Atmosphere matters. There is an atmosphere that can help us thrive and flourish as followers of Christ. But there is also an environment that can weaken and eventually quench our passion, our faith, and even our relationship with the Lord. The richness of what’s in the air is the thing I hear about most following ARC national gatherings. For instance, after our gatherings last year in San Diego and Minneapolis people told me things like, “The atmosphere in the room was so sweet.” “There air was rich with a tangible sense of God’s presence.” There just always seems to be something special in the air when we make time to gather together in the same place, at the same time, with each other and the Holy Spirit. Atmosphere matters.

You can help prepare the atmosphere for this year’s ARC Midwest Gathering. You can help by praying that the Lord prepare the hearts of each person who will be attending to hear and receive whatever it is God has in store for them. Praying for each keynote speaker, worship leader, workshop presenter, and leaders of our experiential learning opportunities will also be key for what God has in store for us this year.

Another way you can help prepare the atmosphere for the gathering this year is by adding fasting to your prayers. There is something about fasting that has an impact in us and in the lives of others. Ask the Lord if He would have you fast along with praying, and if you hear Him telling you to do so, ask Him how that fast would look for you. What should you fast, how long should you fast? Should you fast for a morning, an afternoon, an entire day? Just ask the Lord. He’ll tell you.

Another very helpful thing you can do to prepare the atmosphere is by registering early. Register now for the gathering, and encourage others to do so also. It really helps those of us in charge of the many details that go into planning this event, and as we get word out that registrations are coming in it can help fill the air with a sense of expectancy. There is something exciting about knowing you are going to be part of a larger group.

How else could you help us prepare the atmosphere for this year’s Midwest Gathering? As ideas come to mind that you think would be good to pass on to others, email them to me at: safeplacemb@gmail.com. Thanks for helping us get ready for this year’s gathering. We know that when we make the commitment to gather together in the same room, at the same time, with each other and the Holy Spirit good things happen; God-things happen. Atmosphere matters.