What started as a virtually private visit to some of our friends in Norway by Peter, turned out to be a very significant trip indeed. The Lord is GOOD and He moves when He wants to move NOT when we want to move. We just have to be ‘ready, and willing’ and He will make us ‘able’. I know I have said before that each trip seems to be a new landmark this year but this particular trip will go down as one of those ‘Revival Landmarks’ that will be remembered for a long time. We always say that it can’t get any better – yet it invariably does. God is moving in Scandinavia in a way not seen for many many years. Judge for yourselves . . . . .
We all got up at an hour invented by those who like to boast how they spend 5 hours with the lord in the morning before going to work. The flight was at 06:45 so we had to be in the airport by 05:00 which meant that we had to set our alarms for around 03:30. I have no idea whatsoever what it was like as, personally, I was numb until we arrived in Norway around 09:00. We were met by our very good friends Hans Petter and his wife Cari and transported to their home in nearby Frederikstad in order to wake up, revive, and take in some coffee. A few hours of fellowship followed before our first ‘official’ meeting at 19:30 in a town called Sarpsborg some 30 km away.
In Sarpsborg we met with Hans Erik Groth and Øistein Molteborg. We first met Hans Erik on our last visit to Norway but it was our first meeting with Øistein. Both are recording artists in their own right and their music ministry is amazing. At one time Hans Erik was singing in the Spirit and the anointing was simply amazing. Peter eventually spoke on the restoration of the prophetic and how God has been putting things into place so that revival can begin. Amazingly, half way through the praise & worship we realised that a fairly tall gentleman had joined us at the back of the room. It turned out to be Per Soetorp – another well known gospel singer and recording artist. Some of the top recording artists in Scandinavia all gathered together in one place at the same time. Hmmm – what was God doing ??
Next morning was the start of a peaceful day culminating in a small concert given by Per Soetorp in a church in central Oslo. Per played piano and sang while his friend, who’s name I have shamefully mislaid, played wind instruments – flute, soprano, & tenor sax. Suddenly Per produced a trumpet and with the flute player walking around the church, both men played “in the Spirit”. The anointing was so powerful and many of us simply wept before the Lord. One woman who had an ‘incurable’ arm problem, was healed instantly. Peter then spoke movingly about the church being full of tears. “If this church is willing to surrender to me, I will cause many many people to come to Me.” Peter saw many crying out to the Lord for their family and God answered their cries. He said that there was a change coming to Scandinavia that night. The 5-fold ministry had lost direction over the last 100 years but now He, God, is restoring the prophets. Amos 3:7 applies – when God speaks – He means it. If He speaks about revival, He means revival and nothing less. God is saying that enough is enough. Revival is NOT about filling the pews, it’s about a clean church full of Gods people. Revival is more a threat than a blessing and He has to begin with the church. During ministry time, Peter called for the flute and this was played gently as each person received prayer and anointing with oil. Again the presence of the Lord was so tangible you could touch it. Three young men had joined us after the start of the meeting and they too were touched by the Lord. Afterwards, during coffee & fellowship, these young men told Peter that they had been attending a Christian birthday party but had been moved by the Lord to come along and ask him if he would go with them to the party to bring the word of the Lord to a group of 15 or more young people. To their delight and surprise he readily agreed to go so off he went. As they left the church, they told Peter of one young man who had fallen on the ice and injured his leg and in great pain – unable to walk. They were praying for him as Peter walked through the door of the church and they were asking him if he felt better. He said no. Peter went up and grabbed his hand and said “Come on we haven’t got time for this” and he was instantly healed. By the time he reached the car, he was jumping and leaping on that leg. More of all this later.
