Celebration Update
January 2013
Praise God for all that He has for us in this seventh and final year in Wales!
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith (1 John 5:3-4).
Jesus is inviting us to show our love for Him. The way we do that is to obey His commands. His commandments are not heavy like those of some religions where even the old and sick are required to prostrate themselves over kilometres of stony ground to try and please the spirits. Every other religion on earth has some sort of way to ‘earn’ salvation by burdensome commandments. Jesus said, my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:30). This easy yoke is also a joyful one, because Jesus’ commands are love and love! Love God and love each other! God is Love and He wants us to be like Him.
I know there is a rest to enter into this seventh year of Celebration. It is the rest of faith. Actually it is not possible with human strength to prepare this year’s Celebration. We do not have the skills or the finances. And that is just on the organisational side! We want to see lives transformed which will in turn transform communities and nations. There is nothing in our natural selves that can make this happen. In the vision I had in 2004 the Lord told me, ‘It is impossible to touch the water from your side, but if you sing, the water will spring up and come to you!’ . He then told me from His word in Numbers 21 to ‘Gather the people together and I will give them water’ . So the people then sang to a well!!! How crazy is that! They did not re-dig it, but sang to it! God’s ways are different from our ways.
Our part in the fulfilment of this vision is to gather the people and to sing to the well. This well represents the water of Life that Jesus is longing to pour out on all who are thirsty. How can this be effective? It seems crazy--gather and sing! Yet this is what the Lord is telling us to do. We each have a part in gathering the worshippers and developing a life style of sacrificial worship, so that when we meet, our songs will be as one--in harmony--an offering to our glorious Lord. He will do His part (the part that is impossible for us) to make the water spring up!!
The Welsh Revival 1904
The vision for Celebration for the Nations was given to me in 2004, the centenary of the Welsh Revival. The 1904 Welsh Revival had an amazing effect going from Wales to NE India (1905), linking with Asuza USA (1906), Korea (1907), NE China (1908). Whole communities in Japan and many European and African nations were affected. The Asuza revival especially went on to bless South America and many other nations. We also found out recently that the Welsh Revival was a wonderful blessing to the Aboriginal people of Australia (see below). However, ten years after the Welsh Revival, the First World War started and only three years after the Revival in Pyongyang (now the capital of North Korea, the most difficult nation for a Christian to live) Japan annexed Korea. Satan’s backlash to the work of the Holy Spirit was to incite nation against nation in a war that saw nearly 40 million casualties. I believe that something is unfinished in God’s heart from the 1904 revival.
The well got blocked. Two world wars have dramatically changed the world and many have lost their faith in God. God’s purpose can be delayed by our unbelief and disobedience as it was with Israel in the wilderness; however, it cannot be thwarted. The Lord is looking for a generation who will trust in Him and obey His commands; those who will overcome the world by their faith. I believe that we are part of that generation, and Celebration for the Nations is one of the ways that He is using to release His living water!
Gather the people
I want to bring a challenge to each person reading this letter by saying “YOU are part of this worship intercession!” We each have a responsibility to gather the worshippers together. We are ambassadors for Christ, and He makes His appeal through us. It is an appeal to come to the waters of salvation, of reconciliation, and of life. So pray about whom you should be inviting to come.
The gathering needs a Tabernacle
This final year in Wales the Lord has told us to go back to the field we used in 2007 and prepare a tabernacle of worship. We believe that we should be preparing for up to 2000 people. But we do not just want to be caught up in numbers. Instead we want to see a gathering of people who sincerely desire to bless the Lord more than anything else. We do, however, need to prepare for a physical space and to have a tent big enough for all whom the Lord brings in.
As Moses asked for offerings to build the Tabernacle, we would ask you to pray about what you can give to make the Celebration happen. (We do not charge an entrance fee because we want those who do not know the Lord to be able to come freely.)
Many of you will have already received our urgent bulletin last week. We have hit our first major financial challenge; some deposits are due as you are reading this. Pray with us that we will be able to honour the arrangements we have made. Thank you!
Stop Press
To date since our urgent bulletin we have received £3220. Stand with us to see another £15,000 so that we will be able to pay the deposits on the marquees etc. Praise God in advance for His answer!
Aboriginal Worship Team
We are thrilled to tell you that an Aboriginal worship team is coming from Australia led by Pastor Tim Edwards. In the 1930s a Welsh farmer named Colter, who was part of the Welsh Revival, set up a farm in a little place called Pinnacle Pocket in North Queensland, Australia. He won the hearts of the Aboriginal people as he embraced them as brothers and sisters, and many soon accepted the gospel. The Lord poured out His Spirit on the church and a training centre was also established. Today the majority of the Aboriginal leaders can trace their spiritual roots back to what the Lord did in that place. Pastor Tim Edwards is one of them. He is a pastor and a worship leader and has taken part in many worship conferences in Australia. They will help us unblock the wells again!
Worship Teams
We would still like to see teams from other European nations, America, Japan, Israel and other nations. We are looking to confirm some teams including teams from Mizoram and the Khasi Hills (N India) and a Chinese American worship team. Please pray that the Lord would lead us to the right teams, and that all visas would be granted!!
Updates from the Celebration administration team
Praise God for new office space for the expanding Celebration administration team! Nicola Lewis (a Christian business woman who has been managing the Celebration finance as well as leading worship the last few years) has offered the upper floor of her office building. We also thank God for the arrival of Momin and Jeemin to work in Celebration full time. We are also awaiting the arrival of Esther from Korea who is undergoing her visa application. Please pray for more volunteers who will commit to serving with various skills (such as graphic design, website management, administration, media and etc).
The Celebration team is facing some physical challenges as well as opposition from the enemy. We especially ask for prayers for Jeemin (fighting extreme fatigue and sickness) as well as Jacqui (undergoing family issues and sickness). Please pray for grace, wisdom and discernment in all the organisation that needs to go into the Korea Celebration, Spring Celebrations, and the big final Celebration in July!
Celebration Mobile Team
Pastor Suk Kwang will be in Korea in February to confirm those whom the Lord is calling to join the Celebration Mobile Team. Seven are strongly considering joining. Please pray for them and anyone else who who should be joining, and for visas for all!
Upcoming Celebration for the Nations in 2013
25-28 February Korea Celebration Seoul
15 March Spring Celebration Swansea Elim 7.30pm
16 March Spring Celebration Cardiff Glenwood Church 7.30pm
5 April Spring Celebration Llanelli Ty Gwyn 7.30pm
6 April Spring Celebration Carmarthen Bethel 7.30pm
Join with us in the battle cry! Our God reigns!
With love,
Gail and the Celebration Team
