Our recent College of Prayer in Alicante, Spain was a partnership with the Betania [Bethany] School, focused on providing a multi-week spiritual formation opportunity for young adults across Europe. In total, 6 countries were represented, and the module was led by Tyler LeVan and Craig Lewis. The following is an abbreviated report from Tyler.
As day two began, Craig spoke on the "Power of Forgiveness." In response, everyone wrote down on a piece of paper the things that they needed to be forgiven of. Then on the other side they wrote down the names of anyone that they needed to forgive. Then we threw the papers into a fire pit, symbolic of course of Christ's total forgiveness. This seemed to open the floodgates. That evening the atmosphere was different. God's presence was tangible even as you simply walked into the room.
That night after I preached we called for a response and people responded in mass. As we stood there before the Father, I quietly prayed back to God something that He had spoken to me prior to the trip: "Ok Father, you told me to make room for you and you would fill it. Here it is." Soon after, one young man began to weep uncontrollably as he poured out his heart to God. Many other prayers followed. There was repentance. There was hunger. And there was a wonderful, peaceful sense of the Father's presence and love. There was a hunger and faith in the room as the Lord's presence was so tangible. After the meeting reached the 2 hour mark I made an announcement that we were dismissed but that anyone who wanted to stay before the Lord was welcomed to stay. Only a handful of people trickled out. The others would keep worshipping, praying, and calling out to the Lord for another hour and a half. The meeting belonged to the Lord and His Spirit was leading people close to His heart. My heart was so peaceful and full as we left the retreat center that night.
As I processed before the Lord that night and the following morning, I wondered, "Now what?" We had one more session, "Holy Spirit Fill Me" and I had a good, long, biblically rich message that I was joyfully ready to preach. But I also had the sense that maybe it was time to let them testify to what the Lord was doing. During worship, a young man approached Craig and said, "I have a testimony I want to share." As I prayed about what we should do I heard the Father say, "Let him share." His testimony was needed and it began a domino effect of people telling the stories of what God was doing. One girl even opened up that she had planned to take her own life just a couple days before coming to Betania. We were able to bring some ladies around her to embrace her and pray for her. I was so grateful for her courage and her vulnerability to share.
We prayed, worshipped, and prophesied for I'm not sure how long. God was there and there was no hurry to be anywhere else. Everyone who came forward was ministered to by God in unique and profound ways. It was a holy and beautiful mess as the Father poured out grace upon grace.
That night after I preached we called for a response and people responded in mass. As we stood there before the Father, I quietly prayed back to God something that He had spoken to me prior to the trip: "Ok Father, you told me to make room for you and you would fill it. Here it is." Soon after, one young man began to weep uncontrollably as he poured out his heart to God. Many other prayers followed. There was repentance. There was hunger. And there was a wonderful, peaceful sense of the Father's presence and love. There was a hunger and faith in the room as the Lord's presence was so tangible. After the meeting reached the 2 hour mark I made an announcement that we were dismissed but that anyone who wanted to stay before the Lord was welcomed to stay. Only a handful of people trickled out. The others would keep worshipping, praying, and calling out to the Lord for another hour and a half. The meeting belonged to the Lord and His Spirit was leading people close to His heart. My heart was so peaceful and full as we left the retreat center that night.
As I processed before the Lord that night and the following morning, I wondered, "Now what?" We had one more session, "Holy Spirit Fill Me" and I had a good, long, biblically rich message that I was joyfully ready to preach. But I also had the sense that maybe it was time to let them testify to what the Lord was doing. During worship, a young man approached Craig and said, "I have a testimony I want to share." As I prayed about what we should do I heard the Father say, "Let him share." His testimony was needed and it began a domino effect of people telling the stories of what God was doing. One girl even opened up that she had planned to take her own life just a couple days before coming to Betania. We were able to bring some ladies around her to embrace her and pray for her. I was so grateful for her courage and her vulnerability to share.
We prayed, worshipped, and prophesied for I'm not sure how long. God was there and there was no hurry to be anywhere else. Everyone who came forward was ministered to by God in unique and profound ways. It was a holy and beautiful mess as the Father poured out grace upon grace.
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