Sunday we were back in Oslo again at a wonderful African Church under the ministry of Pastor & Mrs Saflo. Amazingly four or five of the young men and a young lady Peter went off to visit last night were there. I just hope you Are sitting down to read this? The meeting introduced us to another prophet Douglas Lilley who invited Peter to Israel. Old friends Tabitha, Beatrice, and Beatrice’s daughter Rubina were there and they all had a tearful re-union. The worship was so anointed again and the Spirit was very obviously present as the dancing and singing progressed. Yes – even I was dancing along with many of the people there. It was simply infectious. When Peter stood to minister, he introduced the team then spoke about some of the miracles we have seen this past year or so. Then he spoke about last night’s party and invited one of the group to testify what happened. Apparently, the 15 young men plus a couple of girls were having a birthday party with a difference in that a) it was a prayer party and b) when they heard about the event with Per Soetorp the night before, they had sent a delegation of three to ask Peter to bring Gods word to them. Peter only spoke briefly, then he prophesied to everyone there. There was some Holy Laughter and Peter left them to it. What happened next may well go down as a starting point in revival in Norway on 20th March 2010. After Peter left these young men tried to have some praise and worship – but it just didn’t happen. Eventually, they asked the 2 young ladies present to go to another room they all gathered round in a circle and, one by one, they started confessing their sin. All sorts started to come out as they each repented before their brothers and before the Lord. They each laid their sin in the circle before asking the Lord to burn it up and every one of them was set free – made a new man in the Lord that night. THEN they started to receive healings. As Peter commented – “What is the first fruit of revival – it is repentance!!” He then spoke briefly about the great commission and what Mary had said to the servants at the wedding in Cana. “Whatever He tells you to do – just do it !!”
God is sending REVIVAL not renewal and this must start with judgement in the church first. If we are not a clean church how can we carry revival. Jesus is not returning for the Church but for His Bride.
And so to Monday when Hans Erik Groth and Øistein Molteborg and their wives & friends all came round to Hans Petter’s house for a meal and fellowship with us. Another powerful meeting – more powerful prayer – more exchanged information. Incidentally, Hans Erik was a tiny little bit late as he had been in the TV studios – having filmed a wolf on or next to his property in Sarpsborg that morning.
Exciting times – and so to Denmark again in two days time !!!
Tuesday 23 March 2010
Monday 8 March 2010
RoFMI Visit to Holland 4 to 8 March 2010
It is becoming increasingly difficult to write about these visits. It seems the anointing is increasing almost exponentially each time we go out this year. I, for one, am simply blown away by this latest visit – I have been in an emotional maelstrom since Sunday and it is still going on. I suppose I’d better start at the beginning and see how we go from there.
Peter, John, and I went to Amsterdam in Holland this weekend. Our flight was booked for a more civilised hour this time but nevertheless we gathered on Wednesday evening for prayer before setting off from Stansted at about 4:00pm for the vast expanse of Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam on Thursday afternoon. Met in Amsterdam by Pastor Ernie from the Op de Rots ministry, we were driven through the evening rush hour to a large HQ somewhere between two (inevitable) canals in the middle of the city centre. Let me tell you a little about this absolutely remarkable ministry – Stichting Op de Rots (literally “The Rock Foundation” in English) is a rescue centre for prostitutes, drug addicts, people with drink problems, abused and mistreated people. It is a somewhat Spartan centre run to a rather strict regime or “program” as it is called. It is a place of ‘tough love’ – really tough love – where the broken and lost are reclaimed for the world and for Christ. It is not supported by the government - God supplies all their needs - and it is still purely voluntary with people free to leave at any time – as we soon discovered. We didn’t know what to expect but were very warmly welcomed by everyone there – currently 23 of them plus the staff. They are largely self monitoring with those doing well entrusted with more and more responsibility. The staff team is headed up by founder Yvette Laclé (better known by her previous name Yvette Lont) – herself an ex-prostitute who together with her husband Francis plus Pastor Ernie, Pastor Gerald and one or two very senior (ex)inmates, manage and run everything on a day to day basis. There is room for at least 45 people – many more if they double up and share rooms before getting the privilege of a single, private, room. Each person present is ‘his or her brothers/sisters keeper’.
After a meal and an early night, we rose early Friday morning for breakfast at 07:30 and 08:00am Bible sturdy – which everyone is encouraged to attend. They have some praise and worship to start with, all sung to CD’s, and we got our first big surprise. Far from being a very half-hearted ‘I suppose I’d better join in’ attitude we had a wonderful time of inspired and anointed praise and worship – these guys put many supposedly charismatic churches to shame with their totally uninhibited singing and worship. It was simply wonderful and it is supposed to last an hour but lasted to much nearer 10:30 when we finally broke for coffee. The daily routine by now well and truly abandoned we shared more fellowship with everyone before holding a Prayer meeting from 11:30 til 12:30. Everyone not on medication usually fasts on Fridays but we were excused this and had lunch with the others on medications and therefore not allowed to fast. Many of them are on medication for some considerable time. After lunch we had no problem filling time with the group who, we were fast learning, were responding to us in an unprecedented manner and it wasn’t ‘put on’ either – there was much mutual interest and entertainment with the residents keen to talk to us and to hear from us too.
