Dear Friends
Norway and The Faroe Islands certainly continued in what God is doing but also went from glory to glory. It started with a bang, at a Church Conference, with children and youth who are hungry, open and love to be in meetings. They were just there to meet with God!!!
There were two age groups, in the children’s first invitation ministry time every one of the boys responded and the next most boys and some girls. With the youth I found myself straying far from my notes into what seemed to be prophetic so in the break I went to my room and sought God. He confirmed what I had thought and also that He wanted to continue, so I could only go and be obedient. The next meeting was the one where all the boys responded and afterwards Andres the middle of three siblings, whose parents are going through divorce (one reason is the abuse the boys get from their father) He asked me if he could also be in the next youth meeting. I was happy but not sure he would be able to handle it, the way God was moving. Not only did he handle it but it was clear God put the desire in his heart, because the message was speaking specifically speak to him. He came for prayer with the youth where the invitation was for those who knew clearly God had spoken something specific to them. God gave me a word for him about a strong call on his life that He was going to confirm again in other ways because he had always as far back as he could remember felt God had something special for him. He and his Mother who was sitting at the back in tears, confirmed this was so. His mother was thrilled how God had done this special thing to encourage him at such a difficult time.
The youth were just gathering in the room for their final meeting when word came that one of the boys had, had an accident. A doctor from the church examined it and suspected a broken toe. Instantly the room emptied and looking out of the window we saw this cloud of youth burst out of the door, gather around the car the boy was in and prayed. Ten minutes later they were back in the room sitting attentively waiting to start. The hospital confirmed that there was nothing wrong. We believe he did have a broken toe and God healed it as the youth prayed. The boy is from a non Christian home but said later that he desperately wants to go back next year.
On the car ferry on our journey from the conference, we went to the cafeteria for coffee and my friend was gone ages but I could see he was the only one there. The lady on duty was from a church on the mainland. Ten minutes later she came over to us; she had rung her husband and arranged for a gathering in her home for the children from their church later in the trip. That meeting was definitely a God thing and a double blessing for her. There were six children of varying ages there, two were her sons. Over the years I have spoken in many little house meetings like this in Norway and this one has to be one of the best. I had two sessions their parents were amazed at how quiet and still they sat paying full attention. One father cheerfully said they don’t do that for us. The second session four out of the six responded for prayer for assurance of salvation their hands going up instantly to have a new awareness of Jesus at work. God gave me words for the oldest two. The lady who arranged it was so excited, two who responded were her sons and one who got a word was her eldest. After the meeting the youngest son (eight years old) said “that was great mum”. Then got his blackboard and chalks and was drawing my stick men and giving a little message. His mother said that board had been in the basement for years and never touched.
In 2012 on the Island of Halsnoey we had a one off meeting, only a small number attended most from one family because grandma rounded up her grandchildren, hurray for grandmothers. One of hers Marcus, God gave me a word for. I kept it until the end, meantime saw a boy who intently listened to every word and responded for prayer. Afterwards his Mother asked why her son was the only one who had a word which I could only answer, God only gave me that one. She went on to say he didn’t want to go to the meeting, so she said he should because God might just have something special to say to him!!!! His grandmother recently told my friend that, that word so impacted Marcus’ life that he has never looked back since. Now as a mid-teenager he is the only Christian in his classes at school but he stands boldly for God in spite of the persecution he gets sometimes. Before I moved on his grandmother insisted on organising a meeting in her home for Marcus and others where I was able to pass on another word for him this time clearly laying out his calling.
This year the meetings on The Faroe Islands were on the main island in a bigger church with more children but organised by the same couple as last year. The weekend before the camp the couple’s eldest son Isak aged ten went and testified raising the excitement level of the children by sharing how last year’s conference had totally changed his life and how exciting it was speaking in tongues and being used in the gifts, the leaders became more excited too. This year Isak and his closest friend Elias were the ministry team. It was a very busy time with ten meetings in one full and two half days with fifty children divided into seven to ten and eleven to fifteen for teaching. God warned us ahead to watch out as the devil was not happy and the first meeting he struck. It was the only meeting where both age groups were together and some parents got upset while the children had no problem at all. Almost all responded for the need in these days to have real assurance of their salvation, so many I had to get help ministering to them as it was too many for the boys alone. Many then said they now really knew that Jesus was in them. God showed us how to deal with that attack, the next morning we had the whole team together, we prayed had an amazing worship time and no more trouble.
During teaching on the Holy Spirit many were filled in both groups, the younger group only a couple didn’t speak in tongues, the older ones everyone did. The older group a girl was so tense she was stiff as a board so didn’t speak the moment she relaxed she was off. While a boy couldn’t because of his low self-esteem, a little talk and he just began to flow. He couldn’t speak a word of English but as he left he gave me a huge smile and squeezed my arm, I believe that was his way of saying thank you. The final meeting, I shared on giving their whole lives as an offering to God for Him to use as he wanted then tried several ways to dissuade both groups from responding but they persisted. With the teens I had hands up then down tried again to dissuade them but again everyone responded. God gave words in every meeting and I don’t think I have ever had so much feedback as I did there. A father told us his teen son didn’t want to attend but Dad said he was, the first meeting he was the first to respond and God gave me a word for him. After that he told his Dad, ‘I am fine now I want to go’! Two said “that was the second time they had been given that exact wordâ€. Another the leaders sat in floods of tears as the word God gave exactly described that child. A leader said, she had been seeking God on something for a while then as a word was given to a girl that was also her answer. The leader recording the words said she just had to send off immediately two words, by SMS, to their parents because they were so significant later the parents called back in tears. During a time in the presence of God I had a word and not wanting to disturb went unannounced to share it. Part of the word said to keep holding his hands out to receive more of God’s anointing. Two boys behind who were completely lost in God and so hungry, thought it was for them so immediately shot their hands out like rockets. I thought nothing more of it until next morning in the family service. I was giving my introduction and God pointed out the same boys sitting in the same formation and said “now, emphasising the NOW (as I usually give individual words at the end) bring them up here I want to speak to themâ€. As God spoke the two faces were radiant and one had watery eyes, (these were young teens). The bible says God never leaves the hungry to go wanting or empty, they were still beaming when they left the church. God only knows His purpose in choosing to give those two words publicly.
The young teens final meeting was so special they didn’t want the meeting to stop, we had worship which brought the presence of God, I spoke and they all responded. As I prayed for them the presence of God came stronger and when I said ‘amen’ no one moved, they stood eyes closed hands held out. I needed to know from God what to do so they just stood in silence for ages. Then God led me to move among them giving words as He directed, still no one moved, ages later still they were totally lost. Eventually I felt I had to close though I get the feeling they would have gone on for hours more. Even then one I had a word just flopped down onto the edge of his seat hands still with palms up and eyes closed and stayed that way until the leader concluded and everyone slowly started to move.
Even as we were clearing up God had more, the local leader shared. In the service I had strongly emphasised how the adults must now continually band around these children pray and protect them. She said they are going to officially appoint four adults to every child to intercede for them. The organising couple are invited visit this church regularly to help them take the children on. A big thing happened for Isak and he told his mother, I have learnt to recognise the voice of God and I know that God needs me too. A lady over seventy had been praying for years for the children to really experience God, this spring someone gave her a word that soon she would see her prayers answered. She said “today I have seen my prayers answered before my eyesâ€. Hallelujah!!
Nothing to add the above says it all. You were a vital part of this and I pray a double blessing for you as that mother had.
Thank You & God Bless you so much
David