Dancing in the streets

 

In 1859, there was a powerful revival birthed in this city. Following the Fulton street revival in NYC the same year, an elementary school student led his friend to the Lord. The boy who got saved returned to his class and the Spirit moved. The boy's entire class fell prostrate under the power of God, and hearing them cry out to the Lord, every other class did as well. The revival moved out to the streets. In downtown, people were struck down by the power of God, the paper reported. A huge meeting of 7000 was organized and God showed up again. There was a flash of light through the night sky that lasted several seconds and the reporter said that all the press (himself included) were among those who experienced God's power.  Town hall has a memorial commemorating the incredible move of God, which came to be known as the Ulster Revival.

 

I believe that it is significant that we are here when we are. Our first month of the race is spent with people who have a rich history of revival. And it hasn't stopped. Just like in 1859, for us, it started with the children. Our team arrived Saturday evening and settled in at our amazing accommodation (more to come on this soon). The next morning, we served at church by setting up chairs and managing The coffee and tea tables. We found out it was children's Sunday, and were really surprised to find out what that meant here. They had what we would call VBS, but did it a little different than I have seen. Diane commented to me that when she was their age, she glued popsicle sticks together at church. These kids were healing people on the streets and seeing salvations. 7, 8, and 9 year-olds manifesting the love and power of God in their hometown. Several on my team were healed of physical sickness. These were the ones Jesus wanted us to be like. It isn't about intellect; it is about the simplicity of faith and belief of the truth.

 

After church, we helped with the Vineyard's feeding program. I was a "befriender", someone whose job was only to listen to and develop relationship with the needy people who had come in for food bags (and an hour of tea in the heat). It was beautiful. A woman named Mandy, who helps run the program, prayed for me and gave me some really encouraging/confirming words from God. It is really beautiful to see the balance between outreach ministry and body ministry.

 

Then we split into small groups and had dinner with families from the church. Susan, Christina, and I enjoyed dinner and a walk along a cliff to a castle's ruins with the most wonderful family. I felt so blessed, so honored, and so sure that God had us there to teach us about the blessing it is to be His son.

 

Later in the week, we will work with 10 or 15 if their other projects serving as we can to really bless them. Like I said earlier, this place is beautiful physically, and rich spiritually.  Here, the move of God is not ancient history. It didn't end. Seeing Causeway Coast Vineyard's passion for the lost and simultaneously for the presence of God is incredible. The church is growing by the week. Sunday had more people in attendance than they had ever seen. 

 

Today, (along with some of the other wonderful leaders from the church) our contact Roger and some friends from Encounter (CCV's supernatural ministry school) came to teach a training session in "What We Carry" as Dad's kids. It was a really powerful time of impartation and activation. Tonight as we worshipped, those teachings became reality, when much like the kids at church, we asked Jesus to heal our bodies, and He did. People who had never prayed for healing healed. In worship, Peyton's back pain was healed, my knee pain was healed, Katie's bruised head stopped hurting, dreams were restored, and hearts were made new.

 

And this was our second full day on the field.

 

Later in the week, we will be doing servant evangelism, treasure hunts, prophetic evangelism, healing on the streets, and ministry in the church's compassion projects (the nonprofit organization that does outreach to the poor and broken).

 

I have seen incredible growth in our three teams already, and we have only been here two days. I can't wait to carry this church's blessing all over the world. Get ready, world race. 

 

So in such a revival saturated place, what can we really do? Especially when the church here is already doing the stuff? What is our purpose here?

 

One of our speakers today mentioned a prophetic word given about Coleraine long before the vineyard was really established here. It was prophesied that there would be healing in the street. Now, CCV's "healing in the street" ministry is an international ministry at over 700 churches worldwide. There were other elements to the word as well. They are all currently reality, but the part that stood out to me most was the one that hasn't yet become reality. It was prophesied that there would be dancing in the street because of the joy of the Lord. Come on! How wonderful is that?

 

What if the joy of God once again fell in this place? What if they were dancing because of Jesus, not their ciders and stouts? Why not us? Why not now? Come God! We want to taste and see that you are good!

 

Thank you friends. I miss you all dearly!

 

In Christ,

Caleb