Thank you so much to everyone who has prayed and stood in the gap for us over these last weeks. Gordon and I had the joy of having our Australian family with us in the UK for 3 weeks in October and it was a time of fun, laughter and miracles. Tim and Nicola were busy preaching for some of the time, visited Glinton to stay with her brother David, Jenny and their children for a few days and then had time with us in Oxford and a 3-day break away in Paris just as their family. I had forgotten how much laundry a family produces but loved having a full and busy house for this time. God provided for us in so many practical ways and, although the weather was not perfect, it never spoilt our times of walking, visiting London and engaging. God was so good to us.
In the midst of family time I also had the privilege of being in Barnstaple, at the NDHOP (North Devon House of Prayer) for their “Women’s Gathering” event and in Stoke for the National Houses of Prayer meetings. I so enjoyed being back with people who love to pray, intercede and see prophetically for our nation in these days of confusion. There is nothing like soaking yourself in an atmosphere of prayer and worship to refocus your attention on the absolute goodness of God. Even though Britain is in such a place of wrestling at this time as we wait for the Government and EU decisions concerning Brexit and the parliamentary vote on a General Election, when in prayer I have such an overriding sense that God has ALL these things in HIS HANDS. God is in control! As we come to the end of October, the intensity of the battle still rages and no clear outcome seems to have been secured so we continue to stand and wrestle for God’s plan for our nation. Please continue to pray for the UK with us.
We are also fully aware that as we turn the page into a new year, each of us has the privilege to steward the gift of a new decade. It will be essential that we keep the right perspective for 20/20 vision! Our next Heartcry Legacy Day “Kickstart 2020” will be held in Oxford on Saturday 25 January 2020 and we are delighted that Jim Ware and a team from NDHOP will be with us on that day to lead our times of worship and prayer. We look forward to a day of intercession and celebration and an opportunity to seek God together for the new decade. Please save the date, spread the word and, if you haven’t already, please book in online as places are limited.
Our time in Moldova this month has been so special as we were able to visit Johannes and Charlotte Petersen as they opened the new centre and the Girls’ Academy in Riscani. It is the fulfilment of a journey that started as a dream 5 years ago and then plans were drawn up 2 years ago and now we have opened the centre! On Friday it was a privilege to have the Deputy Mayor of the region of Riscani, with representatives from the social services, the school and the education authority present when we opened the Girls Academy. The Deputy Mayor took the opportunity to present Johannes and Charlotte with the 2019 award for outstanding service to the region. It was special to see them honoured in this way. After the civic ceremony we had a church conference with pastors and leaders coming to give their love and support to this new project. The theme scripture was Isaiah 43:17-18 – “…See, I am doing a new thing!” All around us we were aware that God is doing something new – there is a new sense of HOPE and expectancy. Now we need to pray for the workers and helpers to advance this project into the next season. So please do pray for them. We have tried to capture this visit in several videos and photos so please do look at these on the Moldova Project page of our website in a few days’ time when the team have had time to upload them all onto our site! Do visit this link in a week or so https://heartcryforchange.com/project/october-2019-update-girls-academy/
This month we’ve also had cause to celebrate another wonderful milestone: we are excited to announce the publication of Gordon’s first book, Harnessed for Adventure: True Life Stories of Faith Adventures with God. The book tells our story and is packed full of faith-building accounts of God’s supernatural partnership with His people. With all the doom and gloom felt by so many today, this book will encourage you that nothing is impossible for God and that He uses ordinary people like you and me to do extraordinary things! The book is now available in the UK through our website’s shop. We anticipate having copies available in the USA in February 2020 but if you can’t wait that long, the e-book and audio-book versions will be available through our website from December.
“Their stories match the Acts of the Apostles…this great book is breath-taking, amazing and glorifying God. I highly recommend it. Everyone should have it.” Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke
“Gordon and Rachel Hickson are two of the most genuine followers of Jesus I’ve ever met – be inspired, and watch out – this lifestyle is contagious!” Pastor Bill Johnson
As we now approach the end of the year with American Thanksgiving this month, and then Christmas, we trust that God will give you a time of unexpected blessing and surprises as you prepare for these days. Gordon and I will be celebrating the birth of our 6th grandchild in early November. So it will be a special time of thanksgiving for us as a family!
Although it may feel as though the year is winding down towards Christmas, we still have several ministry engagements to go. Here is a summary of our schedule for the coming month.
HEARTCRY ITINERARY FOR NOVEMBER
1-4 Nov Jesusfelleskapet, Bergen, Norway (Rachel & Gordon)
2 Nov Women of the Word ladies breakfast, St John’s Church, Farnborough, UK (Helen)
3 Nov St Saviour’s Church, Battersea Park, London, UK (Helen)
8 Nov Revive Northwest Meeting, Rochdale, UK (Rachel)
9 Nov Ridgeway Community Church Women’s Conference, Wallingford, UK (Helen)
9 Nov Press Red, Manchester, UK (Rachel)
10 Nov Elim Church, Brecon, Wales (Rachel & Gordon)
10 Nov St Andrew’s Church, Botley, UK (Helen)
15-17 Nov Betel National Conference, Birmingham, UK (Rachel & Gordon)
18-19 Nov Partners for Influence, Lincoln, UK (Rachel & Gordon)
21-23 Nov Convergence Prophetic Conference, Leicester, UK (Rachel & Helen)
27 Nov All Nations’ Christian Centre, Reading, UK (Rachel & Helen)
Thank you so much for your prayer and support.
Every blessing,
Rachel and the team.