A Slice of Our Prophetic History
Related to JHOP
All through the following summaries there is profound hidden detail that includes powerful prophetic dreams, visions and impressions our children had that directed us to make many moves and stay in faith despite the wild journey.
1. 1981 Haggai
Shirley visited three unrelated churches on three consecutive Sundays in Devon UK. At each meeting the teaching was on Haggai. "Is it time for you yourself to be living in your panelled houses while this house remains a ruin?" Haggai 1:4
2. July 1991 Onething pregnant with Esther
Shirley really wanted Esther to hear anointed worship whilst she was in the womb so she attended a powerful woman's conference. The theme was Psalm 27:4. "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple," which later on we discover is the core foundation of intimacy at IHOP.
3. October 1996 Esther - we never pray we always play
When Esther was 5 years old she said, "the problem in school is that we always play and never pray." This began a heart search about the role of education and our future as a family so we prepared ourselves to answer the real call no matter what the cost.
4. December 2001 Departure for Toronto
After thinking we would settle in Oxfordshire we had opportunity to go to Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship for a week. Prophetic words from many sources including our children turned our lives upside down directing us to go to Bible School there. Though we obeyed God to give away our possessions and sell our home to step out of our comfort zone in England, we were rewarded with powerful experiences of the Father's love and His preparation for what was to come, and still is to come in future years.
5. August 2003 Toronto to Kansas City
We thought we would be returning to England but God showed us through Shirley going to a conference and through a dream and daytime encounter Paul had, that we were to go to Kansas City to be part of the International House of Prayer and Missions Base. On one occasion God said said to Paul as he stopped at a fuel station, ' 'Esso' - look take a 'LEssoN' as I am giving you 24/7 ATM, 'All Time Marinade,' 'time to refuel." Shirley returned excitedly from Kansas City to report that the context for the church was "all about the Bride," which was the main line from a dream Paul had temporarily forgotten.
6. July 2006 Summer - Five Year Vision unfolded confirmed by Joshua
Paul spent time fasting and praying at Polzeath, Cornwall, UK directed by the Holy Spirit to receive a five year vision. "Build a house of prayer here and I will prosper it" was one of the words. On getting back home and stepping through the door he heard Joshua saying to Shirley, "Mum, I know we should start a house of prayer here," even though he hadn't said a word.
7. Prophecy Room encounter
During a session of prophetic ministry at IHOP, a remarkable weight of God's presence and power fell on Paul's prophecy team where team members and visitors wept throughout the two hour session. At the end Paul collapsed under the presence of the Holy Spirit and in the room with lights turned off God spoke saying as He presented a vision of two scrolls, "I want you to go back to England and get back my land and my people for me." Paul knew this had to do with a House of Prayer.
8. April 2007 Prayer Team Encounter
After meditating and being massively impacted by verses about glory in earthenware vessels, (2 Cor. 4:7) Paul came back to join his prayer team who prayed for him whilst the Holy Spirit poured down into His heart. He wept as a vision unfolded of Cornish farmers and their families repenting beside their fields, business managers feeling dreadfully empty inside despite the success of decades and schools filled with godless children and the sense of a wilderness wind blowing. Paul knew that the House of Prayer established in Cornwall would change such desolation and bring the Kingdom of God back into the county and country.
PLease note: God broke in with 'times up' sending us back to England after 4 years at IHOP on full time staff. People were having dreams of us leaving and one dream saw us depart in 30 days. With no manipulation, that is exactly what took place.
THE FUTURE
God has told us we will have: more ones like these: a prophetic school; engage in a specific mercy ministry; be a healing centre; reach the nations; network with other christian prayer initiatives; particularly impact and engage a youth generation; participate in missions in other continents; begin an artistic and innovative revolution and prepare messengers of all ages who will be wholehearted, pure living and anointed with fire to gather the harvest and prepare the Bride for the Bridegroom and sons and daughters for the Father's family.
None of this can be done without three elements. Faith in God in the face of natural impossibility. Secondly, our close ally, the Holy Spirit, the guide to all truth and facilitator and thirdly a team of people living in community and love and servanthood to the dream of God's heart. God has many times told us to 'think big, dream big,' and get out of our box to get in His! So time to stretch our wings and soar and see the breaking in of God we have so longed to see.
