Vision. Global News from the third Global Leadership Prayer Summit in London. Full Gospel Global Forum - enhancing fellowship and vision

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1 Global Vision IN THIS ISSUE: News from the third Global Leadership Prayer Summit in London Full Gospel Global Forum - enhancing fellowship and vision The 2015 Prayer Summit will be in Costa Rica, Central America 1 Please scroll down to see the following 15 pages

2 A remarkable story unfolds... T HREE TIMES we have met in London for a Global Leadership Prayer Summit, united in the original Global Vision that God gave to Demos Shakarian. Our uniting together was born in prayer... a remarkable story that began as the Holy Spirit touched the hearts of like-minded leaders in many parts of the world HIS BANNER OVER US IS LOVE Pictures by David Riley, Mike Wiltshire, Rodney Radcliffe and Ray Graham 2 Please scroll down to read the next 14 pages.

3 God-given Vision The Full Gospel Global Forum (FGGF) founded in 2012, was born out of the first London meeting when leaders from 20 nations, representing six world regions, met for prayer and fellowship. The unfolding story of how this came about is told later in this report. The Global Forum is an expanding information hub between like-minded organisations, such as the FGB (Full Gospel Businessmen s Fellowship) and BMF (Business Men s Fellowship). Members of the Forum are closely knit, but loosely associated in the vision given by God for the Fellowship through Demos Shakarian, pictured below, founder of FGBMFI. The Global Forum (website: ) does not exercise any spiritual or organisational control over national ministries. National groups associated with the FGGF are not linked to any central global oversight. Instead, the national ministries join in fellowship with leaders who are furthering the same Vision and Mission for the extension of the kingdom of God, regardless of name or affiliation, while maintaining their respective organisation s own identity and integrity. In this way, we move forward together in unity and harmony, providing mutual encouragement and support in co-ordinating and fulfilling the global God-given Vision. Again and again, as leaders of the Forum have sought the Lord, they have been reminded of the prophetic words of Demos Shakarian, (and written towards the end of his life), in the book, The Vision Intensified. The Global Forum aims to provide a platform for networking, mutual support, encouragement and co-operation, both nationally and globally. Costa Rica in Central America is the venue for the 2015 Global Forum For more on Costa Rica, see next page. 3

4 KEY THEMES AT THE LONDON SUMMIT 2014 GLOBAL FORUM 2015 PROPOSED VENUE Enlarging our Vision ollowing the 2014 Global F Leadership Prayer Summit (GLPS) in London, the meeting of the Full Gospel Global Forum felt strongly led to look well beyond London for the next Summit. In particular, Steve Turnbull (Chief Executive Officer, BMF UK) shared that he had received a prophetic word about the next GLPS being in Costa Rica/Central America and then moving to other continents in future years. Phil Harrison from the Nevada, US, also shared that we need to move to different points around the globe, just as Demos saw love spreading around the globe. Warner Riviere (St Croix) reminded us that just as Jesus rose on the Third Day, let s rise up after this third GLPS and go to other regions of the world. And Armando Cifuentes (Colombia) said this is the time for South and Central America. Now we are together in the Lord. After further discussion, it was unanimously agreed to be God s leading that the next GLPS will be held in Costa Rica and that an outreach, initiated by the Costa Rican Fellowship, should be supported by other national organisations linked to the FGGF who are led by the Spirit to send teams to Costa Rica. The Forum prayed for Daniel Gadea as the proposed national co-ordinator for the next GLPS in Costa Rica. The Forum s Steering Committee and other leaders of participating national organisations were Blake Morris (Canada), Armando Cifuentes (Colombia), Chico Fallas (Costa Rica), Jari Hytti (Finland), Alain Jorel (France), Rodrigo Diaz (Guatemala), Andreas Schreiber (Germany), Bartkus Algimantis (Lithuania), Ifeanyi Odedo (Nigeria), Andrey Klementyev (Russia FGB), Sergey Bauer (Russia BMF), Warner Riviere (St Croix, Caribbean), Steven Turnbull (UK BMF), Clive Addison (UK FGB), Douglas Raine (USA FGB), and Bill Keith (USA BMF). Pictured (right) is Stuart Cripps, (UK), Forum Secretary, with Peter Speckley, (UK) the Forum Chairman. Tropical Costa Rica (population five million) is bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. Historically, Costa Rica has enjoyed greater peace and more consistent political stability compared with many of its fellow Latin American nations. Christianity is Costa Rica s predominant faith, and Roman Catholicism is the main church. 4 Continued on next page

