2020 is here and already I have felt the acceleration in many directions! As we look ahead, I feel the sense of shift and responsibility as we face the new decade with all its opportunities and challenges. It is time for us to devote ourselves to prayer, be alert of mind and maintain a thankful heart. As I travel the UK I have been touched by the obvious hunger and desire expressed by so many for a new touch of God in our everyday lives. We want to see God in His power and kindness!
2020 started with Gordon flying to Orlando, Florida, for the memorial service of Reinhard Bonnke. As many of you know, Gordon has just published his first book, Harnessed for Adventure, with a commendation from Reinhard who was a major influence and hero in our lives. So, when we heard of his death, we knew we wanted to take time to honour this precious man and his investment into our lives. Gordon attended the service and also had the opportunity to reconnect with our friends and ministry partners from those Cfan (Christ for all Nations) days when we worked as Reinhard’s campaign directors from 1986-1990. It was a time of many memories and reawakening to the call to preach Jesus in our day.
January 2nd was also a sad day of loss for our family: Dibley dog, our faithful chocolate Labrador for nearly 15 years, died. I know that “he is only a dog!” but he has left a BIG hole in our hearts and the life of the family. The house feels strangely empty, cleaner and we have more time…..but we do miss his company!
January has also been a month of travel and prayer throughout the UK. 2020 kick started with 8 days in the South West of the UK, travelling through Cornwall and Devon. Here we had the opportunity to spend time in prayer rooms, encourage leaders and pray for them, prayer walk key locations and hold meetings for church leaders, prayer leaders and hungry people. I was able to speak in Okehampton, Barnstaple and Exeter in various churches and came away feeling a sense of joy as I encountered so many people ready to pray, give their time and money and engage with Jesus in this new season. I believe we will see a new movement of entrepreneurial thought and wisdom coming from the SW of the UK which will hold keys for the rejuvenation of our rural communities. This is an area of “firsts” and God will give the church ideas and strategies for the sake of the nation to reverse the curse of poverty and hopelessness that has gripped so many living in this area.
As we write, we have just finished our Kickstart 2020 Heartcry Legacy Days event. We were thrilled to have some of our partners from Moldova and Norway with us as well as representatives from UK ministries that we connect with regularly such as Betel UK, London Prayer and Passion for the Nation. We enjoyed cake to celebrate Heartcry’s 25 years on the 25th Jan 2020 as we gave thanks for so many miracles. It was wonderful to hear stories from Betel people who are living free from drugs after decades of addiction after a radical encounter with Jesus. They lovingly baked us the 7 different cakes to enjoy. We loved the stories from Moldova and seeing the love of Charlotte and Johannes for Jesus and their adopted nation of Moldova. Our friends from Norway released an atmosphere of healing and Fredrick from Bergen prayed for the sick and we are looking forward to the testimonies of God’s kindness and power. It was a powerful day of connection, preaching and friendship. Thank you so much to each one of you who came and made the journey to be with us and celebrate the goodness of God with us in this season. In due course, we will have the audio recordings of the sessions available through our website to listen to. So this will give you all an opportunity to hear what is on our hearts and reconnect with the day if you were with us and have the opportunity to download more of what God wants to say to you during these days. Remember these are new days!!
This week we get ready to fly to the USA and Canada where we will be for most of February. We feel a sense of anticipation as we release that sound of awakening and alertness to all that God will kick start in this new decade. Here is an overview of our itinerary. Please pray for us as you feel led…thank you!
HEARTCRY ITINERARY FOR FEBRUARY 2020
1-2 VICTORY FAITH “AWAKENING CRY” CONFERENCE, SPOKANE, WA, USA
(Rachel & Helen)
INFO: https://www.victoryfaith.org
7-8 SONRISE CHRISTIAN CENTER WOMEN’S CONFERENCE, EVERETT, WA, USA (Rachel & Helen)
INFO: http://isonrise.org
9 SONRISE CHRISTIAN CENTER MORNING SERVICES, EVERETT, WA, USA
(Rachel & Helen)
JAKE’S HOUSE CHURCH EVENING MEETING, ARLINGTON, WA, USA (Rachel & Helen)
INFO: https://www.jakeshousechurch.com
13-16 OASIS CHURCH, MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA (Rachel & Helen)
INFO: http://www.egliseoasis.ca
17-18 LEADERS’ NETWORK GATHERING, QUEBEC CITY, CANADA (Rachel & Helen)
23 NEW LIFE CHURCH, MILTON KEYNES, UK (Rachel)
INFO: https://www.newlifechurchmiltonkeynes.org
29 ST ANDREW’S CHURCH PRAYER TRAINING DAY, SNYED GREEN, STOKE, UK (Rachel & Helen)
INFO: https://www.standrewssneydgreen.com
Thank you so much for all your love, prayer and generosity. We were so grateful for those of you who gave generously into the offering at our Legacy Day. These gifts enable us to keep pressing into the MORE of God. There is always so much to do and we pray that we will continue to be good stewards of all He has given us at this time. Thank you for praying and standing with us! You will never know how much we love and appreciate you all. THANK YOU!!
Every blessing,
Rachel and the team.