Introducing Hope Church
Download a copy of the leaflet which introduces who we are and gives a flavour of the church.
Hope Church - Prophetic words
Prophetic words over us as a church.
Kim McCaffery: Sunday 19 May 2002
I believe that the prophecies that Kim McCaffery brought when he visited us in May 2002 identify four priorities for us as a church.
- To plant churches around this area - not just in Luton but the area around. We can't plan where they will be but have to respond to what God does.
- We need to be bringing hope to the despairing people of Luton. Not just hope for the future but hope now.
- The prophecy is general in terms of us being discerning about which activities we go with. This means we should give priority to activities that flow from the other three prophecies. I also feel there may be a very literal interpretation. The planes representing real planes taking us to minister in foreign lands. We need to discern which countries he wants us to work into. We should not dismiss the thought that International mission is another area of activity God wants us to be involved in.
- We need to be working amongst the nations in Luton. This requires wisdom and we should look to specific individuals who will be significant. What we will do in this area will help other churches.
This gives a very balanced and healthy agenda placed before us. It is also very demanding.
Love,
Tony
Picture 1: Planting many Churches in unexpected ways
Firework: Type where it keeps spurting out. What's coming next? Going all over the place. There is a force and unknown nature, but the certainty you know it's going to happen.
What for? God said..
It is Church Planting, because out of this church I'll plant one firework (perching!!), there is going to be many churches coming out of here. From the very beginning you are going to put up a firework display and just out of you the whole of the areas around here, they have got no chance, there is churches being planted all the way around here.
But there is the unexpected nature of it, you just don't know when it is going to happen, but you just know WOW, when's the next one?
Have that in your spirits.
Picture 2: Skills to provide hope for now to Luton
Thinking of this town, it is a town of 2 contrasts. There is the airport, full of dreams, full of hope of where it is going. Everything is going right up there. But there is the other part of the town that is in despair, it's all gone wrong, it's not working, and people are ruined. It is like there is contradiction within the town. Felt that God wanted to say..
You are to preach hope which is future glory, salvation which is eternal hope. But also wanted to have within us hope for now. He is going to put through his spirit, skills amongst you to deal with that. There is going to be a gifting upon you to deal with the despair that is in this town. There is a type of despair, whatever that is there is a grace upon you to deal with it as well as bringing them through to the future.
Picture 3: Which planes to catch.
Saw loads and loads of planes all over the place. Some of them were wonderful. I thought O yeah I wish I was on that plane. There was another one; just go away I don't want anything to do (with it). I felt God was saying I want you to be very very focused. To be absolutely clear on where you are going and what you are doing. Because there are going to be planes that are like ministries almost. They are going to come across your path and if you are not careful they are going to distract you. O I wish I was on that one. Well actually no. I want you to know you are going this way and you are secure in it and you are clear about it and you know yes that is a wonderful ministry, no it is not for us, we're not going that way. We're not on that one, but let them do their job in God we're going this way. Felt that one of them was a bit negative; it could have a negative influence if you get caught by it. Just know God said we are doing this, we are going this way and we are secure and know that is what we are going to do.
Picture 4 : Wisdom Gift for the nations in Luton
Wisdom gift. I saw a wisdom gift coming on this church here and it wasn't primarily evangelistic although that was its fruit. You are going to pioneer new nations, but they are nations in Luton. It is like there are nations in Luton and you are going to pioneer into them. And God is going to plant a wisdom gift to pioneer into these nations within Luton that is going to unlock them. Believe that God is going to plant that straight into your church, right early on and may even come as a person. A significant person who will come in and say you want that nation? This is how you do it and they will open it for you. An enormous price to pay in some of these nations when they come to Christ and that the power of the gospel needed to be supported, underpinned with a wisdom gift that shows you how to draw them, not only to the wonder of the cross but draws them to a whole new dimension of freedom in Christ. I think it is probably in the Asian community, I think. And I feel you are going to bless many other churches and send people to other cities to unlock the same thing in other places. That you are going to pioneer this whole area.
