My UK journey with Apsotle André Pelser
Early last Friday morning I set off to collect Apostle André
from his hotel in West London. It was the beginning of
my time with him on his UK
trip. I had already spoken with him on the phone, even that had brought to me a
sense of peace and well-being. It had been almost five months since I said
goodbye to him in Richmond.
I was starting to allow myself a sense of anticipation and excitement at the
prospect of working together again.
I have learned to cope with the comings and goings of the
Apostle, at first I would not want him to go and longed for more time. I once
asked him how he copes and he told me when he leaves people behind he mentally
presses the pause button. As I drove to meet him I was reminded of that picture
and I would be able to press play again.
Our reunion in the hotel cafeteria was as if we were moving
on from where we had left off. A quick collection of bags and dropping off of
keys and we were on our way. Once out of the London traffic we were making
progress to my home town of Birmingham, two hours drive north on the M6. We
decided to have lunch before checking André into his hotel and to pick my son
Ben up on the way so we could enjoy his company too. Ben duly collected we
drove to a nice pub to continue fellowship and to relax before the evening
seminar meetings. We dropped André at his hotel and headed to collect some last
minute things we needed before going home to relax.
It was hard to believe that the Apostolic Seminars were
finally here. In the past we have found it hard to hire church rooms so we
decided to rent a community hall called The Carpenter’s Arms. It sounds like a
pub name but it’s a venue run by a group of churches that they use to minister
to the community. My whole family had pitched in to help with the preparations,
we wanted to do it well. We had laptop, lcd projector, a presentation and even
set up the laptop so that we could use it to type in the prophetic worship.
This was to be the first event hosted by Prophet Notebook Ministries so we
wanted to set a good standard. We even produced name badges and a delegates
list.
Twenty-eight people had booked in. It could have been many
more but for a clash with a church weekend which meant many who would have come
weren’t there. When I heard of the clash I thought of moving the dates but I
felt God said, ‘it’s a choice that has to be made to come’, so I left it as it
was. It turned out that those who came were the right ones. We had people from England,
Scotland and Wales.
A tremendous effort to be there. People who were coming because they had
already been affected by Apostle André’s previous visits in some way. This
meant that there was unity from the start.
I had given little detail to the worship. I asked a couple
to be prepared to play. In the end the band consisted of Nigel on keyboard and
Ian, George and myself on guitars with Iona and Jenny
leading the dance. We had two songs and by the time we were ready to start the
first meeting we had had no rehearsal. As we began to sing the anointing and
presence of God became evident. Out of the unity of our hearts prophetic
worship flowed. André commented later, ‘it was like being at home’. Out of the
worship the phrase was sung, ‘we are vessels of the Spirit’ and this was
Apostle André’s cue to release the Body that we had become to minister to each
other.
There were several highlights of that time but the one that
blessed me was a fulfilment of a vision I had several days before. I saw my
father-in-law, Brian, and we were praying and prophesying over him as a family.
It was now time to fulfil that prophetic vision and so I called Ben and Jenny
over and we prayed for him. It brought tears to my eyes to hear his
grandchildren speak prophetic words over this patriarch of the family.
André spoke that first night and brought much fresh
revelation. It was a privilege to be there. My son Ben has summarised the
teaching and it will be available on CD so I won’t repeat it here. Needless to
say I will be revisiting my notes and listening to the CD’s repeatedly. André
chose to sit down as he taught due to a calf injury that was giving him pain.
At the end of them meeting I prayed for him that God would heal him in his
sleep and give him a restful night.
Saturday morning came and we were ready for more. I could
sense the buzz of anticipation as we gathered again. I was woken in the early
hours felt the Holy Spirit show me that today there were certain things to be
done. Its good to receive the order of service from the conductor of the
meetings.
A friend of ours was at the meetings. John has been a friend
of mine for about twelve years. He is a faithful and gentle servant of God.
