January 2020 (Prayer Letter)
January 31, 2020
Summer 2020 Edition (United States)
June 7, 2020
There is so much news going around at the moment. The televisions, newspapers, and radio stations are all riddled with topics such as the outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19, travel stoppages, quarantines, the panic of markets, terrible storms, wildfires, and more. There is much to be aware of, and quite a number of things to be concerned about.
We see the recent turbulence as physical manifestations of what is already happening in the spirit. There is a war being waged, and the Kingdom of Heaven is taken by force. But God is faithful. He has always seen us through. He gives the clarity and hope when we need it.
Daniel has been teaching on Jeremiah 29:11. God is speaking to His people he exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem. He encourages them to be bold in the face of seeming adversity, revealing to them that His plan is for their ultimate good. This applies to us today!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
What great hope we have! With all of the bad news circulating around, this is some very good news we have to share.
God is in control, and nothing that is happening is outside of His jurisdiction.
So there is much to be prayerful about, but we know that God has won the victory. The battle is the Lord’s, and the One who takes the glory fights the battles.
A Recent Increase
With that all said, we want to share with you some the great things that God has been doing in the United Kingdom!
We have seen a new anointing for salvations in our programs, especially among children. We are grateful to have seen over a hundred in the UK give their lives to Jesus over the past few weeks.
One lady gratefully explained how two of her children had given their lives to Jesus through Vinesong over the years and just that morning her third came forward. What an encouragement to see her tears of joy!
Every blessing comes with opposition
As Joyce Meyer once said, “New level, new devil”. While we have seen a new level of outpouring, we have received the same increase in attack and retribution from the enemy. But we are greatly encouraged because of it. Peter exhorts us in 1 Peter 5:8:
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8
Satan only prowls around like a roaring lion. He is not a roaring lion. It is only his appearance. Further in Daniel’s teaching he reads from John 8:44 where Paul writes about the true nature of the devil.
“When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies..
John 8:44
So the fundamental identity of the enemy is a liar. He is the father of lies and the truth is not in him. His lies try to rob Christians of their unique destinies, the ones that God designed to bring so much fulfilment and joy. When we stop believing the lies and reach out to others in need of salvation and prayer, our own needs automatically get met.
From Prisons to Palaces
A phrase we often use to describe the breadth of the ministry that God has given us. This past month we were at Portland Prison for our 3rd visit. This time, the meeting was quite small – less than 20 people including the guards. But for even one repenting soul, the whole of Heaven rejoices, and 13 prisoners received the Lord that Sunday morning!
We had an incredible time at Wembley Christian Centre with Pastor Soke Mun. There was a sweet sense of unity as pastors and ministers came together to pray, declaring God’s sovereignty over the United Kingdom. One testimony in particular stood out when Pastor Martin Ossei was called up to pray. He shared a story from many years ago when he had invited Vinesong to minister in the building that their church rented for worship. The building was located in the heart of Stonebridge, which was at the time regarded as one of the most troubled parts of London. The area had an unemployment rate of around 25% (compared to a national average of around 10% at the time), as well as widespread drug abuse, burglaries and violence.
Apparently their neighbours were quite sensitive to noise but Pastor John felt that they must open the windows and let the community hear the worship. Soon after they tore down the building and rebuilt it completely. Pastor Martin said the anointing was so strong that the area was completely transformed.
The next weekend we were reunited with long-time friend Rev. Dr. Steve Armah at Sureway International Ministries. Their church is so strategically placed on a major intersection, and a block of flats has been scheduled to be built next door. We had a wonderful Sunday service with so many faithful members who have been there for many years. They are a real light in the community.
Peace that passes all understanding
During our time in the UK, we also attended the funeral of Pastor Gabriel Diya, a 52-year old father and husband who drowned after trying to save his nine-year old daughter Comfort who was in distress. His 16-year old son, Praise-Emmanuel, also lost his life in the tragic incident that occured at a resort swimming pool in Spain. He was survived by his wife, Pastor Olubunmi Diya and their daughter. Pastor Agu, who heads the RCCG in the UK, mentioned how he had never, in 30 years of ministry, seen a funeral with three coffins from the same family.
During the memorial service, we were struck by the grace that Pastor Olubunmi carried as she stood in front of three coffins containing the bodies of her husband and two children. She stood in the face of death, with strength that could only come from God, and shared a word of encouragement for all those present that our final place of rest is not the grave, but Heaven where we will be reunited again with our loved ones in the Lord. In a time where she should be the one to be comforted, she was the one who did the comforting. We left the funeral in awe of the entire situation.
