Greetings from Belfast and from London!
Greetings from Ireland and from England. On the left the photo (which was taken with IPhoto on the Mac) are new brothers and sisters from the Rock Church in Belfast. The handsome lad is Ivan, then to the right Leslie (a school teacher), Kathy (Ivan’s wife and school teacher), and Belinda (a staff worker and transplanted Scot). Gail and I have been staying with Ivan and Kathy. They are dear Christians, very hospitable and a lot of fun. They live in a great little house, up on a hill over looking Belfast. Both Ivan and Kathy have known Belfast both as a place of sectarian violence and now as a place where peace appears to have been achieved.
We have had a very blessed time in Belfast. I went a few days before Gail in order to have some time to spend with the pastor of the Rock Church and his family. Johnny and Sharon Caldwell are real servants of the body of Christ. They love the people of God and they have a particular heart to reach young people. Johnny is the pastor of Rock Church in Belfast, as well as the leader of a ministry called “Go Kids.” “Go Kids” takes gospel ministry right into the public school system (believe it or not its totally legal in Belfast). They run special programs and outreaches into different Belfast schools and neighborhoods. Part of the reason I came was to pursue a pastoral relationship with Johnny and Sharon. They are the kind of Christian people that are a treasure to the body of Christ, and they are people we as a congregation would do well to connect with and support as God gives us opportunity. Right now my focus will be on staying in touch with Johnny on a weekly, or every other week basis as well as traveling to Belfast a few times a year to spend time with Johnny and his family for the purpose of encouragement, and however else God may see fit to use that relationship. I’m am really thrilled to be able to build a relationship with Johnny, he is a man of real quality with a huge heart for Jesus. Sharon, his wife is also a very formitable Christian woman and leader in her own right (In fact I would love to bring Sharon over to the US for some teaching in a conference we are planning for late fall aimed at young and emerging leaders).
We were with the Rock Church on Sunday morning and had a great time with this small, but very alive church. I shared some of what God has been doing at Lamb in terms of prayer and encouraged Johnny and the church to have a vision of themselves as a catylist for a movement of prayer in Belfast. Back in 1859 a great revival broke out in Belfast and thousands were saved. It began as a movement of prayer and eventually brought 140 different churches together. At one point there were 20,000 people gathering in the Botanical Gardens for prayer. I was able to challenge the Rock Church to have a vision for this in their day. Todd also shared a great prophetic word with the church, one which was very much in step with the message I shared that day.
I am so excited. Lamb of God is being poured out to the nations. First, Brazil, now Belfast, later this year Poland and Africa. Each place God opens the door for me to travel is an opportunity to extend Lamb of God’s presence and connection to other Christians in the nations. I anticipate that some of you will be coming as well. The relationship with Belfast is one I believe will become very strong for us, much like Brazil. I believe that many of our kids will end up doing short term missions in Belfast. That brings me great joy! I am certain that it brings even greater joy to Jesus! Peace to my brothers and sisters at Lamb. Gail and I will be back Wednesday after noon and I hope to see many of you at the Cry for Awakening at West Essex Baptist.