1 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:11,360 So we've got Chris speaking to us now, I think. 2 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:16,800 Yeah, it's wandered off. So I'll just pray for Chris as 3 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:21,400 we start. Lord, just thank you so much for 4 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:26,720 Chris. I pray that this morning you 5 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:31,520 would speak through him, you would take all the material that 6 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:38,040 He's prepared and breathe your life and Holy Spirit, you would 7 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:45,680 just speak to our hearts and our minds through what He says in 8 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:52,320 Jesus name, Amen. Thank you, Emma. 9 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:55,080 This is going to be quite brief, actually, maybe like 10 or 15 10 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:58,080 minutes because I want us to have time to worship and and 11 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,080 pray. But this is one of our prayer 12 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:08,120 Sundays and we'd like to share a bit of vision for prayer for us 13 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:10,080 as hope. So I'm going to going to do 14 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:11,760 that. Going to share a little bit 15 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:16,040 about the the prayer centre and the calling on us to be a a 16 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:19,840 place and the people of prayer for the city, the greater 17 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:24,040 Bristol area. And then so a bit of historic 18 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:25,960 and a bit through to the current on that. 19 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:29,400 And then I want to share just a story that I'm I've been 20 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,400 inspired by in the last few days. 21 00:01:32,960 --> 00:01:35,880 And then I'm going to tell us about our prayer day coming up 22 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:39,000 for this Tuesday through to Wednesday. 23 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:45,200 And, and then off the back of that theme, we'll pray as we as 24 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:47,120 we worship. So that's the plan for the next, 25 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,680 the next few minutes. I thought the phrase that I've 26 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:55,360 had in my mind as a sort of theme for this is, is the sort 27 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:59,480 of what tag line or a catch line is like a life bathed in prayer 28 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:04,440 and thinking that nowadays modern society where we have 29 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:08,680 showers and baths and soap and stuff, the idea is that is that 30 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,000 we all smell decent, isn't it all the time. 31 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:15,240 And that's that, you know, it's not the case for everybody, but 32 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:17,760 that's the that's the ideal is that we smell fresh. 33 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:20,960 We're well bathed and I thought we could carry that image 34 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:25,400 through in terms of our life of prayer, you know, with like as 35 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:29,120 followers of Jesus, Our Calling is to live lives that are well 36 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:33,440 washed, you know, cleanse regularly bathed, bathed in 37 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:34,680 prayer. So maybe that have that as a 38 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:37,720 little strap line for for this message. 39 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:43,160 And so I'm going to start off with saying a bit about the 40 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:47,520 calling on Hope to be a prayer centre for the city. 41 00:02:47,920 --> 00:02:50,200 Oh, and when we say that, when I say the city, I know there's 42 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:54,120 people in, in Hope who live in Nailsy, Backwell, Clevedon, 43 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:58,040 Portishead, you know, greater and, and, and further down the 44 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:02,600 different, different roads. And, and so I, I, I think I use 45 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:04,680 that phrase, but I think it's really the greater Bristol area. 46 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:07,920 And actually we had a Korean prayer team with us here in July 47 00:03:07,920 --> 00:03:10,440 and they were saying they don't think Our Calling is just to be 48 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:12,800 a prayer centre for the city, but it's for the world as well. 49 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:16,200 So don't, don't think of that as an exclusive if you're not 50 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,400 within ABS 8 post code or BS, you know that doesn't, doesn't 51 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:25,640 count or something like that. But the, the, the calling on on 52 00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:30,720 Hope Chapel. So this is a 250 old 4050 year 53 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:33,880 old church building that died out really as a church in the 54 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,800 1960s, was rescued by the local community in the 70s to prevent 55 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:42,240 it from being demolished. And then IN992000 Silas and 56 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:44,600 Annie Crawley and a group of others, we're looking for a 57 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,600 place to pray. They sensed a a calling to start 58 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,320 a prayer centre for the city. And we're basically offered this 59 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:53,840 building to host a prayer centre for Bristol. 60 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:57,840 And the church kind of grew alongside so that that that 61 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:01,680 really began in the year 2000. And this, this, this the prayer 62 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:05,160 centre up there, that whole the back end of the building is 63 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:11,080 designed to be available 24/7 to facilitate churches, Christians 64 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:15,000 in the city coming to pray. And so as members of Hope, 65 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,320 you're welcome to use this space anytime to come and pray. 66 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,760 That's the it's the resource for us for the for prayer. 67 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:26,800 And there was, it'd be worth recording actually some of the 68 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:31,480 stories that Silas has got about how people, people brought these 69 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:34,680 quite profound prophetic word saying there's a calling on you. 70 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:37,960 I think one time he was in the in, in prison and I think was it 71 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:40,640 a Ugandan man came to him and said, there's a calling on you 72 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:43,680 to build a 24/7 prayer centre for your city. 73 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,760 This man didn't know him at all. But there were a number of these 74 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:50,240 extraordinary, extraordinary moments that precipitated the 75 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:55,040 start of Hope Chapel being a, a prayer centre. 