Here is an update from our outreach event in Glasgow last Tuesday. Unfortunately, due to some pretty extreme weather we are having over here at the moment, the event had to be cancelled. However, our God is a pretty creative God, and the cancellation only served to open some doors that would have never been opened otherwise. Although the event itself had to be cancelled, the Hotel was still booked (at a cost of almost $2,500 for the night!), so a handful of people who lived in Glasgow went ahead and set up in case any people turned up. Well, it was pretty cold for most people to be out, but the homeless don't really have an option do they? Since the hall was already booked and they couldn't get a refund, the team decided to invite all the homeless in for a hot meal and a hot drink!!!!!!!!! This is one of the nicest hotels in Glasgow, and God opened the doors for the homeless of the city to come in and dine in style!!!!!!! Isn't that just like our God.
When the team asked the hotel how much they would charge per person for a meal, they initially gave a figure that probably seemed like a good deal by their standards, but not very realistic for our team. However, a few minutes later, the manager came back out and said that he would serve the homeless people FOR FREE!!!!!!!!!! Isn't God AWESOME! Only God could open the doors and move on the hearts of men to make the way for the poorest (and probably most despised) people of the city to dine in one of the finest hotels in the city.
Here are some of the testimonies that came out of the night:
God’s footprints in the snow…
"I am in tears as I write this… my team are such an inspiration and so many of them simply radiate God’s love. Last night we had to cancel our Glasgow Light & Life (at the Radisson) because of horrendous weather. We didn’t want our volunteers endangering themselves by travelling in hazardous conditions. However, we had no way of letting potential visitors know the fair had been cancelled, so a small group of 22 people braved the weather and went along just in case anyone showed up. They ended up ministering to 80 people! 60 homeless folk came and some people travelled 40 miles to hear what God had to say to them! Three people asked Jesus into their lives, and numerous people were healed.
The freezing temperatures (-120) made our community workers even more determined to search for the homeless. Dave carried a portable hot chocolate machine (strapped to his back) and gave out free hot chocolate. Many folk were invited back to the hotel for a hot meal and a huge dose of God’s love.
Back at the Radisson, the atmosphere was incredible. The team brought gifts to give to our homeless visitors and the hotel provided free food and drink for them. As they sat down in one of the most prestigious hotels in the city, some of them were completely overwhelmed.
There are too many stories from last night to list all of them, but here are some of the highlights…
o Peter came in for some hot food and then went for a spiritual reading. God was waiting for him, and revealed such accurate words of knowledge and destiny that within a few moments he’d been brought to faith.
o Bill, a street guy, had fractured his right foot (including every toe) after repeated street fights. As the healing team prayed for him, he felt heat flowing into his foot and was instantly healed! Earlier in the day, one of our teenage artists had asked God for pictures of those He wanted to heal and had drawn a sketch of a stick man with a circle drawn around his right foot! She gave her picture to Bill to let him know that God had chosen to heal him even before the event started.
o Severino came feeling very depressed. He was so impacted by the words of hope that God released for him, he asked Jesus into his life. Immediately he felt as if heavy weights were being lifted off of him.
o Mark, James and Keith were healed of back pain and Jim came with a dislocated shoulder. Within minutes God had healed him too.
o Willie, a young man in his twenties had recurrent knee pain caused by an old football injury. Earlier in the evening he’d slipped on the ice and aggravated it. He received prayer and God healed it instantly.
o Sumaiyah, a middle eastern lady, came to receive an interpretation of her dreams. She left challenged and hungry for more.
o Jenny, one of our homeless girls, was overcome with emotion as she received a massage and said ‘I’ve never been touched like that before…’ (note: some of the women on the team offer hand massages for the women who come in and then ask God for prophetic words to share with them while they are doing the massage. This has become a very powerful way of sharing the tender touch and the powerful love of the Father to people who don't know Him).
Last night was so special because we had so many street people come to visit. They may be some of the forgotten ones in our society, but they are such precious jewels in God’s Kingdom. The prophetic words of love and hope that God released over them were breathtaking. Last night, gold was called forth from the dirt of broken lives.
I am often reminded of Heidi Baker saying ‘love looks like something’. Last night it looked like cups of hot chocolate in the freezing snow, warm meals for street people, listening ears and an incredible little group of volunteers braving the elements so they could manifest the love of Jesus to the spiritually hungry.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (Mat 25:36,36).
Thank you so much to everyone who helped make last night possible, to our amazing volunteers for braving the weather, to the Radisson for providing free food and hot drinks, for their staff who helped make our homeless visitors feel like royalty, and to everyone who supported us in prayer."
May we all be blessed by the goodness and faithfulness of God!
Love,
Lance & Heather
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