"Thank you Gary. Fun to revisit this dusty site! I am still committed to the SOIL manifesto. So much water under the bridge this past year and a half."
Jesus followers committed to living holistically
Good news!
God has brought some interesting people to live in our house over the past few years. One of these was a Gambian woman fleeing domestic slavery in the UK. She came to stay with us for 2 months while she awaited an appointment to claim asylum in the UK (she has been here for 10 years living as nanny/domestic for various households for no payment - modern slavery).
She was really nervous about claiming asylum and always asked us to pray with her. I had the privilege of praying with her directly on a number of occasions. She and I did not share the same faith, but we did share a knowledge (her faith often stronger than mine) that God was the answer and only He could save us.
On the day she claimed asylum, she realised the full horror of the UK asylum system. She was immediately detained and put in a prison for women asylum seekers called Yarl's Wood Detention Centre in Bedfordshire, where she stayed for 6 months. She was released this week and returned to Bristol where we had a massive hug!
It amazed me how open she was to praying with me, how much she loved God, how completely she knew her need of Him, and she was not a Christian. I'm not sure why I was surprised really but I was!
It also amazed me how much God worked in my weaknesses, chief amongst which is my curse/ability to live in the moment and to deal with what is in front of me. This can be a terrible curse when people are not right there, I cannot seem to continue to hold them or to ring them even. Somehow, in the midst of that uselessness on my part, God brought me to remembrance at vital moments and I stayed in touch. I also prayed. This prayer is what this woman attributes her release to. She fully believes that the prayers of a Christian enabled her to be released.
How Great is Our God!
Blessings
Rachael
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Comment by John Becker on November 1, 2011 at 8:57pm
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Wonderful testimony Rachael. I am continually challenged by your calling and compassion. I recently did a Bible study on God's heart for the Alien and Stranger. I think I might post it. Thanks for writing this and more importantly, thanks for living this! John
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engaging
I have been journeying with John in his engagement in fulfilling the SOIL commitment. This led me to look back at the site and notice that it has been inactive for quite some time. I assume we have all been engaged in the current calling God has placed before each one of us. For the past four years Linda and I have been engaged in starting a shelter for runaway/homeless youth in crisis: https://www.yeshelter.org/with a couple of forays to Kenya and…See More
"Craig. Thanks for this incredible song. What truth and challenge I found in it. I will not be at Street Church tonight so please say hello to our new friends. Thanks again for this post. John"
Song: End of my journey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwSzJcBogkU&feature=youtube_gdata_playerLoved this song, gives the example of what the cross and message of Christs life. Total surrender to ego, to be resurected to live in and from spirit. Following and surrendering to Christ.To be who we are and what we have come at this time in life to do on the earth. Only through the holy spirit can that be revealed.See More
"Hi John, thank you for the encouraging verse's. They were very powerful and very enlightening! I read that from a book called " A course in miracles". Thank you again for all the spiritual lifting you have brought to my…"
"Hi John, had great time seeing you last night! Again thank for the invite to SOIL, hope I can share some positive energy with the site!"
"Holiness often isn't thought of in that way these days but that is so true. In what ways am I living a life that is different from the general way of the world, a life that is separated from the 'normal' way of living?"
"Good to see you on SOIL brother. I am excited about the possibilities. Shoot me an update on your life.
Your brother, John"
"Hi Dave it's good to see you on here. Look forwards to the conversation."
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