76 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:58,040 And then that calling was then recognised by other churches in 77 00:04:58,040 --> 00:04:59,920 the city. Silas Nani went to other 78 00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:02,440 churches and said are you happy for us to do this? 79 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:06,120 Do we have your blessing? And the answer was was a yes. 80 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:09,880 So, so over those years, over these past 25 years, a whole 81 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:15,120 range of things have happened in the life of the prayer centre 82 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:19,320 here and the city of Bristol, including seasons of hosting 83 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:23,600 ongoing prayer for, for periods of time, including some of the, 84 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:25,600 some of the notable things that I remember. 85 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:29,920 We hired at Ashton Gate Football Stadium and, and hope kind of 86 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:33,040 led the way in, in, in that happening as a, as a, and I 87 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,920 don't know, 5 or so thousand people Christians gathered on 88 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:39,320 the, in the Attie stand. Mostly, I think it was to pray 89 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:42,640 for the pray for the city and in the South stand as well. 90 00:05:42,840 --> 00:05:45,680 It was that, that, that was a, that was a significant event. 91 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:49,000 And then other events in the centre of the city around Castle 92 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,800 Park, gathering Christians around Bristol to pray. 93 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:56,400 And then there's been multiple Korean teams that have been 94 00:05:56,400 --> 00:06:00,200 hosted here as people coming to pray for the city of Bristol. 95 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:04,960 Then there was the Living Free course, which many of you will 96 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,960 have been part of. And that really was a 97 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:11,600 particularly the prayer of Original Design and freedom 98 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:15,240 prayer, particularly the prayer with the Living Free was a 99 00:06:15,280 --> 00:06:16,840 significant contribution to the city. 100 00:06:16,840 --> 00:06:19,680 And we had, we had students, it was quite embarrassing actually, 101 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,400 because there were students studying to be vicars at Trinity 102 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:24,840 College who would come and do living free and say, oh, this is 103 00:06:24,840 --> 00:06:29,200 the best thing I've learnt in my 3 years at at Trinity College in 104 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:31,280 terms of equipping me to be a, a church leader. 105 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:36,000 But a lot of people in the city have experienced living free and 106 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,800 found freedom through, through prayer lifestyle that that's, 107 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:44,760 that's taught. Other other more more recent 108 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:49,320 events would be we spearheaded this day of prayer and fasting 109 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,600 for knife crime. I think that was that was in 110 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:55,520 2023. And again the city came 111 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,040 together, church and city came together and we saw this. 112 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:03,480 There'd been an escalating time and a real sort of higher level 113 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:07,200 of normal knife crime in the city, which which changed and 114 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:09,240 reduced. That hasn't gone completely. 115 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,440 But when the the Church of the city came together in a day of, 116 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:17,840 of prayer and fasting and and then a more recent event. 117 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:21,480 So we led the way in, in, in a Pentecost gathering of the 118 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:25,480 churches in the city and we prayed in in Cannon's house as 119 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,720 as a, as a gathered Church of Bristol this may. 120 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:36,000 So, so there's, this is, this is some of our, our life of prayer 121 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:38,840 as a, as a church. And I wanted to kind of pass on 122 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:43,280 some of what's going on with, with across churches in the 123 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:45,880 city. So there's a, a network called 124 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,600 Churches Together in Bristol or together for Bristol, which is 125 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,080 the kind of churches together network. 126 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:55,360 And it's probably got a bit tired over the last few years 127 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:57,240 and hasn't really been motoring along. 128 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:01,840 So, so they've actually asked me to kind of spearhead a bit of a 129 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:08,000 redesign of how churches in, in Bristol collaborate and partner 130 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:10,720 together. And so a couple of weeks ago, 131 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:14,080 Julia came with, with me as well, and eight of us as Bristol 132 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:17,360 church leaders and Andy Streets, you might know him as well, went 133 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:22,800 up to Liverpool to a conference working on how can we as a, as 134 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:28,080 a, as a church in the city, collaborate together to bring 135 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:30,960 the life and flourishing of Jesus to Bristol. 136 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,120 And, and we're working on, on redesigning together for Bristol 137 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:38,080 in these, in, in, in five areas. The idea is we have 5 kind of 138 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,559 teams made-up from across the Christian community in Bristol. 139 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:47,320 And, and those five areas are, are what was the first one or 140 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:49,720 the first one? The first one is citywide 141 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:51,840 prayer, establishing citywide prayer. 142 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:52,840 I'll come back to that in a minute. 143 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:55,560 Second one is, is serving the city. 144 00:08:55,680 --> 00:08:58,320 So, so really sort of acts of justice, social justice 145 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:04,600 projects, Third one is disciple making disciples, 4th 1 is 146 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:08,880 church planting strategies, and the fifth one is leader health. 147 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,200 And what we're doing is we're basically restructuring how we 148 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:14,800 do things together as churches in Bristol around those five 149 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,760 areas, so that we have different teams, different churches 150 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:20,240 together leading in those different areas. 