Friendship

The past couple of weeks have been filled with incredible acts of kindness. On Friday 7th May I was sat in the evening enjoying a night in with my wife. As we relaxed I received an SMS from a friend in Cape Town. It read something like this: 'André wants you here for conference, ticket paid, when can you come?' At first it didn't sink in. I was all geared up for our trip in July / August and resigned to the fact that that would be the next time I saw my daughter Jenny. It took about half an hour and the arrangements were in place, I was booked on a plane from Birmingham via Amsterdam the following Monday.

As I winged my way over Africa I was so excited and hoped that the trip would be kept from Jenny so I could surprise her. I was almost the first off the plane as it landed and my lift from the airport indicated that it was probable that she didn't know. As we pulled into the drive at Apostle André's house I was a little nervous. It was after 10:30 and I thought Jenny might already be in bed. It turned out that she was the one answering the door. Her face immediately told me she didn't know. At first it was total incredulity, 'is this my dad, can't be he's in England, but it is' She melted into my arms and dissolved in tears. It was the start of a great week with her. She is so happy and I am so privileged to have been able to see it.

Next day I was visited by the other two Brits in the Church, Duncan and Beverley. It was great to see them and even after just three weeks it was obvious they were benefiting from their time there. Lots of catching up.

The week was so blessed. I feel at home in the church there. I received a message from one of the church members on my return: "just having you here at church is heart-warming, like an older brother who left the nest to build his family, and comes home for holidays to visit." That's how it feels.

I had mixed feelings as I left. Wanted to stay longer but knew that things needed doing here.

My return was scheduled for Monday 17th on the 23:55 plane to Amsterdam but the ash cloud meant it was delayed until 6 the next morning. More time with Jenny at least. The delay meant I would not be able to make my connecting flight to Birmingham and the earliest alernative was a day later which meant a stay over in Holland.

This is where other old friendships came to the rescue. I have known my friend Anita since school, she is one of my prayer supporters and we regularly visited her and her family in Holland during the 1990's. Business and different journeys meant I had not seen her since 2003. Annie arranged for me to stay there and I wondered if it may feel a little awkward. I needn't have worried. I was made so welcome and felt so at home. It was a great bonus to see them.

I finally got back to be met at the airport by my best friend on earth, my wife. She is truly amazing. I am so blessed, all of this friendship offered freely.

It reminded me of the scripture from Proverbs about a 'friend who sticks closer than a brother'. His name is Jesus. Such a faithful friend.

Thank you God for your blessings, for friends and loved ones who are a gift from you.

The next step

In our last worship service Stuart, our worship leader, led us from Revelation 1. Let me explain that we do not have 'planned worship' we wait for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us. The song began and as the Spirit led others took over the singing and we flowed prophetically hearing God's voice speaking into our lives.

In Revelation 1 verse 17 Jesus says, 'Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last'. In other scriptures He is referred to as 'alpha and omega', literally the first and last letter.

The Spirit began to lead us to sing about Jesus being the first and last. As we sang we became aware that God has been in our lives from day one and will be for all our future. He will have the last word.

The Spirit then inspired us to sing about walking in this and the phrase, 'the next step' was repeated. 'Take the next step, be concerned about taking just the next step'

Duncan was our preacher for the morning, he and his wife Beverly are leaving us for three months training in Cape Town. For them the next step is a big one, leaving friends and home for a new place. I have travelled some of the journey with them and seen them take many 'next steps' that have been painful at times but necessary. God has been with them all the way and is ahead of them planning the next steps they need to take.

Duncan spoke about having contentment in all situations. We can only know this if we understand that Jesus is the 'first and last'. He is in control and that brings peace.

I thank God for His continuous faithfulness. He is always at the other side of the next step we take even if for us it is a leap in the dark. May we all learn to trust Him and be content in Him and find His peace.

Harvester Birmingham

I realise it has been a long time since my last posting. Life has taken on a different focus with the church plant we are now involved with. Lots has been happening. My son Ben is almost at the end of his university course, my wife Annie has been at her new school for over a year and Jenny, our daughter, is in Miracle Bible College, Cape Town for at least one year. On top of that we are planting a new church out of our home which is giving us great joy.

The church began to meet on 6th September 2009. Five of us had been meeting for quite a few months on a Wednesday to study the Bible together. God had spoken to me at a meeting in South Africa in September 2008 that we should plant a church. I admit to being reluctant but knew it needed to happen. One night at the bible study I was challenged by my daughter to start it and so we agreed on the date, 6th September 2009 as the first meeting.

