FEBRUARY 2013
ISSUE 6
T H E N E T W O RK Where are we headed in 2013? So much is happening in the Kingfisher Network at the moment. The international work is gathering pace in Malawi, Mozambique and India. The Social Enterprise is growing, with the shop, Treasure Seekers, proving to be a popular and successful venue in Gloucester, enabling around 12 people to gain valuable work experience. Treasure Seekers Performing Arts now has around 100 people signed up for the various workshops that are on offer. This month sees the publication of James's latest book, "High Impact Christians in a low expectation world". This year is 'all systems go' in a number of different areas. So what are the focusses that Jesus Christ particularly has for us over the next twelve months? Here are three particular focusses that I believe are set before us:
next faith challenge is to work with the Christians in Mozambique to enable a building to be erected on that land, a training centre where future pastors and leaders can come and be trained . The next trip over there then will be to open and commission that building. Focus #2: Changing the landscape through prayer. Our very first International Day of Prayer occurred on January 27th (see the article elsewhere in this Newsletter) signalling an increased focus on this vital aspect. In addition to this, each local church is encouraged to turn to prayer with increasing passion, with each church organising regular, church-wide prayer meetings. Pray for revival in our nations, in our communities, in our churches!
years, and, in the light of that promise, the challenge is to not just agree that yes, God CAN DO these things, but we are actually called to LIVE in the promise, to believe that he not only CAN DO these things, he WILL DO these things. So, the call is to live in and step out in the belief that he will. My belief is that God's default position is not one of getting us to dig in and soldier on through increasingly hard times. His default position is BLESSING. Weeping may remain for a night, but JOY comes in the morning.
HOMECOMING: This is the year for praying for prodigals to return. A survey commissioned by TEAR Fund has identified that there are around 16.2 million people in the UK who have wandered away from church. TEAR Fund refers to them as 'de churched', Focus #1: International development. Focus #3: Three specific words that but the Bible would call them Prodigals. God is flagging up in this coming year. I God's heart breaks when even one With the launch of the network in believe God is saying three things in India, where 18 church leaders have sheep wanders away (Luke 15:4) - so particular to us this year: HOPE, been recognised and commissioned, a how must he feel when 16.2 million HOMECOMING, HARVEST. further development is being launched wander? He is calling his church, as a this month, in the shape of a new HOPE: This is about moving from what matter of urgency, to pray for the training centre for church leaders. God CAN do to what God IS GOING return of the prodigals. Who do you Simon Haq, our new National Director, to do. What he CAN do is relatively know who has wandered away? Will is renting a building in the region of you commit to praying each day for easy to talk about and believe in. He Uttar Pradesh that will serve as a their return? can move mountains, he can heal the residential centre for leaders, at which sick, he can raise the dead, and can the Kingfisher courses will be taught. In cause miraculous provision, he can turn HARVEST: Yes, in terms of people Tredworth is having a large baptism addition to this, looking ahead to 2014, whole nations to himself. We would service in February, which is a great plans are beginning to be formed for a have no problem in agreeing to all of statement of intent on this. But the large scale youth conference. If you that. But a rather more faith-stretching theme of harvest is more than that; this would like to be part of this adventure, question is: what is he GOING to do? is about the harvest of God's promises start saving now! In Mozambique, the What do we have faith for this year? To to us. Last year was a breakthrough land for answer that question, where we need year, with all the battles and trials that training centre to start is with the promises that we came with it, and this year is about has already believe he has made us, and we need to reaping the harvest of that been make a firm choice to believe them. breakthrough. If God has promised then purchased. The God has made many prophetic he will deliver, and I believe that 2013 is team who are promises to us over the years, but we his time for delivering on them. That visiting this have seen one particular promise he year will travel made to us nearly 20 years ago worked applies, not just for Kingfisher the network, but for individuals who call there and out in our lives over the years: Isaiah Kingfisher their home; so this is a great pray over and 54:11-17. This has proved to be an time to belong to a Kingfisher church! consecrate authentic word of God for us, that we that land. The have seen coming to pass over these 20 SIMON HAQ