151 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:23,600 And we had a particular focus a couple of weeks ago on church 152 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:25,840 planting. It's not a particular strength 153 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:27,840 of ours or focus of ours at Hope. 154 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:29,600 So we're not particularly hands on with that. 155 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:32,520 But other churches that are big on church planting are starting 156 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:35,760 to collaborate around mapping the city of Bristol. 157 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:40,040 Where are there areas that have gaps haven't got, you know, 158 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,400 dynamic churches that are that people can go to within a within 159 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:47,040 a short walk and and then who is well positioned as a church to 160 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:49,080 plant a new church into that space. 161 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:51,680 So this is a a new level of collaboration. 162 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:54,800 And then, but what what we're leading on as hope is, is that 163 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:58,600 prayer arm and we've been asked to kind of to kind of spearhead 164 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:03,000 that citywide prayer initiatives. 165 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:08,160 And so recent events have been like I say, the Pentecost 166 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,280 gathering this last no, what are we in now? 167 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:13,680 We're in November 2025, aren't we? 168 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:16,760 That's where we are. January this year, we had a week 169 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:17,880 of prayer and fasting, didn't we? 170 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:21,680 Which which we found a really exciting experience as a church. 171 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,440 So just just wondering. And then there's also been these 172 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:26,520 gather events. There was one which we had at 173 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:29,560 Saint Nick's Church again, as a kind of city coming together to 174 00:10:29,560 --> 00:10:31,440 pray. Was that maybe in was that in 175 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:34,200 March this year? Can't exactly remember what it 176 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:37,680 was, but there were probably 500 or so people, 4-5 hundred people 177 00:10:37,680 --> 00:10:42,400 came to pray for the city. So thinking that that that what 178 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:46,360 does citywide prayer look like? It probably looks like 179 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:50,800 organising sort of punctuating a rhythm of events like that 180 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:56,000 gathering together as a city as a city to pray, wondering if 181 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:59,120 that week of prayer and fasting in January time already The 182 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:02,800 Woodlands group of churches do the do the similar thing at that 183 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,120 sort of time. And a lot of other churches have 184 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:08,440 that beginning of the year as a time of, of praying and fasting 185 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:12,560 to wonder whether we could, which suggests to churches that 186 00:11:12,560 --> 00:11:15,080 this is a citywide thing we do. We have a season of praying and 187 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:18,520 fasting as a as, as the Church of, of Bristol. 188 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:21,200 So I really wanted to share these are fairly early stages, 189 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:24,040 but wanted to share with you that that is some of what's 190 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:27,800 going on. And we, as hope, you know, have 191 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:29,400 a significant role to play in that. 192 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:33,200 So, so that's it's, it's an exciting development for the 193 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:35,600 city. And one of the things that was 194 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:41,280 clear at this conference. And since in fact, as a pastor 195 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:44,440 team, we had some time with a wonderful lady called Liz Evans 196 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:46,600 a couple of weeks ago. She's a prophetic lady who came 197 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:50,360 and spent I greatly respect and have spent learnt a lot from. 198 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:52,960 She came and spent some time with Alice and myself and 199 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:56,040 Charlie and Micah and Meredith 2 Wednesdays ago. 200 00:11:56,640 --> 00:12:00,680 And we asked her to bring some prophetic insight to Hope and to 201 00:12:00,680 --> 00:12:03,680 us as individuals. And one of the things that she 202 00:12:03,680 --> 00:12:09,280 said for Bristol was that was that because of the prayer in 203 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:14,920 the city, the land is fertile and, and, and ready and the, and 204 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:17,800 the, and the spiritual power from Hope is, is ready to go. 205 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:20,560 Now's the time for people to become established around the 206 00:12:20,560 --> 00:12:23,600 city so that they get firmly established in this fertile, 207 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:31,040 fertile season. And I think what's clear is that 208 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:35,560 there's a really healthy level of friendship and collaboration 209 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:38,960 and partnership across the different churches in the city. 210 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:42,440 And we realise, you know, I'm, I'm only really in Bristol, I 211 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:44,160 don't really know what's going on in the rest of the country. 212 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:48,480 But apparently that's, it's unusual and it's an unusual 213 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:50,520 level of partnership and collaboration. 214 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:53,800 And it feels like actually we can get things done quite fast. 215 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:59,000 And, and so again, that that's, that's quite an exciting, an 216 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:00,400 exciting time, an exciting thing. 217 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:06,080 So a little bit there on on what's going on citywide. 