What an absolute joy to welcome Arnold and his travelling companion Trevor to Margate, Kent, in March. Having hosted the Destiny Africa choir in October 2008 and been overwhelmingly blessed just by their presence with us, a friend and I, who both know Arnold, felt it was time to invite him to come and share his heart for our nation. Amazingly, he fitted us in to his busy schedule. The commitment to and freedom in intercessory prayer of the Destiny Africa children had been a special inspiration to us.

The March mini conference was hosted at New Life Family Church but people from all denominations, and indeed from all over Kent, attended. It was linked with and advertised to the Prayer for Kent movement and the prayer school run by Honor Todd, as well as local congregations. Many fellowships in our area of Thanet (as in many places) have been battered and bruised in recent years by divisive issues, troubled leadership and various struggles, but God used Arnold’s words of encouragement and absolute faith in the coming revival of the church in the UK to bring healing, restoration and a renewed excitement for what God has planned. Our area on the far south eastern tip of Britain is not one of great prosperity and hope, and it is quicker to take a ferry to France than travel to London which can make us feel a little “out on a limb” as far as the rest of the UK is concerned (but Arnold said he was pleased to have fulfilled his calling to preach to the ends of the earth!).  That weekend, we claimed again the destiny for our area as prophesied by John Mulinde in the 1990’s that it will be a key ignition spot not only for revival in the UK but also in mainland Europe.

Worship was led on Friday by Tim Cole, and throughout the rest of the weekend by various members of the New Life worship team ushered in a very real awareness of the presence of God. Arnold spoke graphically on Saturday morning on the subject of The Covenant, using illustration from his cultural experiences in Africa, which brought to life the precious way in which God loves, covers and protects us His children who are in covenant relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Sunday morning’s message to the church was particularly relevant and challenging. Arnold bravely combined three sermons:

-          the restoration and acceptance into the Kingdom of David of the damaged Mephibosheth of the family of Saul from the land of “No Communication” (2 Sam 9)

-          the fulfilment of eternal destiny in the lives of Ruth and Naomi, despite their destitution and displacement (Ruth)

-          the heart of the potter who never discards his pot but continually remakes it until it matches his design plan (Jeremiah 18)

This spoke powerfully into the lives of many present with difficult personal circumstances and many testified to renewed vision, faith and determination to reach their potential in God and to see the nation, starting with our area, changed. Personal prophetic words flowed during the lengthy time of prayer ministry.

For me personally it was a brief three day venture into the realm of Open Heaven where God was totally free to move and bless. I even saw offering coins multiply in my hands. My prayer partners and I are determined not to let the flame die, but to continue to ask God to visit this nation in saving, healing, reviving and miraculous power.