Why Come to New Wineskins?
by Clancy Nixon
How do I love thee, New Wineskins? Let me count the ways.
Can one, should one, love a Conference? In short, yes. I love the triennial New Wineskins Conference (NWC) – not really to the “height and breadth my soul can reach” - that is for God alone – but nonetheless, I love it “For the ends of being and ideal grace.” (Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Sonnett 43) NWC is about bringing the gospel of ideal grace to the world through direct evangelization. The AAC is about helping the church raise up healthy leaders, in healthy congregations, with healthy governance. We work together!
This Conference, coming next week, September 17-20 in Ridgecrest, North Carolina - has become my favorite of many Anglican conferences I have attended through the years.
Here’s why. More than any other gathering I’m aware of, NWC immerses orthodox Anglicans in teaching, worship, prayer, and conversation centered on our main calling as Christians: Jesus’ Great Commission to His Church, given in Matthew 28. Jesus commanded His church to go to the ends of the earth, and make disciples of all the nations. New Wineskins is all about mission – international, national, and local.
It does all things well.
It’s both a meetup and a reunion. Many people attend who love mission in its many forms – in 2022, we had over 1600 people. All our ACNA missionaries abroad return for refreshment and equipping. They all have tables in the exhibition hall where you can meet them. Mark Eldredge and I will be there at the AAC table – we’d love to meet you and pray for you personally. I have met many fascinating, self-giving, mission-minded people at these conferences. I also love catching up with Anglican friends from across the country and around the world. It’s a taste of heaven. Imagine it - these people will be with us in eternity – “the ends of being.”
NWC brings the best Anglican speakers from around the world to inform us, train us, and inspire us to play our part in the Great Commission. This year, speakers include ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood; Rev. Gabriel Uchoa from the Anglican Church in Brazil, a rapidly growing church planting movement; Dr. Winfield Bevins, a professor at Asbury Seminary who founded Creoarts, which encourages artists to bring the gospel through beauty and the arts; and Bishop Yassir Eric, who ministers to Christian converts from Islam in Europe. Isaac Wardell, founder and director of Porter’s Gate Worship Project, will be leading our multicultural Anglican times of sung worship.
NWC is Spirit-filled. Prayer pervades the atmosphere. Individual prayer is available after every plenary talk, and on Thursday and Friday afternoons, longer sessions are available. I’ll be giving talks from the plenary stage on experiencing inner healing and the impartation of spiritual gifts. God orchestrates divine appointments and facilitates callings to the mission field. View one young adult’s short and very encouraging calling story here. What a moving experience it is to pray for the persecuted church at one of the many prayer stations set up for that purpose. Jenny Noyes, New Wineskins’ executive director, leads from the overflow of the joy of Jesus. I love how the charismatic stream of our 3 streams ACNA movement is emphasized at NWC.
The theme this year is “Hope for the Nations.” Matthew 12:21 says, “In His name the nations will put their hope!” I encourage you to view Bishop Julian Dobbs’ short invitation to New Wineskins here.
Go to newwineskinsconference.org - for all the details as well as to register. For Ridgecrest housing and meal reservations, call them at 800-588-7222. Before you reserve dates, make sure to consider attending one of the pre-conferences on specific mission topics which offer specialized training and networking opportunities.
My colleagues and I are leading a 2 day pre-conference called Plug into the Power, which is hands-on training for anyone who wants to learn more about connecting with Jesus, healing prayer, or simply to receive healing or a touch from the Lord. I’m also recruiting prayer ministers to pray for others at NWC; if you’re interested, please email me at clancynixon@gmail.com.
If you come, you will understand better how you and your church can be involved in world mission by praying, giving, encouraging, going, and sending. Many churches send groups. Kids and youth are welcome and we have a separate track for them.
Thank you, New Wineskins, for equipping us through the years to fulfill the Great Commission, so that more and more eternal souls will one day say of Jesus, “I’ll love thee with the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.”
Rev. Clancy Nixon is the Director of Renew, Coach, Consultant for the American Anglican Council and the former (retired) Rector of Church of the Holy Spirit, Leesburg, VA.