Gather North Festival
27 Jun 2018
Northumberland became known as the cradle of Christianity when people like Aidan and Cuthbert brought the gospel into Britain; what happened here impacted the rest of the country. In 2018, we look to God to restore our inheritance, working through the church to bring Godly change to our region.
We have been stirred by the story of Gideon, where God's people were forced into shelters and strongholds by their enemy; good people working hard year after year to plant a harvest which was ruined or stolen before it could be brought in. Eventually a small number of people - 300 - took responsibility for their nation and confronted the enemy using Godly tactics. The result was a change in the situation which released God's people to fulfill their destiny, own the land again and reap bountiful harvests. Gather: Festival North takes this story and applies its principles to today's church in Northumberland.
Acting on behalf of all Christian churches, Gather: interleaves prayer and worship to defeat the work of the enemy; to release the Church into fruitful and effective harvest; to call the Church out of its strongholds and into our communities. We also look to equip God’s people to take the fight back into their communities, with prophetic input and healing prayer.
The festival runs from 3rd-5th August; for further info and to purchase tickets see: www.gatherfestival.co.uk
We seek your prayers to equip the ‘300’ of Gather: and protect them as they fight for the future of our county - and our nation.
Jane Holloway from the World Prayer Centre will be speaking at Gather North Festival.
Trumpet Call 2018: The turning journey continues
27 Jun 2018
We are so grateful to all who were able to join us on 9th June for the Trumpet Call – either in the ICC, via social media or in your own prayer groups up and down the nation and beyond! Thank you for standing with us for the nation and the nations! We are also so profoundly humbled by all that the Holy Spirit released into and through that gathering of God’s people. Trumpet Call on 9th June saw an acceleration of the turning that He is calling for in order to see a healing in our land.
Turning from and Turning To 2 Chronicles 7:14
The day was framed in worship to Jesus – The Lamb who has conquered - and included deep times of humbling, confession and repentance both after RT Kendall and Malcolm Duncan had spoken. The promise contained in 2 Chronicles 7:14 invites us to continue to come to our heavenly Father on an ongoing basis for ourselves, for the Church and for our nations, in humility and confession in order that we might see a continuation of the turning from our wicked ways. We highlighted certain areas that we have been led to as a WPC team to prompt our turning from and turning to on 9th June. Do use these as a resource.
We have had many encouraging comments. One Church leader reported how it had completely turned around his ministry, another said “awesome is an overused word but it truly was awesome”. We have had very positive feedback on the two key “gospel words” from R.T. Kendall and Malcolm Duncan. We have also been very encouraged by feedback on evangelistic events happening at the same time and the week after and by conversations about prayer and mission whilst recognising that there is a hard road ahead of us.
R.T.Kendall is a great father of the church and theologian. He said of Trumpet call if he were never to preach another sermon in his life this was the one he would want to be remembered for.
He started with a clear declaration from Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” R.T. said that we have lost the focus of the gospel and made it about politics, health, wealth etc. He stressed how important it is to address the issue of death.
The gospel is about salvation. If we die without Jesus we go to hell. We go to heaven not by good works, family connections, or regular church attendance but by surrendering our lives to Jesus. The blood of Jesus opens the way to heaven. His last words on the cross, “It is finished” or in Greek testelestai was found on business documents meaning – “paid in full”. There is no need for hoops and barriers – accepting Jesus brings salvation.
There is an absence of the fear of God in the nation but this reflects the absence of the fear of God in the Church. Jonathan Edwards preached that we hang over hell by a slender thread and people responded in large numbers to his word. We need more preaching on heaven and hell and salvation. Paul is beaten, hungry, shipwrecked and continues because he has a vision of heaven. We need that passion to share the gospel, and the sure faith in our call to heaven to be stirred up afresh.
Malcolm Duncan, freshly installed as Senior Pastor at Dundonald Elim spoke about the need for a reality check in the church. He spoke about Jeremiah’s long ministry and unpopular message. His father Helkiah had been the man who found the books of the law in Josiah’s reign. This led the people of Israel to turn back to God but their turning was not deep or permanent enough.
Jeremiah spoke into the reality of the situation in the nation, he was calling people to move from complacency to repentance. We cannot pretend God is moving everywhere or that there is a widespread openness to the gospel. We cannot describe small moves of God as an awakening. Joel 2 tells the children of Israel that they needed to rend their hearts - a deep and painful response. It is only after this heart rending that God sends His Holy Spirit. We can fall into the trap of exaggerating what God is doing, when in reality the church is starving from a famine of God’s word. In Israel, Josiah built a fresh understanding of God’s word and he purified worship but it did not last. Judah fell away from God and the book of Lamentations is Jeremiah’s heart cry at the brutal devastation of Jerusalem. Jeremiah says “We are dressing the wounds of our people as if they were not serious.” “My people have forsaken me.”
In Jeremiah 6, we are told to walk in the ancient pathways, and give heed to the sound of the trumpet. It is time to repent, to ask for the ancient paths, to listen to God, to love His word, and His presence, and hold tight onto Jesus. Jeremiah 7:2 says Stand at the gate of the LORD's house and there proclaim this message: "Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the LORD.”
