Welsh Outpouring by Dai Pike

Cwmbran is not the first place to spring to mind when you think about revival in Wales. For a start, the place is Wales's 'new town' and as such is a fairly anonymous mid-twentieth century settlement just north of Newport and not far from the border. It doesn't have a particularly Welsh feel to it - it could be almost anywhere in England and Wales; only the long line of hills immediately to the west of the town coupled with the bilingual road signs suggest that we are in the Valleys! Furthermore, the name of the place is a little sinister, for Cwmbran actually means 'Valley of Crows'. It doesn't sound like a place of blessing! Yet, it is currently a place where God is pouring out his Spirit in a church which meets in a converted warehouse where they used to make swimming pools. That bit does seem a little more appropriate. 

Victory Church was started just three years ago by Richard Taylor, a charismatic and energetic Jonathan Davies lookalike (think former Wales rugby star and BBC sports pundit) who is still in his mid 30's. When he was a teenager, his lifestyle was such that it would have been impossible to anticipate that he would ever be a key figure in an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. But, as well as working in unlikely places, God often uses surprising people to fulfil his purposes.

Richard Taylor

Richard Taylor was born in Swansea in 1975, and brought up in the rough Bryn area of Llanelli, just a couple of miles east of the town centre. His parents were very poor, and life was difficult. After his parents' marriage broke up when he was nine years old, things got even more challenging as his mother brought up her boys alone. Richard started stealing at the age of twelve, becoming more and more angry and embittered because of their circumstances, and because he missed his father. By the age of thirteen he was uncontrollable, involved in drugs and petty crime. The criminal lifestyle gradually got worse, until eventually, still a teenager, he was sent to prison. 

By 1993, on remand in Swansea prison, Richard began asking himself some serious questions about life, and began attending the prison chapel. It was here, during communion services, that he began to sense the presence of God for the first time. A
Christian prison visitor shared with him about the love of God for him and that God had a plan and purpose for his life. These talks had a profound effect on him, and instead of using the thin pages to roll tobacco into cigarettes, he began reading his prison Bible. 

Released into the care of the Christian organisation, Victory Outreach, in 1993, Richard finally met with God, was born again, and filled with the Holy Spirit. The change in him was dramatic, and he found he was able to give up the drug habit that had dogged him for some years and had pushed him into criminality. He devoured the word of God, and began travelling with Victory Outreach, sharing his testimony and preaching. He went on to study for a degree in theology at Birmingham Bible Institute, and after that became the pastor of a small church in Tipton in the Midlands. He moved on from there to become Associate Pastor at Renewal Christian Centre in Solihull. 

Pastor Richard Taylor

At Solihull he became a writer, and was involved in broadcasting work on both radio and television, featuring in the BBC series 'To Catch a Thief'. His life up to this point was described in his autobiography, also called 'To Catch a Thief', which is well worth reading. 

Today Richard leads Victory Churches, and is the Executive Director of Victory Outreach UK which provides homes and support for addicts and former convicts. He is also a co-founder of Gateway Outreach which helps provide financial support for the homeless and socially disadvantaged, as well as ex-convicts.

Richard Taylor began Victory Church in a small chapel in Cwmbran just over three years ago, in January 2010. The initial congregation consisted of his family and a handful of former convicts and drug addicts. They quickly grew to about 50, and moved into a sports centre, where soon 150 were gathering. By April that same year, they were renting a disused industrial unit, which they converted into the modern meeting place they still use today. It was opened in September 2010, at which time there were as many as 650 people attending.

Today, Victory Church runs meetings on several campuses in the South East Wales area. After starting in Cwmbran, meetings were begun at Soar Chapel, Merthyr Tydfil in the summer of 2011; and a year later, in September 2012, they were able to secure the use of the huge Bethania Chapel in Dowlais. Over 330 attended the first meeting there, filling the balcony as well as the seating on the ground floor. The congregation witnessed 26 baptisms there during that inaugural meeting. Evan Roberts once preached in this chapel, though ironically, it was the home chapel of the Rev Peter Price, who became the great opponent of the 'Evan Roberts Revival'.

Victory Church, Cwmbran

Further Victory Church campuses have been established in Chepstow, and just over the border in the Forest of Dean area of Gloucestershire in the village of Bream, near Lydney. There is also a small work now gathering young people in Caerphilly; and there are plans for many further campuses in the future including one in Bargoed and another in Maerdy in the Rhondda. The vision is to see 50 churches established in ten years, and at the present rate of progress that's not out of the question! This could be one of the most energetic church-planting initiatives Wales has seen since the days of John Pugh's Forward Movement in the years leading up to the outbreak of the great Revival of 1904-5. It is motivated by a similar vision to that expressed by Seth Joshua, who was John Pugh's successor; for written over everything at Victory is their three-fold vision: 'Passion for the Saviour, Love for Scripture, Rescuing the sinner.' As the church's website puts it:

Victory Church encourages its congregation to be the church among their friends, family, neighbours and co-workers. We are a church that is passionate for the Saviour, have a deep love for scripture and are intentional about rescuing the sinner.

Victory Church has been committed to preaching the gospel and teaching the word of God, and has a particlar emphasis on reaching some of the most needy individuals in society. It seems there is something about Richard Taylor's own personal transformation from the bad boy of Llanelli with his lifetyle of drugs and crime, to a charismatic church leader and media figure, as well as a married family man, which inspires hope in the lives of people with few if any prospects outside of the mercy and grace of God. Many hundreds of people have been impacted by his life and ministry, and been born again and baptised after finding freedom through the gospel. But it has been a significant additional emphasis on seeking the presence of God which has led to a significant breakthough to a new level just in the last week.

