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Lorna was watching TV one night in the fall of 2003 and the Catch the Fire ministries show was playing. They were talking about 'soaking' prayer and their vision to begin 'Soaking Centres' across the world. Lorna felt compelled to investigate this further and called for information. She was advised that we didn't have to go to their training school to start a centre but only to buy a 'kit' that had videos, music and instructions to get the centre started. Although the cost wasn't much, it was a bit more than Bethesda had available to spend. We prayed for God's leading on this and felt certain that this was His will for Bethesda but that we needed to wait for a bit. Shortly thereafter, in a casual conversation with a Christian friend who also taught in a local high school, this prompting for a soaking centre was mentioned. She immediately felt God instruct her to donate a part of her bonus to pay for the purchase of the kit. We received the kit and after watching the videos and reading 'how to', we planned to begin the centre officially in January of 2004. God had a different plan. On December 5th, 2003 Bethesda hosted a ministry team from Lift Jesus Higher church with Father Bob Poole. As Lorna and a member (Tom) were talking in the kitchen about challenges in life and the power of prayer, the conversation came up about soaking prayer. The conversation took a short detour into confusion because Lorna was talking about soaking prayer in the future and Tom was sharing about his experience of soaking prayer in the past. Clarity began when Tom asked "You're talking about soaking prayer that June's involved in, aren't you?" Lorna countered with "June who?" Tom said, "Why June Bain - she's the International Coordinator for the Soaking Prayer Centres!" He then called June into the kitchen from Bethesda's dining room. We were astounded (and I confess, we still are) at God bringing June into our place as we wanted to begin His work in a new ministry at Bethesda. We had quite the laugh about the confusion and then enjoyed the awesomeness of God's hand in the situation. We asked if June would consider being our guest hostess for our first session, to which she enthusiastically agreed and we set a date for our initial soaking night to be Thursday December 18th, 2003. God blessed us with 18 people that night and His presence was powerful. We have run soaking prayer nights (almost) every Thursday since then. We start at 7 p.m. and finish whenever everyone has left, usually by 10:00 p.m. In January of 2005, as we looked at ministry at Bethesda, we felt God's leading Lorna and I (Ray) to attend the soaking school in Toronto. We graduated in April 2005 after an incredible week in God's presence, receiving ministry and teaching. Listed below are the titles of the teaching sessions where we learned, but there was so much more... As soaking prayer leaders we will pray for you, often silently, as we lay hands gently on your shoulder or head and ask God to soak you deeply. Soaking in God's Presence (excerpt from the Soaking step by step guide) How to Soak
How do you know if you need to soak?
The Other Half of the Conversation Jesus says, "Ask and you will receive". We are very good at the asking part...but how about the 'receiving'? If we are the ones who are doing all the talking, it's a pretty one-way conversation. Soaking is the listening part of our conversation with Him. It's laying aside time to lie down and listen to Him. Just Relax One of the main barriers to encountering God is that we are simply trying too hard. God's top tip to us is "just relax". In Psalm 46:10, He put it this way, "Be still and know that I am God". (Note: this is also Bethesda's scripture 'motto'.) Literally translated this means, "Cease striving and know that I am God". The way to know God is through peace and stillness. Human Beings (not doings) At first we may have an internal Mary/Martha struggle. We feel like Martha that we should be "doing" something. But this is Mary time. Martha got caught up in the busyness of serving Jesus, Mary got caught up in Him. Soaking is not about how much we can accomplish by our own efforts. It's about God's action in us. Abide in the Vine Intimacy with God is the key to to fruitfulness in every area of our lives. As we become more aware of His presence in us...so do other people. As we become more affected by His presence in us...so do those around us. By taking time in the secret place with God, we start to walk by spirit in everyday life. We find that rather than striving to achieve things for God, He is building His kingdom through us. "Not by might, not by power, but by His Spirit." So come out to Bethesda, be still and know God by soaking. Your life will be changed!! One Week Soaking Prayer Center Training Schools At the Soaking Prayer Center (SPC) Training School, you will receive personal instruction and impartational prayer from John and Carol Arnott and other Catch the Fire (CTF) Ministry Leaders. For more information go to www.tacf.org and click on the soaking prayer network link. Included in the SPC Training School teachings are:
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