Both words need careful consideration. You can watch them on the World prayer centre YouTube channel.
I was reflecting on Trumpet Call with a Vicar friend of mine, he was particularly struck by Malcolm’s plea for reality in the church. God is doing amazing things but we can fall into the trap of ignoring the reality that the world is far from salvation and the Church is struggling to proclaim the gospel. Reality leads to real pray, to rending our heart and crying out to God. Of course, we love it when God is moving and celebrate His mercy and love but we have to ask – is this enough? Or do we need more in the church and the nation? Let us seek God and know His heart. “Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long” Ps.25: 4,5.
The WPC Team
TRUMPET CALL DVD
Our friends at British Christian TV have put together a video summary of the day. The DVD's are £10 each.
To buy one, email your name, address and pbone number to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. They will contact you to take payment by cheque or card. You can also call on 01260 633 644.
The Salvation Army has been praised for its support for members of the emergency services who responded to a fire at the Glasgow School of Art, in a building which had been undergoing a multi-million-pound restoration project. Volunteers prepared hot rolls and Irn Bru drinks for police officers and firefighters who were called to the landmark Mackintosh Building on the night of 15 June. The fire service’s chief officer, Alasdair Hay, praised the ‘warm-hearted’ response of both the Salvation Army and emergency crews. The Salvation Army rarely receives the recognition it deserves as it works with children and families, the homeless, the elderly, and those in poverty. It influences social policy and is involved in removing modern slavery and domestic abuse.
Church growth
22 Jun 2018
In Algeria, friends asked for prayer after their church in Aïn Turk was closed by the local authorities. After seven months, the authorities finally reopened the church. In Turkey, Pastor Ramazan Arkan leads two congregations in Antalya, just 12 miles from where Paul and Barnabas planted a church in New Testament times. His growing church is reaching out to many young seekers in this city of two million people. Iran is one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a Christian, yet thousands of underground Iranian believers are practising their faith in secret. For those with no-one to talk to about Jesus, SAT-7’s satellite Christian broadcasting has become not just a television channel, but also a virtual pastor, church, community and friend.
World Cup star: God saved me from joining a gang
22 Jun 2018
Luis Tejada is Panama’s record goal-scorer. He grew up in some of the toughest neighbourhoods of Panama City, learning to fight for his dreams in an environment in which kicking a ball well was one of the few ways out. ‘I have lots of friends who are now in prison, others who have died. The truth is, I don’t know what would have become of me if I hadn’t become a footballer. For this reason, I thank God that He grabbed me in time and took control of me.’ Read his story by clicking the ‘More’ button.
'Michael Curry effect' for Church of England
22 Jun 2018
The next General Synod, from 6 to 10 July, will debate allowing Anglican congregations to share services and preachers with black-majority churches. It is called the ‘Michael Curry effect’ after the African-American bishop's barnstorming sermon at the Royal wedding. The change relaxes rules governing the links parishes make with other churches. Many of the liveliest congregations in England are black-led Pentecostal, in black majority churches. A Synod representative said that the framework would make it easier for parishes to welcome members of the fastest-growing expression of Christianity in England, work in partnership with them, and learn from them. Joe Aldred, a Pentecostal bishop in the Church of God of Prophecy, said, 'This is a great moment for relations between the Church of England and Pentecostal and charismatic denominations and congregations, including many black-led churches, as we share the task of building the Kingdom of God in this country’.
GAFCON: authority of Scripture for all nations
22 Jun 2018
British evangelist Rico Tice spoke at GAFCON, warning that God would take His power, spirit and gospel outside the Anglican institution if Anglicans leaders do not submit to scripture and repent of sin. He said he could relate to Rev Behan when he said he wept and grieved over New Zealand’s church; adding, ‘To come here and see the largest collection of Anglicans for the last 50 years meet together and have a Nigerian bishop rebuke us about our sin was so refreshing.’ He said that the road to ruin in Britain is defined by tolerance and permissiveness, doing what you please, thinking what you please. ‘In a way I come to GAFCON partly grieving but also delighted to find a family that is Anglican, that I can trust, who submit to the Lord Jesus and to Scripture. There’s a loss of nerve in the Church because culture is intolerant of people holding onto the uniqueness of Jesus and his high and holy standards.’
The cannabis debate
22 Jun 2018
Cannabis plants contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which affects minds and moods. While giving a ‘chilled out’ feeling, it can also cause hallucinations, paranoia and long term psychosis. The risk of schizophrenia is higher when used by younger people as THC interferes with the still-growing brain. Cannabis also contains cannabidiol (CBD), which shows promising results for reducing seizures in children with severe epilepsy. Caring for a person suffering epileptic seizures is heartbreaking, and can be frightening if a seizure is prolonged and leads to status. Status happens when one seizure follows another without the person recovering in between. Severe seizures can cause brain damage. Pray for God to give peace and strength to families currently caring for a person experiencing epilepsy. Pray for God to inspire MPs to make rapid, accurate decisions regarding the use of CBD.