218 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:09,920 I'm I'm really, you know, this is for us to to be part of as a 219 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:12,840 whole church and, and and and and exactly what that looks 220 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:14,640 like. Don't know the details really 221 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:17,280 just yet, but but want want, want to want to share that with 222 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:19,800 you. I'd like to flip a little bit 223 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:23,480 now into a an encouraging story. I've been reading this book, 224 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:28,240 Lead with Prayer by Ryan Skoog, Peter Greer, Cameron Doolittle, 225 00:13:28,680 --> 00:13:33,400 interesting names these guys have got, but I've been finding 226 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:34,760 encouraging. And it's a story that I'd like 227 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:38,800 to read to us from here. Thinking going back to that 228 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:42,440 strapload of lives that are bathed in prayer, late lives 229 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:45,600 that are soaked in prayer, and what impact does that have? 230 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:51,240 So this is a story of from Rwanda, and it's a couple of 231 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:54,800 pages long, and I'm going to read it to us. 232 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:00,680 Financial institutions have played a pivotal role in 233 00:14:00,680 --> 00:14:05,120 Rwanda's recovery from the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, in 234 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,280 which an estimated 10% of the population was brutally killed 235 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:12,240 over a span of 100 days. As the nation began to rebuild, 236 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:16,200 microfinance institutions helped restore trust among community 237 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:19,160 members and bought financial stability to more families. 238 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:26,160 But in 2017, Christine Bain Garner inherited an enviable 239 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:30,120 role when she took leadership of Awaygo, A microfinance 240 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:34,040 institution designed to provide investments to those typically 241 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:39,480 undeserved and unreached by undeserved and or unreached by 242 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:41,480 Rwanda's former financial sector. 243 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:45,120 Despite the bank's noble objectives, it was losing money, 244 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:48,800 facing legal challenges and confronting low staff morale. 245 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:52,680 Awaygo's leaders created a three-year plan to address these 246 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,600 challenges but faced one set back after another. 247 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:59,240 Then COVID hit and a five month countrywide lockdown 248 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:02,440 dramatically impacted all areas of Away Goes performance 249 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:05,520 operations. Rwandans were unable to work. 250 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:09,080 So many people were thrown back into extreme poverty amid this 251 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:10,840 pandemic. Christine lamented. 252 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:14,840 As families were impacted, the organisation was too. 253 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,160 Away. Go faced massive write offs as 254 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:20,040 borrowers who could not generate income could not repay their 255 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:22,760 loans. Losses mounted, challenges 256 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:24,840 escalated. They'd run out of ideas. 257 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:28,080 And at this moment of desperation, Christine shares 258 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:30,600 that's when the prayer warriors came. 259 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:35,440 Because financial institutions were essential services, awaygo 260 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:37,520 staff were still permitted to gather at the office. 261 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:41,160 One day a small a small group of long serving staff members came 262 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:43,480 to Christine declaring we have something to say. 263 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:47,240 They were aware of the seemingly unsurmountable plan for 264 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:49,800 Christine. That's unsurmountable challenges 265 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,200 facing the organisation and in response, they presented a plan 266 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:56,280 for Christine's consideration. They wanted the entire staff to 267 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:58,520 come together for three days of prayer and fasting. 268 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:02,000 Christine agreed. As the team began praying, they 269 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:04,120 did so on their knees. We got our mats out. 270 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:07,240 Christina remembers kneeling is not the place for casual prayers 271 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:10,320 and they knew their desperation. Together they spent three days 272 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:13,000 fasting and praying. They prayed over every meeting, 273 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:16,120 decision and activity, surrendering every action to 274 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,560 God. As Christine and the team 275 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:22,320 invited God to work in the away goes day-to-day operations, the 276 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:27,280 impact was was dramatic. They felt God's confirmation of 277 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:30,720 the challenge of the work that they were pursuing and his 278 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:33,560 encouragement to press on. Still, the challenges continued 279 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:36,840 as Rwanda reinstated lockdowns. Encouraged and emboldened by the 280 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:39,720 impact of their collective fasting and prayer, the group of 281 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:41,600 colleagues returned to Christine. 282 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:44,680 We prayed for three days. We were profitable for five 283 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:46,680 months. How about we pray for a month? 284 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:50,960 Beginning in February 2021, a department, branch or team 285 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:53,720 fasted and prayed each of the 28 days of the month. 286 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:56,080 In July, they decided to incorporate praise and 287 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:58,520 Thanksgiving even though they were once again facing lock 288 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:02,280 downs. Orega set aside the 31 days of 289 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:03,920 August to praise and to thank God. 290 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:08,160 Each day, a branch, A-Team or department led the charge, with 291 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:11,280 Orega's executive team beginning on the first day of the month 292 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:13,079 and closing on the last day of the month. 293 00:17:13,839 --> 00:17:17,440 Prayer has become Ouego's North Star and kneeling prayer has 294 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:20,200 become a part of Ouego's story and their and their regular 295 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:22,920 rhythm of operations. Every February, they've 296 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:26,040 committed to a month of prayer and fasting, followed by a month 297 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:30,080 of Thanksgiving each August. Christine shared when we prayed 298 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,960 and we waited upon the Lord. When we listened, God showed up. 299 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:36,560 God showed us gaps, brought the right people to our team, showed 300 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:39,200 us which products to stop and which to introduce. 