The recent move of the Spirit began on Wednesday night 10th April 2013 at approximately 7.35pm. At that specific time, Pastor Richard was praying for an older man in the congregation called Paul who ten years before had been involved in a serious car accident which left him crippled and in a wheelchair, unable to walk. Richard had just finished speaking from the book of Esther, and invited the people to bring their own Haman to the king's feast, in other words, their own particular problem or need. For Paul, that was his disability. As Richard prayed for him, Paul found he was able to move his legs. He then tried to stand and found he could. The next thing that happened, as the truth of what God was doing dawned on him, was that he lifted the heavy weelchair triumphantly above his head to demonstrate he was healed. The church erupted as he then set off to run around the building without any sign of limitation. Faith was ignited in the people, and in the praise that followed several other people found themselves spontaneously receiving wholeness without anyone laying hands on them. 

One woman who had suffered from a frozen shoulder and was unable to lift her arm above the horizontal found she could lift it right up into the air. When the people saw and heard about what had happened, they erupted again. Suddenly, as Richard's PA Cerian explained to me, everyone  who was there realised that everything was possible with God. Others with drug and alcohol addictions were powerfully touched by God and many were set completely free; and the leaders of the church were fired with fresh passion and desire to see God do more.

In a brief review meeting of leaders afterwards, it was suggested that it would be good to continue to meet with God rather than wait until the Sunday gathering or the next scheduled Encounter meeting the following week. Recognising that God was powerully breaking in in a way beyond what they had experienced before, Pastor Richard decided that they should meet again the next day. He subsequently felt that if more people came on the Thursday than on the Wednesday, they should see it as a sign that they should continue to hold meetings each evening.

The next day, Thursday 11th, as staff arrived at the church building, there was still a thick and tangible sense of God's presence in the place. Many were deeply affected by it, some being completely overwhelmed and falling to the floor even as they entered the building. Others were unable to get on with their work. People coming to the building with problems were prayed for, and several experienced healing, while others shared testimonies of how they had been powerfully impacted and filled with joy as a result of being in the meeting the previous evening.

There were more at the meeting than the previous night, and as soon as it began, the presence of God descended on the people. Many were shaking and weeping, the presence was so strong. Richard shared on the story of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment and was healed. Afterwards many were powerfully touched during the ministry time, and the worship went on late into the evening as the people met with God.

Shifting the stage at Victory on Tuesday afternoon

The following day also, Friday, God's presence was heavy in the church building, and many came to be prayed for by the pastors, powerfully encountering God as a result. One teenage boy fell under the anointing and spoke in tongues for the first time. In the evening meeting the worship time was very powerful, even 'heavenly', and many were overwhelmed by the Spirit as they came forward during the ministry time after Richard preached. There were many healings. One was of a woman who suffered badly from MS was reported on the church website:

One notable miracle was that of a woman who has suffered with MS and hasn’t walked since being affected. The Holy Spirit spoke to one of our pastors and he prayed with her and said, ‘when you feel you can get up, get up’ she sprang up and walked (supported) for twenty steps, her legs continued to strengthen… She was filled with amazement and believed that she was being healed… Pastors continued to pray for her for over an hour, she continually received more and more strength. One pastor reported that the ladies leg was cracking as she prayed, at the same time the lady said hot oil was running through the joints! By the end of the evening, the woman walked out of the  auditorium, leaving her walking frame behind. She then sat in the foyer. God  is healing her and restoring her strength. We are waiting for more update on this. In her words ‘I couldn’t stand up before, now I’m standing, and I just walked! I believe!’

Many have been giving their lives to the Lord, including an entire family of four people who were not part of the church. It seems they were led to the Lord by another family member who was a part of the church. Immediately after this had happened, even though it was after midnight, they asked if the church was still open so they could go there to meet with God.

By Saturday night 13th April, people were beginning to come from other places in the immediate area to experience what was going on. A group of Korean pastors came, and they were invited by Richard to share with the meeting. One of them explained that God had called them to come to Wales to pray for revival and to keep praying until it arrived. Another of these dear men had tried the week before to go back to Korea, but had been unable to make the trip because of visa issues. Then, on Wednesday morning 10th April, just hours before the outpouring started, he had a dream in the early hours of the morning of a brilliant shaft of light piercing the darkness of a cave. He felt at the time it was a sign to him of what God was about to do, and knew later that the outpouring that began in Cwmbran that evening was its fulfilment. He explained that he realised now that God had prevented him from going back to Korea so he could witness the outpouring for which he and his friends had been praying. He wept as he shared this. It must have been a deeply moving moment for the people of the church in Cwmbran as they heard this.

The church website account of what happened next gives something of the flavour of what is going on:

The place erupted with praise and the atmosphere was what can only be described as supercharged… God began breaking into people’s lives. Pastor Richard received a Word and called all people with mental illness forward. Many responded. Many have got in touch to say that they feel completely healed!

People flocked forward for prayer and were powerfully touched by the fire of God. Bodies were everywhere, many reported that they couldn’t walk in a straight line! But much greater than this, is that lives are being transformed.

One young man who has suffered extensively with addiction and is currently on methadone, but also has depression has stated that he is no longer depressed, God has released him from a prison in his mind.

A woman with severe knee problem for many years has received complete healing.

People continue to be filled with the fire of God. Passion for the Saviour is at a new level, people are hungering and thirsting for the presence.

After 5 hours in church, many were still on the floor, soaking in the presence of God. The worship is electric and people are constantly praising God.

Richard Taylor with the worship team

On the Sunday, the meetings took place according to the usual format, but the outpouring continued to take people deeper and deeper into God. One of the leaders, Pastor Andrew Parsons, preached on the life of Samson, emphasising the need for people to break free from religiosity. There was a deep time of repentance, and Andrew anointed each person with oil as they met with God.

The church website account recorded afterwards:

We thank Him and praise Him for His precious, precious presence. We never want to go back to church with less of Him!

