Celebration for the Nations 2012 report

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness(2 Corinthians 12:9).

What beautiful outpourings of God’s grace we experienced during the Celebration this year. The power and love of Jesus is indeed made perfect in weakness.

Many of us had struggles this year, and I know some made great sacrifices to come and worship. The Lord sees everything.

You have kept count of my tossings; put all my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? (Psalm 56:8).

He has delighted to pour his grace on us as we have delighted to adore him! It was wonderful to have worship led by Welsh, Koreans, Africans, Latin Americans, Indians and English. So beautiful too to see the song expressed in artistic talents of paint and sculpture and in dance that was sometimes dynamic, and at other times poignant and gentle.

Personally I feel that this Celebration was the most significant since our first one in 2007. I feel that even though the ‘ground’ is resistant, we are continuing to dig the well with our worship, and the Lord is pleased. He is receiving our offerings of praise!

People were saved, especially young people, some of whom were known to us and we had been specifically praying for. We witnessed a special time of dedication as we gave ourselves to the Lord again on the final night in Wales, and a tremendous release of exuberant joy the Lord gave us after that!

Many hidden things have happened. People have told us of life changing experiences as they have given themselves to worship. One intercessor told me how released she felt discovering a new dimension of worship. We just heard from one of the ministry team about a man who was drunk who entered the Celebration one night, drawn by the music. As he entered, he started to cry and couldn’t stop. He told the ministry team member that he never cried, and he wasn’t sure why he was crying now, but that he had never sensed so much love. That night he found Jesus!

The ministry team have reported that many, many people came for prayer as the Lord opened their hearts in worship. People were healed and set free from bondages that in some cases had been lifelong. Wonderfully too, all our expenses have been covered, though right up until the end it looked as though we would have outstanding bills! Praise God for his faithfulness!

All these things, wonderful as each one is, are really only bi-products of the main purpose of our gathering; to worship and adore Jesus our King!

London Olympics
Around 120 of us then went to London. We joined International City Mission, a Korean group, and trained together. Some of the Korean young people had never shared their faith before, and it was lovely to see their excitement as they returned each night realising that the Lord was using them!

Most endured camping in Brentwood in the rain and cold. The older pastors and leaders set a wonderful example for the young people in maintaining their joy and ability to worship in difficult circumstances. Each day we went to different parts of London to share the gospel with Londoners and visitors. There were some amazing presentations of dance, taekwondo and art as well as worship. Crowds of people stopped, and we spoke to them and gave out tens of thousands of gospel tracts, Jesus DVDs and various literature including about 1100 On Your Marks booklets with Mark’s gospel and Journey into Life that some of you so generously helped us buy. We were amazed at the openness of so many people to stop and talk and hear the gospel message. Each day there were stories of people who had prayed to receive Jesus on the streets. When they were London based we were often able to give information of local churches.

More than Gold, the organisation that co-ordinated outreach during the Olympics, did an amazing job. Hundreds of thousands of people have received something with a Christian message. We heard from Egypt My People who were working with other Christian Arabs, particularly to reach Muslims, that they gave out thousands of cards for computers containing the Bible in Arabic, French and English and many other helpful teachings and Christian apologetics in Arabic. Let’s continue to pray for all those who were spoken to or who received gospel literature.

It was fantastic to link up with Hebron, a wonderful Eritrean Church (and other Eritreans from various fellowships) and worship together, and also with All Nations Fellowship, an Apostolic Church in Kennington which is mainly African. Worship, fellowship and food, what a lovely combination! We all feel that there is more we should be doing together as a result of these times.

Worshipper Warriors!
The first and most important call of the Bride of Christ is to love him with all our hearts, souls, mind and strength. Out of that worship will flow the desire and the ability to love our neighbour as ourselves. For six years now, we have given ourselves to worship first and foremost! As we enter our seventh year let’s determine afresh to guard our hearts and stir up our first love.

During a recent time of prayer on the Muslim ‘night of power’ on the 27th night of Ramadan, the Lord reminded me of something that he had shown me nearly 30 years ago when I was working in North Africa. I saw that what was going on at that time was like a harvest being gathered by hand in the darkness. There was one saved here, another there, but there were also many who did not stand under the oppression of Islam. He told me to pray that the darkness would lift, and a new day would dawn for the Muslim world. Then he would send in the combine-harvesters to gather a mighty harvest.

Millions of believers are now mobilised to pray especially during the Muslim month of Ramadan through the 30 days of prayer network http://www.30-days.net . I believe that the darkness is lifting and we are seeing that new day dawn! We are hearing of tens of thousands of Muslims coming to Christ in places like Indonesia. The Middle East is being shaken. Islam does not have the answers people are looking for. As we pray and worship we flash forth light into the spiritual atmosphere. The Hallel of Hallelujah, which means Praise the Lord, literally means to shine, or flash forth light. The Lord is calling out his worshipper warriors. Those who will praise him, witness for him and go wherever he sends them. Those who will even be prepared to follow their Beloved in the laying down of their lives for the sake of the gospel. He sees us as we will be;

Who is this who looks down like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awesome as an army with banners? (Song of Songs 6:10).

We, as his Bride, have the authority to call in a new day for those lost in Islam, in Buddhism, Hinduism, Materialism, etc. It is a battle, it will have great cost, but our Jesus will have his Bride! Let’s commit to being worshipper warriors who will stop at nothing to see the Bride, holy and spotless from every tribe and nation presented to our Lord.

The Seventh Celebration for the Nations
Praise the Lord for volunteers already beginning to come to help as we take on the tremendous task of organising the final Celebration in Wales. Please pray for a gathering of worshippers from all over the world, especially from the nations blessed by the Welsh Revival. We now have some links through World Horizons into worship teams in Indonesia. Indian teams are already preparing to join us. We would like more Africans, more Americans, and all the Lord is calling.

Pray too for the finance needed for all that has to be set up on the Festival Fields. The Lord has told us that this final Celebration in Wales will be like a wedding party.

Lets fix our eyes on the Lamb who is on the Throne!

With love,
Gail for the Celebration team.