ORU Empowerment Conference Draws Global Audience

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- It was 100 years ago when the Pentecostal movement started - 50 years ago when the Charismatic movement started - now both have merged into a global movement that claims more than 150 million people.

But some worry it could all end just as quickly as it's grown.

Oral Roberts University is hosting an event that's designed to empower a new generation in ministry. The Empowered 21 conference has drawn people from all over the world to Tulsa.

Young ORU students are blending with older delegates from around the world, here for a conference on continuing the movement that was a central part of ORU's founding.

"Everybody is kind of saying this is a new generation, a new time in history - OK, now what?" said Dr. Mark Rutland, ORU President.

President Rutland says the success of the older Pentecostal and younger Charismatic movements all depends on handing the leadership over a new generation.

The Pentecostal and Charismatic world of the 21st century doesn't look a lot like it did in 1906, and I think everybody is saying we're ready to change, we're ready to morph, music is different, worship is different, preaching is different, leadership is different, now what?" he said.

The conference features the tools of modern missions and evangelism - everything from books - to videos - to literally - Bibles meant to fire up the reader.

New initiatives - like ORU's just opened Hispanic Outreach Center - are part of those new tools.

 "Our Hispanic population is small, maybe 6 percent, but we're looking towards the future, to help recruit more students, keep them here, matriculate through the school and then help them go back and serve their communities," said Dr. Daniel Guajardo, Dean of Student Life at ORU.

The new leaders of the movement include people like Mart Green and his father David Green - ORU's greatest benefactors, who spoke at the conference about making business - a ministry.

"I don't care how many talents you have, I don't care how much money you have or how smart you are, you are nothing without God blessing what you do," David Green said.

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