Had a great time at the recent conference and thanks to all of you who prayed for us. I spoke twice the first time on how to create a local church culture that both preaches the gospel and demonstrates it with signs and wonders. It was a real priviledge to share some of the lessons that God has taught is although I struggled to communicate it via translation – speaking so quickly one translator nearly melted down. It was also about 35 degrees in the room and its the first time ive preached with a towel! I shall never complain about the temperature in our school hall again! However God is good and we had at least 3 people healed by the end of the session and many more encounters. Second session was helping these leaders get free from junk that is robbing them of their identity in Christ and it was wonderful to see the power of our risen Jesus delivering releasing and binding up broken hearts. What a saviour!
Overall though I received more than I gave and come back the richer. It was so humbling to talk to people who are on the front line of missions in some of the most extreme countries in the world. Talked with one guy who’s gospel tv broadcast is watched by 1 million people in a very non Christian state! His life is under threat especially after he led some people to Christ live on air yet although he has a young family he is quite matter of fact about the risks and considers it worth it for the sake of christ.
Another guy I spoke to was telling me that of the 50 native believers in their church (they’ve been on the nation 16 years) it was wonderful to know how many had come to faith through divine encounters. One lady had bad epilepsy until Jesus appeared to her in a dream and cut her with a shining sword. Black smoke poured out of her wrists and she woke up. It didn’t take her many days to realise that her epilepsy was healed and after the doctors confirmed that she was clear she wasted no time in finding the closest church despite the risks. She quickly gave her life to Christ and her son is now too a believer.
Another young couple left their young children for a year with their parents to go away to study at bible school as they needed to have crash course to equip them to lead a church. It was wonderful to see them both touched dramatically by the love of God and as we prayed again for the wife the next day she saw fire all around her and even the tablecloth was on fire. We’re expectant of mighty signs and wonders when they return to their extreme Islamic state!
The whole thing made me realise afresh how critical that we make the most of every opportunity to share the love of Christ wherever we go – and particularly to those who are in the UK from otherwise closed nations. Is there more we can do to reach them?
But it’s great to be flying back to the uk and can’t wait to see Caroline and the kids. Here’s to more when Peter Jackson arrives tomorrow.
If you do get a minute to pray please pray for my sleep. I haven’t slept well for around 2 weeks now and batteries are running low.
