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(Psalm 46:10) "Be still, and know that I am God."

When GOD comes to Church! (3)

Being part of a John McKay mission was always special. First of all, the ‘only plan’ he ever had was how to get to the venue (usually up to his son James), and after that, it was ‘totally’ up to the Holy Spirit!

We arrived at a large two-story village hall in leafy Surrey and were told to find somewhere quiet and pray about the forthcoming day. In particular, we were to ask the Holy Spirit what he would have us do for him. After a short time of worship, John spoke his usual word of encouragement and then told everyone there to bow their heads and pray. He then asked all his students to go out to the people – particularly to the person the Holy Spirit was leading us to.

I saw her straight away! She was probably in her late teens. She wore a dark hoodie with the hood pulled tight over her head, and what little I could see of her hair acted as a pair of curtains, successfully masking her face. Her arms were crossed tight in front of her, her hands hidden within the sleeves—she was shut up as tight as a fortress! Her mother, however, was bent over, rocking slowly with her head in her hands and sobbing quietly.

I thought I was being led to the mother and was making my way towards her, but the Holy Spirit was physically drawing me towards the girl. Having three young daughters of my own (that I genuinely didn’t know how to handle at the best of times) probably prompted my decision as I couldn’t get my head around the psychological necessity of face/body-hiding and usually left it to my wife to sort out. The Holy Spirit, however, had other ideas.

He bade me to kneel before the girl and wait, which I did. All the time, we (myself and the girl) could plainly hear her mother’s gut-wrenching sobs, which were getting louder by the minute! This seemed to go on for ages, and at one point, I was so concerned about the mother that I wanted to shuffle over and at least place an arm around her to comfort her, but the Holy Spirit explicitly told me to stay put and wait! So I began praying inwardly (more because I was baffled and didn’t have a clue as to what was happening), pinned between an uninhibitedly sobbing mother whose pain seemed to know no bounds and a girl whose vibes were screaming, “I DON’T WANT TO BE HERE - JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!” … and that’s when I noticed that ‘I’ was crying too! Tears were running down ‘my’ face – I was sobbing, and I had no idea why I was so upset!

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of listening to me and her mother sobbing, I felt the girl move. She slowly slid over towards her mother, and as I looked up, I saw that she had thrown her arms around her. They were sobbing together now and speaking kind words of love and forgiveness. Me? I needed a toilet break to get myself together. Walking out toward the gents was like the walk of shame – everyone seemed to be staring at me – John, however, just beamed his pleasure…

I found out later that the girl had tried to commit suicide some days before and was totally non-responsive to anything or anyone upon her release from the hospital. GOD knows how her mother managed to get her to the meeting – but thank GOD she did. I watched them leave arm in arm together, united again and full of Joy!

Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. Christ-conquerors are safe from Devil-death.” (Rev 2:11) 

Heavenly Father, giver of life and health: Comfort and relieve those who are sick amongst us—such as Barbara and Ian fighting cancer. We also pray for a quick and full healing for Jay. Please grant your power of healing to those who minister to all the sick among us so that they may be strengthened in their weakness and have confidence in your loving care. We pray this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.