How I See It

By Mike Betts

Sue and I have lived in Lowestoft all our lives and have been married for 26 years. We have one son, Sam. I remain forever thankful to God for their love and support.

Back in 1985 I was on the leadership of a new church plant in Lowestoft and Terry had just started serving some churches in Sussex. We asked him for help, which was invaluable, and by 1990 Terry was providing apostolic input to three churches in East Anglia: Lowestoft, Aylsham and Norwich.

From very early on the strong sense of togetherness in the purposes of God has deepened as friendships have developed. God has helped us learn together how to welcome the Holy Spirit in our midst and to care lovingly for the growing number of churches. He has taught us to establish good doctrinal foundations as we develop prophetic and apostolic strategy for mission into regions beyond.
Many of Terry’s team have served us so well over the years with Ephesians 4 ministries. In particular David Devenish, in so many ways and with whom I helped develop several training programmes, and Dave Holden who has brought us much wisdom.

We are greatly caught up in the vision God gave Newfrontiers about drawing back a bow across the UK ready to impact many nations. Our first overseas work emerged with my dear friend Josef Kristensen in Copenhagen. He and the team working with him have created a strong relational atmosphere within the church which is a flourishing hub of activity. Terry and others sent by him with apostolic gifting have helped us build well on apostolic and prophetic foundations.

When Keith Hazell began working with us he brought a dimension of prophetic gifting that helped us realise that the combination of apostolic and prophetic ministry is dynamite – as many times answers have been provided for the ‘what, when and how?’ questions facing leadership teams. We eagerly developed a pattern of gaining prophetic strategy from the Lord then seeking to build with apostolic wisdom. This seemingly simple pattern continues to be a hallmark of all we seek to do. Keith and Terry remain wonderful fathers in God to us.

Over the last twenty years around 35 churches have been planted or adopted in cities, towns and villages in the East of England and in a growing number of European, Scandinavian and Baltic nations, and more recently Western Canada. I am blessed by dear friends Goff Hope and Maurice Nightingale working with me for many years.

And what of the future? Recently I was asked a tough question, ‘What would I want to see as my life’s work?’ After a lot of prayer I came up with this, ‘To multiply apostolic spheres in the nations through the raising up of spiritual sons.’
We find today a new dynamic of a growing team of friends serving the churches. Some, like Goff Hope and Maurice Nightingale, are very experienced; others have emerging gifts. What a thrill to be part of this as I feel the Lord wants me to focus on serving new situations as they emerge, whether internationally or in the UK, to help them develop by accessing an ongoing supply line of team.

I believe we all need to think multi-generationally about our destiny and, with purpose in a relational environment of affirmation and multiplication across the nations, pass the values we hold so dearly on to a new generation and encourage them as they set out to accomplish more than we have done.

Some years ago, David worked with Mike Betts in developing training programmes, and also originally introduced him to Josef Kristensen and began to open up Mike’s overseas involvements in Copenhagen, Scandinavia and a growing number of Northern European situations.

Mike has trained a number of our leaders through his strong commitment to Biblical doctrine and, together with Goff Hope, has provided the popular WordPlus programme.

Based in Lowestoft and gathering a team primarily from the East of England, Mike’s commitments take him to a number of Northern European nations where his involvement is greatly valued. Few can rival his willingness to work in tough places, pressing further north even toward the Arctic Circle.

His love and respect for the Word is matched by his fervent commitment to the prophetic, and his team is greatly strengthened by the contribution made by the remarkable Canada-based Keith Hazell (below) whose prophetic gift has proved so significant in many people’s lives yet whose humility and grace is enjoyed by all.

Mike has won the loyalty and affection of many young men who prize the opportunity of being associated with his passion to reach into Northern Europe and beyond with the gospel.

How I See It

By Mike Betts

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