That afternoon Richard and Andrew drove all the way to London with a team from the church to speak at Kensington Temple, where they reported what was going on in Cwmbran. It was a powerful time of impartation to the people of that church also. Meanwhile, in the evening meetings held on Victory church's various campuses in South East Wales, people were sharing testimonies of the impact of the outpouring on them, many being healed from physical illness, depression, and being set free from addictions and dependencies on drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. The children too have been powerfully impacted:

Perhaps one of the most moving things, is hearing how God is at work in little lives. Children are being reported as going to sleep singing and praising God. One girl fell asleep singing ‘Just one touch from the King, changes everything!’ the song that has become the anthem of this revival. Many are improving in behaviour and are desperate to be in church with their mums and dads. The presence of Jesus is exciting to them.Godfey Birtill singing 'Just One Touch from the King': 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46uMMT70440

Godfrey Birtill's song has already become 

the outpouring's theme song

I was not able to get to the meetings at Cwmbran until yesterday, Tuesday 16th April, six days after the outpouring began. Initially, I went during the afternoon to try to speak to someone about the outpouring, and was able to hear an account of what had been going on from Cerian, Richard Taylor's PA. As she was talking with me, a group of carpenters was in the process of putting in a new stage in the middle of the long side wall of the long box-like auditorium, to replace the original one which had been at the far end ripped out that morning. Cerian explained that they were doing it because Pastor Richard wanted to get closer to the people to be able more effectively to lead the ministry times that were happening. Interestingly, this one radical shift of orientation meant that the lighting, projection and sound system were all in the wrong place at one end of the building. This sudden radical alteration meant that the meetings now depended on the presence of God utterly and completely rather than on equipment and technical expertise! 

Cerian also answered some of my questions about what had been going on before the outpouring began. She explained that Pastor Richard had just returned from a visit to meet Tommy Tenney in the States. A friendship had been developing between the two leaders for some time. Pastor Richard had been encouraged to pursue the presence of God in their meetings and to experience a greater measure of the breaking in of the kingdom of God through healing. Some nine months ago, Pastor Richard had felt to pray for each member of the church, from the youngest to the oldest, laying on hands and asking for more of God in their lives. This had been followed by the starting of Encounter meetings each Wednesday night. These were specifically intended as times to draw near to God and to seek him for a greater measure of his presence and for breakthough in healing. 

That evening, the foyer was packed with people waiting to be allowed into the main auditorium. I was delighted to people from Nations in Llanelli who remembered me visiting them to give a talk about Welsh revival history some weeks before, and others from Eritirea who knew good friends of mine from that nation. There were also several I knew from other churches in Cardiff. Many had travelled long distances from places in England as well. 

The power of God's presence was thick and tangible from the word go in the simple, now badly lit shoe-box of an auditorium in the converted warehouse. The worship was powerful and strong, with raw Valleys energy. Many in the congregation were former drug addicts and ex-convicts, and there were loads of young people completely on fire with love for Jesus. Pastor Richard himself led some of the singing, and his praying from the start encouraged people to press in to more of God. Some of the testimonies of what God had already been doing in people's lives in the week to date were remarkable.

Pastor Richard told the story of a young guy called Matthew who suffered so badly from dyslexia that he was unable to read at all. he had been touched by God and was able to read fluently from the Bible from the platform the previous evening. 

A former prison inmate who had an alcohol dependency and who had up to that point not been able to attend the church meetings without having a couple of cans first to calm himself, explained that he was now able to come to the meetings without a drink at all.
.
Another who had been dependent on methodone had given up taking the drug, and was not even suffering from withdrawl symptoms.

View across Cwmbran town centre from Upper Cwmbran

The most remarkable story was of a young local girl who came to one of the meetings drawn by what she had heard is going on. She encountered the love of God and was completely healed and set free from the results of sexual abuse. As far as I recall the story, the next day she met a friend who she had not seen for several years who was troubled and depressed. She too had been a victim of abuse. The friend who had met with God suggested they go to a bridge by the river to talk. After sharing for a while, the friend then prayed for God to touch the depressed girl. In the next few minutes, she was healed and delivered, and gave her life to the Lord. After this, the girl who had been healed the day before felt God prompting her to sing 'Amazing Grace' over the newly saved girl. She obeyed the prompting. The girl broke down as the song was being sung over her. Afterwards she explained that the song had meant a lot to her. She then explained that that very bridge that her friend had brought her to and where she sang the song was where she had some time before tried to take her own life. The place where the enemy tried finally to extinguish her became a place of transformation and liberation for her. Her Valley of Achor became the doorway of hope. This happened this week in Cwmbran. 

After hearing stories like that, you just want to praise God for what he is doing. 'If our God is for us, then who could ever stop us!' took on a new level of significance, and was sung full of faith and the belief God was going to do more of the same that evening. The sense of God's presence on the house intensified even more.

There followed a time of prayer for people with mental health issues, with about 40 people being prayed for individually by members of the leadership team, as the band led out with 'Be high and lifted up!' and Pastor Richard declared 'Sickness, take your hands of people now!'

Pastor Andrew Parsons preaching

Pastor Andrew Parsons spoke from the passage in Ezekiel 47 about the river of God flowing from the temple. There was a powerful anointing on the word, and the ministry time afterwards saw many being completely overcome by the power of God. I must admit to not really following much of what was going on after I hit the deck, apart from the band singing 'Just one touch from the King changed everything!' which somehow seemed approriate at that moment.

Towards the end it was party time with a wonderful, uninhibited and completely free outpouring of praise to God for his goodness and love, during which it was clear that a number of people were being set free from sickness and addictions.

It's now the following day, and I can't get Godfrey Birtill's song out of my head, and all I want is more of Him! So I think we will both be there tonight, to hear more stories of what God did in people's lives yesterday!