At the first meeting there were eight of us, but two were visiting. From the first note on the guitar the worship flowed. This was one of the things that concerned me. What if we can't flow in worship? We believe in God giving us the words and music in the same way David worshipped. In the six months since we began we have only sung two 'known songs' so I needn't have worried.

The next test was the fact that I was away for the next three services. I told George, one of our members who plays guitar, that he must continue in prophetic worship in my absence. He rose to the challenge and has been the one to lead worship for most of the last six months.

In the first six months we have had two regular additions to the Body. Mary is a student at one of the local universities and is from Lebanon. She is proving to be such a delight. Our other addition is Stuart, he is a fine musician and worship leader and has taken on this role in recent weeks. He flows accurately in worship and we are entering another level. We thank God and believe others with be added.

One aspect of the church I really like is the participation and input everyone gives. I think all have prophesied at one point and those who have visited us have gone away greatly encouraged by words given to them. The corporate nature also effects the worship with not only the worship leader bringing the song of the Lord but the whole Body adding to that. It is exciting and effortless to worship this way.

We have had several visitors and are expecting others. Duncan and Beverly Curry are family friends who have recently obeyed the call to go to South Africa for training. They were leading a church in Yorkshire until the end of February this year. They join us whenever they can and are part of us. We will be sending them out next month.

Our first outside speaker was Morné Van Wijk. Morné is from Cape Town and was visiting the UK on business. He spoke to the church and attended a couple of meetings. His impact has been felt since and has brought an impartation to us all.

I do most of the speaking and we've covered a lot of subjects. At the moment we are studying 'Submission'. The feedback has been very good from a subject most preachers never preach. My son Ben has also shared as well as my wife Ann. We look forward to hearing from others in the Body as well.

From February we have begun to meet during the week and have a Household on a Tuesday and Bible Cell on Thursdays. The Household meeting is a led by someone different each week who leads a discussion on what has been taught the previous Sunday. It gives an opportunity to find out if people have understood and makes room for questions. We have had some great times and it is rapidly becoming my favourite meeting.

The testimonies of people with us are fresh and regular. If you'd like to read Katie's testimony go to this link: click here

Last Sunday Duncan and Beverly were with us. Duncan has just had a cataract operation. We decided we would obey the scripture, 'when one member suffers we all suffer'. The following photograph depicts that. As you can see Church is fun.

Portland Oregon

I am almost at the end of my three week visit to Portland, Oregon and my stay at the Eagle Wings Ministries Church. It has been a wonderful time of receiving and giving ministry. My favourite thing was getting to know more of God's lovely people.

Eagles Wings sees itself as a 'base camp' for the Apostolic Reformation. A place of training and sending out. It has a small congregation but a big heart and a wide influence with many people all over the world benefiting from its ministry.

The church is a five fold ministry church, i.e. one that believes in modern day Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. They see these roles as the functions who govern and equip churches so that the saints can do the work of the ministry. Study of scripture shows that there a several apostles in addition to the original 12, one being Paul himself. There are also Prophets mentioned in the early church. The reforming move emphasises the need to go back to the biblical pattern for church life instead of an evolved model designed by man not God.

The Apostle at Eagle Wings is, Richard Wright. He has served over 30 years in the ministry in different states of America. His books, Not Many Fathers and Not Many Sons are definitely worth reading. The church has ordained and sent out many into five fold ministry including my good friend and mentor Apostle André Pelser.

Once a year they hold a 'Gathering of Eagles' which is a get together of five fold ministers from around the globe. This year I shared accommodation with Faustin from Zambia and John from Canada. We were the international section. Others came from all over the states. New friendships were made and old acquaintances renewed. I gained a lot from my first Gathering and would like to attend future ones.

Highlight of my time here was the wedding of Apostle Richard to Cheryl Schank. I acted as chaperone for the first week leading to their wedding. To see how an American wedding is organised was insightful and educational. The ceremony was beautiful with all the five fold ministers praying and prophesying to the couple as part of the ceremony. After that a hog roast and Hawaiian themed picnic. A great time.

I ministered on the Sunday after the wedding. I really love preaching in places where they know how to receive a prophet. During the worship I received prophetic words for several which later I was told were spot on. If I was way off I am sure they would also have made that known. The Lord gave me a word about endurance which I was told was timely.