After the evening meal, we were joined by friends from Wieringerwerf where we visited last month for the start of a three session ‘conference’ supposedly on Salvation - but that soon changed as Peter began to give prophecies for Holland, for Amsterdam, and for individuals. Peter spoke on 1 Samuel 16 where Samuel was called to anoint the ‘next king of Israel’. A long time of ministry then concluded the official evening followed by extended fellowship with the staff and guests.
There were two conference sessions on Saturday. In the morning Peter spoke on Elisha and the King of Aram – where Elisha listened to the conversations within the Aramean camp to thwart their attacks and the Aramean army surrounded Elisha only to be thwarted by the ‘Army of the Lord’ also encamped around him. The main thrust of Peters talk however, was on how God makes preparation for each miracle. He went on to talk about the Great Commission. In the afternoon, we had some free time for fellowship with Yvette and Francis on their own. We also went for a daylight tour of Amsterdam city centre including the infamous Red Light District. Many say that Amsterdam has gone beyond Sodom & Gomorrah and I can understand why they say that. The depravity we saw was appalling and all the more so as we watched parties of school children being given a tour of the whole area. Unbelievable – simply unbelievable !! The evening started with even more friends arriving and Peter speaking at length to a full house on “Doing whatever He tells you” (John 2:1-11) There were further words for Amsterdam and an extended period of ministry during time which Peter “got” both John and I and we were laid out in the Spirit for some time. I have no idea what was going on so I can’t report on it all. :-))
Sunday dawned and we were taken off to visit and bless their new ministry building where the successful residents will be offered proper paid work and thereby weaned further back into a society which has used and abused each one of them in one way or another. We celebrated the Lords Supper with them before being dragged off to Rotterdam where another appointment awaited us. It was at this point that the reality of the love and care of both guardians and residents at Stichting Op de Rots finally got to me. I really didn’t want to leave and I wept unashamedly as we drove away from the first ‘People Re-cycling Centre’ in Holland. I simply felt so unclean – so unworthy of their love. Yes – their love for us. Those who have been so badly treated by society yet who still have so much love to give – and they gave some to us. It’s got me again now.
We arrived at Rotterdam about 20 minutes after service started. It was very rude of us but a very gracious Pastor Stanley Dissels and his wonderful family nevertheless welcomed us with open arms and we ministered to their Het Zout der Aarde Church (Salt of the Earth Church) Peter spoke about the return of the prophetic to the church after many years of being shunned and ignored. He spoke passionately about the authority of a prophet and illustrated this with some of the many stories from our various visits around Europe during the last three years. There were words for various specific ailments/ills and conditions such as childlessness, Tinnitus, and dyslexia. Many people were blessed. Pastor Stanley himself drove us back to Amsterdam so we had an extended period of fellowship with him as we drove.
Back at the ranch in Amsterdam, we slept and arose at 6:00am for breakfast (well coffee) before being driven to Schiphol for the return flight to Stansted. Four or five of the residents got up especially to see us off !!!! Much as I have wept at my own unworthiness to serve these wonderful people, I also realise that God makes us ‘worthy’ through the Blood of Christ – and who am I to argue with that?
Peter, John, and I went to Amsterdam in Holland this weekend. Our flight was booked for a more civilised hour this time but nevertheless we gathered on Wednesday evening for prayer before setting off from Stansted at about 4:00pm for the vast expanse of Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam on Thursday afternoon. Met in Amsterdam by Pastor Ernie from the Op de Rots ministry, we were driven through the evening rush hour to a large HQ somewhere between two (inevitable) canals in the middle of the city centre. Let me tell you a little about this absolutely remarkable ministry – Stichting Op de Rots (literally “The Rock Foundation” in English) is a rescue centre for prostitutes, drug addicts, people with drink problems, abused and mistreated people. It is a somewhat Spartan centre run to a rather strict regime or “program” as it is called. It is a place of ‘tough love’ – really tough love – where the broken and lost are reclaimed for the world and for Christ. It is not supported by the government - God supplies all their needs - and it is still purely voluntary with people free to leave at any time – as we soon discovered. We didn’t know what to expect but were very warmly welcomed by everyone there – currently 23 of them plus the staff. They are largely self monitoring with those doing well entrusted with more and more responsibility. The staff team is headed up by founder Yvette Laclé (better known by her previous name Yvette Lont) – herself an ex-prostitute who together with her husband Francis plus Pastor Ernie, Pastor Gerald and one or two very senior (ex)inmates, manage and run everything on a day to day basis. There is room for at least 45 people – many more if they double up and share rooms before getting the privilege of a single, private, room. Each person present is ‘his or her brothers/sisters keeper’.