Something is definitely going on in Wales, and several other churches have reported a distinct upturn in the spiritual temperature in the recent days. We hope this will be the start of something which will spread and become still deeper in its impact in the coming weeks; but this will only happen is there is sufficient hunger and thirst for more among God's people in Wales rather than a complacent clinging to the belief that we have enough of God already.

Just in response to some stuff I already posted on Facebook about the outpouring in Cwmbran, my friend Joe James, originally from Merthyr Tydfil and now a pastor in St Louis, Missouri posted this:

'My friend was in Waitrose in England somewhere and she saw this woman putting groceries into her cart with tears running down her face and laughing. My friend asked her what was the matter and the woman said: 'My son has just been healed of leukemia. We were at a church in Cwmbran in South Wales and they prayed for him and he felt all fatigue leave him immediately. We took him to the doctors and they ran bloods, and all the cancer has gone!' 

The e-mail to my friend Joe continued:

'I don't know the lady whose son was healed of Leukemia. I only met her in Waitrose yesterday. She was only up this way as she is visiting her friend for 3 or 4 days. She is from Worcester. Her son is 30 years old. He travelled from Cheltenham to the meeting in Cwmbran, after hearing from a friend about the outpouring and healings taking place.'

Awesome!! 

I think there will be more to come on what is going on right now in South Wales!

New Life Publishing - The Welsh Outpouring

Wheelchair Healing Marks Outpouring in Wales

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The Welsh Outpouring

Paul Haynes’ miraculous healing stunned the congregation in Cwmbran as he leapt from his wheelchair.

Taken from Direction August 2013

The Welsh Outpouring has quickly come to the attention of Christians all over the world, but for one man, the start was as significant as anything that followed. Paul Haynes’ miraculous healing stunned the congregation in Cwmbran as he leapt from his wheelchair and hoisted the cumbersome load over his head…

“At first I tried to fight against it, because my psychologist and my care worker told me, ‘You’ll end up in a chair,’” says Paul Haynes. “In the end, I had to concede and go in the wheelchair.”

Having spent ten years in a rather unwelcome sitting position, however, the former businessman found his feet in the most remarkable way. The 53-year-old had been attending Victory Church for over a year when his healing occurred, marking the beginning of the Welsh Outpouring.

Incredibly, Paul had been expecting something like this to happen. “A few weeks prior, while I was in prayer in bed, because my disability often put me in bed, I said to God, ‘If you will raise me out of that chair, I will raise that chair above my head as a trophy to you.’

“And it felt to me like a still small voice said to me, ‘I will heal you.’”

“I didn’t know how, I didn’t know when, I didn’t know where, but for the next couple of weeks I went round the church telling people, ‘I won’t always be in this chair. God will raise me up out of it.’”

Things could have been very different if Paul had done what he wanted that Wednesday. “I knew it was coming,” he says, “but I had no special expectation that night. I nearly didn’t go to that meeting because I was feeling rough.

“In fact, when Pastor Richard was giving the altar call for people to come and get ministered to, I didn’t respond straight away. All I was thinking of was wheeling myself out to the car, getting my friend to drive me home, taking some Tramadol and hoping I could kill this pain.

“But my friend and my wife were sat with me and they said, ‘Go on, this might be your night.’ So I thought, ‘I’ve got nothing to lose. If I come back to the rows in my wheelchair, I’m no worse off, but I may very well walk tonight!’”

For Paul, Richard Taylor’s sermon based on the book of Esther that evening was of particular relevance.

“Richard was talking about bringing your Haman into the presence of the king, which is Jesus. Whereas Haman had power, like the enemy had power and was crippling me, Esther had favour. And I thought as I wheeled out, ‘Maybe my Haman will get lynched tonight on his own gallows!’” Having been persuaded by his wife and the friend who had driven them, Paul found himself at the front of the church with Pastor Richard and Executive Pastor Andy Parsons praying ‘strength’ over him.

“I felt a current go through my spine, through my hips, down to the back of my knees, right down my legs. My legs started shaking. I can’t duplicate how it happened,” he says, attempting to demonstrate. “Then my legs shot out. Straight up.

“I put my hands on the arms of my chair, and I didn’t need any help and I just went,” Paul explains, leaping up from the sofa he’s occupying for the interview. “I felt strength in my body. I felt I had become fortified. Then I just turned round. I think my wife guessed what was happening then because she started screaming. Up goes the chair above my head!”

Paul’s wife Lorraine remembers, “Paul had said that he was going to honour God by lifting that chair above his head and he was telling people in the church. And when his feet hit the ground out of the wheelchair, I knew this was it. I knew it was what God had promised. Oh, was I happy! I was screaming with joy and jumping up and down and running round the church myself.”

Paul’s life has been revolutionised. The manual wheelchair he raised in that meeting sits in the church lobby as a trophy of grace. “I’ve got a motorised one at the house as well,” he says. “That was given to me by the hospital, but that’s going back now, that is!”

More practically, he’s now slipping into his pyjamas with barely a hint of the osteoarthritis that was crippling his back, lumbar spine, knees and hips before the healing. “I was in a state of shock that night,” he remembers. “It seemed surreal to me at first. The reality dawned on me when I got home and I was getting undressed from my suit into my pyjamas and I called out, ‘Lorraine’. Now she knows, when I used to call before, that means I’m on the floor and I need help. She came upstairs and I said, ‘My leg has grown!’

“That leg was two-and-a-half inches shorter because of the damage I’d sustained in a car crash in 2003 on August 4. “My injuries were potentially life threatening,” he says. “I had a broken sternum, damage to my hip and my spine. I was badly hurt.”

For a long time, bitterness was a big part of Paul’s life. Unable to continue their ‘very together’ lifestyle as a couple because his disability and chronic intense pain prevented much going out, holding hands, and even resulted in Lorraine having to be careful how she turned over in bed, this success-orientated businessman took the blow hard.

