Firstline

by Terry Virgo

Following Together on a Mission in Brighton, Wendy and I set off for the USA – Heathrow, Denver, Spokane and finally Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (23 hours from door to door). It was great to be back with Ted and Jeanne Hoit and their church, Prairie Avenue Christian Center, which was about to join the Newfrontiers family.

Mid-week we travelled over the border into Montana to be with Lee and Stacey Yarbrough and the leaders at Clark Fork City Church, Missoula. What a drive! What superb scenery! Then back for our second Sunday at Coeur d’Alene.

Elders & wives from Mars Hill

Next day we were taken to a superb hotel in the magnificent Washington State countryside to be with Mark and Grace Driscoll plus forty elders of Mars Hill, Seattle and their wives. I enjoyed taking five sessions over the next four days, was very warmly received and was encouraged to see several being healed after the final session. It was great not only to strengthen my friendship with Mark but also to get to know several of his elders, have lengthy conversations with them as well as have some lively Q & A times.

One couple, formerly with John Piper at Bethlehem Baptist, were a particular blessing to me and were enthusing about John Piper’s warm response to my recent sermon on prayer (http://adrianwarnock.com/2009/07/how-influence-of-john-piper-and-power.html). In fact, I was, as a result, asked not only to take one session on prayer but also to lead a prayer meeting that followed.

From there we left for The River Center in Lebanon, Oregon led by Warren Stroup. I was particularly thrilled by an outbreak of healings following my Sunday morning preach. Warren will be leading The River Center into Newfrontiers within a few weeks.

It was so good to join the Newfrontiers Northwest Celebration hosted by John Lanferman, and to see the way in which the new and existing churches are getting to know one another and are integrating so well. After that we left for Guadalajara, Mexico for our leaders’ conference.

On to Mexico

The eight days in Mexico proved to be a highlight in our six-week visit to the Americas. We particularly enjoyed Guadalajara where Oscar and Bibi Suarez were outstanding hosts and the 200 leaders from the 20 Newfrontiers churches were full of zeal and warmth at the leadership conference. The worship times were great. My experience is that Mexican Christians greatly enjoy obeying God’s command to give Him praise and rejoice before Him!

In addition to the leaders’ conference, it was great to preach at Oscar’s church and at a citywide Celebration hosted by the extended El Camino church.

Rio de Janeiro

It was a real pleasure to sit and talk with John and Flor Evans and hear how they are responding to God’s promptings in connection with Brazil. Having inherited El Camino (our initial Newfrontiers church in Mexico) and built it up, John and Flor handed the leadership over to a great team led by Arturo, and planted a growing church in another part of the massive city of Guadalajara.

Now John and Flor are learning Portuguese in preparation for Rio de Janeiro, where they may well be starting a church. Things are not finalised, but an initial six-week visit to a small nucleus there will be followed by a longer three-month visit next year and then they are looking to God for His confirmation of the next step. What a great pioneering couple they are!

Jesus heals today

For me one of the greatest joys was the powerful presence of Jesus we experienced in healing sessions following most of the meetings. Having seen dozens who had back and shoulder pain healed – I usually start with what has been called ‘Terry’s leg trick’ (let the reader understand – Mark 13:14), the sense of the Spirit’s presence seemed to grow, and a woman with a damaged, bent spine told me her problem. Having seen a woman in Leeds, UK wonderfully healed from a similar condition, I was quite surprised to hear myself say, ‘It won’t be like that for long!’ A surge of faith bubbled up. I commanded the spine to straighten, and she began to shake, fell to the ground and got up completely healed!

Next day, a girl (Monica) who had been in a serious accident at a fairground last October, when a metal girder fell on her head and shoulders, asked for prayer. Her spine had been terribly damaged and her head had ached ‘24/7’, as she put it, ever since. The hospital had told her that nothing could be done for it. As I laid hands on her I saw tears falling down her cheeks and she testified, ‘It’s gone!’ The pain had stopped and her back was fine. Glory to Jesus!

On the final night at the Celebration there was no time (or space) to pray for individuals, but a prayer over everybody led to several hands being raised and, through a microphone that was passed around, we heard testimonies of healings that had happened! A lady was totally healed on the Sunday night when I prayed. She had an accident about eight years ago which left her with a ‘permanent’ disability in her leg. She couldn’t stand with both feet straight forward, bend over or jump and had some screws in her leg. But she was totally healed and can now do everything she couldn’t do! She’s a new Christian and is so excited by what God has done for her. It’s wonderful!

Our whole trip to Mexico and the States, where we so enjoyed bringing Ted Hoit’s church (Prairie Avenue Christian Center) into the Newfrontiers family, was a huge blessing and joy. I hope you have enjoyed reading of some of the highlights.