Celebration for the Nations Update
March 2012

Why did the Lord say sing?
David determined that he would awaken the dawn with his songs:

I will sing and make melody! Awake my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn! (Psalm 57:7-8)

If we will awaken our own hearts to see who the Lord really is and sing to him, we too can call in a new day.

We are praying for songs which will release not only our worship to the Lord, but will somehow express something of the lands that we come from. There is a deep unspoken (unsung) longing in the hearts of those who don’t yet know the Lord, and also in the land itself. In Romans 8 we hear of the land groaning for the sons of God to come into the fullness of who they are;

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies (v22-23).

Celebration tries to put that longing into song. Pray that worship leaders will be able to connect with something of the groaning and the song in the land they come from. There will be a time of birth, as creation itself anticipates. A time of fullness of redemption for each nation. We can join with the creation in that groaning and that song of faith. Isaiah tells us that as God’s word accomplishes what he has purposed;

You shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands (Isaiah 55:12).

The mountains that oppose us, mountains of financial need, mountains of fear, of doubt, of overwork, whatever they are, as we walk according to God’s word, they will become our testimony and our song. The mountains themselves will sing and declare the purposes of God!

Khasi Hills team
We have received confirmation that a team of eight will be joining us from the Khasi Hills in Northern India. In 2006 the Lord moved again in Revival power in this area. It was a great encouragement to us as we were preparing the first Celebration. Please pray for everything to work smoothly with visas, finance etc for Pastor Miller and his team.

Selwyn Samuel Centre
After much prayer and various discussions we have come to the conclusion that we should continue to meet in the Selwyn Samuel Centre this year. We are still in discussion with Parc-y-Scarlets, the Rugby Ground in Llanelli, for 2013.

On your marks
We would like to buy hundreds of a booklet called On your Marks which has been prepared for the Olympics by More Than Gold resources section. This Olympic-themed booklet contains Mark’s Gospel (NIV) and Journey into Life, (Norman Warren’s practical guide to Christianity). Each copy costs 60p or we could buy 100 for £50 (50p each).

Would you consider sponsoring 10? 50? 100?
Spring Celebration
Fri 11 May 7pm & Sat 12 May 10am & 7pm with Street Worship in the afternoon

This year we are going to Carmarthen, which is our county town. Llanelli is in the county of Carmarthenshire. Inspired by the Celebration in Korea, we have chosen to spend two days (rather than one as in previous Spring Celebrations) in this town. We will worship in Bethel Christian Centre, Old St Clears Road, Johnstown, Carmarthen, SA31 3HL and on the streets of the town. Pray that many catch the heart of Celebration and enter into worship and prayer for a breakout of the Holy Spirit in that town. Please do join us if you are in Wales! Or even come from England. We would love to have you with us. Postcards are available to download from the website.

Ireland 24-29 May
The Celebration Mobile Team plus others will be going to link up with Sam Hagan and the Belfast House of Prayer. Sam is arranging an itinerary in Belfast, Derry and Dublin to worship the Lord and share the Celebration vision.

Jeemin and Jacqui
Praise the Lord for two talented and willing helpers. Jeemin Kim is mainly responsible for admin for 2012, and Jacqui Bartells for 2013. They are bringing a lot of laughter and order into our team! There is still a lot of room for others to join us!

Below is something given to me recently by Allan Thomas, who has been faithfully involved in Celebration since the beginning. He has led the prayer team and the ministry team over the last few years, and continues day by day to hold the vision and life of this worship intercession for the outpouring of God’s Spirit on Wales and the nations.

Allan Thomas
July / August 2010

Celebration for the Nations: a sign
By faith, Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones. Hebrews 11:22.

When I read this scripture I believe the Holy Spirit said that Joseph’s bones were a sign to the children of Israel; to confirm and to remind them of the promise of God, originally given to Abram, in a vision and dream. Genesis 15:1, 12-16.

Joseph said to his brothers “I am dying; BUT GOD WILL SURELY VISIT YOU and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel saying, “GOD WILL SURELY VISIT YOU and you shall carry up my bones from here.” So Joseph died and they embalmed him and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. Genesis 50:24-26.

God said to Moses “Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, “The LORD GOD of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, appeared to me saying, I HAVE SURELY VISITED YOU and seen what has been done to you in Egypt.” Exodus 3:16.

So the people believed; and when they heard that THE LORD HAD VISITED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, they bowed their heads and worshipped. Exodus 4:31.

And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, “GOD WILL SURELY VISIT YOU, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you.” Exodus13:19.

The bones of Joseph which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried at Shechem, in the plot of ground which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor. Joshua 24:32.

As I meditated on these scriptures I came to an understanding that as the bones of Joseph were a sign to Israel, even so CFTN was a sign to us. This sign may legitimately be expressed in the following words; by faith CFTN is a sign to confirm and to remind us of the promise of God, originally given to Gail, in vision and word. We, also by faith, may say GOD WILL SURELY VISIT US in Llanelli and beyond.

Let’s encourage one another to keep looking to our amazing and gracious Lord Jesus.

In fellowship with all the Celebrators!

Gail for the Celebration for the Nations Team.