Moving forward
Another testimony comes from Reverend Tim Saiet of St John’s Church Hildenborough, a wonderful man and spirit-filled Anglican Vicar who used to evangelize with J.John before being called to become a parish Vicar. For 6 years he has prayed for his church to experience a movement of the Holy Spirit. He has faced much opposition from traditionalists within the church and has been trusting the Lord for the right time. Here is part of his testimony following the ministry, where his young daughter came forward to receive Jesus and experienced a touch from the Holy Spirit that lasted over an hour.
Wow, it was all I could have hoped for and more. Very positive feedback from the Church and the staff team were buzzing when we met. So much that one of the admin team who struggled with the changes in the beginning, gave her testimony at the meeting last night giving an emotional and compelling witness as to why we must continue what God is doing and go forward as we have planned.
I could not believe it was the same woman from 6 months ago who now was so different.
The Lord really touched her at the service on Sunday. It goes on and in with stories coming in of how God worked through your ministry here. My daughter weeped for an hour and said she did not want that feeling to go away of God’s presence.
So I and the team are hugely grateful for your ministry and service with us.
Another encouraging meeting was at Elim Wimbourne, where we ministered last year and as a team we experienced such healing and deliverance and trusted the Lord for an even greater outpouring this time. It was so encouraging to see hands lifted up in total surrender as we witnessed again more people set free from guilt and pain so that they could grab hold of the unique destiny and calling upon their lives.
Looking Forward
There is so much for us as a team to be grateful for. We are trusting the Lord for greater things as we minister in America through 10 states over a 90 day period, praying for revival and a fresh move of the Holy Spirit.
On Saturday morning, the 14th of March, Daniel and John called for an emergency prayer meeting. Charlene had seen on the British Airways website that we would be able to change our flights with no change fee. Daniel felt an urgency in his spirit to move our travel dates from Wednesday the 18th to Monday the 16th.
As a household, we cried out to the Lord for wisdom and direction. Our prayer was immediately answered as we discovered that the government of the U.S. was set to hold a press conference following their assembley of the COVID-19 task force. The president foreshadowed new restrictions and the vice president followed up by clarifying that the travel restrictions had been extended from Europe to the UK and Ireland following an uptick in COVID-19 cases. We had our answer. Immediately we began what would become a 3 hour long phone call with British Airways to change our flight to the earliest availability on Monday. This means that after a full day on Sunday, we would leave the house by 6 a.m. Monday morning for the airport.
The following day, we had a Sunday morning program at RCCG House of Praise in Grays and an evening service at the Mulberry House in Essex. Pastor Gbenga from the morning service was such an encouragement and shared with us his support for our continuing forward in the midst of this pandemic. Mulberry House was also incredibly encouraging. More people attended the event than the previous year. Most of the attendees were over the age of 70 but were so zealous to come together for prayer and worship. For the vast majority, it was probably the last public gathering they will have for the foreseeable future. They shared with us also the encouragement that they left with.
Please keep us in your prayers as we minister. We are also praying that this virus would be cut down at the root. While we are becoming extremely cautious of large public gatherings in keeping with offical guidance, we are continuing forward in obedience as God leads us in whichever direction he chooses. Live streaming may become the norm for us as we continue forward in the United States.
For two weeks we will be in Suriname (April 21 – May 5) to minister at schools, orphanages, and churches. We will minister in English, Dutch and the local dialect Sranang Tongo. After the dates were finalised, we realised that we would arrive right in the middle of their election season. Perfect timing to ask for a release of the Spirit of God over the nation and declare it free from the oppressive government that has ruled and kept this beautiful land in such poverty.
Please keep the team in your prayers that there would be no flight delays or cancellations or further border closings to inhibit the ministry entering or travelling in the US. The enemy is largely at work, but greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world!
Read this prayer, originally titled “A Zimbabwean Martyr’s Prayer,” was actually found among the papers of a young African pastor who was martyred in Zimbabwe over one hundred years ago. According to documentation from Southern Nazarene University, the prayer was passed on by missionary Louise Robinson Chapman who served in Africa from 1920-1940.
Years later the prayer became known as “The Fellowship of the Unashamed.”
“I’m a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His and I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I’m done and finished with low-living, sight-walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.
My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.
I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He’ll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!”
May God give us the courage to keep on keeping on until He calls us home.
