It was a tremendous privilege to be part of this gathering of young people who came together in South Korea with a mandate to pray for the unification of the north and south. Over 37 nations were represented and over 1,000 mainly young people gathered daily in Ilsan Kwanglim Methodist Church just outside Seoul 26 – 29 July. There were 26 attending from the UK; and they were all blessed, challenged and loved interacting with people from the nations. We received an email when we returned from one of the guys from the UK he said, “Personally, this trip was probably one of the most significant moments in my life and ministry. I feel the Lord has reoriented my ministry and destiny.” How amazing is that and such an encouragement.

We were collected each morning at 08.45 and returned most nights at 22.45 so they were long days but we survived! The Methodist Church was an amazing venue with lots of space for people to eat, rest, break-out areas, very large auditorium; we with other leaders were in a VIP lounge where we were looked after and fed lunch-time and evening, not sure what we were eating some of the time but we survived! There were nine worship teams from Philippines, Malaysia, four from South Korea and an International Team; they were all anointed teams and many times during the week, Heaven touched earth through the worship.

We had speakers from Philippines, two from Korea, Germany, Singapore, Indonesia and Dr Michael Brown who is a professor of Bible and Hebrew studies at several seminaries. They were all appreciated by the content they shared. Ian spoke with John Robb and Brian Mills from International Prayer Council at one of the breakout sessions on unity.

One of the sessions on the final evening at the church was praying for all the nations represented individually, praying out all together with bullet prayers. People from each of the nations represented were asked to stand, those close laid hands on them and the rest prayed together – Korean style – it was a real roar of prayer for each nation. Many of the young people said they had never experienced anything like this before – especially the Brits.

The highlight for most people was the visit on the Friday to the DMZ at the border of North and South Korea. We were collected from the Methodist Church on the Friday morning and drove in many coaches for about an hour to the DMZ. We had time to walk around the area where there were coffee shops/restaurants and other amenities as well as information and photographs of the area before the north and south were divided. Much of the journey to get to the DMZ was along the estuary where there were double high fences with barbed wire across the top and century posts at regular intervals looking out for defectors from the north.

We had an amazing miracle on the Friday; the forecast was severe thunder storms and lightening with heavy rain all day. When we woke, in our room on the 17th floor of the hotel, the rain was lashing at the window and severe thunder and lightning; an urgent email was sent out by John Robb to pray-ers across the world to pray that this would stop. God answered prayer! Where the worship event took place was in an uncovered grassed area like a huge amphitheatre with the stage at the front. The prayer and worship commenced at 3 p.m. and continued until 9 p.m. and it was dry for the whole time apart from a short shower when the worship band started singing the song, “Let it rain.”!! The evening concluded with all the lights turned off and all the leadership coming to the front of the stage (us included!) and one candle was lit, this one candle lit another one and so on when all the leadership had lighted candles we then went and continued to light everybody’s candle in the amphitheatre; praying that the light of Jesus would shine brightly into North Korea; a very moving and powerful moment.

The young people did extremely well in leading each day; there was real unity and honour of each other from the different nations. It was special to be able to affirm and encourage them; once or twice Ian wandered over to them when they were a little hesitant as to what to do next and offered a suggestion; they were very grateful for his fatherly input. We also had lots of fun with them in the VIP lounge, so much laughter and we’d never had so many selfies with people in our lives; everywhere we went, “can we have a selfie with you.” What it is to be popular! Much of the gatherings were live streamed and we know of many people around the world who tuned in.

Ian & Pauline Cole

Europe is reeling. Germany has suffered terrorist attacks and a growing political crisis over refugees. France has fresh presidential elections in 2017 and has been buffeted by a series of horrendous terrorist attacks and a growing unease across different ethnic groups. Belgium has also been caught up in terrorism. Greece continues to struggle against the huge problems of austerity whilst again having to support hundreds of thousands of migrants. Spain is in a period of great political instability with one scenario suggesting that a fresh general election will need to be run on Christmas day! Italy has suffered a major earthquake, is struggling financially and is processing and supporting thousands of migrants leaving Africa via Libya. Ukraine has lost nearly 10,000 citizens, killed since February 2014 and seen 2 million people displaced. On top of all of this is Brexit. We are yet to see the full impact on Europe’s economy and politics and even on the sustainability of the EU. These are challenging and difficult times with the likelihood that things will get worse.

This is an important time to pray for Europe and there are three spiritual dimensions to add in.

• 2017 sees the 500th anniversary of the reformation – this was a great and wonderful period which started as a renewal of the Catholic church but led to a rediscovery of biblical truth and a fresh revelation of God’s mercy and salvation. God fundamentally changed many nations in a short period of time. Millions came to Jesus. Pray for the revealing and re-digging of the wells of salvation across Europe.
• The UK has a specific call to bless Europe - the dynamics around this have changed with Brexit – Lord, we pray You will prepare a way for the gospel to go from the UK into Europe, and You will call and prepare British people to be bringers of mercy and hope to Europe.
• We believe 2017 is a key year – it is time for the gospel, it is time for a strong move of God globally. Lord have mercy on Europe, forgive our sins, touch the young generations and create a new movement of people who will ambassadors for the kingdom of heaven.

God is a God of mercy – Paul writes to the Romans - I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” Paul continues -salvation “does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” (Romans 9. 15,16). God’s heart is that people cry out for His mercy, and come to Him to change and fill their lives. Sadly this often comes though trials, challenges, and shaking. Europe is very vulnerable, please pray protection but also pray for God’s will to be done that the nations of Europe will come to Jesus. In uncertainty He is the rock, in darkness He is the light, in brokenness He is the healer.