Pre-service Prayer Meeting with people 'walking round' and round and round.... It's now 7.30am in the morning (Monday). We travel home today. Our flight leaves at 3.30pm from Redding followed by a 3hr wait in San Francisco. We will arrive at Heathrow at about 1.30pm on Tuesday.
Yesterday was a long a fairly tiring day. Annu and Gordon visited the children's/youth work. Annu particularly found it helpful and inspiring. We then had the morning meeting with worship and Bill Johnson speaking, followed by ministry. We went out for dinner (I had steak) and then back for the prayer meeting at 5pm and the evening meeting at 6pm. There was a visiting prophet called Martin Scott who spoke, it was a word particularly for the Americans. We didn't hear it all as at one point we all fell asleep!
Gordon and I grabbed some more food at about 9.30pm before sitting with some of the others from the region for an hour in the hotel.
Final reflections as we travel back:
As a team we have received as a group. Seeing that the others have been impacted is great as they will bring this back and impart to others. Mission objective - achieved!
Personally, the individuals have met with God and have found direction and answers to prayer taking place.
Regionally, this has once again strengthened relationships and exposed a wide of group of churches to a common experience. We are not alone, but working alongside friends to bring the presence of God to Kent.
We are not interested in simply copying or imitating. This would be to change the structure without changing the heart. To change the wineskin without changing the wine. It just doesn't work. We change the structure to help sustain and move into the things that God is already doing by his Spirit and in our hearts.
We see the strength and foundations that we already have within our church, God has already done alot. We don't see Bethel as being 'the answer' but recognise that we can learn and receive from others who have something to say and share. Particularly about the person and presence of the Spirit and how this is worked out in a local church.
So, once again thanks for your encouragements and prayers.
Look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Love Adam
I think this is so encouraging because it reminds me that we, as a church, are united in pursuing the same thing: genuine relationship with God and changes on the outside that result from real change on the inside. For those of us who would have liked to have been there it is a relief to know that so much has been given to you all to bring back to us too!!!
ReplyDelete