A BLOG directly from Julian Downward's desk.
Ok, for those of you who know and those of you who don't....THIS is what I believe God may have been preparing me for for the last decade! This place right here! >>>>>
After watching St.Peter's hall go from one lease holder to another...and go from one failed venture to another, I believe that 12 years of claiming that building back for God may have just come to a head! It's for sale!
It's for sale for offers in excess of £750,000
I'm so excited about this place I can't put it into words!
My whole life I have witnessed the most incredible acts of faith ...and they were undertaken by my own parents. This, however, is different, because this time that faith has to be my own. Yes of course, it has to be the faith of the Wessex Christian Centre people too, that's essential! but there always has to be one person who spear heads the venture...receives the initial vision and is given a 'gift of faith' by God to carry out His word.
On Tuesday night, we had our 4th evangelism course module. Myself and the band sang 'Here I am send me' a song by the mighty and prophetic Delirious? It got deeper into my spirit than ever before...but following that, we watched a film lasting around 25 minutes from Reinhard Bonnke...which was all about faith. No-one knew what had been surging through my heart and mind for the previous few days except my parents & wife - Sarah...yet the film we saw that night, was all about faith!
I began to pray..I found myself saying over and over and over..."You can do it Lord, you can do it Lord, You can do it Lord..."As I was praying, I felt the anointing of God coming upon me, over me and certainly THROUGH me. How do I know it was that? well, if I could describe it, I would be able to tell you how I know....I just know, because it's not the first time. By the time Ian was on his feet and speaking, I was being pulled apart by the gentle Spirit of God and literally streaming tears for the entire message! when we got back up to worship at the end of the Word, I could hardly hold a note...God was on me!
I did something else after that meeting that I will not divulge just now, but safe to say, I was calling on God for a word. A 'Yes', a 'NO', a 'WAIT'.... whatever the word, I would act. guess what He said:- absolutely nothing! Nothing at all! He remained silent!
Praise God!
what? Praise God?
YES! Praise God
why?
Because He didn't say NO yet, that's why!
It is so important for me to express something to you:- I have tested myself and my motives for wanting this place for weeks! I have asked myself over and over and over -
"why do you want it?...
why Downward?"
"what's your motive boy??
tell me...and be honest!"
well I can say with true honesty, I want it for the Kingdom of Light! and the Light of life! PERIOD!
Pride has no place in this picture!...and, to repeat yet more D lyrics:- (thanks to my prayer & fasting partner) "All this time, since the day that I was born (Lord) I've never known a time like this...I don't wanna let You down"
and I don't!
I remember many mornings parking my car on the cliff-top, looking over the sea and battling with The Lord over my calling and future....and God has very slowly granted clarity...although there is still some frosting on the window I'm peering through...but back at the cliff-top 3 years ago, I asked The Lord for one thing ......................The land! The land of Bournemouth!
Yes there are giants, yes, there are walls...but have you seen the grapes? they take 2 men to lift them! And the grapes are not for us...NO NO, they are the fruit of sould, for the fruit bowl of God almighty.
I'm decided! I'm not gonna get to 65 and say, "Oh man, why didn't I have a go at this or that for God...I have too many regrets.." Let me tell you - the grave yard is full of dreams never lived (Yes Ian?)....By God's grace, I'm not gonna be that! "He shall not, be forgotten!" God's name will be raised in Bournemouth beyond anything seen before...."I've been down the road where they angels have been....where the kids are seeing things that we have never seen!"
Come Lord Jesus, take Your place...You've earned it. You deserve it and we're opening up a dusty throne room just for YOU! Come take back that tiny little box they call St.Peter's hall. After all, it's Yours anyway, so why don't You come and kick the squatters out. Humbly, I ask it!
If you're with us, send a link to this BLOG to as many WCC folks as you can...let's inform, enthuse and build faith together!
Jules ;-)
