God’s Movement in the Mountains: The Southern Territorial Bible Conference

By: Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee

Hundreds journeyed to Lake Junaluska for The Salvation Army’s annual Southern Territorial Bible Conference that featured challenging Bible teaching, inspiring music and rich fellowship. Getting the week off to a great start, the Collingworth Family performed in front of a packed house at Stewart Auditorium with their harmonious blend of new and old favorites. 

Featured speakers included Reverend Dr. Kevin Watson, author, past seminary professor at Candler School of Theology and presently the associate pastor of discipleship at the First United Methodist Church in Waco, Texas. He shared, "Revival is always preceded by repentance. If you want to see the Lord bring revival to your corps, you have to start by repenting. God brings conviction of sin. Hearts are softened and people cry out to God to forgive them of their sin." 

Jeniffer Dake also presented, whose varied background makes her eminently relatable, particularly to youth. But her communication skills were well fitted to address the adults as well. Sharing mostly from the book of Judges, she reminded those listening, "Delayed obedience is always painful. It doesn't matter if you understand it; it matters that you do it. If you are carrying a deep wound, move forward until you are healed." 

Rounding out the presenters was Lt. Colonel Vern Jewett, who gave an enlightening exposition of biblical holiness. "What God wants is all we have, and that is described as our heart. The greatest misunderstanding about holiness is thinking it is something we do instead of something we receive. Holiness is not measured by a standard of behavior, of something that is attained. Holiness rather is a matter of the heart. A perfect heart makes a perfect Christian." 

The week included an outstanding Adult Rehabilitation Center meeting with thrilling testimonies from Sergeant Lee Hammonds (Administrator, ARC Birmingham, AL), Lt. Rashad Poole (Corps Officer, Sevierville, TN) and Captain Ryan Meo (Administrator, ARC Memphis, TN). This was capped off with the installation of Majors John and Cristina Murphy as the Commanders of the Adult Rehabilitation Centers for the Southern Territory. 

The youth took over on Saturday morning to present a musical based on the life of Joseph. Although they had little time to practice, their performance was delightful in every way. All week, youth met by age groups for a week of Bible teaching, fellowship and fun that make the young people as excited to come each year as their parents. 

In a first, the territorial Men's Fellowship Prayer Breakfast was hosted by the Waynesville Corps. Fifty men gathered for what was an unquestioned success under the direction of Major Mark Satterlee, Territorial Men's Fellowship Secretary. 

Also part of the Bible Conference was the International Service Fellowship Breakfast, featuring insights from Majors Bobby and Anne Westmoreland. The finale of the Bible Conference was the retirement celebration of the territorial leaders, Commissioners Willis and Barbara Howell. Throughout the conference, numerous invitations to respond to the teaching and challenge resulted in hundreds crowding the front of the auditorium seeking the Lord and responding to what He whispered in their hearts. 

View the meetings in their entirety by visiting Ministry Toolkit.