But even the darkest of storm clouds had a silver lining. When Paul and Lorraine were in the car crash there were off-duty paramedics, doctors and nurses driving nearby. The police conceded that they had been expecting to find three bodies when they arrived at the scene, but the quick work of the professionals saved the Haynes’ lives. For Paul, though, this was as much a stumbling block as a cause for rejoicing.

“I asked God, ‘Why did you save me?’”

Having been out of church fellowship for 18 years, they joined Victory Church, where they’ve been for the past 18 months. Shortly after joining, Paul asked God that same question, and got an interesting response.

“I asked God why he saved me, not some other great men of God and he said, ‘What is that to you? But if you want to do one thing, consider your life not your own.’ Now, I don’t die easy, my wife will vouch for that. I’m a fighter to my own detriment. But when I said to the Lord, ‘Lord I offer all that I am unto you without reserve, do with me what you will,’ within a year I was raised up out of that wheelchair.”

The Welsh Outpouring – Victory Church Cwmbran

Posted on 14/06/2013 by David Grant

 On Tuesday evening 5 of us from Life Church Hook headed off to Wales, to visit Victory Church, Cwmbran which has become renowned as the centre of what is being called the Welsh Outpouring. Having looked at their website and watched a few of their videos I had some idea of what to expect.

We had been warned that the venue fills up quickly once the doors open at 7:00pm and it was best to arrive early to ensure a seat in the main auditorium, a converted warehouse. The meeting began with worship which was Christ centred and God exalting. After about 20 minutes Kenny Brandie, Lead Pastor for the Cwmbran Campus, invited those who would like prayer for healing and deliverance from addiction to come to the front where the ministry team prayed for them. Over 100 people were prayed for, the vast majority ending up flat on their backs on the floor. I was impressed by the care and sensitivity being shown by the ministry team to the people they prayed for.

After a further worship time Pastor Kenny preached a message about experiencing the presence of God. And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. Exodus 33:15 English Standard Version (ESV) Kenny showed us how fire was a symbol of God’s presence: with Moses at the burning bush, in the pillar of fire that guided the Israelites through the wilderness and on the disciples at the day pf pentecost. He encouraged us to seek and expect the presence of God; not just for a moment but to take with us into our lives. This led to a further ministry time when about a dozen people became followers of Jesus and the vast majority of those present were prayed for to receive fresh impartation of the Holy Spirit.

People have asked me since if this is a genuine revival; I think I would have to say it is. I felt extremely comfortable and the whole focus of the meeting was Jesus centred and the gospel of Jesus was proclaimed. The leaders we self effacing and at pains not to draw attention to themselves. This was night 64 of these meetings and during that time they have recorded 650 new believers and thousands of people being healed and touched by the presence of God.

I went hoping, that like Jesus disciples in the gospels, I would see Jesus at work – healing the sick and declaring the kingdom. I long to see more of his happening in our ministry here in Hook so plan to visit Cwmbran again and take more of our people with us. 

Visiting the Welsh Outpouring by Roger Harper

The Welsh Outpouring at Victory Church, Cwmbran, continues. Five of us from our family went last Wednesday to catch it.

Victory Church is in a converted industrial unit, round the corner from a major shopping park in Cwmbran, easy to find. We joined a large queue before being ushered into the ‘dark shoe box’, as the Minister, Richard Taylor, called it. People were standing packed at the back, not a seat in sight. A leading local man led us to the front where there were free seats. Not so different from normal church…

The format was normal Pentecostal: worship songs, followed by talk, followed by more songs and prayer ministry at the front by the local team. Some of the initial songs were from 10 or so years ago, not all bang up to date. Later we sang some old hymns. The familiarity and gusto of all the singing indicated that most of the people present were long-standing Christians. We sang ‘Here is love, vast as the ocean…’ the ‘signature hymn’ of the 1904 Welsh Revival. Richard Taylor said that the Cwmbran Outpouring is the first significant such move of the Holy Spirit in Wales since 1904.

People had come far – from Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Tennessee and Singapore. We heard that Victory Church has had a million people viewing their Facebook page since the Outpouring began. Hundreds of people have decided to welcome and follow Jesus in their lives. Hundreds have reported healing. We were told of an 18 year old girl who had been self-harming, including on her legs, and who now no longer needs to cut herself. She came again to Victory Church in shorts, showing her former scars: ‘trophies of grace’ – a phrase she had heard there. A man with curvature of the spine came. He wasn’t healed, but he started praying in tongues. The Holy Spirit prompted him to go back to be reconciled with the leaders of a church which he had left in bad grace. He returned to Victory Church and, on this second visit, his back was straightened.

My 88 year old mother-in-law was with us, hoping to see at last with her own eyes a dramatic healing, like someone leaping out of a wheelchair. We didn’t see that. We did see her falling onto the floor while someone prayed for her. This is usual for her. Many such times have made her healthier and happier than when she was 68. I went forward for prayer for Holy Spirit Outpouring on me and through me. I didn’t fall over, as is usual for me. Standing, I did feel gently filled up, as though with warm air, similar to other times of prayer for the Holy Spirit, but distinctive. No obvious difference since. Maybe when I pray with others..?

From what I could see, there were fewer physical signs of the Holy Spirit moving, fewer shakings and fallings over, in the congregation, as opposed to during prayer ministry, than I have seen in a couple of other places.

Richard Taylor preached on the cross with genuine passion. He called for people to make first time commitments in the usual way: first putting their hand up, then coming to the front for a prayer of dedication and to be given follow up material. Nothing unusual: focus on Jesus and him crucified, rather than on the Holy Spirit.