301 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:42,360 Ouego's turn around was so significant that Christine was 302 00:17:42,360 --> 00:17:45,520 recognised as one of top ten female bankers in Africa. 303 00:17:46,120 --> 00:17:48,760 The momentum she had LED carried Ouego through the most 304 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:51,200 challenging operating environment in recent history, 305 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,280 wrote Kenyan Wall Street. But Christine humbly credits 306 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:57,480 something else God's faithful response to Ouego's prayers. 307 00:17:57,920 --> 00:17:59,640 The turn around didn't come out of strategy. 308 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:02,280 God did it, especially during the pandemic. 309 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:05,560 I learned how to be fervent and persistent in prayer and how to 310 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:08,920 trust God, Christine says. As a leader, you don't expect, 311 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:10,880 you don't depend on your own understanding. 312 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:13,440 You trust in the Lord in all your ways and you depend on him. 313 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:15,560 I am one of those students of prayer. 314 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,200 Christine and the team she leads to Dewego encountered God in 315 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:22,800 prayer and the realities of his presence left them longing for 316 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:26,200 more. For OUEGO, prayer continues, but 317 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:28,680 also as a member of the Hope International network, they're 318 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:31,760 making a global impact. The practises and posture of 319 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:35,760 prayer modelled by Christine and the OUEGO team have been adopted 320 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:39,280 by the entities and institutions throughout Africa, Asia, Latin 321 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:43,080 America and Eastern Europe. Paradoxically, as the OUEGO 322 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,960 staff drew near to the Father in humble, desperate dependence, it 323 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:50,040 was falling to their knees in prayer that brought the team to 324 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:55,480 their feet. I think that's a cool story and 325 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:59,320 it, and it resonates with my my own experience of prayer is this 326 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:05,480 prayer is this lifestyle of bathing ourselves in God in such 327 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:10,400 a way that we smell good and that life works, that, that 328 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:15,040 there's a that there's a fluency and a, and a fruitfulness to, to 329 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:19,600 our lives. So my final section now before 330 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:24,160 we come to worship is I'd love to just tell us about this 331 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:28,320 coming prayer day. So our current, our current 332 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:32,480 rhythm as a Church of praying together is that we have the 333 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:36,640 first Tuesday of each month. We have a a day of prayer as a 334 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:41,520 church expected to have a season of a week of prayer and fasting 335 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:45,080 in in January time again as per last year. 336 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:48,640 I'm always wondering how else can we build and bake more 337 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:50,520 prayer into our into our rhythms. 338 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:53,360 I'm keen that our Sunday evening church meetings when we have 339 00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:55,320 those, there's quite a lot of prayer built into those. 340 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:58,720 I'm I'm personally just looking to looking to bathe more prayer 341 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:02,400 into into throughout my day and the interactions that that that 342 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:07,600 that I have. But the first Tuesday of of the 343 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:11,880 month is a, is a, is a is a sort of main calendar for us and so. 344 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:16,240 This this coming Tuesday, this is our theme for the month. 345 00:20:17,360 --> 00:20:20,000 The the verse is from Ephesians chapter 2, verse 10. 346 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:24,800 We're God's workmanship, Christed in Christ Jesus and to 347 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:26,760 do good works that God has prepared for us to do. 348 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:29,560 It's an extraordinary thing that God has prepared for each of us 349 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:34,200 good works to do in advance. And so one of the things I'd 350 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:38,080 love us to be doing as we worship shortly is asking God, 351 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:40,080 what are the good works that you've got for me? 352 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:43,480 It might be that you know what they are in your daily life. 353 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:47,880 And it's a, and it's a case of praying into praying into those 354 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,040 areas. Also, what are the good works 355 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:53,640 that you've got for us to do as a as a whole church together, as 356 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:56,880 as community. So that's our theme for the for 357 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:00,400 the for the day. And I'd love to just take us 358 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:02,040 through this. Emma mentioned these briefly, 359 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:04,840 but I'd love to mention that that the kind of gathered prayer 360 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:07,880 time. So, you know, this is a theme 361 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:09,800 that we can be praying on through the day. 362 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:11,720 And I'll come on to the next page shortly where we've got 363 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:15,920 some specific prayer points, but I wanted to just sketch out the 364 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:17,480 different prayer times that we have. 365 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:22,120 So we start at 6:30. Simon and Becca host a prayer 366 00:21:22,120 --> 00:21:24,280 for youth that's on that's on Zoom. 367 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:31,360 You'll be pleased to know 630 till 7:15 and then 7:15 to 7:45. 368 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,320 I'm hosting a time which is really praying into this theme. 369 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:36,600 It's half an hour. I think it was just me on my own 370 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:38,520 last month. So these aren't always big 371 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:43,000 numbers of people, you know, but but please ask God, what is it? 372 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,840 What is it that you can be part of this, this time? 373 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:49,480 So that's really sort of praying the theme for the day. 374 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:53,400 And then Alice Emma, host of Praying for the World and then 375 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:58,880 Silas host from 2:50 here with lunch as well. 376 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:02,240 Wonderful time of gathered, extended time of worship, 377 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:04,200 wonderful time of worship and a time of prayer. 