God really turned up in our meeting on Sunday 29th November 2009. We prayed at the beginning of the meeting asking the Holy Spirit to do whatever He wanted to do with us, giving Him complete freedom and we all aligned ourselves spiritually to receive the fullness of what the Lord wanted to pour out over us. God did just that! Andy Rowley led worship with his computer and also played Jesus Culture songs whilst Priya, Claire and Lucy danced together on stage. The presence of God was so strong we decided to do a fire tunnel during the worship and everyone got blatted – so many bodies laid out on the floor! Holy Spirit laughter broke out. We abandoned our speaker and made room for the Holy Spirit.

A few testimonies went up on facebook (see below) straight after because people were so impacted.

FACEBOOK Testimonies:

“BOOM-BOOM GOD SHOOK THE ROOM!!!”

“Had the most amazing spirit filling break through nite now excitied 2 c what god will and can do next”

“is exhausted in the best possible way.”

“in awe, the walls have been exploded, there’s no going back”.

“Who’s in the House?…God’s in the House. Banging Evening…COME ON!”

“We have come home from a wonderful Bridge meeting full of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit!”

“major yeah on church 2nite!”

“It’s as close to heaven as I’ve ever been.”

“the volcano erupts, the landscape will never be the same again… and i have carpet burn!!!! Ha!”

“saw at yesterday’s meeting a vision of the arrayed heavenly hosts with the red and white flags up and big crowds – a sign of things to come.”

Other testimonies:-

“Sunday was possibly one of the BEST meetings I’ve ever been to. I don’t think I’ve ever got quite so drunk so quickly before! I’m so excited, he, he. MORE LORD.”

Someone said that he felt that he had drunk four bottles of wine, was really drunk and dizzy. That the meeting was amazing and really good! He’s so excited and can’t wait for next Sunday!

Someone testified that she had such a reverential fear of the Lord come upon her that she daren’t breathe or move. She felt such holiness in the room. Infact she said that she has not experienced that since being at Toronto! She also said that she doesn’t think she even managed to get started in the fire tunnel let along walk through it as the power of God hit her so strong.

The power of God hit the very first person upon entry into the fire tunnel. Normally people start to walk through and then begin to be touched. Someone felt a physical heat as they approached the tunnel. There were bodies everywhere!

We heard of someone who enjoyed the presence of God such that he felt he was “taken up into heaven”.

Another person said he had never felt this broken and surrended before. He felt “free” to just be himself and it felt liberating! He didn’t mind looking like a “fool” for the first time in his life, he just didn’t care any more!

Another person felt free for the first time to be herself and release laughter without fear of what other people were thinking of her.

For the last couple of nights there have been open meetings held at Central Hall as part of the Global Awakening, ‘School of Healing and Impartation’. During the day Randy Clark, Bill Johnson and Leif Hetland have been laying down solid teaching combined with fantastic stories and testimonies teaching the delegates more about our Lord God, Jesus His Son and our Saviour and the Holy Spirit – our helper and comforter.

The great news is that the evening celebrations, that start at 7, are open to anyone. Randy took the first night and calmly led people through scripture into encounter with God where they were receiving healing for aches, pains, illness and disease. Last night was handled by Bill who spoke about ‘Hosting the Presence’ – about speaking peace and Kingdom presence where we walk and work and find ourselves – and then led the response where we prayed to be transformed into this new lifestyle.

Revival is not supposed to be some kind of shot in the arm, 2 or days, or a month or so – revival is a way of life.

I strongly urge you to get down any way that you can; there are 2 nights left to run. Saturday night coincides with the monthly Outpouring meetings as it is, but if you can make it for tonight – then do. Come early to be sure to get in.

Almost a month has passed in this new year, it seems to have gone so quickly.

The latest news is that the Healing and Outpouring Meetings are back and running. There is a slight change in the proceedings as now, instead of being held weekly on Monday evenings at Central Hall they will now be monthly, on Saturday evenings at Central Baptist Church.

So it’s all change then…..

Well, not entirely. You will still find passionate worship, pointed and valuable teaching. There will still be the opportunity for prayer ministry, it is a forum for testimony and giving God the glory for all that He is up to in these days.

Ultimately the meetings are for the people of Southampton to come together with God and then act with God. Not only is God for us, He is with us. I’ve made something of a New Year’s resolution to rid myself of the notion that I need to invite God to come and be a part of what’s going on – the ‘Come Lord’ prayers are gone. Simply because the truth is – He’s here.

So that’s all valid and wonderful information, but having stated that things are now moving back to Central Baptist Church it stands as the general rule, with the exception of next month’s meeting which will be at Central Hall and will be forming the closing celebration of Bridge’s ‘Flammable’ conference.

I urge you to check out bridgecf.org and consider booking in for this fantastic event. It is not simply a worship conference – it is not only a conference for musicians… but it is a place for those that have a passionate heart for worshipping God – and while there will be seminars and workshops for worship leaders, singers, drummers there will also be stuff for dancers, painters and those that love creative expression. Come along and be inspired in your personal and corporate worship.

