To be honest, most of us were pretty surprised. We had laid out 550 seats in the new church building, but the majority of us were quite amazed to see them mostly filled last night!

In Northern Ireland people tend to arrive for a church service a few minutes before it starts. Last night, as the seats began to be occupied, we were watching them mostly filled twenty minutes before the meeting began. Not only that the worship team were up to lead the already large gathering of people a full hour before proceedings officially were scheduled to start.

This was just the beginning of an amazing night of worship, fellowship and ministry. People present came from all over the globe—I believe most continents were represented—with people flying in from countries like Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Sweden, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, USA and Canada. There were at least fifty Bulgarians gathered in one section to the left of the stage and eagerly following along as much as they could.

The message brought by the Ugandan team leader (and Kampala based ministry “vision bearer”) was a powerful, timely and hugely relevant teaching, out of Genesis 3 and other passages, on the wisdom from God versus the wisdom that is demonic, earthly and evil. It was a fascinating exposition of Truth, something about which many people present would never have heard the like.

The sermon was exceedingly encouraging, faith-building and uplifting. As it came to a conclusion a time of ministry ensued, and, as various ailments were called out from the front as being healed, there were a number of people raising hands indicating their healing from back pains had just taken place. As they were called forward to talk about what had happened to them, it became evident that some wonderful healing had taken place. People with severe back pain over a number of years—fifteen in one case—were completely freed from all pain.

Things moved from back pain to stomach issues and other ailments. The atmosphere was electric with excitement, which turned to some beautiful praise as some Africans joined the speaker in a beautiful song honouring and thanking the LORD for all He had done as things began to conclude on this first day of this amazing weekend.

And to think that this has all come to the little town of Fintona in the west of Northern Ireland! We are all eager to see what else the LORD does during these next two days.