The Birth of a Passion

The Birth of a Passion

This is simply a testimony of God’s leading and guiding. Perhaps more than that, it is testimony to the birthing of a passion in me that has now been spread to my wife. God is quite simply amazing in the way He works things and brings things together perfectly for His will to be done “here on earth as it is in heaven”. Never have the words of the hymn writer, “God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform”, been proven so true as in these last days.

In the course of my travels with a prophetic ministry, I was their co-ordinator or administrator, we were invited to Amsterdam to a rehab unit. The people we met there changed my life. There were rescued prostitutes, drug and alcohol addicts, drop-outs, and homeless people, about 100 of them. They lived in the very centre of the city in very spartan accommodation. It was not easy on us visitors but to many of the ‘guests’ it was the winter luxury of three meals a day plus a warm bed to sleep in at night. We were welcomed amazingly with open arms and hearts and our ministry seemed to help many of those present. We made a few good friends over there.

On our second trip, we were excited to hear of a new work unit they were opening where some of the trusted guests would work a mail order mailing business. When we went there the atmosphere was amazing. God was oh-so present in the opening meeting we held there. I saw for the first time the gratitude of forgiven hearts and wounded spirits that had been reconciled back to God. I lost my heart to these people and I wept for nearly an hour when we had to leave. I just wanted to serve these people.

Then the government cancelled all their funding and they lost everything. But my dream never died. It got woken again ministering to gypsies in Slovakia.

Four years later, we arrive here in middle England and the Lord re-awakened the dream.

First He awakened in us  the passion to bring the hurt and lost back to their faith. He even had us name our home the same as the ministry – Sanctuary. Next He grew our passion by opening the door to be a part of the Second Chance Charity Shop and Café. Finally, He confirmed the calling He placed in me in Amsterdam by bringing both of us to be passionate about Betel, part of a world-wide ministry to addicts, self harmers, prostitutes, and other abused and generally despised people. The place we visited is a local house of healing for these wonderful people – a true “people recycling plant” if ever there was one.

This is the testimony of one who had never even known such a world existed but in whom God raised a real passion for others futures. He birthed this passion in both of us – and now we know some of His future for us.

Praise and Glory to God \o/