378 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:08,200 They meet every every Tuesday on on Zoom. 379 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:10,320 Maryland's part of that group as well. 380 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:14,480 And but once a month on this Tuesday, they come and are in 381 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:18,320 person here. Esther is going to be walking 382 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:23,200 around the harbour praying for our boats. 12:00 Ruth, are you 383 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:27,560 on this Thursday, this Tuesday? What time are you going to go 384 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:29,760 for? Great. 385 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:32,680 So 4 till 5. Ruth is praying for his now 386 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:34,080 words. If you have any specific 387 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:39,120 requests of for, for, for Ruth, do speak to her and ask her to 388 00:22:39,120 --> 00:22:42,320 be praying specifically for you. We have a community supper here 389 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:45,240 at 5:30. We have a lovely long table out 390 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:48,200 and we have it's often about 20 or so people. 391 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:54,360 It's great to spend time in food together and I again I'm quite 392 00:22:54,360 --> 00:22:57,280 keen that we bake some more prayer into that around the 393 00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:02,160 table time. And then Malcolm hosts renew 394 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:05,400 happens to every Tuesday at his house in Westbury and then 395 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:08,800 particularly prays into the theme for the day on these and 396 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:11,040 then the next day. So this is on the Wednesday 397 00:23:11,360 --> 00:23:15,200 organic worship from 7 till 9 hosted by Julia and team. 398 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:20,400 And that's been going now for many years as really a, a sort 399 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:24,360 of the time of worshipping and praying over over the city. 400 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:30,080 So these are the, these are the lead slots that we have the 401 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:32,160 hosted prayer times through prayer day. 402 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:35,520 So I encourage you to look at those times and just sort of 403 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:38,240 prayerfully consider what can it look like for me to press into 404 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:41,880 into this day of prayer? Are there any of these that you 405 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:44,960 can join and be part of and, and go for it? 406 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:49,560 And our prayer points. I've, I've, I've put in these, 407 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:51,120 put together these prayer points. 408 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:58,080 First one, praying for our own good works, asking God what he 409 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:01,040 has for us to do and praying into those areas. 410 00:24:01,360 --> 00:24:07,320 So we really recognise the design, the purpose, the calling 411 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:11,560 on individuals and on communities within hope to, to 412 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:13,680 bring God's life to the city in different ways. 413 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:16,520 So that's a that's, that's the prayer point there is praying 414 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:17,840 into those, those specific things. 415 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:21,920 What have you got for us as individuals, as small 416 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:24,440 communities? And then two prayer points here 417 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:27,800 for us as a whole church, a particular focus for us is this 418 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:32,360 stitching the city together, overcoming the, the division of 419 00:24:32,360 --> 00:24:37,640 racism class in Bristol and our, our partnership with God's House 420 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:39,120 Church is a strategic part of that. 421 00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:41,200 We're going to have a joint service together with them 422 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:46,480 actually 1st Sunday in December. We're all going to go over to 423 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:49,840 God's house for church on the Sunday morning, first Sunday in 424 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:52,520 December. And then we're also talking with 425 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:55,200 them and planning a trip to Botswana next year. 426 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:58,880 So looking at that in August. So these are all things lovely 427 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:03,760 to be praying about and considering strategic 428 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:06,080 partnership as part of overcoming the some of the 429 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:07,680 barriers of racing class in Bristol. 430 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:10,240 And then we're also on this journey with the with the 431 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:13,040 Trinitarian faith course that Paul and grace are taking us 432 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:19,360 through asking the questions of what more can I understand and 433 00:25:19,360 --> 00:25:21,880 how more can I come to know Father, Son and Holy Spirit? 434 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:24,720 And that would that would change change change the way we live as 435 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:28,080 we experience that the fuller love and knowledge of God. 436 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:31,120 So there's, there's some prayer points for us for. 437 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:36,240 So I wanted to share that with you ready for this, this coming 438 00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:38,880 Tuesday. And we're going to move now for 439 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:42,080 the last 20 minutes or so into a time of worship. 440 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:46,160 And really great to have Judea and Sam leading us. 441 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:50,240 And we're going to just just start as a, as a, as a time just 442 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:52,960 to worship Jesus. But then as but then as we go 443 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:56,360 through, I encourage you to be asking God, what are the what 444 00:25:56,360 --> 00:25:59,760 are the good works that you have for me to for me to do? 445 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:02,440 Maybe you're already really clear what they are. 446 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:06,560 You know, you're really clear what that is, in which case just 447 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:08,120 ask God to speak into it some more. 448 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:11,040 What do you say about this? What my my day job or my 449 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:18,240 ministry or my and then also to be asking God about that same 450 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:19,800 question for us as a as a church. 