Looking back at the 9 days of the tour, I'm pretty amazed at what happened. Before getting on to any of the ministry we did, the team itself, which grew to about 22 people during the trip, was such a living representation of God's family. There was such care, love, forgiveness and unity among the group which had a wide range of ages, personalities and giftings, and God seemed to have placed each person in the right role for them. I believe that this atmosphere of joy, love, freedom and family that we carried as a group had an impact on the places we visited.
The meetings that we held in each place were marked by these things as well. There were people who led worship and did teaching, but beyond that in each meeting different members of the team would step forward with what they sensed God wanted to do. There was such an ebb and flow about team - people could freely move from playing music to prayer ministry to releasing prophetic words.
Personally, the chance to travel around Finland, worshiping God and interceding for the nation, with a family of people with the same heart was simply amazing. This stuff is a big part of what I was made to do. Of course there were challenges involved, and it was also a learning experience. I feel like I'm gonna be involved with these sorts of tours more in the future, so this was an invaluable experience, being surrounded by people who I could learn so much from.
It was also such a privilege to see more of what God is doing in Finland, and I really feel there is so much more to come. Throughout the tour we saw that God is releasing joy, freedom and healing to Finland, restoring men to their place and uniting men and women, and restoring families and the Church as His family. We were able to glimpse something of this, and we look forward with expectancy to what is to come.
- John
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
God has been doing deep things!
God has been doing deep things! Not just in our hearts, but to everyone who we have met along the journey across Finland. It has been a deeply humbling experience...
The reason I have entitled this update 'Breakthroughs and Births' is because these two words have been almost like the theme of the experiences that took place in various towns and cities around Finland. For me, the most incredible time was the first night in the Oulu Mission church! Following on from a dream I had over a month ago and then to see that dream become real during the course of the tour was so surreal! The word 'läpimurto' meaning breakthrough came into my mind while I was praying for one young lady in our group. For her it was a direct word from God, even though I wasn't quite sure what it meant. The first night in Oulu was evidence of that as this same young lady experienced something that she will probably never forget! We also saw, as a group, births, not just in the natural but also in the spiritual! During our time in Tampere, I was staying with a couple and their 2 children. These guys had been friends of mine during my time in Kotka. The mother was expecting any day and after the meeting in their city, she gave birth just a few hours later! The great thing was that we were able to see the new born baby when we were in Renko!
Every night that the Burn group led worship was different. The group of guys from various places and countries were just awesome. There was such a unity among the group due to having prayer partners and group prayers every morning at breakfast and before going to bed. Of course there was opposition, but what I felt we did during those 6 days made a HUGE difference to the spritial condition of the nation of Finland! Words truly fail me at how God had used us, especially in Oulu. So many things happened that I feel it will take me several days to process and ponder at what the Lord had done in and through us. May His name be forever glorified in this nation! Kiitos Herralle!
- Sean
The reason I have entitled this update 'Breakthroughs and Births' is because these two words have been almost like the theme of the experiences that took place in various towns and cities around Finland. For me, the most incredible time was the first night in the Oulu Mission church! Following on from a dream I had over a month ago and then to see that dream become real during the course of the tour was so surreal! The word 'läpimurto' meaning breakthrough came into my mind while I was praying for one young lady in our group. For her it was a direct word from God, even though I wasn't quite sure what it meant. The first night in Oulu was evidence of that as this same young lady experienced something that she will probably never forget! We also saw, as a group, births, not just in the natural but also in the spiritual! During our time in Tampere, I was staying with a couple and their 2 children. These guys had been friends of mine during my time in Kotka. The mother was expecting any day and after the meeting in their city, she gave birth just a few hours later! The great thing was that we were able to see the new born baby when we were in Renko!
Every night that the Burn group led worship was different. The group of guys from various places and countries were just awesome. There was such a unity among the group due to having prayer partners and group prayers every morning at breakfast and before going to bed. Of course there was opposition, but what I felt we did during those 6 days made a HUGE difference to the spritial condition of the nation of Finland! Words truly fail me at how God had used us, especially in Oulu. So many things happened that I feel it will take me several days to process and ponder at what the Lord had done in and through us. May His name be forever glorified in this nation! Kiitos Herralle!
- Sean
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