After a meal and an early night, we rose early Friday morning for breakfast at 07:30 and 08:00am Bible sturdy – which everyone is encouraged to attend. They have some praise and worship to start with, all sung to CD’s, and we got our first big surprise. Far from being a very half-hearted ‘I suppose I’d better join in’ attitude we had a wonderful time of inspired and anointed praise and worship – these guys put many supposedly charismatic churches to shame with their totally uninhibited singing and worship. It was simply wonderful and it is supposed to last an hour but lasted to much nearer 10:30 when we finally broke for coffee. The daily routine by now well and truly abandoned we shared more fellowship with everyone before holding a Prayer meeting from 11:30 til 12:30. Everyone not on medication usually fasts on Fridays but we were excused this and had lunch with the others on medications and therefore not allowed to fast. Many of them are on medication for some considerable time. After lunch we had no problem filling time with the group who, we were fast learning, were responding to us in an unprecedented manner and it wasn’t ‘put on’ either – there was much mutual interest and entertainment with the residents keen to talk to us and to hear from us too.
After the evening meal, we were joined by friends from Wieringerwerf where we visited last month for the start of a three session ‘conference’ supposedly on Salvation - but that soon changed as Peter began to give prophecies for Holland, for Amsterdam, and for individuals. Peter spoke on 1 Samuel 16 where Samuel was called to anoint the ‘next king of Israel’. A long time of ministry then concluded the official evening followed by extended fellowship with the staff and guests.
There were two conference sessions on Saturday. In the morning Peter spoke on Elisha and the King of Aram – where Elisha listened to the conversations within the Aramean camp to thwart their attacks and the Aramean army surrounded Elisha only to be thwarted by the ‘Army of the Lord’ also encamped around him. The main thrust of Peters talk however, was on how God makes preparation for each miracle. He went on to talk about the Great Commission. In the afternoon, we had some free time for fellowship with Yvette and Francis on their own. We also went for a daylight tour of Amsterdam city centre including the infamous Red Light District. Many say that Amsterdam has gone beyond Sodom & Gomorrah and I can understand why they say that. The depravity we saw was appalling and all the more so as we watched parties of school children being given a tour of the whole area. Unbelievable – simply unbelievable !! The evening started with even more friends arriving and Peter speaking at length to a full house on “Doing whatever He tells you” (John 2:1-11) There were further words for Amsterdam and an extended period of ministry during time which Peter “got” both John and I and we were laid out in the Spirit for some time. I have no idea what was going on so I can’t report on it all. :-))
Sunday dawned and we were taken off to visit and bless their new ministry building where the successful residents will be offered proper paid work and thereby weaned further back into a society which has used and abused each one of them in one way or another. We celebrated the Lords Supper with them before being dragged off to Rotterdam where another appointment awaited us. It was at this point that the reality of the love and care of both guardians and residents at Stichting Op de Rots finally got to me. I really didn’t want to leave and I wept unashamedly as we drove away from the first ‘People Re-cycling Centre’ in Holland. I simply felt so unclean – so unworthy of their love. Yes – their love for us. Those who have been so badly treated by society yet who still have so much love to give – and they gave some to us. It’s got me again now.
We arrived at Rotterdam about 20 minutes after service started. It was very rude of us but a very gracious Pastor Stanley Dissels and his wonderful family nevertheless welcomed us with open arms and we ministered to their Het Zout der Aarde Church (Salt of the Earth Church) Peter spoke about the return of the prophetic to the church after many years of being shunned and ignored. He spoke passionately about the authority of a prophet and illustrated this with some of the many stories from our various visits around Europe during the last three years. There were words for various specific ailments/ills and conditions such as childlessness, Tinnitus, and dyslexia. Many people were blessed. Pastor Stanley himself drove us back to Amsterdam so we had an extended period of fellowship with him as we drove.
Back at the ranch in Amsterdam, we slept and arose at 6:00am for breakfast (well coffee) before being driven to Schiphol for the return flight to Stansted. Four or five of the residents got up especially to see us off !!!! Much as I have wept at my own unworthiness to serve these wonderful people, I also realise that God makes us ‘worthy’ through the Blood of Christ – and who am I to argue with that?
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