5 Themes emerging at the 2014 Global Leadership Prayer Summit GOD S PROPHETIC WORD THROUGH ISAIAH: Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent wide, do not hold back, lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left... do not be afraid... - Isaiah 54:2-4 - Isaiah 54:2-4 fter times in London of quietly A waiting together upon God, Azike Diribe from Nigeria, drew our attention to the prophetic verse, above, to enlarge the place of our tents. There was heartfelt agreement throughout the various sessions that this was God s clear direction and encouragement to us. We are not here to control anyone, but to share with the nations what the Lord is doing among us, said Azike. We must allow the Holy Spirit to take back this work... it is time to end all competition. The nations are looking for direction and we are here enquiring of the Lord. Our work is just beginning - let our hearts be open for guidance and direction, he added, while encouraging communication between nations where like-minded brothers share the original FGB Vision, given to Demos. Ifeanyi Odedo (National Director, Nigeria), pictured below, reminded the Global Forum that we do have a responsibility to communicate with every national organisation participating within FGGF. So we (via the FGGF Secretary of the Steering Committee) should regularly communicate with these national organisations. Azike Diribe, Nigerian International Director Ifeanyi Odedo, National Director, Nigeria Do not be afraid - because the hand of the Lord is upon us God is bringing us together In a moving testimony at the 2014 GLPS, Ifeanyi Odedo, told how four years ago he lay on his bed in Nigeria pondering over what he felt was the longing in the heart of God for the fragments and offsprings of the Fellowship around the world. Ifeanyi had a prophetic picture, implanted like a seed, of those who loved the original Vision (given to Demos) coming together. He felt there was no need to worry about how God would bring like-minded brothers together - because as we seek Him, He would give a platform - somehow, somewhere. As he shared these ideas with 5 brothers in Nigeria, there was an enthusiastic response. At the same time, leaders in Africa, Europe, Asia and North America were praying for a breakthrough. In Nigeria, Azike Diribe (pictured above), while recovering from an operation, suddenly felt the presence of God in his room. He felt completely shaken about the situation with the Full Gospel Businessmen worldwide. Then the Lord reminded Azike to carefully re-read the booklet, so long neglected by many, entitled The Vision Intensified, written by Demos Shakarian, towards the end of his life. As Azike prayed that day, he had no idea that the first Global Prayer Summit, with more than 100 directors and leaders from twenty nations, would take place so swiftly in London in Continued on next page

6 Borders and boundaries are coming down At the 2014 Summit, Ifeanyi Odedo strongly underscored the theme of Isaiah 54, to enlarge the place of your tent, adding: God has spoken - He is asking us in this Global Forum to stretch our tents wide, to not hold back, to lengthen our cords, strengthen our stakes... and to not be afraid. Ifeanyi reminded us that last year, at the second Global Prayer Summit, the Lord powerfully drew our attention to the words of Ezekiel who knew the hand of Lord was upon him, and how he was led by the Spirit into the valley of very dry bones, (Ezekiel 37:1-3). Ifeanyi asked us to briefly notice three things: the hand of the Lord was like a compass, showing us the way to go, giving guidance, protection and grace. Secondly, the Holy Spirit gave revelation about what looked like a hopeless scene of fragmented, dry bones - and the Spirit of the Lord asked: Son of man, can these bones live? In our day, we might ask: can the fragmented parts of the Fellowship worldwide ever see eye-to-eye and begin to share living relationships again? But the truth is that today it is becoming a reality because the zeal and power of the Lord The Global Forum comes of age The Full Gospel Global Forum came of age during the London Prayer Summit, held from January 30 to February 1, 2014, writes Bob Bignold, pictured above, the President of the Full Gospel Businessmen s Fellowship in America. I sensed that all national and organisational pride and ownership has vanished. Our organisational names such as BMF, FGBMFA, FGBMFI, FGB or FINHEC are merely addresses to locate us geographically as to our nation and culture. We truly flowed together in love and harmony during the three-day summit. is at work. Four or five years ago, we would have thought this was an impossibility - because this is the Lord s Vision for us, it is coming to pass. The third point was that God commanded: Son of man, prophesy to these bones... Likewise, in our day, the Lord is clearly speaking to us to prophesy to the dead bones - I say to those who are discouraged, disillusioned, defeated, even to those who have left - I say boldly that the borders and boundaries are coming down... and the Spirit of Life is coming upon the dry bones. It is time for us to arise and go forth with courage. There will also arise a new generation - a Joshua Generation of younger men - and we will release them to set the captives free. The Sovereign Lord said to me: Prophesy to these dry bones... so I prophesied as I was commanded... and the bones came together... and breath entered into them; they came to life and stood up on their feet - a vast army. (Ezekiel 37:4-10) Don t be afraid, the hand of the Lord is upon us. And notice that those dry bones in Ezekiel s vision rose up to become a great army! In our day, let us renew our commitment and arise and go forth boldly, our hearts united in the name of Jesus. 6 Continued on next page