451 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:22,600 And we'd love to share Emma's going to host showing some of 452 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:26,920 those on the microphone words that God has for us about the 453 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:29,760 good works that God has for us as a church. 454 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:37,200 So I'm going to pray and then let's let's move into let's move 455 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:45,080 into worship together. Jesus, it's an amazing privilege 456 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:48,600 to know you. It's the most wonderful. 457 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:52,760 It's the most wonderful and life transforming thing to know you, 458 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:56,440 to know your love, to hear your voice. 459 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:03,440 And we find hope and purpose and fulfilments and in you. 460 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:09,440 I'm really grateful for the work in our lives. 461 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:24,470 Love you. Alice was quoting from having 462 00:27:24,510 --> 00:27:26,710 read me Christianity last week by CS Lewis. 463 00:27:26,710 --> 00:27:30,670 There's a bit he quotes George MacDonald in there and I can't 464 00:27:30,670 --> 00:27:34,030 remember the exact words, but but in essence says something to 465 00:27:34,030 --> 00:27:39,960 the effects of when we give our life over to God and invite him 466 00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:42,800 to come and have control and and lead us. 467 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:48,440 We notice that he we expect an upgrade in certain areas that we 468 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:51,480 knew were dysfunctional. We need some there's some leaky 469 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,160 plumbing or some faulty electrics and we're we're aware 470 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:57,680 of that dysfunction in our lives and we see him attending to 471 00:27:57,680 --> 00:28:01,040 those. But then we also over time 472 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:04,840 notice that he seems to be knocking down structural walls 473 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:08,880 and, and doing much more fundamental works on the House 474 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:15,360 that is our lives. And, and the quote goes on to 475 00:28:15,360 --> 00:28:20,560 say that he's not just patching up a a little cottage, but he's 476 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:24,320 building us into a palace that is fit to be the home for the 477 00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:28,640 King. And so, Jesus, I want to say 478 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:33,080 that on behalf of us as individuals and on behalf of us 479 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:38,840 as the church, we welcome you into our lives, Build us into 480 00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:46,040 people that are palaces fit for you as the King of the universe 481 00:28:46,560 --> 00:28:51,960 to live and dwell and be seen. And likewise for us as Hope 482 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:56,880 Chapel, as a community, as a church, we invite you in. 483 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:02,560 We want you to build us into this palace that hosts the 484 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:07,440 presence of God and brings the life of Jesus to the city. 485 00:29:08,520 --> 00:29:12,160 That's what we're all about. Everything is is for that Aim 486 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:15,160 for that purpose. So we worship you now. 487 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:18,840 We give you our lives. Come and speak to us. 488 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:22,120 Come and build your Kingdom. Build your palace. 489 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:37,880 Amen. Just as we're we're in an 490 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:43,760 attitude of worship in in God's presence. 491 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:52,440 Just take a minute to ask him. Lord, is there anything that you 492 00:29:52,440 --> 00:30:00,120 want to share with us about Hope's role in the city moving 493 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:03,880 forward? And you may have sent something 494 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:08,480 as we're worshipping, or you may send something just now in this 495 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:10,800 time. And and if you do, it'd be great 496 00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:14,560 if you could come and share it for our encouragement. 497 00:30:28,030 --> 00:30:31,110 I just had this image of a paper clip. 498 00:30:33,510 --> 00:30:39,230 It's just like getting the sense that it's like created the whole 499 00:30:39,230 --> 00:30:42,480 things together, but it's like just about barely doing it. 500 00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:46,880 But then somehow like by the power of God, this paper clip, 501 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:51,400 it's like it's being stretched open and it becomes a lock pick 502 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:54,360 and it just it's just the right size. 503 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:59,240 It's not something that you'd expect, but it picks open a lock 504 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:17,920 and it opens something. Was just wasn't looking at this 505 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:22,920 picture, but was just having the image of water flowing from this 506 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:29,600 place and just thinking with the journey we're all on the course 507 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:32,320 we're doing together. That that spirit, that that 508 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:38,560 water, that life, the the dynamic spirit moves to to 509 00:31:38,560 --> 00:31:46,360 displace anything that is rigid and holding us back, holding the 510 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:49,640 city back. I just sense that the journey 511 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:53,720 we're on in, it's the ITTFI haven't got any brain at the 512 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:59,040 moment, but that that we have a part in unleashing that water, 513 00:31:59,040 --> 00:32:04,480 that spirit to the city and the IT gently dislodges things that 514 00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:08,480 are obstacles. So I yeah, bless us in that. 515 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:21,160 This is a real encouragement that So Hope's newsletter maybe 516 00:32:21,160 --> 00:32:27,320 a few weeks ago had something called Table UK on which is what 517 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:35,880 they do is they just invite any anyone Gen Z18 to 30s to a table 518 00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:40,280 in a restaurant and there's a Christian host and people just 519 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:44,520 talk about people of faith, no faith, just talk about things 520 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:50,360 spiritual and and and this has been planted in many cities and 521 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:53,800 they've got some resources to plant it in Bristol. 522 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:57,640 But I think what's really encouraging, and if anyone wants 523 00:32:57,640 --> 00:33:02,680 to talk to me about it, an 18 or 30 year old, what's really 524 00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:07,840 encouraging is they've got 250 people lined up to do it, want 525 00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:10,880 to do it. But the, the, The thing is 526 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:14,680 they're looking for, what do you call it, workers in the harvest? 527 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:18,680 But the, the harvest, he said he's got people there. 528 00:33:18,680 --> 00:33:23,800 So it's really encouraging. Oh, and there's one on Friday at 529 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:26,040 7 O clock in Gloucester Road already. 