I've just returned from spending a week in a small community just outside Perth in Scotland. Myself and two others went up as representatives of 24-7 prayer to assist them as they embarked on their first ever week of prayer.
After helping to set up the room (the usual stuff- paint, sand, map of world etc), we helped lead their Sunday service, which was great fun and attended a baptism, which was even better! There was such a vibrancy and hunger about this group of believers that was both infectious and challenging.
As the week started, we weren't sure if the slots would fill up. Some people seemed nervous and apprehensive, but after a rousing opening hour, the slots continued to fill until nearly the whole week was full. The people who signed in ranged from young children, to families, to old ladies. It was beautiful to see the diversity in the way people connected with God, many for the first time. God was really moving! There is so much brokenness in the community and just being in God's presence brought both release (through tears) and peace as God began to heal hearts. It was wonderful to just step back and see God at work, knowing it had nothing to do with how cool or interactive the prayer room was.
My favourite story from the week comes from one lady who was praying in the shift before us one morning. As we chatted about her time, she slipped in the fact that she thought she had started praying in tongues! We asked her what she meant and so she explained how when she was praying on the Monday (this was Wednesday), she suddenly noticed that she was no longer speaking in English, but another language, yet her heart felt alive. WOW! So natural. The other cool thing was that she was one of the people who was baptised on the Sunday. Two baptisms in two days. You have to bear in mind that this is the Church of Scotland, where this sort of behaviour is sometimes frowned upon and not really promoted, unlike a pentecostal church. This lady had just met with God in her own time in her own way. I love it!
During the week, we also found time to relax and enjoy the beautiful countryside (for pics, check out my buddy Aaron's blog), which involved long walks and castle exploring. There is something quite mystical about Scotland. If you've never been, I definitely encourage you to go.
It's been such a crazy month or so. Swansea to Ibiza to Windsor to Kansas City to Guildford to Auchderarder. Climate, cultures, people, time zones. They all change. But God doesn't. In all the places I've been, it's been the same God I've prayed to, the same God I've talked about and the same God who's answered my prayers.
It hurts my head!
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