With the pounding percussion of drums and the colorful presentation of the flags from 155 world areas, attendees to the first worship service of the 27th General Assembly and Conventions were treated to an extravaganza of sight and sound.

The powerful presentation of the themes of worship for the first service hinted at the tone of the services to follow. The audience was engaged in spectacular fashion with people standing on their seats to see the worship of thousands of fellow Nazarenes.

With worship leader Melinda Priest at the podium, the energy and community that marked the service was simply and unmistakably, "General Assembly."

"We're a chosen generation ¿ we are the army of the Lord" pushed the decibels of worship to new highs. Singing to a "call and response" offered by worship leader Marvin Jones, the audience vigorously called back their response of affirmation and commitment.

The introduction of the speaker of the evening, General Superintendent Jesse C. Middendorf, was enhanced by a colorful photo montage, tracing the history of his ministry. As he introduced his scripture, Middendorf began his message with these words:

"While we are here, some of us will transform communities. We will paint homes, clean up cluttered lots, clear away debris, and embrace the broken and the hurting. We will share a meal with a child, give hope to a lonely adult, and play ball with a struggling teenager. With one heart and many hands, we will make a difference in Orlando.

"As Nazarenes, coming from near and far, we are not defined by a place. Even the flags that line this platform are not our ultimate sources of identity. We take justifiable pride in our homelands and honor the leaders of our nations. But we are not defined by a place-even a place called Nazareth.

"We are defined by a Person. We are followers of Jesus, the Nazarene. We are The Church of the Nazarene."

Developing his theme, Middendorf continued:

"We Nazarenes are shaped by the cross. We find our hope in that terrible symbol of suffering and death. We cling to the cross, we sing of the cross, we embrace the cross. But we live in the power of the resurrection. We walk in the Spirit. We cling to the hope that flows from our message-that it is the will of God to sanctify us through and through."

Middendorf concluded the evening by inviting his fellow general superintendents to join him in a Delegate Charge and Litany of Covenant. The general superintendents spoke their charge and General Superintendent Nina G. Gunter led the audience in faithful response.

With over 10,000 in attendance and 5,000 more watching online, the Assembly's first service concluded with a reflective rendition of "Lead me Lord, I will follow."