“Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.  When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim.” (Genesis 32:1-2)

“David went to Mahanaim...” (2 Samuel 17:24)

We use “Mahanaim” as the name for our seminar facilities in Brazil (Portuguese “Maanaim”).  We have several now in different parts of Brazil, where we have thousands of churches and a great need for places to hold large meetings).  Volunteers do all the construction and upkeep, keeping costs to a minimum.  Most of the facilities can hold over 1000 attendees for a weekend seminar; some can hold 4000.

The tropical climate allows the facilities to host events year-round.  They are lovely places, where members can escape the hectic pace of their daily lives, and draw closer to God in a setting surrounded by the beauty of His Creation.  A typical “Mahanaim” conference or seminar center in Brazil, most of which can hold several thousand attendees for weekend seminars and other events.

The facilities are beautiful, but we also design them very efficiently.  We can serve lunch to thousands of attendees in about 30 minutes.  Fresh fruit and fresh breads abound in Brazil, along with vegetables, meats, rice, and coffee.  The goal is to build “around” nature.  The transparent canopies over the walkways let in the sun and blend with the foliage, but keep attendees dry during occasional tropical rain showers.  

Seminars are a crucial part of the spiritual life we experience in Maranatha.  They supplement our frequent, brief church services throughout the week.  Frequent, short services keep our members in constant fellowship.  Seminars, however, play a necessary role in the life of the Body and the spiritual development of each member.  Over time, the Lord has revealed a detailed, regular system for our seminars in Brazil, where we now have about thousands of churches.   

The seminars play a vital role in strengthening the Body of Christ today (the faithful church).  Every aspect must be according to revelation in order for the seminars to achieve their purpose.  “According to revelation” means two things.  First, it means that every aspect of a particular seminar fit with the general guidelines that the Lord revealed for all the seminars (guidelines discussed throughout this series of lessons).  Second, “according to revelation” means that God speaks about the specific decisions that arise with each separate event, issues that are unique to each seminar.  These issues include the dates of the meetings, the venue, who should teach the classes, etc.  God addresses all these specific issues for each seminar through dreams, visions, revelations, or consulting the Word – usually during the planning states before the event.  This is our experience every time.  

In the early days of Maranatha, when this system of programs was just beginning, the Lord told our Presbytery (pastors in leadership), “In 2 days of a seminar, the Spirit can accomplish as much in a member’s life as in 2 years of attending regular church services.”  Yet this occurs only when we follow the set of revelations and guidelines that the Lord gave for these events.  Without the system of revealed seminars, members will still grow spiritually, but it will take a lot more time.  The revealed seminars help compress the time needed for members to attain spiritual maturity.  When the members are maturing much more rapidly, the entire Work of the Holy Spirit accelerates in that country.  The Body grows more and accomplishes more.