I love a God-inspired vision – a compelling picture of the future – and I love the vision that God has given us for this season. We’ve now been going as a church for over 36 years. At the start of that journey, we received a prophetic word, “Think Big or You’ll Limit Me”. That word has helped to inspire us during some of the tough early years, and to remind us never to limit Him. As a result, we have seen several decades of blessing and favour. However, last year, we sensed a new vision phrase, “Think Bigger and Beyond”.

While on a prayer day last year, I felt the Lord speaking to me about what the “Beyond” could look like from the passage in Acts 19. The apostle Paul goes into Ephesus, a large, influential, almost entirely pagan city and occult stronghold. He starts with a small group of twelve, and after only three years has reached not just the whole city but also the whole region with the gospel, through the proclamation of the Word and the power of the Spirit.

Over the next few days, we are going to pray that our groups and gatherings increase in strength, not just in numbers but in the tangible power and presence of the Lord, as we meet together. Let’s also believe for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in signs and wonders, miracles of healing and generosity, just as the early believers in Ephesus saw, resulting in the gospel going viral across the region.

Lord, our prayer is, ‘Do it again!’

I’m looking forward to a powerful time together.

Dave Smith
Senior Pastor