Corporate Fast

Beginning Monday, September 5th we are calling the SHOP community and all friends of our prayer
community to join in fasting and prayer until September 18th.  This is an important season for us, a season initiated by God and one that we want to press into with integrity.  Recently, we have been hearing that God is going to speak to our house and we are going to take the next 2 weeks to embrace weakness and really listen.  Please join us in this or pray for grace that we grow in love with Jesus.

Brian
Ministry Director

Happy Birthday SHOP!

On May 7th of 2006 Sanctuary House of Prayer began with a handful of people, lots of zeal and faith for the future.  This past weekend we celebrated our 5th birthday and it gave us all cause to reflect and be thankful.  I remember that first day well.  We were excited to be on our own and going for it, but in my own heart I was unclear on what to next and nervous that it might not come together so well.  The building was new, the worship teams were mostly inexperienced and we were learning on the fly.  But, the Lord determined to bless our efforts. 

We are convinced more than ever that God is doing something on the earth related to prayer.  It is not given to one group more than the others.  He is raising up a generation that will seek Him and agree with Him  wholeheartedly.  His judgements are coming to the earth and there are very serious days ahead.  Jesus is preparing to return to the Earth and He is raising up something wonderful in preparation.  SHOP is pressing to make a place for everyone who wants to be before the Lord in wholehearted pursuit.  All are invited.  For many, this will be your primary calling in the kingdom.  Things are changing right now and Jesus is looking for those who will really make Him the central focus of their lives.  We are on the journey together to see this happen.

It has been said many times that a house of prayer is established through the combination of three key elements:  the sovereignty of God,  the agreement of humans and the activity of angels.  In the past 5 years we have had all three in operation.  It was a season filled with challenges and required so much effort at times, but it was the grace of God and His activity among us that made it all work together.  He has established this house for His pleasure and purpose.  We are so grateful to be on this journey and partnering with Him.  He is worth this and SO MUCH more!  May the next 5 years be filled with endless hours of worship and prayer before the only audience that matters...

Blessings,

Brian
Ministry Director

Final Day at the University of Winnipeg

I'm sitting in an almost empty prayer room on the U of W campus. It's the first of four hours we will gather before the Lord today and it is a wonderful feeling just to be here. The larger group has not yet arrived and our worship leader for this hour, Paige, is singing the scriptures back to the Lord in affectionate agreement to Him. We have been here for 4 weeks now and today is the final day. I can't believe how great this was. I can't believe it's almost over....

Thank-you, God! You are worthy of so much more but it was a great pleasure to have been able to do even this much.

Brian
Ministry Director

Sent from my iPhone

Prayer on Campus

For the next three weeks, during exam time, there will be a lot more prayer on campus! Janelle, the director of our local chapter of Luke 18 ministries, has booked the chapel on the University of Winnipeg campus and we are going for it. Meeting times are Monday-Friday from 8am-noon, with a combination of intercession for the campus, personal prayer for students and devotional worship designed to minister to the Lord. There will be incense rising before the throne in Heaven from this campus! Come and be part of it if you are in the area. Let's call out to the Lord on behalf of this emerging generation of leaders in our nation.

Feel free to email at info@sanctuaryhop.com if you require further info or directions to the meetings.

Blessings!

Brian
Ministry Director

Schedule Change

Sometimes you are part of something that is just so right, not just in this realm but in an eternal way, that you just know that you have to make it happen.  As we approach the 5 year mark for SHOP, we have seen the Lord build into us this internal knowing that we need to be before Him in ministry to His heart just because it is right in heaven and on the earth.  The four living creatures around the throne in Revelation 4 are unceasing in their declaration toward Him.  It is, in His presence, exactly as He wants it to be...and it never ends.  That strikes our hearts more and more as we give ourselves to this activity.  We know it is God Himself capturing us for something "other-worldly" and we are ruined for anything else. 

So, beginning this Sunday, February 20th, we are launching a new set.  It will begin at 9:30pm and run for one hour.  It is for all those who love to connect with God in the late hours of the day, with very few in the prayer room and the Spirit of God very present in the room.  We will be focusing on the Song of Solomon for the next number of months, using passages from this book as a springboard into singing about intimacy with Jesus and how He feels about us.  All are welcome to come and encounter the Lord.  Go deep for yourself!

One day, all of us will see Him as He is and the natural response of our heart will be unceasing devotion.  We want a taste of that today as well.  Join us...

Blessings,

Brian
Ministry Director

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

Sent from my iPhone

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