We hope those of you in the northern hemisphere have been able to discover some SUMMER SUN and had time for rest and refreshment. For those of you in WINTER in the southern hemisphere – you are not missing much – summer has been hard to find in the UK! However, that said, Oxford has been unexpectedly warm these last days of August and we have finally enjoyed some long summer evenings sitting in the garden and lingering over a meal. These summer weeks have also given us precious time to connect with ministry friends and family and it has been a people rich time. We have enjoyed this change of pace from intensive travelling, speaking at conferences and preaching engagements to being more located at home. One of the highlights in July was attending “The Send” worship and prayer event at Wembley Arena in London. This was a gathering of approximately 6,000 people to kickstart a movement across the UK and Ireland, as part of a global collaborative, commissioning a generation to take hold of the Great Commission and be sent to neighbourhoods and nations carrying the Good News. Over the next year there is a vision to ignite regional “spotfires” of prayer and evangelism and host larger SEND gatherings in the four nations of the UK. You can join this movement and find out more here https://www.thesend.uk/about.
In August unexpectedly I had my Mum, Eileen, admitted into hospital for surgery on her spine. The recovery has not been as rapid as expected and since then poor Mum has been in horrendous pain. As I write she is still in hospital but we are hopeful that a good pain management and physio package can be put in place and she will be able to come home before too long.
Those of you who listen to our monthly “Fresh Bread” messages online will know that I have been speaking about the season of living with a greater awareness of the breath of God coming upon our lives to bring awakening, renewed purpose, and fresh courage to stand up and shake off every disappointment from previous seasons in order to take hold of every opportunity that lies ahead. As I have reflected on this theme of the breath of God, I have now discovered that the Jewish New Year which starts in early October is 5785 and also reflects this thought. Helen has now researched this thought further and found that the “5” is the Hebrew letter “hey” which means “Behold” and often calls attention to the breath of God, a new season of revelation and the awakening to a deeper spiritual reality. “5” also represents grace and Hebrew scholars comment that the symbolism of this year is a call to receive grace upon grace to stand in a tough season and allow God’s breath to empower us and then pour out through us. As Paul writes to the Corinthian church: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Cor 9:8) So my prayer for you this month is that you would know grace abounding to you and that His breath would bring new life and hope into every area of your life. Breathe on us, breath of God! Helen has unpacked the significance of the Hebraic new year further in September’s Fresh Bread message so do look out for that on the first Sunday of this month.
Over this summer we have been doing some strategic planning for the autumn when we will host the Heartcry Legacy Day in Oxford as well as our next Roundhouse gathering for some of our leadership partners. In all that we are planning, we have had such a sense that this season will require intentional decisions to stand together and close every gap relationally, spiritually and practically. For our Legacy Day we have felt to bring a focus on “Encountering God, Standing Together and Praying for the Nations”. As we see the turmoil and upheaval continue in our communities, it is so good to remember that we can lean into Jesus and find refuge and strength in times of trouble. This will be a day of worship, prophetic declaration and prayer. If you would like to join us, bookings are open via our website and we would encourage you to book in soon as places are limited by venue size.
Over the summer, our partners, Charlotte and Johannes, have had a very fruitful time leading the children’s and youth camps in Moldova. They also celebrated the graduations of three more girls from the Girls’ Academy who are now ready to take up full time jobs in their chosen careers…such a proud moment! Johannes has also continued to travel to Ukraine to encourage and strengthen the churches there. At the beginning of June he made one more trip into Kherson and witnessed both heavy shelling but also how the church is reaching out with comfort and help and support to many people. He reports, “people are turning to Christ and the message of hope and salvation is being spread”. Do read the full report on our Moldova Project page. Please pray for the work in Moldova. We will also update you further with news of the summer camps in due course once we hear the stories from the team there. From the autumn the focus will turn once again to preparing the winter aid to support families in the villages with practical supplies of food and fuel. If you would like to contribute financially towards this, we would love to send a generous gift to help them. You can partner by giving through this link on our website: https://heartcryforchange.com/project/donate-to-moldova/ Thank you so much for your generosity!
Just as so many of you enjoy the stories we share from the nations and are encouraged by testimonies of hope, we know that in this season so many people need to hear the good news stories. So if you have a testimony of the goodness of God in your life, especially where you have received a miracle or answer to prayer, please would you consider sharing it for inclusion in the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer which is being built as a visible sign of hope in our nation. The wall will consist of one million bricks, each representing a story of Jesus answering someone’s prayer. You can read more about this audacious project here and submit your story online https://www.eternalwall.org.uk.
Looking ahead to September, Helen and I will be in USA and Canada for three weeks. We look forward to meetings in Seattle, Spokane and Aberdeen in Washington State, and Lewiston, Idaho. We will then travel to Calgary, Lethbridge and Regina in Canada. In each of these places we know there is such a hunger to press into God and also to serve the community so we are excited to serve these amazing churches. Please pray for us as we train, equip and resource them.
Here is an overview of our ministry schedule with links to the various church websites so that you can join us for the public meetings if you live nearby.
Ministry Dates September 2024
1 Sept Fresh Bread message, Heartcry social platforms (Helen)
2-5 Sept Seattle, WA, USA (Rachel & Helen)
4 Sept Wednesday Warriors meeting, Bothell, WA, USA (Rachel & Helen)
4 Sept Evening meeting, Bothell, WA
5-10 Sept Spokane, WA, USA
6 Sept Victory Faith evening meeting, Spokane, WA (Rachel & Helen)
10 Sept Victory Faith staff team meeting, Spokane, WA (Rachel & Helen)
10-12 Sept River City Church, Lewiston, ID, USA
10 Sept River City Church evening meeting (Rachel & Helen)
11 Sept River City staff meeting (Rachel & Helen)
11 Sept South Oxon Filling Station, Oxfordshire, UK (Gordon)
12-15 Sept Harbor City Church, Aberdeen, WA, USA
13-14 Sept Prayer Conference, Harbor City Church, Aberdeen, WA (Rachel & Helen)
15 Sept Harbor City Church Sunday services (Rachel preaching)
15 Sept Fleet Baptist Church, UK (Gordon)
17 Sept Harvest CFC, Calgary, Canada
18 Sept City Light Church, Lethbridge, Canada
19 Sept Harvest CFC, Calgary Canada
20-21 Sept Harvest City Church, Regina, Canada
28 Sept Heartcry Legacy Day, Oxford, UK
Thank you for praying for us and encouraging us with your emails and support.
Every blessing and hugs,
Rachel & Gordon with Helen and the team.