Ok, and then we’ll be back in Central Baptist for March. I hope that we, as the family of God in Southampton (and the surrounds) can re-engage with the passion that stirred us in 2008 as things were going crazy in Florida. God still wants to pour out that stuff; and it doesn’t have to be hitting the headlines and taking over stadiums for us to be excited about it. It needn’t be a flash in the pan, or a tidal wave that then retracts back to sea.

I’d rather see a people who grow in love, for God and each other and for a society; and gather momentum as more and more people align with God’s plans and purpose – outpouring love and grace.

From a stable in Bethlehem

A followers of Jesus, we celebrate Christmas because of Emmanuel – which means He is with us, we celebrate because the Light of the World came to us so many years ago… God came near.

It is the season to be jolly because more than at any other time, we think of Jesus, more than in any other season His name is on our lips – the magical dust of Christmas glitters on the cheeks of humanity, ever so briefly – as for a few precious moments we look into the light of a Bethlehem stable and He is truly seen. ‘Come and behold Him..’ we sing – and all across the globe voices will ring out with carols old and new to offer Him praise.
Christmas is a time when for a moment it can be a little easier to imagine a world put right, when hope is rekindled for the peace and goodwill we associate with the best of the Christmas season to become a reality for everyone.

But today though, much of mankind overlooks the significance of what transpired 2,000 years ago…

God became a baby.

The birth of a child, maybe unremarkable in human standards, but by God’s standard it’s something utterly profound, every life is a miracle of creation and the birth of Jesus was truly miraculous. The hovering, life giving power of the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and she became pregnant with the Way, the Truth and the Life!

Jesus was in his lifetime both fully human and wholly God.
The omnipotent became breakable.
He who had been Spirit became pierceable.
He who sustains the world with a Word chose to be dependant on the nourishment of a young girl.
A sleepy carpenter and a peasant girl heard his first cries, no silky wrappings and palace bedroom for this Prince of Peace, but rough strips of cloth to wrap him and calloused, dirty and un-manicured hands held him.
If the shepherds hadn’t come there would have been no reception. If it wasn’t for an unusual star in the heavens there would have been no gifts from the group of star gazing wise men.
And this special baby’s first lullaby was sung by a choir of the heavenly host, though with all the racket I guess he didn’t sleep much that first night!

There in a smelly stable a teenage girl stares at her little bundle and knows she is holding God. Majesty in the midst of the mundane. As Mary changed God’s nappy angels watched the mystery of God’s plan to save humanity unfold before their eyes. The Almighty learnt to walk, talk, run and play. He was completely divine, but completely human.

Jesus grew up in a small village, argued theology with the scribes and the teachers in the temple where he regularly went to worship. He learnt how to work with his hands from his earthly Dad as he learnt the mission for those hands from Abba Father, his heavenly Dad. Hands that cut timber and carved doors would one day open blind eyes and heal the sick. Those hands that flung stars into space would one day be pierced for all the things we have ever done wrong.
He knew the daily struggles of humanity and would feel everything you and I have ever felt. Like being weak and weary, hungry and thirsty, afraid of failure, being hurt by friends, and though He knew laughter and joy, He also knew sadness and sorrow, He was tempted and He was betrayed.

The Son of God became the Son of Man, so that the son’s of men could become the Son’s of God. God walked the earth so we would know how to walk like him. How to be like him and how to do the same things that He did.

What it must have been like to be a shepherd on that that cold hillside and witness the Angel of the Lord appearing? The radiance of the Lords Glory shining and the heaven’s aglow with the light and sound of the choir of angels singing ‘Glory to God in the Highest’! And to have seen that star which lit a shining path for the wise men to visit the King of Kings in Bethlehem?

There is still light shining in that Bethlehem stable today.
Jesus, the Light of the World can bring light into your life.
2,000 years ago your heavenly Dad hung a gift on a tree for you. Your name is on that gift, written in ruby red. It is a gift without compare and without price, a gift like no other.
It is a gift of freedom, it is a gift of grace, it is a gift life and of love.

The wonder of it all is that when we meet Jesus our emptiness is filled, our broken hearts are bound up, our lives are changed and transformed from one glory to another glory as we begin the journey to fullness in Him. Healing and wholeness comes and we find a friend like no other, a big brother who will stand with you and beat down the bullies, He is my protector my lamp and my shield He is my fortress and I will not be shaken! Jesus will never, ever leave us or let us down.

And so may the peace of this Lord & Saviour, Jesus, be with each of us this Christmas Season.

Merry Christmas & a blessed and prosperous New Year to all!

And as Tiny Tim would say….? “God Bless Us Every One!”

