More Lord
16/12/2007 16:35
By Chris Ryburn
Having just come back from a week long ILSoM (International Leaders School of Ministy) in Canberra, hosted by Vision Church and run by Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship staff - I'm pumped! Ruth is pumped also!
Pumped enough to go flat upon re-entry into the workplace on Monday as often seems to happen? No, I don't believe so, as we both were changed. It is curious, in a fashion changed more than we have been from meetings before
Having just come back from a week long ILSoM (International Leaders School of Ministy) in Canberra, hosted by Vision Church and run by Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship staff - I'm pumped! Ruth is pumped also!
Pumped enough to go flat upon re-entry into the workplace on Monday as often seems to happen? No, I don't believe so, as we both were changed. It is curious, in a fashion changed more than we have been from meetings before
Throughout the conference I wondered
from time to time about the many people who were quite excited, and
wondered how many would struggle on Monday morning; back home and
facing the reality of day to day living. Be that as it may, I'm of
the mind many were changed also in a like fashion...
Were there physical miracles, yes; were there inner healings, yes; was there hype, no; were people excited, yes; was the teaching good, yes; were the TACF speakers tired, yes. In fact some looked quite tired, but bless them, they realise that in 1994 they were revived and revitalised to take a message to the world - a message of the love of a God who we can call abba, daddy!
I sat through the sessions, and from time to time thought about what happened at the Toronto fellowship in 1994 and what has ensued.
Ruth and I completed the 4 week school in Toronto in July, 2004. Duncan and Kate Smith were visiting at our home in April, 2004 and at some point in a discussion about their leaders schools, Kate stood to move to the kitchen, stopped part way there, turned and looked at Ruth and I and said "I have such a strong sense you're going to be on the next school". She had a look in her eye, which said to me it wasn't an idle comment, but a Holy Spirit moment.
Up to that point we had no intention of going, but as happens from time to time in life in the Spirit, we saw the Holy Spirit in this, changed our direction and 6 weeks later were at the first week of a life changing month of ministry at the TACF.
Now, 3 and one half years later we found ourselves at a week long school in Canberra, a shortened version of the month long school we had completed in 2004 and we were there to serve as best we could on the ministy team.
People were healed, emotionally and physically at the Canbera school. We were there and can testify to this.
Curiously though, the cry of many "more Lord, I want more of you", seemed answered. It seemed to me many were indeed changed more into His likeness - not to run yet another program (though that is an ok thing to do), not to bring neighbours and/or friends to the church building for a Sunday service (though that is an ok thing to do also), but changed and more in love with Father God (Daddy) than ever before.
What will be the fruit of such a love relationship? An interesting thought, people changed and more in love with Father God, with a desire for others to be in relationship with such a wonderful, loving nuturing, caring heavenly daddy! "What the world needs now is love sweet love", someone sang - maybe a world can be changed by love...
Chris Ryburn
Were there physical miracles, yes; were there inner healings, yes; was there hype, no; were people excited, yes; was the teaching good, yes; were the TACF speakers tired, yes. In fact some looked quite tired, but bless them, they realise that in 1994 they were revived and revitalised to take a message to the world - a message of the love of a God who we can call abba, daddy!
I sat through the sessions, and from time to time thought about what happened at the Toronto fellowship in 1994 and what has ensued.
Ruth and I completed the 4 week school in Toronto in July, 2004. Duncan and Kate Smith were visiting at our home in April, 2004 and at some point in a discussion about their leaders schools, Kate stood to move to the kitchen, stopped part way there, turned and looked at Ruth and I and said "I have such a strong sense you're going to be on the next school". She had a look in her eye, which said to me it wasn't an idle comment, but a Holy Spirit moment.
Up to that point we had no intention of going, but as happens from time to time in life in the Spirit, we saw the Holy Spirit in this, changed our direction and 6 weeks later were at the first week of a life changing month of ministry at the TACF.
Now, 3 and one half years later we found ourselves at a week long school in Canberra, a shortened version of the month long school we had completed in 2004 and we were there to serve as best we could on the ministy team.
People were healed, emotionally and physically at the Canbera school. We were there and can testify to this.
Curiously though, the cry of many "more Lord, I want more of you", seemed answered. It seemed to me many were indeed changed more into His likeness - not to run yet another program (though that is an ok thing to do), not to bring neighbours and/or friends to the church building for a Sunday service (though that is an ok thing to do also), but changed and more in love with Father God (Daddy) than ever before.
What will be the fruit of such a love relationship? An interesting thought, people changed and more in love with Father God, with a desire for others to be in relationship with such a wonderful, loving nuturing, caring heavenly daddy! "What the world needs now is love sweet love", someone sang - maybe a world can be changed by love...
Chris Ryburn