2nd Annual Conference and Celebration at the Magic Valley EFC, led by Pastor Mark Tatro, and co-hosted by the church and also by Aletheia Christian College, led by Founder and President Randy Davis and his wife Diane. The theme of the conference this year is “CALL ON HIS BREATH.” Our speaker this year is, Gus Bess. His willingness to come be our speaker is a thrill to my heart, as it was a thrill for Dr. Cal Hanson to speak at our first IWD conference last April. The topics Gus will be preaching on, tentatively, are Thursday night, “CALL ON HIS BREATH FOR POWER IN PRAYER, Friday morning, “CALL ON HIS BREATH FOR STRENGTH IN SERVICE,” and Friday evening, “CALL ON HIS BREATH FOR DEPTH IN WALKING WITH GOD.” Then Saturday morning before sharing the Lord’s Supper and a final lunch before departing from our conference, I will preach on “CALL ON HIS BREATH FOR HOPE IN THE FUTURE.” Gus is thrilled to come. Let me tell you who this man of God is, and about his ministry, “Overwhelmed By Grace.”
“Overwhelmed By Grace Ministries” is the by-product of the life and calling of Gus Bess – an evangelist, pastor and speaker. For three decades, Gus Bess has been encouraging men and women of God along their journey with Jesus, the Christ. A motivational speaker, evangelist, church planter and pastor, Gus loves to share his unique story of being overwhelmed by God’s grace. Gus grew up in Southern California and Hawaii. As a young man, Gus dreamed of being a United States Marine, which he became in 1966. In 1969, after returning home from Vietnam, he wondered what it was all for. The United States was in chaos and Gus returned to his home country that was vastly different from the one he left. Physically and emotionally scarred from the war, Gus embarked on a cross country motorcycle trip that left him even more disillusioned with our country. He returned to his home in California, angry at God, while still trying to find the meaning of life. It took a small town Baptist preacher named Allen Billington, and a mission trip to the Navajo Indian Reservation for God to get Gus’ attention. Gus finally stopped running. He surrendered his life fully to the Lord Jesus Christ. His life has been an incredible journey since. Gus uses three simple words to describe his life and what God has done for him, Overwhelmed By Grace. Gus has planted churches in California, Washington, and Idaho. He has spoken at numerous conferences throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Africa. Plan now to attend as we intercede for God to send down His mighty Breath upon us and our IWD churches.