Alun Leppitt (December 2008)

Randy Clark will be coming to Southampton on Saturday November 22nd. For one night only we have the privilege of welcoming one of the great revivalists of our time to our City. Randy was used by God back in 1994 to be a catalyst for what was dubbed in the popular press as the ‘Toronto Blessing’ and that outpouring has continued to touch millions of lives since then. Randy’s inspirational teaching, healing ministry, impartation, words of life and courage have launched thousands of nameless and faceless followers of Jesus out into the market place and into the mission fields. Some of those are now a little more “well known” because of the impact they have had in their mission fields. Heidi Baker for example has planted over 10,000 churches in Mozambique and now travels a third of her time teaching and inspiring others, Leif Hetland – a Baptist minister from Norway was thrust into the mission field and has seen over 500,000 Muslims make commitments to Jesus and he also now travels the world teaching and training others to go.

Many people, and I include myself, have been significantly impacted by the work of the Holy Spirit through this humble yet compelling man of God. I first heard Randy in Toronto at the ‘Catch the Fire 10 Years On’ Conference. He was one of several speakers giving testimony to the fruit from the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Toronto since ‘94. It was stunning to hear so many remarkable stories of grace, restoration and the miraculous and witness the power of God moving amongst thousands of people. Randy has significantly been used by God for ‘Impartation’ – just as Moses was instructed to gather 70 men to help him to carry the burden of the people in Numbers 11 and in the same way God took of the anointing that was on Moses and placed it upon the 70, He has used Randy to lay hands on thousands of people who have taken that spark of anointing and gifting and stepped out in faith and courage to pursue the commission of Jesus with signs and wonders following.

Personal Testimony
When Randy prayed for me in Toronto I had one of the most deeply impacting spiritual experiences of my life following that moment. I was shaken I was impacted by the fire and energy of the Spirit and found myself on my hands and knees for almost an hour weeping as waves of the Holy Spirit swept through my body over and over again. It’s hard to put into words the profound impression of moments like that. I had been on a passionate pursuit of God for many months prior to this and met Him in a way I had not expected or experienced before.
I had been in renewal meetings back in the 90’s and was aware of what happens when we give the Holy Spirit room to breathe the breath of Heaven upon us, the laughter, the joy, the refreshing, the healing, but this encounter with heaven was incredibly powerful and did something in my heart and my spirit that changed me. I believe it was born out of a desperation in my heart for more, more of the God I read about in my Bible more of the experiences I have heard about in other parts of the word and more of a compelling desire to be used by Him to demonstrate the kingdom that Jesus spoke of in all it’s fullness.

As I followed after the signs and wonders I have found them following me as I step out in faith and boldness and preach an authentic gospel of salvation, healing and wholeness. Shortly after my ‘Toronto Experience’ I was on a mission trip to the Philippines with a minister friend of mine. After preaching a message on Jesus showing the full extent of his love to the church I invited any who were sick to come forward for prayer. That was something I didn’t usually do at that time and when I looked up there were 20 people in front of me. I went up to the first one with my interpreter asked what was wrong and prayed as simple prayer, the person was instantly healed, I was as surprised as they were! So I asked them to tell the church what Jesus had just done to give Him the Glory and moved along the line. One after another each of the people who came forward were instantly healed and each time they shared testimony and each time the faith in the room rose and expectancy released more of His glory on these lovely people. I saw carpel tunnel healed, varicose veins disappear, a man with 20% vision in one eye have his sight completely restored and two young men give their lives to Jesus after seeing the healings!
This was it!
The kind of demonstration of ‘here on earth as it is in heaven’ I had been praying and longing for! This time I had the privilege of it being my hand on the head of someone desperate for a touch from God. They had no health plan, no national health service; they needed a supernatural intervention in their lives.
God showing His nature to a hurting people.
Before the impartation I had never moved in healing and miracles in such a way, I had seen so few make commitments to my Jesus, but I had a boldness and a confidence not there before, what I had seen demonstrated I was then doing, through the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. The spark in me has since jumped to many other hearts and we regularly minister and pray for the provision of the kingdom.
Just a few days ago in America I saw God perform some heavenly ‘ chiropracty’ on a woman who had severe back problems and scoliosis for over 20 years. Her back was adjusted under the hand of her husband as I prayed a prayer of faith and the power of the Spirit was released. She left pain free and mobile in a way she couldn’t remember, inspired to share her testimony with a church who don’t encourage the gifts or operation of the Holy Spirit but the very gift of the Holy Spirit to her was unmistakably God. His nature on display to His children because He loves us!

Alun Leppitt
Pastor, Bridge Christian Fellowship

Randy comes to Southampton in advance of the Global Awakening School of Healing and Impartation we have planned here on 22-25 April 2009. If you are looking for a biblical basis for healing or some foundation truths to this faith of ours, then I urge you to find the time to be with us in April. The subheading for this event is Revival Phenomina and Impartation and we will be joined by Bill Johnson and Leif Hetland as conference speakers. In my humble opinion 3 of the most excellent teachers I have heard in over 26 years. This will be a practical as well as a theory event so expect to be touched, inspired and used. More information can be found on the Bridge or Global Awakening website.