Another Wave

There is another wave of the Spirit's power and presence coming to the church in our near future. This should come as no surprise to anyone who knows what has happened in the last 100 years of visitations: they are increasing and coming closer together. This is connected to the hour of history we are living in, of course. The day of His return to the earth is growing closer and many things are being affected by this reality. There is real trouble on the horizon and the earth is about to be significantly shaken yet again in preparation for His return. But, it will come in conjunction with an outpouring that is going to sweep oh so many into the kingdom in a short time. We believe there will be a move in our city unlike any in our history and several hundred thousand will encounter Jesus. The future is both great and terrible!

Before this comes and because of this reality rushing at us, we are giving ourselves to intercession for our city and ministry to God in wholehearted worship and devotion. It is the wisest thing you can do in the hours right before the most significant events in your city's history. Not only are we not going to deny the reality or run and hide from the challenges, but we are going to be found in the middle of it all. We are going to play our part now, calling for change and living like it is coming. And we are going to keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus as the centre of all that matters in that hour.

Jesus, do what you need to do. Return to take this planet for yourself. Take what is rightfully yours. We wait for you.

Brian
Ministry Director

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We are moving...again!

After 4 whole weeks at Tabor Baptist Church in the east side of the city, we are relocating this Sunday to our new home (for now).  You can find us at Faith Covenant Church, 1229 Windermere Avenue, located near Pembina and Jubilee. The start time remains the same (3pm) and we will continue to do what we do.

We are excited to see what God has for us in this next location. This journey has been so interesting.  We had the opportunity to share a building with a small Baptist in an area of the city we rarely go to, and now God is having us change locations, denominations and the area of the city.  We know that He has a permanent location waiting for us at the appropriate time.  The details will become clear when He reveals them to us.  But, for now, we want to remain thankful for what He is doing and choose to walk in step with Him.

If you are in the area, drop in and pray with us. 

Blessings!

Brian

Our new meeting place

Beginning this Sunday, we will be meeting at Tabor Baptist Church (710 Madeline Street) in the Transcona neighborhood of Winnipeg. We begin at 3pm as usual. We are on the move!

A Weekend of Thankfulness

The day is finally here...we are about to have our final Sunday at the building where it all began for us.  It has been a great 4+ years and leaving here now feels like the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.  It is certainly exciting...I can hardly believe it is happening.

As we talked about this transition, it became obvious to all that the best way to end this chapter is with a day filled with thanks!  We want to pause on looking ahead for a day and instead look back at all that God has done in us and in what He has built among us.  We want to build a monument to the Lord in the spirit realm, a statement before all who are listening on earth and in the spirit realm...He is good! 

The Lord showed us a few years ago that the activity of declaring our thanks to Him for how He has led is like fragrant incense before Him.  It pleases His heart.  To fail to do this, however, is essentially the same as accusing Him of being a bad leader.  We are telling Him that "we don't trust you with our future because we don't see anything good about the way you led us in the past".  And none of us wants to do this.   We know He is good and we know that our lives and journeys are a reflection of this...if we choose to see the good in it. 

In the days of the establishing of Solomon's temple in 2 Chronicles, the priests and singers raised up a declaration before the Lord together:  "the Lord is good and His love endures forever".  On this final Sunday in SHOP Phase 1, we are excited to declare this once again.  Come and celebrate with us as  we step forward into what He has for us next.  He is such a good leader.

Blessings!

Brian

WE ARE MOVING!

Things have been happening quickly in the last few months and God is doing something significant in our community.  The A2A conference with Justin Rizzo was an amazing weekend and we were all stirred around the significance of what we were pressing for: night and day worship and prayer.  It became clear to many of us that it just needs to happen in our city.  God is worthy of it.

In the last few weeks, we were asked by the leaders of the church in which we meet to end our time in their building.  King's Fellowship has been the best friends to Sanctuary House of Prayer in the last 4 years.  We have benefited from the use of the building and the freedom to grow in what we are called to pursue.  They are now in need of the space, their space, so we are moving to a new place.  Our last Sunday there will be September 5th.  A great chapter will end for us...and a new one will begin!

The issue now before us, however, is where to go next.  We are aggressively searching and praying, considering all kinds of options in the short time we have before us.  The Lord has been present in many encouraging ways and we know that this is the season of acceleration He told us was coming so often in the past year.  It is exciting although, to be honest, just a little scary.  Like any transition, things tend to get more intense as we get closer to the end.  We know there is a happy ending coming, but the process is stressful and requires real faith and confidence in His leading.

We would ask that you join us in three key ways:

1. PRAY that God would show us what the next place is for this house of prayer, and that He would make the pathway forward a smooth and straight one.  We know He cares and is very involved in our affairs, so we are posturing ourselves to ask for His help and direction in every aspect of this transition.  Where is the correct building?  What area of town is the right one for this next season of growth?  What is an appropriate price to pay and how will be best fund our new facility?   There are challenges ahead, as you can see.

2. SEARCH for a building whenever you think of it.  There are so many possibilities and they sometimes come to light as we keep our eyes open in our day-to-day activities.  We know for sure that we do not want to be in the west end of the city.  But, short of that, we are open to all options at this point.  As well, we are considering leasing and purchasing.  Again, it all depends on the specific building.  If you have an idea, email us at info@sanctuaryhop.com and we will follow it up.