Together with his wife they served God in prayer ministry for many years. Last
year after almost fifty-two years of marriage his wife Joyce died. Her funeral
was a time of great celebration. The Holy Spirit had shown me that we as a Body
must all hug him and make him feel loved so we did. It was a moving moment but
as I reflect back on it, it could only happen because in the short time we were
together we had become a Body.
Another remarkable thing took place that morning. The
caretaker of the building was in his office during the meetings. Annie, my wife
in speaking to him had discovered he was from Cape Town.
I went to speak to him about his South African connections before the meetings
and we shared many common memories of the city. During the meetings Annie
noticed that his door was open and the door to the hall was also propped open.
He wanted to hear what was going on. As André started to speak Annie went and
asked him in. He was so moved by what he saw and heard that he asked for our
contact details so that he can come and join us at our Wednesday meetings.
Apostle André got up to speak and shared that in the night
he had received healing for his calf, thank you Jesus. He spoke mainly about
Kingdom. The Kingdom within, the righteousness, joy and peace we have from
that. More ministry took place and a lot of things were done by the Body of
believers ministering to one another.
Before the meetings I had prayed that the Apostle would be
honoured. This was my desire, that he would feel acceptance from the people. I
felt that prayer was answered. We took an offering from those twenty-eight
people including many young people who were at school and college and it was
more than I had had faith for. A confirmation to me that Apostle André was well
received. No great appeal for money was made, just an appeal to ask God what to
give. As we were praying about what to give I learned from several afterwards
the Holy Spirit spoke to them to give more than they had planned. The offering
was determined by God so I rejoice in that.
After clearing up we went on to a local restaurant and
shared fellowship over a meal. This has become a hallmark of meetings with
André. Much impartation happens at the table. Friendships are formed and strengthened
and hearts opened in simple ways. After the meal André was driven the two hour
journey to Sowerby Bridge
for the meetings the next day where we would join him.
We left for Sowerby
Bridge early the next morning. We
picked up three others and make our way in two cars. After dropping everyone
off at church I went to pick up André from his hotel, a quaint place with
wooden ceiling beams and a very welcoming staff. When I arrived they were apologetic
that they couldn’t offer me coffee because there was a problem with the
electricity and the power was off. I explained that André would feel like he
was in South Africa
as it had been a regular occurrence there.
The church in Sowerby
Bridge is led by Duncan and Beverly
Curry. I first met them at a national prayer meeting a week after they took on
the leadership of the church. I didn’t know them but two of their congregation
who they were with are friends of ours. Out of this we met them several times
more, even sharing a meal with them and André on one of our trips back from Scotland.
The result of that was an invite for Prophet Nola and Mimie and further
meetings there. Beverly attended
the Scottish Conference last year. They had been with us at the Seminars over
the Friday and Saturday and were now welcoming the Apostle into their meetings.
After the worship André brought a timely word from Isaiah 55
concerning the thorns and the cypress tree and the briers and the myrtle tree.
I deliberately say little about what I know about a fellowship to André so that
he can bring what God wants to say untainted by any influence. The word was
accurate and we await to see the outcome.
As things drew to a close the Lord gave me a prophetic word
for the church. As I stood up to give it the word turned into a serious rebuke.
Prophet Nolan spoke to me at the Summit
last year and told me that the UK
needed to hear the warnings as well as encouragement. The rebuke is not easy to
give because you know it demands a response of agreement or rejection. There is
a price in giving it and a price to
receive. Pray for Duncan and Beverly, to be sustained as they continue to push
through in support of the move of God.
After church another time around the meal table. We shared
for nearly three hours before I had to drop off André to catch a train to Scotland
and further meetings.
As I said goodbye to Apostle André I once again pressed the
pause button. Yet God doesn’t pause and His work goes on and the ripples left
by the Apostle will continue to have their effect and we will seek to continue
to prepare the way for God’s move.
Thank you to folks who release Apostle André. Thanks to his
family. Thanks to Cape Town
Harvester. Thanks to André who is obedient and willing. Above all thanks to God
for the privilege of calling us ‘for such a time as this’. To Him be all honour
and glory in the Church.
Prophet Graham.