 this morning I want to invite you to stand in the presence of the Lord as we sing together some of you may know this if you do sing on out if not you'll catch on and simply goes like this my hope is built then Jesus blood just nest I dare not trust the this church in Shreveport Louisiana and often in the mornings we would wake up being reminded that Jesus is the one whom we follow whom we look toward as our guide and as our Savior and as our friend and so we wake up in the morning with our mind stayed on Jesus I can hear my grandmother we called her to do I can hear her voice singing in the morning say woke up this morning with my mind and it was stayed on Jesus woke up this morning with my mind and it was just that because of Christ's resurrection we can have hope because of Christ came for us hope can I get an amen because Christ came to enter in as the vision of new creation where there is no death so as you are seated I want to have the spirit would come thank you Deandre welcome good morning will be another very good day I look forward to being with you during this day as we continue our agenda we will adjourn hopefully by the time certain that's pretty on the agenda that's that is my intention which means that I'm going to be moving us rapidly at times and which I try to do anyway but I'll be I'll be doing that I believe that Cheryl Murphy is gonna be giving our prayer so Cheryl we gladly welcome you good morning I feel as if the spirit of last night's worship service is still upon us so as we settle in and begin the work at hand let us pray Almighty God thank you for the gift of today as we gather in this beautiful sanctuary surrounded by dear friends and colleagues new friends and committed Christians we thank you for this sacred time today will be blessed by the witness of wise and motivating speakers we will be blessed by the leadership of our bishop and conference leaders be present with them that at all times we can see your work hear your words and experience your love stamped upon their hearts Lord we are grateful to you for the clergy that are serving the many churches in the north Texas communities the call on their lives to be present and witnessing to all that you are and all that you do through them is the light of Jesus Christ Lord we lift up praises for the laity that have taken time from their personal and professional lives to be about the work of our conference without their witness passion and faithful service your message would not reach the masses in our cities and communities Lord may our work our words our witness glorify you today may we be the people the disciples you need for the holy work at hand may your spirit be present in every breath in every step in every conversation may your spirit be the witness that we are the hands and feet of Christ here and now Lord we lift ourselves to you this day and every day and all God's people said amen