November 2007

 “Easter is the time to preach on Lazarus, not now in November!”  I was lovingly reminded that I was a bit out of season. Nevertheless recently I felt I had to preach on Lazarus, from John 11:1-44. I did it three times, in different churches and each time I have been amazed on how much inspiration, guidance and comfort one can receive from that story. Each time I discovered more and I learnt more. I am not talking about the resurrection of Lazarus, a huge miracle of our Lord, no doubt. I am talking about all that went on before the miracle: Jesus being informed of Lazarus’ sickness, Jesus tarrying, His encounter with Martha and then with Mary, their deep regret that the Lord delayed His coming, their faith in the resurrection on the last day, Jesus’ discourse with His Father, all fascinating points, each deserving careful consideration.

One thing that struck me is how both Martha and Mary were somehow concerned with the past, “Lord if You had been here, my brother would have not died” and with the future, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day”, whereas Jesus answered with the present “I am the resurrection and the life….”

Hebrews 4:7 says that, when the Lord fixes a date, it is ‘today’. I sense that the Lord wants us to concentrate on Him NOW, not in our past experiences or in our future expectations. Today is the day we encounter the Lord.

Report on recent activities

1. At the end of September, after five years of absence, we went back to East Africa. We spent three and a half weeks in Kenya, staying on a beautiful farm. I was highly honoured because the day we arrived a bull calf was born and it was named ‘Giancarlo’. The farm is aimed at creating a self supporting venture to give a home, education and a better future to orphaned and needy children, as well as work and security for the local community. Within the compound there is also a college where I taught Christian ethics for two weeks. We loved every moment we were there. I enjoyed the challenge of spending every morning with my class. Even though it was small, it was very vivacious and prone to heated debates, raising tricky questions for which to be honest I had no prompt answers. I read somewhere that good schools are made by good teachers, but I think they are also made by good students.

2. While in Kenya we led a week of spiritual input for the whole community, the college staff and students, the families on the farm and visitors from nearby villages. Our message was centred on the Father’s heart of God, something deeply needed in African culture. We also visited a nearby village a few times, from where some of the farm hands live and where little by little a new church has been created. The best part for me was the long walk in open fields to reach the village, accompanied by my students and having discussions all the way.

We ministered a few times to the children and we met with them early every morning for devotions, before they went to school.

3. Catherine visited the nearby villages, speaking to children, attended Bible study groups, prayer groups and she developed a good friendship with the leaders of a very successful mission where we ministered twice. We are particularly grateful to the leaders of the farm project, the leaders of the college and the principal of the college who helped me in running the course. They welcomed us with sincere love and looked after us so well that we felt we were on holiday in a health farm.

4. From Kenya we went to D. in Tanzania; the idea was to visit our friends who recently moved from A. in north Tanzania to D. where they are directors of a large, very modern, brand new children’s village. The project is purely secular, but they are already bringing Christ into it. The moment we arrived at the airport we were taken straight to a meeting, where more than a thousand people were waiting. After five years many remembered us and we had an extraordinary welcome. The meeting continued the following day with even more people. It is difficult to describe it: imagine the wildest charismatic, Spirit filled gathering where miracles just happen because of the intense presence of God. For example a man with tuberculosis, who could hardly walk and breathe, was instantly healed just by being there and immediately testified with a powerful deep voice.

5. While in D. we ministered almost every night to the University students, we visited the local community with whom we have ministered to quite a lot in the past and we had great fellowship with many old friends. The best part however was staying with our friends and their wonderful children. True friendship never fades away, even after a long separation.

6. Back home, we continued with the School of the Spirit in our house and we ministered to the Redhill Vineyard church. We had visitors from Norway and that gave an international tone to our little home group. Then we went back to L. in France where we had a four day teaching seminar at B, instead of the usual short ones. We felt that a longer one was more profitable, since we had more time to get to know the participants, to have them involved in the prayer ministry and discussions and above all, we had more time with our friends.

7. The second Father’s Embrace conference in Redhill with our son Stefan, organised by the Redhill Vineyard, had a different spirit from last year. It is still not totally clear where the Lord is leading us, but we sense that, having experienced the love of God as our true Father; God wants us to learn how to be His children, dependant on Him and then how to be true siblings, united as the family of Christ in the same love. 

8. Finally we spent a long week end at a church in St Albans. The accent was on prophecy, but there was ample scope for healing, both emotional and physical. We were welcomed with much love and expectations and we have already had some very encouraging follow up from our friends who lead the church.

Giancarlo & Catherine