Final week was about being spoilt. I have been utterly served and looked after. A great testament to the people here. I have been taken on historical tours, invited for meals, taken river fishing and pond fishing, and been made to feel part of the family. It has been a great blessing.

We are planning to host Apostle Richard and his new wife next spring. Look out for meetings we plan with them, they will be excellent. They have years of material on their website www.eaglesaint.net which are invaluable resources. Why not take a look?

My time is about to come to an end here, back home Monday arriving Tuesday. I shall miss the people. I plan to come for a holiday next summer with my wife and expose her to this wonderful church and beautiful part of America.

Thanks Eagles Wings, you are so special.

Defining Moments

Certain events in your life change you forever. Life is never the same again. They are like pivots that turn everything around and make your future life different. It’s easy to forget their impact.

I suppose the first major life changing event for me was in June 1966. I was 10. My mum and I were church going Anglicans. She went to Sunday services and I to the Sunday School. It was not a particularly high church, no smells and bells. It was an ordinary ceremony based liturgy, the old 1611 hymn book was used and the King James bible. For my mum is was comfort for the loss of my brother who tragically died before I was born. She turned to church to seek for some sense from it all I guess.

In 1964, the old vicar left. The Rev. Stoneley was retiring to the Lake District. He was the vicar in the parish from the 1940’s I think. He always seemed gruff and unapproachable to me. He and his wife never had children so maybe they didn’t know how to relate. I only ever remember him being in our home once and was scared of him.

His replacement was so different. He had five children of his own and two adopted. Peter and Lois were slightly older and younger than me respectively. His wife was also a good speaker and the whole life of the church was transformed. We began to sing things that were not Ancient and Modern and were trained to memorise the Bible. I felt there was life in church which was not there before.

One Tuesday night in June 1966 my mum told me we were going on a coach to a theatre in Liverpool to hear someone called Billy Graham. He was holding meetings in Earl’s Court London that were being relayed to cinemas and theatres all over the country. I remember several of my school mates being with me. We sat together and my mum and her friends sat in another part of the theatre. I don’t remember much of the broadcast, I was only ten. I do remember his appeal to get saved, to be born again. In a moment, even at the age of ten, I knew God was asking me to seek His forgiveness and ask for salvation. I can remember realising that sin was in my life cutting me off from knowing God. I knew about Him but no personal relationship. I responded to the appeal to go forward to the front to receive prayer to become a true Christian. Trusting God not church or creed but Christ alone for that gift. Some of my friends joined me and I also saw my mother was standing along the line too. It was a life changing moment. I knew when I left that place that Christ was my saviour and friend. I was different, never to be the same.

From that moment on what I would do with my life changed. I did struggle with faith and have done in different periods of my life but whenever I moved away from God I found Him ready to receive me back when I came looking. I learned in the (almost) forty-three years since that night that this life with God is so rewarding. Not always easy, not without suffering or pain but worth working through those times to receive the reward that suffering brings which is character.

There’s a verse in the Bible that is one of my favourites, it’s not an obvious one but has great meaning for me..

2 Timothy 2:13...

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful, He cannot deny Himself”

God has proved His faithfulness to me. I cannot deny Him because of that. As a young man I could never understand why older people talked so much of faithfulness. As I have got older I realise it’s because God keeps on proving Himself faithful more and more. It is a precious thing.

Remind yourself of the defining moments of your life. Trust Him to continue to work faithfully in your life. He’s a great and faithful friend.

Making Time

One phrase I hear often when I ask people how they are is, ‘I am busy’ or ‘I am very busy’. I remember when I worked for a company I would often be working 70 hours a week. Sometimes I would be there all night if a server went down. I enjoyed working but then I began to realise my family was suffering. We hardly saw each other, little communication. Holidays were precious but even then it would take most of a week to wind down before we could enjoy anything.

When I began to realise my busyness was to the detriment of family life my wife and I decided we needed to make time for family. Our first step was eating meals together as often as we could. This meant 7 o’clock breakfast and a regulated evening meal. It is a discipline we still try and keep to. Guess what, communication flowed and many useful conversations have occurred around the dining table. We also learned to bring God to the dining table. Prayer, prophecy and encouragement has been part of that. This also extends to guests who come to stay. Much ministry has been done after a meal. It becomes a natural thing to do.

