live out their God-given calling to proclaim the Gospel of Christ.
A group of pastors and church leaders take time to pray for Will Graham (second from right) at the conference. Graham will be preaching the Gospel at the Idaho Falls Look Up Tour on Sept. 23–24 at Hero Arena at the Mountain America Center. The tour is a free, family-friendly evangelistic event that includes music from award-winning Christian bands, and a Gospel message.
Popular Christian artist Aaron Shust led worship at the gathering, which was held at Christ Community Church.
"My friends, it is a spiritual war," Will Graham shared. "This is a spiritual battlefield right here in Idaho Falls. ... Do you think Satan’s going to give up on it easily? He’s going to fight for every inch of it. We need to prepare as a spiritual battle. We do that on our knees in prayer."
Dr. Wayde Goodall, who has served as a pastor, missionary, and university dean, shared steps to prevent burnout in ministry—and his hope for revival in Idaho Falls and surrounding towns. “This is a difficult area, as you know, for spreading the Gospel, for witnessing—but you have the power of Christ in your life," he said. "God loves challenges because He shows up with signs and wonders and miracles. People will come to the Lord that you would never imagine.”
Conference attendees spent time praising the Lord for His goodness—and for what He will do in Idaho Falls.
Pastor and speaker Dr. Crawford Lorritts spoke to those gathered about how not to be branded by discouragement. “The Bible cannot be a point of reference,” he said. “It has to be the context of your life. My pain needs to be calibrated by the truth of God’s Word.
Will Graham shares a laugh and conversation with attendees.
Idaho Falls sits along the Snake River in Eastern Idaho. With its many waterfalls, the city is a beautiful setting for the upcoming tour.
"Many people are indifferent to their spiritual plight, but don’t let that discourage you," said Dr. David Bruce, vice president of the Billy Graham Library and Archive and Research Center. "For many are simply fumbling blindly in the dark and they don’t understand. This then becomes our mandate as New Testament Christians—the challenge to each of us to make the way plain, to be able to articulate the Gospel, and to point to Jesus as the way of salvation, the way of truth and life."
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
—1 Thessalonians, 5:16–18, ESV
