To get an understanding of the retreat centre and what God has been doing – go to their website www.ffald-y-brenin.org and read the blog for current stories – and order the book ‘The Grace Outpouring’ to get the unfolding of the story.
I was impressed by the sense of the land as a place that can be ‘sacred’ – that can be affected by the prayers of people. It felt an awesome thing to walk on land saturated with prayer for at least 11centuries. The hill just above Ffald-y-Brenin is recorded as being a place of intercession for one of the 9th Century men of God.
Parallel with this was the understanding through Russ Parker of how sites of great evil done need repentance and cleansing, and forgiveness and healing, and people can represent former generations in doing this. Russ told astonishing stories of this happening. ( See the website www.acornchristian.org for info and his books.) Their work speaks deeply of the power of the cross to heal historical wounds and divisions in families and nations.
As we sat in the little Hermitage by a log fire and read of the Welsh revival we rejoiced and wept with the wonder of what God can do when he really comes in his full glory and wondered why we settle for so much less as the norm. It felt deeply moving to be in the very land where such things happened – and some not many miles away. It stirred a deep hunger in me to be part of such revelations of his power to transform lives. (We have had a little taste of this 3 times in the past).
As we read again the story of what God is doing at Ffald-y-Brenin – actually on site – we were deeply impressed at how simply it is happening – without any drama or even intense praying. People today are still experiencing miracles just by being there, with very little ‘ministry’ and no counselling. It is clear that the presence and power of God is just ‘there’. And it is continually present because Roy and Daphne Godwin and the team keep close to the Lord, hear his voice, and do what he says. All has unfolded because of those simple things. They prayed through the property as the Lord directed (“pressing the blood of Jesus into walls and ceilings and the land”) - they set up a rhythm of prayer – they established the high cross exactly as directed and miracles started happening immediately there.
And Roy keeps saying that this is not due to any intense endeavours, but simple walking in faith and obedience and joy. There is an incredibly relaxed and joyful atmosphere there. People come in grief and pain and ‘go out in joy. He also said that people urged him to set up a 24/7 style of prayer and he realised they did not have the people to do it… and came to the conclusion that we should all have ‘a rhythm of prayer you can live with.’ How freeing! They did not always appear at the prayer times – but some staff were always there to lead it.
A recent healing that happened was of a vicar who drove up, parked his car, walked out to pray at the cross for a while, then hopped into his car and left. (Often the staff don’t know what God has done until people email or phone back) A few days later he phoned to say that as he showered that night his skin cancer just dropped off! A friend confirmed the story and said his skin is pink and new like a baby’s.
One nationally known intercessor comes every year with a team to wait on the Lord, and one day she was in the prayer room alone and felt overcome by the Lord’s presence. Later she opened her eyes to see a very tattered looking angel standing there – and she was uncertain if this was good or bad! She asked him ‘Who are you?’ He said he was part of the group assigned to protect this area and had been in a battle recently. Clearly the Lord is ‘on the case’.
We felt led to pray for our life situations, our children, grandchildren and the wider family, and left pictures and tokens of them in the places where miracles are occurring. Within days two specific prayers have been answered. We fully anticipate more.
The worship team we had at the weekend conference are called ‘The Sound of Wales’ and they are deeply conscious of their spiritual inheritance and they want to share it with the nations, and have already been to Canada and Europe. They are intercessor musicians and often led us into prayer as we sang together. It was powerful, with a mix of old hymns and contemporary songs. www.sowmusic.co.uk I felt prompted to give the lead singer Cath a NZ necklace with paua shell in it, and ask her to wear it at times when they prayed and sang – and I said to her, ‘New Zealand will hear it’. We were both deeply moved and she said she would be honoured to do it.
We also left two pieces of paua shell at Ffald-y-Brenin, with much prayer, one in the cleft of the big rock in the special little chapel (I kept singing ‘He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock…’ when I was in there), and another at the high cross. It feels like NZ is linked to this place of revival.
On the Tuesday there was a ‘prayer day’ which is held monthly down the road at a bigger venue at one of the valley churches – Jabes Chapel. About 120 people gathered for 6-7 hours of testimonies, worship, intercession and a brief teaching and then ministry time. We heard an amazing story (it is on their blog) of a woman from Cardiff who was brought about a year ago I think, as her dying wish. I talked to her later and she said she’d had MS and her organs were failing. She was about late 30s.
The doctors said they did not feel she would survive the 2 hour journey, her heart was so weak… but she insisted on going. They laid her on the back seat – fully expecting her to be dead before they got there – but her heart improved to the extent that she could walk with assistance into the prayer room when they got there. As they blessed her and then had their usual prayers she improved further, and a few days later was perfectly normal! The doctors are astounded, of course. She and her hubby now run a mission and shelter for street people in Cardiff and pray for healing and often see it. People are finding the power of Jesus to transform lives through them.
We were privileged to see and be a small part of another transformation. A woman called Rita in her 50s was at the retreat centre for a few days. She had brought her downs syndrome adult son along. We were touched by them, by his sincere efforts to join in the songs and readings, and by her obvious brokenness and need. On the Friday morning I sat next to her and was prompted to give her my lovely warm, fluffy NZ scarf, and I draped it round her neck and said, ‘Jesus wants to wrap you up in his love.’ She said, ‘Thank you… I need that.’ Later we learnt that she was desperate to go to the conference starting that evening, and 3 hours before it was due, a cancellation enabled them both to have accommodation and a seat at the conference. On the Sunday morning she gave a glowing testimony.
She said he had experienced much abuse as a child and spent many years trying to ‘get her self right’. And finally came, out of desperation, to the centre. Yesterday she had realised how much anger and hurt she still had and was able to forgive and let it go, and someone prayed and set her free. Then that night she lay on her bed and praised the Lord she found she was singing to him. As a 4 year old her father had put a rope round her neck and hung her up to die – but she was rescued. Ever since she has had a damaged throat, a croaky voice, and been unable to sing. But she had been healed even of that and could sing again. She was bathed in the love of Jesus and has been ever since! David said to me ‘You realise you put round her neck that soft, warm scarf!’ Wow, it was clearly a prophetic act that I did not realise at the time. What a privilege!
Two other realisations have come to us. One is the simplicity of ‘the Kingdom’. It is simply about the presence and power of the King to bring life - his loving order and well-being to people, situations and even the land. We are to walk in this reality. He is here – we are in him – the Kingdom is among us – within us. I feel that has settled deep within us as never before.
Another is the power of blessing. The main prayer that is prayed at Ffald-y-Brenin (apart from praise and thanksgiving) is to simply bless others, with the authority Jesus gives us. And impossible things happen as a result. I have found it causes joy to rise from within to just speak blessing on anyone, anytime, in trains, on the street, looking out the window. It is clearly what we were created to do. Speak life… not complain, or criticise or demand or analyse. Again, so simple, but so profound. Even to speak blessing on our own bodies and minds to be in tune with God, and be healthy and strong. We are exploring this more and more.
Tell you more next time...