It seems that some critics have said the Outpouring is all money-making. Richard Taylor joked that he could make a fortune out of selling anointed prayer cloths, instead of just giving them away. There was no offering, nor a mini-sermon on giving, as is usual in many churches, only a retiring collection. The screen at the front was no hi-tech super-reflective surface, but a white bed sheet tacked onto a wooden board.

Richard Taylor said repeatedly that Victory Church is just a local church. They are doing what they have done before, but with more sense of the Holy Spirit flowing.  He hinted that they have moved on from some of their previous practice – no longer giving a benediction. ‘When the Outpouring came, Benedict left the building.’ Mostly, though, they are the same but more so.

Normal local church with more sense of the Holy Spirit welcome, present and moving. That possibility, to me, is tremendous, exciting, inspiring hope. Not an unusual time called ‘Revival’ which comes and then goes leaving powerful memories and a disappointed hangover. Ordinary local churches being themselves in their various traditions, but with more enthusiasm, more sense of the Holy Spirit, more light, more fire, more healing, more commitment to Jesus. ‘Don’t join our church,’ said Richard Taylor, ‘there are plenty of other good churches.’ A few things may have to leave the building; not all that we do is what the Holy Spirit wants. Mostly, though, we will remain the same, but more so. May this Outpouring flow to many more local churches in Wales and beyond.

The Blessing continues in Wales!

Dear Friends and praying Saints:

Please just keep praying and giving God thanks! What I mentioned last week in South Wales continues and wonderful things are happening. Our friends from Celebration for the Nations have reported, "There is a beautiful outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Victory Church in Cwmbran. Many are coming to salvation and the Lord is working some remarkable miracles. People are beginning to come from other parts of Wales and England to soak in the very tangible presence of the Lord. There is no hype, just worship and good gospel teaching.
Here is today's update from their web page:

Last night marked the 16th day of the "Welsh Outpouring" and God has continued to move powerfully in people’s lives. Many people have been in touch to encourage us as we continue to walk this walk, with Jesus at the wheel. This is His work, its not about any man, or any ministry and we welcome all to come and experience Gods presence as this living water continues to flow.
The amount of Salvations that we are seeing is simply incredible. It was amazing to see a girl, (who got saved on Wednesday night) bring her friend on Thursday, who also gave her life to Christ! This is only one example of what is happening amongst so many families and groups of friends.
We are seeing significant breakthrough with teenagers in the church and more and more are being filled with the Holy Spirit and hungering after the things of God. Many already feel ‘called’ by God for specific tasks, this is so exciting for us as we continue to reach out to rescue the sinner.
Pastor Andrew exhorted us last night to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. This is so important, especially in a context like this, where so much is happening and so many are visiting. Amidst this mighty outpouring, we are thankful that it is only Jesus that can truly change lives!

You can check their page daily to keep abreast and what is happening, and be encouraged to pray more. And do let friends know also, as the power of prayers behind this continues to adds the whole. Here's the link again: Victory Church Outpouring in Cwmbran, South Wales!
This is all such an encouraging development, and we are looking for the tide to grow and spread. Please keep the pastors, leaders and all others serving especially in your prayers. They need all the support they can get.
Meanwhile, Gladys and I are on another visit to Majorca, a wonderful gift from friends. We are enjoying some warmer weather. It is also a blessing to meet with and encourage our Christian friends here that we've met on previous visits. Thursday we met a couple that have been praying here for about ten years, and are now seeing fruit of their labors!
Dick & Gladys

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Thursday, April 18, 2013

A New Visitation of the Holy Spirit in South Wales!!

Dear Saints:
Just learned of this on Monday and thought you would be encouraged to pray for what is going on in South Wales at Victory Church in Cwmbran. Here are some excerpts from their web page.

Throughout yesterday daytime, people came into the church and received prayer, many were filled with an intense joy. One young girl who has struggled to sleep and suffered from anxiety for the last couple of months, received prayer and immediately felt much more hopeful for her future. Others have said that they can see Jesus in the people they meet here and sense His love in action. God is continuing to draw people throughout the day to soak in Gods presence.
Many pastors and leaders visited from all over the country yesterday and were mightily infused with passion, many reported a powerful freedom coming upon them as they worshiped, danced and received from God.
It is impossible to fully describe the intensity of joy that followed the ministry of Gods Word. The church was packed out, our car park overflowed out onto the road, as people flocked to the church to experience God’s presence. What a night it was, shackles were smashed and liberty was released on people as the church became a spiritual swimming pool! Pastor Andrew encouraged people to dive into God’s presence and not to stay at the shallow end. After preaching a prophetic word from the book of Ezekiel, the power of Gods Spirit continued to flow intensely...

You can read more of this developing story and see a few video clips here: Victory Church Outpouring in Cwmbran, South Wales!
A friend has also written up some background about the church and its pastor, which you can read here. These are encouraging events indeed, the beginning of the answers to many years of prayers by many precious saints throughout this land, and there is so much more to come!
Thank you for praying with us. Be encouraged as you pray for your local area and elsewhere also! And thank you Lord Jesus, let the revelation of your love and glory spread!
Dick & Gladys

Dick & Gladys

News of Outpouring of Holy Spirit in Wales

A few days ago I discovered reports of an “Outpouring” in South Wales, UK,  in a town called Cwmbran. The church has a ministry to those with addictions.  It’s happening in Victory church and evening meetings are being broadcast on Livestream. I watched a couple and from what I saw and heard it seems like the genuine article. This is the Pastors site: http://www.richietaylor.org  The background to the Pastor and recent events is here: http://daibach-welldigger.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/outpouring-in-cwmbran-2013.html This blogger has also added an update: http://daibach-welldigger.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/the-cwmbran-outpouring-continues.html

The Welsh Outpouring by Jonathan Stanfield

Imagine being part of a relatively new local church where literally hundreds of people, many from the margins – drug addicts and alcoholics – have given their lives to Christ in a single month. This week some of the Living Hope Community Church eldership team and I went to visit a small town in south Wales, Cwmbran, with just a population of 55,000 but on the 10th April during a midweek Encounter meeting suddenly God began something new.

