The Importance of the Word

We have seen numerous visitations of God over the years and have always been conscious of the need for a balance of the Spirit and the Word. For this reason much of our ministry has been teaching the simple Word of God. We realized that the all important necessity in the training of leaders was the Word and the message of the Gospel itself.

So, as God was moving so powerfully by His Spirit in Sydney, the Lord led us to bring with it a strong emphasis in His Word. Each Sunday we had a revolving seminar with 8 series running similtaneously every 8 weeks. This meant that, as well as every believer going progressively through a foundation of 64 essential lessons, 8 people were also developed as teachers. On top of this we had training schools - firstly, an evening one; then an all-day Saturday one; and then a full-time one.

It has been a joy over many years to receive long-term testimonies coming back from leaders and believers in many parts of the world whose lives were transformed and strongly founded in the Lord during that time.

Heights of Worship

Worship was a delightful experience in every meeting at Faith Centre. People were drawn by the Presence of God. The sense of unity was wonderful. People gathered from all different parts of the Body of Christ. We didn't welcome them as 'visitors to our church' but welcomed them in the wonder of what God was doing. "Isn't it wonderful" we would say, "that we have come from so many churches to worship together and glorify God."

There was just a piano and an organ and we sang mostly the Scriptures. Spontaneous worship would break out that often lasted a long time, but the presence of God was so evident that it would seem only a few minutes. From these heights of worship the gifts of the Holy Spirit were released and great prophetic words of encouragement and directions would come. Many experienced healing and deliverance during these times.

There was such a hunger for the Word of God, meetings began spreading out through Sydney's north, to Ryde, the Northern Beaches and Gosford. Many of these began with Bunty teaching in women's groups. But the men were hungry for God's Word too, so they developed into full gatherings of believers.

Ministry Teams

From what the Lord was doing in Sydney we took ministry teams to Asia with us, staying for three months at a time. The children came with us and were fully involved in the ministry (Bunty would home school them each time). One time David went with me and a team on a missionary trip to Thailand and sometime later Bunty was due to go for special meetings with the team in the Philippines. As we shared in our previous blog, "Powerful Prayer Meetings", a team of 14 had been sent to the Philippines and were seeing the Lord move in a wonderful way. Rebecca was very excited about the prospect of going with Bunty. We told her she could go if the Lord provided her fare. She was not, however, to tell anyone of her need. For several weeks she earnestly prayed to the Lord. Without any reason Christians began coming up to her and giving her some money. She got her fare before Bunty got hers. She was eleven years old.

My brother, Terry, and his wife Frankie, were greatly used of God in the early days of the charismatic move in the Philippines. Key priests would come to sit under his teaching. Then they would go all over the country teaching what they'd learnt, coming back to be taught some more.

This period of time in the Philippines developed into a great visitation of God. It was estimated some five million were born again. Little fellowship groups sprang up everywhere, meeting in offices, factories, hotels, homes and restaurants. Together with some others we helped give guidance and boundaries through the Word of God to these small churches.

Wider Ministries

The Presence of the Lord in the gatherings in Sydney, and the people's love for Him, produced such a spirit of generosity that it resulted in the support of 35 full-time workers and one-time gifts to 74 other ministries in the Body of Christ.

"Crisis Call" was also established, offering a 24 counselling service by telephone and referrals. The service was offered in the front page of the Sydney telephone book. So many people volunteered for this vital outreach to desperate people.