I trust that you have had a good start to this new year with all the challenges and joys of life. Certainly our world is experiencing both as we watch the horrendous fires in LA, the war that continues to rumble in Ukraine and Russia but then also the joys of a ceasefire in Israel and Palestine, with the hope for some  peace for the families living in Palestine and the joyful hope of hostages released and reunited with their loved ones once again.

2025 has arrived and we are at the beginning of another new year. Those of you who follow our monthly Fresh Bread messages on You Tube or Facebook will have heard my word on START SLOW to FINISH STRONG. I really felt God speak to me about the grace we would need to live well in 2025. This ability to start slowly but then finish strongly will require a deep level of obedience and courage. If you do not feel confident that your life is in the right place spiritually, relationally or financially at this time – then pause. Wait and prepare yourself with God and ask for the right priorities and direction for this season of your life. Examine yourself: if your relationships need a deeper connection going forward, give this area of your life some consideration; if your finances are under pressure, take time to make intentional decisions about your budget, work and life. We need to just STOP at these crossroads of life, take time for reflection at the start of this year and position ourselves correctly so that God can use us. Do not just rush ahead into 2025 and make important life-altering decisions on the run. Stop, listen and only then act. It takes courage to pause and start slowly with God but I feel His promise that if we will start this year right, we will FINISH STRONG!

As a Heartcry team we chose to start in January with a week of prayer, reflection and reset. We went away to a house, away from Oxford, and took some days to pray. Some friends came and joined us for the odd day and we prayed together and just listened and refreshed ourselves with God’s word to us in this season. We have this sense that it is going to be important to create intentional rhythms of prayer in our schedules this year. We are going to need to stop and listen frequently, and it may take a little time to really hear the next steps and plans. 

Unbeknown to us, even as I had been preparing this message for January’s Fresh Bread, God has had a plan for Heartcry which will mean that we will start this year slowly, but I believe finish strong! Helen, who has worked with me for nearly 18 years will take a 3-month sabbatical at the beginning of this year until Easter Sunday, April 20th, 2025. Helen requires some extensive surgery on her foot which will require her to be non-weight bearing for 6 weeks, no driving for 12 weeks and will need a time of recovery before travelling and working again. This means she will take both medical time out but also a spiritual time of retreat and reflection. So this year will definitely need to start slow! I would ask you to pray for Helen at this time, pray that she will know rapid recovery from the surgery, freedom from pain in her feet, and a time of blessing from Jesus. Thank you for your love and support. 

During January Helen has been busy before she takes her time of rest. She went down to the South West to teach on the Holy Spirit to the SWYM trainees at Lee Abbey and then was in Watford with the Wellspring church for the weekend. She has also recorded the February 2025 Fresh Bread for you. She has used this month’s podcast to give an overview of the prophetic words released at the beginning of 2025, adding her own reflections on the season ahead. As most of you know, Helen is a great researcher and reflector, so you will not want to miss this word released on the first Sunday of February 2025 on our YouTube and Facebook channels.

I have also been busy over the last month recording my book HOPE FILLED as an audiobook. I took 3 days, shut away in a studio, to just read my book. It was an intense experience. This audiobook will now be available by Easter, narrated by me! I am also thrilled that my 40 day devotional, Stepping Stones to Freedom, which went out of print several years ago has just  been re-released as an e-book on Amazon with the audio version to follow shortly on Audible. Why not use it this new year as you take time to reflect and find the stepping stones that will secure your walk with Jesus in this season. 

Gordon, Helen and I have also had the joy to visit leaders, preach in Oxford Cornerstone church, have a Legacy Day of prayer, preach in Walsall and be in London with Live Free Foundation. I was so blessed to receive these testimonies from our ministry in previous months. In November we went to Rotherham and preached in a church there. This month I heard from a couple with whom Gordon and I had prayed: they are pregnant and expecting their miracle baby! God heard their cry and this was a rapid answer to prayer! Also we prayed with a father for his estranged daughter and on New Years’ day she responded with a text after over 500 days of silence! God is so kind. Get ready for miracles and watch for Jesus to answer your cry. 

We were also so thrilled to gather in Oxford for our Legacy Day “Pray 2025” last weekend. We loved worshipping and praying together as well as sharing prophetic encouragement. It’s also such a joy to hear how these days have impacted lives.  We heard from one lady who had been suffering from nightmares and disturbed nights for a long time. In response to word of knowledge at our last gathering, she had asked us to pray with her. Last weekend she was back to testify that she is now sleeping soundly and the torment of the night has been broken!  Another man shared how after two years of battling to be able to purchase land and get planning permission for their local church, last time we had met, we prayed specifically for inheritances and land to be released and this time he was able to share how the church now had a green light to build their dream and the planning permits had absolutely no restrictions at all. Thank you, Jesus, for breakthroughs! We believe that there is great power when we come together and help one another as midwives to birth our God-given dreams. So if you would like to be part of this adventure with the Heartcry family, why not save the date of our next Legacy Day which will be on Saturday 27 September 2025. 

This coming month Gordon will be accompanying me on some of the ministry trips in Helen’s absence and we have a fairly full preaching schedule. Please do join us if we are somewhere near you. I am especially excited to be back in Kristiandsand, Norway!  Here is an overview of the schedule for this coming month.

Ministry Dates end January- February 2025
31 January- 2 Feb Kingdom Advance Network, Burton on Trent, UK (Rachel & Gordon)
2 Feb Chadsmoor Methodist Church, Cannock, evening meeting (Rachel & Gordon)
10-14 Feb YWAM Kristinasand, Norway (Rachel)
12 Feb YWAM Kristiansand Base evening open meeting, Norway (Rachel)
13 Feb Kvinner I Nettverk Kristiansand evening meeting, Norway (Rachel)
19 Feb Recording day UCB (Rachel)
20 Feb UCB Foundation Day, Stoke on Trent, UK (Rachel & Gordon)
22 Feb Destiny House Church women’s conference, Northampton, UK (Rachel)
23 Feb Flame Community Church, Rowley Regis, Blackheath, UK (Rachel)
28 Feb Elim Christian Fellowship Prophetic Conference, Paisley, Scotland (Rachel & Gordon)

So, as we’ve shared stories of breakthrough and answers to prayer, we pray that you will know God answer your cries too. We stand with you in this season.  May God hear your cry and may you know the way to go.

Be blessed and have a hug from Heartcry!

All our love,
Rachel & Gordon and Helen.