“The kingdom of God is not just about the conversion of individuals – important though that is – but about the transformation of society.” – Nicky Gumble
This Week’s Highlights:
*Cessationist softens his position – see below
*’Need Prayer’ sign attracts people – see Gaylene and photo below
*Homeless person becomes open to Jesus encounter – see Diana
*”I really needed that”, was Sheila’s response to prayer – see Iris
*Prayer in the Park brings comfort – see Daniel
Eighteen folks came out to minister this week. I spent most of my time visiting with Portage Place regulars (Edna, Rita, Art, David). People are lonely, and they want to talk to someone who will listen.
Art has done a lot of reading on Christian topics and is very well informed. He has a ‘cessationist’ point of view, and he told me everything he didn’t like about charismatics, TV healing evangelists, and that he was very sure the gifts of the Spirit had ended when the last apostle died. He assured me he was very skeptical of anyone involved in that ‘Holy Spirit stuff’. What is interesting is that a month ago, he had asked for prayer for depression and anxiety, and after prayer, he had said that something had lifted and he felt a lot better.
I try not to engage in theological arguments, as most often they don’t bear any fruit. I listened, even agreed with him on some of his points, and quietly and gently challenged him on some of his thinking. We had a big discussion about speaking in tongues, and its purposes, and why every tongue is spoken doesn’t require an interpreter. When I noticed he was intently listening to me, and he didn’t reject what I was saying I suggested he read 1st Corinthians 12 – 14 again in view of what I had said. I also then told him some healing stories that I had recently witnessed right in Portage Place. He was surprised, and he seemed to soften. I will probably get to talk to him again as he frequents Portage Place. (Below is Daniel’s account of encountering Art I am not sure which one of us talked to him first)
Gaylene’s Report:
SHOP (Sanctuary House of Prayer) in the City is halfway through its 18 evenings in Central Park during Ramadan. Our approach is simple: we offer free bottled water beside a sandwich board that says ‘Need Prayer’? There have been many highlights including salvations and healings.
On day 1, in the first 30 minutes, a Somali teen saw significant pain reduction in her sprained ankle while her surprised friends looked on, and Lani and Danica led a young couple to Jesus.
This Thursday night marked the return of Andy from B.C., who joined Lani and I as well as Suzanne, Iris, Les, and a few other folks.
Phillip got deeply touched by the Spirit after sharing his struggles with alcoholism and parenting his sons without their mom who was lost in addiction. We were so honoured by his honesty and tears.
Lani and I prayed for the shoulders of two people – a teenaged girl and my former neighbor, a Somali who just had surgery – and both experienced reduction in pain.
Lani also gave a teenaged girl named Alyssa a word about a strained relationship with her father, which turned out to be true. This opened the door for her to pray for restoration.
Among the more astounding things is when people remember us from last year and come back for prayer, and night after night when folks boldly walk up and ask for prayer even as we’re packing up to go home. The need is real.
Who would have thought a simple cardboard sign would attract so many people who are wanting prayer.
Diana’s Report:
Ken and I met up and were just going to head to Central Park when a lady on a bench stopped us and asked if we could help her. She said that she had recently lost her home and vehicle and had been homeless sleeping on the streets for the last 20 days. She asked for food so we took her into Portage Place mall and bought her a meal. Turns out that she was going to school to get her GED but was sidelined by a gambling addiction as well as alcohol addiction and she lost everything. We were able to tell her about the love of Jesus and that he can set her free and provide for her needs. At one point she got a bit defensive when we talked about Jesus because she has her traditional Aboriginal ways. She said several years ago she was hit by a dump truck and spent time in the hospital where she was visited by 3 faceless spirits that helped her. As we shared more about Jesus being the only one who heals and forgives she allowed us to pray for her and she invited Jesus to reveal himself to her and she is open to getting to know Jesus. We gave her a few ideas on what she could do to proceed in a different direction before we left her.
Iris’ Report:
It was a smaller group than normal but such a good evening of outreach last night. Suzanne and I started out in Central Park at Gaylene’s ‘Need Prayer’ sign, and I noticed some Muslim’s in the nearby playground, so we headed there to see if we could make a connection before they left for their late evening meal called Iftar.
Turns out, it was my Sudanese Muslim friends in the park, who I hadn’t seen for over year. She told me that she had been looking for me the times she was in Portage Place. She was tired from running after her energetic two-year-old daughter and was fasting as its Ramadan so our conversation did not go deeper than surface level, but we were both delighted in reconnecting with each other.
Suzanne and I connected with a first nations couple called Albert and Elizabeth who were watching their granddaughter on the play structure. Elizabeth had a brain aneurysm about 40 years ago and had been in a wheelchair and without speech since then. They were both believers in Jesus, we prayed for them, and were blessed and encouraged by them.
At the end of the evening, we headed to Portage place to warm up and connect with other outreach partners. As we entered we saw a woman with tattoos, strong eye makeup and earbuds sitting on the bench. Suzanne and I walked past and then we looked at each other, and I said, we need to go back and pray for this lady. So we went back to the bench and started to ask her when another girl dressed in black came up. My first impression was of her seeming protective over the girl on the bench, but we plunged in and said that we came back to ask if there was anything we could pray for them. The woman on the bench immediately shook her head and said, “no, I pray for myself all the time.” And right after her friend said, “But you can pray for me, I would like some prayer for strength to make good choices.” Sheila was her name and we laid hands on her and prayed for her, there was a softness and a desperation about her, and we suspected she might be pregnant, as she put her hand on her stomach when we prayed. They seemed in a hurry, so our prayer time was short, but as she left she said, “Thank you, I really needed that tonight, I really needed that.”
I continue to marvel at how God brings people to us to be prayed for and encountered, and the chances to show love and care. May Sheila be strengthened to make good choices and for her to find hope and new life.
Daniel’s Report:
Riley, Jerry, Nathan and I went to Central Park at first. We got called over by a few people sitting at a table who asked if we were Christians. We got to engage in some awesome conversation with them. One woman who was particularly hostile eventually opened up about losing her mom recently. Jerry did an amazing job of fathering and comforting her heart as she greaved. Nathan had some good biblical conversation with another gentleman. We prayed for their sicknesses and pains where we saw some improvement from arthritis and moved on to Portage Place.
At PP we bought some coffees for people and loved on them. An older man named Art struck up a conversation with me. He was quite religious in the bad sense, incredibly critical of what he called the Charismatic Movement. But I was able to love on him and just listen to his heart on things. Learning how to pick your battles is critical. You don’t always have to correct people. Often a little love will go a long way. I look forward to more conversation with him in the future. There is so much pain out there in peoples hearts. Learning to love them through it can be a challenge but it’s a privilege of loving the poor and needy.
PROPHECY CORNER
God is doing something! He is stirring the waters of revival. I believe this is just the beginning and that you will hear more stirrings taking place. People with and without reputation are going to see God move in power as they step into that region by faith. God is going to open the heavens and it will rain supernatural rain. Darren Canning – The Elijah List