As a prophet I often find people saying, ‘I don’t hear from God’. As I push further it is often the case that they don’t make time to hear from Him. Even where they have a ‘quiet time’ it consists of one way requests. I advice them to buy a notebook and pen as a step of faith and the next time they pray ask God to speak. Using this method with the Word as a source has filled many notebooks for me. God is so keen to speak to us.

I received a gift from my friend André Pelser, a copy of his Blues Album. One track that really blesses me is, ‘Draw Nigh To Me’. It speaks of God always being ready to spend time with us. One line I love is, ‘come sit by me and lay your head upon my breast’. It makes me realise how God longs for us to be with Him. The God of heaven has time for us. When I respond to that prompting I discover the love of God in a very real way.

We are made to feel in our society that time is our master, it governs. That is not true. We should manage our time not the other way around. Maybe we want to do too much. What are you doing that you shouldn’t be doing? Maybe turning the TV off and talking to your family or partner is what’s required.

The trap of busyness is always there. We need to guard ourselves from being too busy. Ask God to show you what you are doing that is stealing time for other things. Adjusting to not doing things is not easy. An accusing voice will tell you that you’re lazy, or this or that needs to be done. Jesus said, ‘Take my yoke on you..my yoke is easy and my burden is light’. Hebrews 4 tells us there is a rest to enter into. I am learning to rest, enjoy family and I find God is able to do more when I do less.

Authority and Power

I recently found a great website dedicated to my home town of Wigan. I was actually born two miles outside of the town in an urban village but ‘going to town’ meant going to Wigan.

Most of the shops we used in the early sixties were local. The nearest we came to a supermarket was a chain of shops called Morton & Sons who sold everything. Within spitting distance of each other were Dewhurst butchers and Robinson’s Fruit and Veg. All family owned and run.

Once a week mum and I would make the trip to Wigan from Ince Bar on the local Wigan Corporation bus. The first fare I remember was 2d (in old money, just over a new penny in value) and half price for kids. The buses were cherry and white, the same as the famous Wigan Rugby League team. The journey seemed to take ages but was probably no more than 15 minutes. Part of it went over the canal bridge and I always hoped the bus would go over this quickly so that my stomach would churn and tickle. In those days you had conductors as well as drivers and you got on and off the bus via the open platform at the back, no closing doors.

The bus stop in town was in Library Street outside of Timberlake’s Garage. To get to the Market Place you walked up Library Street to a junction which consisted of several roads coming together at odd angles. There were no traffic lights or ‘robots’ as we called them. Instead there was a policeman on points duty. Watching him would fascinate me. He seemed to have so much power. He just raised a hand and could hold up a whole row of cars. His different signals were so clear that instead of potential chaos there was order. My favourite time to see him was on a dark winter night. In those conditions he was lit by a strong spotlight suspended across the road. The picture above shows the exact scene from 1961 as I would have seen it.

Years later I was teaching in church about how God promised through Jesus to clothe those of us who are believers with authority from the Holy Spirit. As I was preparing I remembered the scene of the policeman on points duty.

What made him able to do what he did? Two things. One he had training. He was imparted with an ability to direct the traffic, he had to learn the signals so well that he knew exactly what to do to bring order. Secondly, he had authority represented by his uniform. Without the uniform, even with all the correct gestures, it is possible he would be ignored.

There are two similar concepts in scripture concerning authority and power. The word exousia means ‘a right to do something’. We have a legal right to do it. Jesus was someone who taught with a confidence from knowing He had this kind of authority. It’s the word used by Jesus in Luke 9 when He sent His disciples out to heal. ‘He gave them authority’. The Holy Spirit in our lives is the living authority of God. We can operate by His leading in preaching the gospel and healing the sick.


The second concept is power. The word is dunamis and is the same word we get dynamite from. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said we would receive power (dunamis) after the Holy Spirit has come on us. Dunamis is the ability to do something. Again its not natural ability but supernatural. We have a right to pray for the sick to be healed and have a commission from God to do that. As we lay hands on the sick we can impart healing because dunamis power is in us. We have a right to speak in tongues (exousia) and when we do its by the Spirits power (dunamis).

I learned a lot from that childhood memory. I am learning more and more to live by the Spirit and trust Him. To walk in His authority and express in faith His gifts as He gives the ability.

Jesus has given is authority and power from His Spirit. Let’s walk in Him, the Spirit more and more.