3. PARTNER with us in practical ways.  We are going to need some help financially for things to move forward and we believe that there are folks who the Lord will ask to serve His purposes through giving.  Ask God what you should do.  Be obedient to His direction, of course.  Lets see what He is weaving together.  If you want to contribute to the purchase of a building, that would be terrific!  As well, we will need practical things as we settle somewhere (paint, carpet, chairs, sound equipment, etc) and all of these items cost money too.  Any way in which you can walk with us will be greatly appreciated. 

We are excited to see what the near future has for us as we focus our eyes on Him and do what we He is asking.  As things progress, we will update you.

Blessings and thanks!

Brian
Ministry Director

A2A is here!

It all begins Friday at 7pm at Calvary Temple. Head down to the
basement and get ready to worship. On Saturday, we begin the next
morning at 9am. We will maintain ongoing worship all day without
stopping and end the day at 8:30pm. It is entirely free and open for
all to attend.

Blessings!

Brian

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An Assembly

We are excited to announce that we are hosting an event on May 28-29th at Calvary Temple here in Winnipeg. It will begin at 7pm on Friday and continue all through Saturday, ending in the evening. With us for this event is Justin Rizzo, worship leader at the International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City.

The event is called an "Acts 2 Assembly". We believe that we are to turn aside for this time and call others to join us as we wait for the promised outpouring of the Spirit in the church and in this city. We believe that there is a significant move of God coming to Winnipeg. It has been promised by the Lord over and over and we feel the time is near. Like in the book of Acts, we want to turn aside and wait for Him and His promise.

As well, we want to call out for the breaking in of His kingdom. Even as we wait in faith, we cooperate through intercession by calling out for the very thing He has promised. We will ask for a visitation in our city that sweeps hundreds of thousands into the kingdom, expecting nothing less than a transformation of the spiritual climate and wholehearted turning on a significant scale.

And finally, we will minister to the heart of God, in love and agreement of who He is and what He is doing in this hour of history. It is all about placing Him in the very centre of all that we are working towards. We long for His presence and will make all of our activity about inviting, welcoming, sustaining and defending it among us. May He move freely into every area of this city and inhabit this place in rest.

The event is FREE! So, come and be with us as we turn our face to Him and wait for the promise that is surely to come in our day.

Blessings,

Brian
Ministry Director

Preparing

The Kingdom

This past weekend we had a seminar focused on the activity of driving
out demons from people who are oppressed and wanting to be free. It
was a time to learn the theology and the practical steps of expelling
evil spirits, of realizing that this ministry is a needed one and in
feeling our own inadequacy and struggles. It was a great success!

It struck me a number of times how Jesus was greatly involved in this
ministry too. He moved in more power and authority than any of us do,
of course, so he was able to conduct this activity in a short time and
even in public venues. We are just learning and so private prayer
times that take much longer are the way to go for us right now.

But, Jesus demonstrated much for us to learn even in our beginning
stages. It is clear from his activity and his teaching that we are
expected to behave as he did. He gave us authority to push back
darkness and drive out demons when appropriate. He said that the
kingdom of God was among us (and coming soon) and that evidence of
this rule of God among us was the expulsion of demons. The mandate is
clear: challenging and pushing back evil spirits is central to our
Christian walk.

The disconnect for most of us comes in living in a western society
that does not really believe in such a ministry focus. It is something
most people are hearing for the first time. We need information. We
need faith and confidence. And we need experiences in this realm if we
are really going to believe that this is for us in this age.
Fortunately, the Lord wants this functioning in the church in our city
too. He is more that willing to teach any who will be open to learn
and willing to pursue him for more.

The kingdom of God is all about the rule of God on earth. It is about
voluntary submission to Jesus as king of this planet and all of
created order. It is about changing our thinking and action to align
ourselves to the king, to agree with his plans and purposes and to
resist those things he is fighting against. He is coming to the earth
and every evil spirit will be judged and cast off this planet for
good. Between now and then he is asking for each of us to join
destroying the work of the devil in setting people free. It is a
noble calling and central to his purpose on the earth.

Blessings!

Brian Creary
Ministry Director

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Welcome to 2010

As we look back, it is obvious to those of us at SHOP that 2009 was a very good year. It wasn't always the easiest of times, but the Lord was leading us in the way that only He can (perfectly) and we were gaining so much ground in our experiences. Our adversities produced deep conviction, and our times of blessing only served to strengthen us all the more.

Certainly a highlight for all was having God give us a significant "course correction" in our attitude towards gratitude. He revealed our sinful line of thinking and gave us a wonderful way forward: thankfulness! The more we focused our hearts on what He had done for us, the more freedom and joy we felt. Try it out for yourself: put aside your frustrations with what you don't have and focus on all that God has done for you. Prepare to be blessed and encouraged!!

As we enter into 2010, we again have some direction to begin the year. This time He is telling us that 2010 is a year to be BOLD. Although I am certain I don't know the half of what that means for us, I want to cooperate with it. Together we are agreeing that this will be a year that we do it stronger and say it clearer. As we step into His purposes for us as a house, and individually, He will empower our efforts and "breathe" His Spirit into all of it.

The Holy Spirit has come to our times together in such powerful and significant ways this past year. Bodies have been healed, demons have been driven out and hearts have been captured for Jesus. He has been as close as the invitation "Come, Holy Spirit"! It has been amazing. Now, as we start a new year, we ask for all this and more. God, visit us even more powerfully, speak to every heart and equip us for every good work of service.

Blessings,

Brian Creary
Ministry Director
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