530 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:31,760 I just felt I'm just going to sing a little songs. 531 00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:33,480 I felt like God was singing out over the city. 532 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:39,320 I feel like there's a sound that's rising up that's age-old. 533 00:33:40,840 --> 00:33:42,440 Yeah, keep. Playing song. 534 00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:48,240 There's a rumbling sound. There's a rumbling sound. 535 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:52,600 There's a rumbling sound. Can you hear it? 536 00:33:58,450 --> 00:34:01,290 There's an. Age-old noise, hear it rising. 537 00:34:01,410 --> 00:34:06,770 Now it's the Father's pausing. Oh, I want to redeem it. 538 00:34:08,449 --> 00:34:14,400 I want to redeem it. There's a rumbling sound. 539 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:18,159 There's a rumbling sound. There's a rumbling sound. 540 00:34:18,719 --> 00:34:26,960 Oh, can you hear it? It's. 541 00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:32,040 An ancient noise here rising. Now it's the Father's heart 542 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:38,560 saying, oh, I want to redeem it. Yeah, if you want to redeem it, 543 00:34:39,880 --> 00:34:46,280 bring all your messes on. Oh Bristol light, don't care if 544 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:48,480 you'll messy, I want to. Redeem. 545 00:34:48,719 --> 00:34:55,280 It I want to redeem it. There's. 546 00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:58,680 A rumbling sound. There's a rumbling sound. 547 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:01,800 There's a rumbling sound. Oh. 548 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:08,040 Can you hear it? Yeah, I got to. 549 00:35:08,040 --> 00:35:11,200 Thank you for all the noises that have gone before us, all 550 00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:14,040 the sounds of people crying out in this city. 551 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:16,480 And I thank you that you're still listening to their 552 00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:18,560 prayers. You're still listening to people 553 00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:21,400 that have gone before us, and you still care about every 554 00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:23,520 single prayer that was prayed over the city. 555 00:35:24,120 --> 00:35:27,440 And I thank you that we can join our voices with hundreds and 556 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:30,520 thousands of people that have gone before in this place. 557 00:35:30,520 --> 00:35:32,680 And our heart cries the same. God redeem it. 558 00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:36,480 Redeem all the mess and all the crap that's in this city. 559 00:35:37,040 --> 00:35:41,240 Thank you God that you see it. And you're not a blind father. 560 00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:44,960 You care. So I pray that Bristol would 561 00:35:45,120 --> 00:35:48,840 learn to bring all their all their messiness to you because 562 00:35:48,840 --> 00:35:52,600 you're a Father who who runs and you, you listen. 563 00:36:03,090 --> 00:36:10,800 That hope is to work out through its life and ministry of 564 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:16,000 reconciliation in all areas, wherever that reconciliation 565 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:23,240 needs to be in Bristol, between families, friends, people and 566 00:36:23,240 --> 00:36:29,760 their idea of God, people and their experience of God, church, 567 00:36:30,040 --> 00:36:35,920 past experiences of religion, past pain and experience that we 568 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:41,000 are too encourage, facilitate reconciliation. 569 00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:56,800 Thank you for those words and I felt as we were worshipping Lord 570 00:36:56,800 --> 00:37:01,360 remind me of the words in Joel 2 about dreaming dreams and seeing 571 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:06,840 visions and conscious that I I see in myself a tendency to be 572 00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:11,240 sceptical towards visions and and that I dream as much as I 573 00:37:11,240 --> 00:37:14,720 used to when I was younger. And maybe you haven't got time 574 00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:20,200 the same way, but but dreams and visions can seem quite you can 575 00:37:20,200 --> 00:37:21,880 easily be cynical about them, can't you? 576 00:37:21,880 --> 00:37:25,160 And they can they can be dismissed as woolly, slightly 577 00:37:25,160 --> 00:37:28,240 vague things. But I feel like God's 578 00:37:28,240 --> 00:37:33,000 encouraging us to dream of what Bristol could be and have 579 00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:36,840 visions listen to visions about what the what what it could look 580 00:37:36,840 --> 00:37:41,960 like and conscious of over time. The power of a life lived with 581 00:37:42,040 --> 00:37:46,760 Jesus is is massive and it happens like Louis was saying in 582 00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:50,560 the small moments of reconciliation in a workplace in 583 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:53,080 one relationship. This is the power of the church, 584 00:37:53,080 --> 00:37:56,880 the salt, the yeast, the working of God. 585 00:37:56,880 --> 00:38:00,920 It's in everyday just a kind interaction with someone can be 586 00:38:00,920 --> 00:38:05,600 a moment of of reconciliation right through to more dramatic 587 00:38:05,600 --> 00:38:08,920 moments of Alice has been invited to number 10 to speak 588 00:38:08,920 --> 00:38:12,240 into along with Marvin in a few weeks time. 589 00:38:13,600 --> 00:38:15,800 It's like these bigger moments of being involved in in 590 00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:18,440 strategic nationwide conversations. 591 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:20,400 This is the this is the opportunity. 592 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:23,160 This is the power of the church. It's the both in the everyday 593 00:38:23,680 --> 00:38:27,360 micro moments and in the big. So I want to encourage you as 594 00:38:27,360 --> 00:38:30,000 hope to have dreams to have visions. 595 00:38:30,240 --> 00:38:33,960 What could maybe, let's start up, I might start up a board up 596 00:38:33,960 --> 00:38:35,960 in the prayer centre of what Bristol could be. 597 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:37,840 And you know, let's write up there. 598 00:38:37,840 --> 00:38:39,560 What, what, what, what could Bristol be? 599 00:38:39,560 --> 00:38:43,280 What could the, the future be? Let's ask God to prophetically 600 00:38:43,720 --> 00:38:47,720 give us inspiration of, of what, of what a redeemed Bristol could 601 00:38:47,720 --> 00:38:51,200 look like. So as we close and, and in, in, 602 00:38:51,200 --> 00:38:53,440 in a minute's time, parents will need to go and collect children. 603 00:38:54,640 --> 00:38:58,040 But again, want to pray. Lord, again, we're just grateful 604 00:38:58,040 --> 00:39:04,480 for for that you've placed us here in such a time as this says 605 00:39:04,480 --> 00:39:08,200 in Raymond's that you've designed the exact times and 606 00:39:08,200 --> 00:39:12,920 places where people should live. You've chosen the time you've 607 00:39:12,920 --> 00:39:15,840 chosen that we would be here now, in this place now. 608 00:39:16,560 --> 00:39:20,520 And we have the extraordinary privilege of knowing you and 609 00:39:20,520 --> 00:39:25,840 having you in us now. So we, we say, use us, use us in 610 00:39:25,840 --> 00:39:29,760 those moments of reconciliation. Use us in, in the in the big 611 00:39:29,760 --> 00:39:33,840 picture, give us dreams and give us visions of what could be, 612 00:39:33,840 --> 00:39:37,680 what can be in Christ. And may we see those come to 613 00:39:37,920 --> 00:39:45,120 pass in our city. May your Kingdom come on earth, 614 00:39:45,120 --> 00:39:50,960 Lord Jesus in Bristol, in greater Bristol area as it is in 615 00:39:50,960 --> 00:39:55,360 heaven. We love you and we worship you. 616 00:39:55,360 --> 00:39:59,000 Again, we say build your house, Build this palace that's fit for 617 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:00,200 the King of Kings to live in.