It all started that night with a member of the church who after a car accident 10 years ago was paralysed from the waist down in a wheel chair being prayed for and right in the middle of the prayer he stood up, lifted the wheel chair above his head and ran around the auditorium with it praising God. As Richard Taylor, who’s the lead pastor of Victory Church shared this account with us in his office he said some were praising God and others, because they knew the guy’s situation were even screaming with fear because what had happened.

Since that night they’ve continued to meet every night at 7pm, except for Fridays which they take off and Sunday nights when they have their church plant meeting. They can’t fit everyone in. There are overflow rooms, hundreds watching on Livestream and it continues with probably at least 15 saved daily, others healed, miraculous signs and wonders, and many set free from addiction.

During our First Friday Day of Prayer and Fasting on May 3rd I sensed God speaking to me about what was happening in Wales, so I shared this with some of the team and made a plan to be there on Thursday – planes, trains and automobiles.

Usually Richard would spend the entire afternoon until about 5.30pm in prayer leading up to the evening meeting but on this occasion he kindly agreed to meet up with us. As he shared the story it was clear that here was very ordinary guy, from a criminal and addiction background, who was simply passionate for God and his purposes. He has no agenda other than seeking to cooperate with the agenda of God on earth.

You can check out the full story and reports on the website however I had several personal observations.

1. Hunger and humility – he and the people attending every night had a hunger for God and the presence of Jesus, and coupled with that was humility. These meetings were not about putting his name or the church’s name on the map, or a way of manipulating the vulnerable or attendees to give money to their cause. This is the real deal.
2. Obedience – I heard Richard say on a few occasions that God had said that “as long people showed up, He would”. That’s why the meetings are continuing, they’re drawing near to God. For a long time I’ve heard God say, “I will respond to you, the way you respond to me”. James put it this way, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.”
3. Mission – what is really significant about this move of God is the numbers who are getting saved. Unlike many “similar” meetings in the British Isles over recent decades which sadly mostly resulted in self-indulgence with little or no transformation outside of the meetings this is very different. It’s a joy to see Acts 1:8 in action. God gives us the Spirit to reach the lost! 100s already have been saved.
4. Wisdom – to address the issue of possible burnout other members of the team share the ministry and there is no meeting on a Friday evening to enable everyone to rest up. So often in the past as soon as God starts to move in power leaders fall for the temptation of publicity from Christian TV, much of which sadly is money focussed and can turn something that is sacred into a sensation. Thankfully in this instance the Victory Church team have had great wisdom and currently the Outpouring is only available on Livestream and I believe UCB will be doing a documentary which I’m confident will ensure any additional exposure will continue with integrity.
5. Local Church – it’s so encouraging to see this rooted in the context of a life giving local church with a vision to plant 50 churches in the south of Wales. Church life, small groups, youth and ministry etc. is continuing as “normal” and ensuring that everyone moving forward in discipleship.

I could write much more but hopefully there’s enough there to give you what we sense is the “heart” of this local team partnering with the Holy Spirit.

As we reflected upon the circumstances that led to the start of the outpouring I was reminded of the woman at the well. Through her life changing encounter with Jesus an entire town was transformed. That’s the parallel I see here. Perhaps in the first instance it is about the transformation of lives in south Wales, but undoubtedly God’s heart is for other communities and nations and we’ll pray for the fire of God to spread.

Some might call it revival, renewal, an outpouring, but maybe it’s a glimpse of what New Testament Church can actually be. It’s remarkable. But isn’t the church worldwide called to be just that? Maybe instead of being focused on programs and personalities when we actually put the presence of Jesus at the centre of our lives and local church this is exactly what we should expect.

We also met up with a good friend who ministers with the Salvation Army in the Cwmbran and he was so encouraged by what God was doing. So often we see the growth of other churches around us as “competition” but here I found genuine celebration for the salvations from another local church leader.

We had some great conversations with the taxi drivers about what was happening, and certainly it’s a blessing to them. One told me, “I hear God has turned up at that church.” I think that’s a good description. Another, this time from a Muslim background was curious to understand was happening and so we had to opportunity to share the gospel with him.

The evening outpouring meeting was an amazing time to worship, hear testimony, encounter Jesus, receive ministry and partner with the Holy Spirit. Without appearing to be giving a clinical response to events, again, here are some personal observations. As someone once said, “I’m not a judge, but I am a fruit inspector!” This place was covered in fruit!

