February has now flown by and 2025 is definitely gaining momentum. The weather here in the UK seems to be vacillating between warm spring-like days and cold, wild, wet ones. The spring bulbs are attempting to show their faces, only to be battered by heavy rain! A month of sun and storms.
At the beginning of the year I asked God what was happening in our nation and He spoke to me and said, “In the UK, I am using wind and rain to cleanse and shake the nation.” It seems as if the weather is reflecting this spiritual atmosphere. We seem to have had endless storms and lashing rain. I sense that God is allowing the relentless rain to wash away wrong foundations, expose hidden agendas and find the true bedrock of our lives. He is allowing the strong wind to dismantle wrong structures while, at the same time, the wind is awakening and reviving those with little or no breath left. However in this time of continued turbulence we must not fear. God warns us that there is shaking to come but there will be a revelation of glory. This shaking is happening in both dimensions – it is on earth and in the Heavens. We read what the prophet Haggai says in Haggai 2:4-7: ‘Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 5 ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’6 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty.
So the shaking continues – BUT there will be a revelation of God’s glory and He promises us that GOOD NEWS does follow these times of shaking!!
Here at Heartcry after recovering from the disappointment of Helen’s cancelled surgery at the end of January, it has been all systems go when a new date of the 5th February came along, and the surgery happened this time. Helen is being incredibly brave and coping well with the restrictions of crutches, a heavy boot, and a wheelchair. We have had a few adventures out of the house and many wonderful visitors who have been a welcome distraction from the relentless hours of sitting at home with pain. Helen has moved in with Gordon and me post-surgery, until she is stable enough to care for herself at home. This has meant a change of role for us as we become nurse, care assistant and great tea makers.
However, even in the midst of supporting Helen, life has been busy with Heartcry tasks too. We started the month in Burton on Trent with Steve and Jenny Watson and the KAN team. It was a wonderful weekend exploring the Kingdom of God together. On the way home we stopped at Chadsmoor Methodist Church and had a great evening encouraging one another to STAND in this season and not be silenced. Gordon spent a week down in Putney, being Grandad to our Aussie grandkids while I cared for Helen immediately after the surgery. But after a few days of more intensive care, I flew to Kristiansand, Norway, to teach for 4 days at the YWAM base on the Holy Spirit. It was a fascinating challenge to teach a group of students from 11 nations and 7 different denominational backgrounds on the person, role, gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit. I found myself digging deep into my biblical resources and theological understanding to answer many hungry and perceptive questions. It challenged my brain cells and and made me realise what an incredible God we serve. The more you dig deep and understand concepts and facets of who He is, the more you realise that God is so far beyond our understanding or thinking! I finished each day exhausted, realising that I do not use my brain very often in this way! While in Norway I also had the delight to catch up with friends and I taught in the evenings in city-wide meetings. It was such a joy to connect with my many friends again and have time to share and listen to their various stories over these last years.
After this intense week away I returned to school half-term and the grandkids came to visit. The hot tub is always a treat and they were very happy sitting in the steamy “bath” while it howled and poured with rain outside. We also had the treat of a family night out at the pantomime where we discovered that David, our son, was playing the Beast in the play Beauty and the Beast. It was done with a great sense of dignity and David was an accomplished and convincing beast!
Gordon and I also had the privilege of speaking at the UCB Foundation Day in Stoke on Trent. It was so good to connect again with Mark Oates who we knew well from our CfaN days with Reinhard Bonnke. I spoke on the power of deleting disappointment and understanding the seasons and times of God. There was a sweet presence of the Holy Spirit and many were prayed for and ministered to in the times of prayer. Finally to end this month Gordon and I will be travelling to Glasgow to the Elim church in Paisley to speak at a conference on the prophetic gift to the church.
March is looking busy and we had expected Helen to be further along in her post-surgery recovery but the two week postponement of the surgery means that Gordon and I will be traveling more than we had planned to before she is past the 6 week non-weight bearing mark so we trust that she will be able to cope back in Oxford with support from her wider circle of friends and family.
So here is what March looks like for Gordon and me:
Ministry Dates March 2025
1-2 Elim Christian Fellowship prophetic conference, Paisley, Scotland
2 Fresh Bread message, Heartcry social media channels (Rachel)
5 Prayer strategy day, Oxford, UK
9 Riverside Church, Exeter, UK
12 Leaders’ Roundtable, X Collective, CCX – Highleigh, Hoddesdon, UK
13 KAN Trustees Board meeting, Burton, Rachel & Gordon
14-16 Christian Family Centre, Co Antrim, N Ireland
16 Portadown Elim Church, N Ireland
19-26 Zagreb, Croatia ministry, Balkans
27-28 SEND Europe meeting, Manchester, UK
30 Soul Survivor, Watford 3 services (Rachel)
As I look at the opportunities in March in the above schedule I realise that we will be travelling into many places and varied situations. Thank you for all your love and prayers. Please continue to pray for Helen, that she may know rapid recovery and freedom from pain. Please pray that I will have stamina to do all the work without Helen who has become such a strength and support to me when I minister. We need GRACE in this year of awakening. Thank you!
Our love and deepest gratitude,
Rachel & Gordon and Helen who is recovering!