7 The Costa Rica team, (including Favour Victory, from FGB Nigeria). Pictured left to right: Francisco Fallas, FGB National President, Costa Rica; with Jose Rodriguez, Adolfo Morales, Pedro Espinoza, Favour Victory (FGB Nigeria), Cesar Rodriguez and Daniel Gadea (2015 GLPS Administrator). Picture by Rodney Radcliffe. VERDICT AFTER THREE FOUNDATIONAL YEARS... Probably the best Global Prayer Summit so far! This was the view of a number of leaders attending the London event, including Rodney Radcliffe, a UK Director-at-large, pictured above, who had a key role bringing together the first Prayer Summit in London. Many inspiring testimonies were shared - and throughout the past year there is clear evidence of greater reconciliation and restoration within the FGGF global fellowship. This year s Summit brought together representatives Rodney Radcliffe from such diverse countries as the USA, Canada, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Columbia, St Croix, Russia, Lithuania, Finland, Germany, France, UK and Ireland. Bill Keith (BMF USA), pictured right, commented: The love and fellowship experienced at the Summit will spread through our personal relationships around the world. Let s submit our lives to serving God. The 2014 Steering Committee were Peter Spreckley, Blake Peter Spreckley (Chairman of the Steering Committee) and Stuart Cripps (Secretary). Bill Keith, BMF USA Morris, Azike Diribe, Bill Keith, Douglas Raine, Stephen Turnbull, Chico Fallas and Stuart Cripps. The group will meet again at this year s BMF Conference in San Diego, 7 Continued on next page

8 Building trust and encouragement Bill Keith, pictured below, director of BMF in the USA, paid a warm tribute to to two friends and fathers of the fellowship in North America who have impacted the lives of many - Bob Bignold of the Full Gospel Businessmen s Fellowship in America ( Men of Business, men of Purpose ), and to Blake Morris of the Full Gospel Business Men s Fellowship in Canada. Bob, in reply, spoke of the days of the early New Testament church and how, when problems arose, Peter and Paul would encourage the believers with testimonies of all that the Holy Spirit was doing. Centuries later, this sharing of testimonies was also echoed in the early days of the FGBMFI, as many ordinary men spoke at meetings and outreach events about the ways God was working in their individual lives - even though they may not have fully understood the bigger picture of all that the Holy Spirit was doing. A CALL FROM AFRICA They watched what God was doing... and I think this is what we need to do through the Global Forum, said Bob, as he recalled how Azike (incidentally, a fellow architect) called him from Nigeria in Azike told how the Lord was talking to him about the need to come together to pray and worship the Lord. So Bob called the brothers in Canada and the UK - and heard from Rodney Radcliffe in London that the UK FGB Council was due to meet in three days time with Tan Tek Seng (right) of the Full Gospel Businessmen in Malaysia - and so, within less than a year, men around the globe caught the Vision to come together for the first-ever Global Leadership Prayer Summit (GLPS) in London, remarkably bringing together brothers from 20 nations. And out of that the Full Gospel Global Forum (FGGF) Faithful bridge-builders: Bob Bignold and Blake Morris was born - to provide a simple communication platform - yet not seeking to control any national group that had remained faithful to the original Vision - thus remaining closely knit and loosely associated. Bob had also sensed in 2011 that God was urging him to call Ronny Svenhard, US Chairman of BMF, and so began a coming together in the succeeding years in this fellowship of nations. in harmony and love. Bob, who said he was old enough to remember the first FGBMFI airlift to London, 37 years ago, said he liked the idea of the GLPS going to Central America, and then perhaps to Africa and to Asia, Eastern Europe and North America, subject to seeking God s mind and His forward leading. God begins to put things together years in advance added Bob, as he recalled how Azike, a fellow architect, had been designated years ago to stay at his home with 10 other men from Africa when the Fellowship had a camp meeting for more than 1,000 men in Seattle. Thus, a foundation of friendship was born years ago. Favour Victory from Nigeria closed the session with a fervent prayer for God s continued direction for the global witness of the Fellowship. L ong ago, King David wrote: How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head... for there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life for evermore. - Psalm Continued on next page

