For us here in the UK summer has arrived! It is wonderful to feel the warmth of the sun on your face and to sit outside with the smell of BBQs filling the air. Exams and the end of the school year are fast approaching and the holiday season is coming. We are looking forward to taking a break and having time to refresh. These first six months of 2023 have required considerable emotional stamina as we have helped a church through a season of loss and been involved in the life of everyday church again. But it is always wonderful to watch Jesus touching the lives of people in profound ways and bringing hope. We will be taking a break in August so we will not be writing an August newsletter so this update will cover both July and August. 

June has been busy with all sorts of meetings and work, mainly here in the UK. Helen and I were so disappointed not to go to Moldova and the Ukraine as planned. However, as we prayed about going two trustees said they felt it was not the right timing and then when I asked two of my intercessor friends they both responded independently, within 24 hours, saying they felt we should postpone but not cancel. With these cautions being expressed about travelling, I felt God challenge me – Rachel, if you have advisors who are honest with you and then you do not heed their advice what is the point of asking? So, even though I do not totally understand why it was a no, I know it is the right thing to postpone this trip and wait for another time. Having made this decision, we have also now had our flights to Moldova cancelled by Air Moldova as the company has been put into special measures, its office in the capital Chisinau closed, and the Chisinau airport placed under government control . So everything has been refunded to us in full. We know there will be a time of release to go but with the situation at present God is asking us to wait and be patient!  

Gordon, Helen and I have travelled the nations this month. We have been in the UK; travelling to Camberley, Oldbury, London, Hull, East Ridings, Banbury, Northwood, Watford, Epping Forest, and Malvern. But we have been to other places too. Gordon has just left for EMPOWER– AMSTERDAM 2023 – the mission and evangelism conference. He is so fulfilled being back with friends and hearing the stories of God moving in nation after nation. Helen has just returned from Egypt and there had the opportunity to connect with so many of our friends who are hungry for the presence of God in their homes and lives too. We have also connected with people on zoom and in person, chatting to leaders and people from Quebec, Canada; Ljubljana, Slovenia; New Zealand; Sydney, Australia; Scotland; and Newcastle. It has been wonderful to hear the stories of the hunger and the goodness of God in so many places! I believe the nations are ready for more and there is an expectation in the land. 

I was reading the account of Zechariah and Elizabeth in Luke 1 and God really spoke to me. I believe that we have to be so careful how we speak in these days. You see Zechariah had lived with the constant pain and disappointment of barrenness for years. Every month it was another disappointment. His life was a life of being in the presence of God as a priest, ministering before God, and then living with the pain of no fruit at home and in his everyday space. He was weary and Elizabeth was carrying the shame of humiliation. For years they believed but as yet NOTHING had happened. Then God sent an angel to tell Zechariah – “Get ready, your time has come. NOW is the time and you will have your son. This is the season of birthing – the time of waiting has ended.” But Zechariah was in such a mindset of barrenness that he could not receive this word and questioned the angel. “Are you really sure?” The response was that he was silenced and was unable to speak any further. God said, “you need  to talk in the right way in this season of expectation. It is coming – Heaven has declared it!” Elizabeth by contrast was EXPECTANT – she went and saw Mary and she was filled with expectation. Zechariah had to wait until birthing and then the weariness of the waiting was over and he could speak again, and his declaration was then POWERFUL! I believe that we need to be careful to speak correctly in this season of waiting and expectation. If we are careless, God will remove our influence and sphere of speaking and silence our sound. This is a day to speak with expectation. Can you smell the scent of water? Are you aware of God moving? Are you ready to wait for Him to come and dwell with you?  This is our day!

As you take time for a break this summer, ask God to refresh you in the waiting. I believe that our spiritual wombs should be filled with expectancy that God will come. I loved this photo that Helen shared with me from her trip to Cairo. She was driving to an appointment when she noticed a special message on the car in front in English, “God is with you wherever you go!” Not at all what she had expected to see, as you can imagine…but what a powerful reminder! This is our season, God is with us! May God really refresh and bless you! A friend, Paul Banderet, who led worship at our last Heartcry Legacy Day wrote this song for the occasion called “Be Still”. He has kindly agreed to share a link so that you can listen to it and let Jesus minister to you. You can listen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3fXcAgLY7E  

As we look forward into the autumn season we are excited by many things. We will have days of training in the prophetic, prayer ministry teams etc with Helen Azer in the Chelmsford/Romford area. We will have an Oxford Prayer, Presence and Power day – where we linger in the presence of God. Please watch our website and social media as we advertise and share the booking links for these gatherings after the summer. In the meantime, here is an overview of dates for July and August. There are a few speaking engagements but we will be mainly taking time to rest, write and spend time personally connecting with leaders one to one. Please also remember that we have the FRESH BREAD message this coming Sunday 2 July on YouTube and Facebook. We will take a break in August and then resume these messages in September.

Ministry Dates end of July & August 2023

1 July Men’s Breakfast, St Paul’s Church, Camberley, UK (Gordon)
2 July Fresh Bread message Heartcry social media platforms (Helen)
2 July Hillsong, Oxford, UK (Rachel)
9 July Hillsong Oxford, UK (Gordon)
9 July Betel UK (Rachel & Helen)
12 July – 5 August Rachel & Gordon on leave and writing break
16 July St Andrews, Dean Court, Oxford, UK (Helen)
20 July Wondrous Conference, N Ireland, UK (Rachel)
24 July Rachel’s birthday 🙂

If you’re looking for a good book to read over the summer, why not order a copy of our latest titles, Spiritual Architects and Harnessed for Adventure.  Eat the Word, Speak the Word is now also back in print. All our resources are available on Amazon in whichever nation you live so you can order copies for yourself or send someone a surprise gift in the mail!

We so appreciate you all –  thank you for everything.