1. Worship – as the doors opened, Godfrey Birtill, who was leading the worship that night to give some of the Victory team a rest was already worshipping and everyone else just started to join in. There was no formal start or hype, it just all happened.
2. Message – Richard or whoever is speaking at the meeting simply spends the afternoon in prayer and then gives a “now” word on the night as the Holy Spirit leads. They firmly believe in a systematic Bible teaching ministry, that’s clearly their DNA, however the encounter nights have a different dynamic and it’s usually a shorter message (note to self!). It was clear the Holy Spirit had anointed the word as many responded for salvation.
3. Salvation – there was a celebration as around 15 responded to the gospel. As this is very much a local church context in which God is moving it was encouraging to see that they weren’t just seeking decisions but making disciples. All who responded then came forward, were prayed for, received discipleship materials and a process of follow-up began. I laughed as Richard pointed them to other churches to get planted into as they had no room left!
4. Challenges – in every move of God you’re always going to have the Spirit, the flesh and the devil at work often at the same time. I was so encouraged that the Victory team whilst not stifling the move of the Holy Spirit, when necessary gently yet firmly addressed any obvious “flesh” and ensured the demons fled. This is a safe place for anyone to visit or to be planted. There wasn’t an offering, just buckets at the door and unlike much of what was seen on Christian TV, people weren’t pushed over by the celebrity minister on the stage and declared healed, rather Richard encouraged anyone who believed that God had healed them to continue on medication, first go to their doctor to have it verified before sharing it in this public setting.
5. Fire Carriers – it was great for our team to be prayed for by the Victory team and our passion and belief is that God has imparted a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit into our lives and ministries here on the Isle of Man. I know some will give 101 reasons why it’s not necessary to even attend something like this in order for God to move in your life or church. To those who hold that view, I agree that we have everything we need within us from the moment of conversion to fulfil the work God has called us to. However, from both biblical and personal experience I know that when you get into the presence and partner with those who have a specific anointing for ministry that there is a fresh impartation. We read that even Saul started to prophesy when he met a company of prophets. Similarly when I’m in the presence of Andrew Selley and our Four12 apostolic team God always imparts something new from the Spirit which they carry in their lives and ministry. Recently when we were blessed by a weekend with Frans Olivier (evangelist) many were released in that ministry and saw souls saved for the very first time. I’m confident that God’s fire has been released upon us in a fresh way, to see personal holiness, more salvations, greater healings and people set free from addiction.

My prayer is that the Welsh Outpouring will become a British Isles and beyond outpouring, and that local churches will be life giving communities where the lost are found, the sick healed and captives are set free.

May your Kingdom come… may Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven… MORE LORD!

Ship of Fools report

Victory Church, Cwmbran, Wales

Mystery Worshipper: St Hilda.The church: Victory Church, Cwmbran, Wales.Denomination: Independent Pentecostal.The building: Also known as the Tin Cathedral, the church is located in a former industrial building that was donated and converted to its present purposes in 2010. The meeting space is very sparse and utilitarian. Since my visit of two years ago, the stage has been moved to another wall, and the seating surrounds it on three sides.The church: They are currently undergoing what has been dubbed the "Welsh Outpouring", a move of the Holy Spirit that is attracting people from all over the UK and much further afield. There are five "outpouring" meetings a week at present. The church was founded by Richard Taylor, ex drug addict and ex offender, who also runs Victory Outreach UK, which ministers to ex offenders. In the few years since it opened, Victory Church has also planted another five churches in the area.The neighbourhood: Cwmbran is on the edge of the Welsh Valleys and was founded as a "new town" (a planned community constructed in a previously undeveloped area) in 1949 as part of a goal to bring alternative industry to an area formerly dominated by coal mining. It has many shopping and entertainment amenities and sporting facilities.The cast: The worship leader was Robbie Howells and the preacher was Richard Taylor.The date & time: 22 June 2013, 7.00pm. What was the name of the service? The Welsh Outpouring. How full was the building? Crammed full. I don't know the capacity, but hundreds. Did anyone welcome you personally? No. I arrived at 6.00, to make sure of a seat (and to be able to wait inside in the warm). There were already many others waiting to be allowed into the main auditorium. Was your pew comfortable? It was a plastic stacking chair, so not immensely comfortable. But we spent most of the time standing (see below), so comfort was a moot point. How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere? Buzzing. There was a real sense of anticipation in the foyer, with a lot of excited chatter. Occasionally one church group would break out into worship songs. What were the exact opening words of the service? There were no opening words as such. We were not allowed into the auditorium until 7.00, but once inside we saw that worship was already going on. It was a very intense atmosphere, and if words of welcome were spoken they passed me by. What books did the congregation use during the service? No books. The words of the songs sung were projected onto two large screens. The most visible one to me was behind me, which made for an interesting worship experience. What musical instruments were played? Keyboards, electric guitar, drums. Did anything distract you? The fact that the event was being filmed and livestreamed. At one point the pastor asked the camera operator to do a closeup of him, which is unusual in a sermon. Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what? We were led in some excellent gospel style worship, with occasional breaks for prayers. After an hour or so Pastor Richard joined the worship team on stage and the worship became more spontaneous and included some old worship classics. The worshippers were extremely enthusiastic, with hands raised, clapping, the odd bit of dancing. There were frequent breaks to invite the Spirit and for some ministry. It seemed unplanned but never chaotic or out of control. Exactly how long was the sermon? It was about an hour: difficult to be exact in such an intense atmosphere. On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher? 9 – Richard Taylor is an extremely charismatic individual and a very amusing speaker. However, I subtracted one point for his having spent rather a long time ranting about some of his online critics (did I mention the meetings are streamed live?). In a nutshell, what was the sermon about? The sermon was about revival. He preached about how the Spirit had come on Pentecost in fulfillment of the prophecy in Joel 2 (the Lord is coming), and how there has been a succession of Pentecosts since then. He then spoke of what he saw as straitjackets of revival emanating from within the Church, and what can bring a revival to an end. Which part of the service was like being in heaven? There were moments when there was an intense feeling of God's presence, and the worship was pretty amazing too. And which part was like being in... er... the other place? The long hours of standing started to get really tiring, especially as no sooner had we sat down after prayer than we were encouraged to get back on our feet. What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost? At around 11.15 the pastor finished speaking. At this point one could leave, though many stayed on. I left, as the service had already gone on for over four hours and I had an hour's drive home yet to endure. I was exhausted and couldn't have faced hanging around in the foyer or stopping for a chat. How would you describe the after-service coffee? There was none (though I did have a glass of wine to celebrate arriving home safely!). How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)? 8 – It would be so great to be part of a church like this, but I'm not sure I have the stamina for many four-hour meetings! Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian? Yes, it did. This felt like a genuine outpouring of the Spirit. There was an amazing atmosphere. What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time? I keep seeing the building full of people all worshipping God and eager for what God can do in their lives.