9 A picture is worth a thousand words Please remember to pray for these friends - more pictures here from this year s Global Prayer Summit in London with some memorable images from previous Summits. Brethren, pray for us 1 Thesssalonians 5:25 Howard Mole, BMF Scotland, quoted Psalm 133 on the refreshing unity of the brethren where the Lord pronounces His blessing - the Holy Spirit alone is able to bring back that precious unity...the time is so short. Doug Dougal, BMF UK Unite your crews as you set sail into uncharted waters Andrey Litvinov from BMF, Russia - we must keep our focus on the Lord. He can make our enemies our friends. If we keep seeking God, He can keep us together in the global Vision. Wole Olufon, right, National Co-ordinator for FGBMFI Nigeria, hosted an exhilarating morning session when Fellowship leaders from many nations prayed and then shared their impressions of what they felt the Holy Spirit was saying to us. Jacob John, FGB London - let us pray in expectation for a great move of the Holy Spirit among businessmen and at government levels, as well as across non-christian nations. The Vision will be restored John Walker, UK - Just as the walls came down around Jericho as the people marched in unity, so the walls of control will come down - and the Vision divinely given to Demos will be fully and finally restored and we will walk together, globally as one. The glory of the later house shall be greater than the former. Doug said: As we prayed together this Friday morning, I had a prophetic impression of a sailing ship, with a crew from many walks of life. The Lord impressed upon us to set the sails of our ship, and invite a mixed crew to sail together - and I will be the wind in your sails and take you into new and uncharted waters. So, set your course and plan your events and invite each other to be involved as crew - and you will find incredible strength in this as you work together for My glory and for the extension of My kingdom. Bartkus Algimantis, Lithuania: The Fellowship s best qualities of love and faith must become paramount again. Gene Arnold, USA - with the help of the Holy Spirit, let us each resolve to never miss an opportunity to share the Gospel with those who cross our paths. Favour Victory from Nigeria - the Great Commission from Jesus to His followers to go into all the world was a command, not a mere suggestion - so let s ask the Lord to make us courageous and strong and tell Him we are really ready to go to all nations! 9 Continued on next page

10 So many amazing testimonies... Space simply does not allow these stories in full, but many more can be found online on fellowship websites, for example: The FGB UK and Ireland website at which includes high-quality Vimeo testimonies plus Brief Encounter interviews; also the Full Gospel Businessmen s Fellowship in America training website has more than 100 testimonies at Douglas Raine, (US), Vice-President for Outreach and Training with FGBMFA, worked for years in the chemical industry and faced pressures that nearly destroyed him and his family - then he expe- Chico Fallas, National President of Costa Rica - had an astonishing experience of heaven, seven years ago after dying during a heart operation - but the Lord said this is not your time, you must go back. For the full story go to Allan Jones, European Co-ordinator for BMF, former research scientist-turned-evangelist, has seen people healed in dozens of countries - Jesus is everything to me, says Allan. See his powerful testimony on Brief Encounters at Charles Aladewolu, a director of FGBMFI in Nigeria, was born into a Muslim family and, as a student, discovered the reality of Jesus Christ. Charles gave an amazing story of our miracle-working God. See his testimony at rienced a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. Today he is a keen supporter of marketplace outreach teams in business venues, government agencies, hospitals, schools and community groups. For more details, see website: The greatest Fellowship on earth - more pictures from the Prayer Summit 10 Continued on next page

11 P ictured on the next five pages are some of the leaders who met together during three foundational years of the Global Prayer Summits in London - please pray for national leaders and the regions they represent. Unity and diversity in a global Vision 11 Continued on next page

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14 The joy of the Lord is our strength 14 Continued on next page

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16 Global Vision call to Central America in January, 2015 San Jose, Costa Rica As we look ahead to the 2015 Global Leadership Prayer Summit and outreach initiated in Costa Rica, please pray for those planning this significant event - and for FGGF leaders envisioned and preparing to be there. This coming together of likeminded brothers was predicted by Demos Shakarian in his foundational book, The Vision Intensified. Demos wrote: The Spirit seemed to say, I do not want a big central organisation. Come together on occasions as a collective group to inspire and encourage each other, to light a fire bright enough for many to see. But in your day-in, year-out work, I want you small, local and sensitive to Me! I do not want uniformity. I will never take two men or two places in just the same way. Give Me outlets for my infinite variety. For exactly this reason, the Full Gospel Global Forum is a collective expression of this infinite variety and lighting a fire bright enough for many to see. As one brother said, only God could have brought us together in this way. The unity and vision we share is a vital encouragement, not only for older leaders but for newer leaders, too, as day-in, yearout we stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His leading. This is His work. The Global Forum website address appears below. Other contact details for FGB (UK and Ireland), which hosted the The richness of Spanish-speaking Costa Rica stems from the cultural diversity of its people. three London Summits, are as follows: Postal address: P.O.Box 11, Knutsford, Cheshire, United Kingdom, WA16 6QP. Tel. 44 (0) , office@fgbmfi.org.uk, Website: The Full Gospel Global Forum website: 16