bless.

We left Bethanie in pouring rain at 6am and arrived at Ouistreham ferry port an hour later under heavy cloud. After grabbing a quick cup of tea for breakfast we were bundled onto a huge white coach with 50 day-trippers from the UK, Canada, America, France and Africa. Our aim: to visit and pray at the five Normandy landing beaches.

By the time we reached beach one: Utah, the clouds had dispersed revealing clear blue sky and bright summer sun. We gathered together on the beach against a backdrop of sand-dunes, military personnel and national flags waving in the sea-breeze, and the sound of army vehicles hurtling along the beach.

At each beach, Steve (leader of Miracle Street) and Francis (pastor of La Source Baptist Church) shared significant stories of the events which took place on D-day and encouraged us to pray into specific themes. As a prophetic act we buried a piece of ‘welsh revival coal’ at each beach and prayed for the breaking in of Gods kingdom in France, as welsh revivalist and coal minor, Evan Roberts had done for Wales in 1904.

Three beaches and several coffees later we arrived on beach four; Juno, where we gathered at the foot of a 60 foot cross-of-Lorraine, with local French Christians, for a time of prayer and worship. We sang together and prayed for peace and reconciliation between the Nations; between Catholics and Protestants; and between church denominations.

Throughout the day there was a strong sense that God is beginning to do something significant in Europe and that France, in particular the region of Normandy, is going to play an important role.

Hope is stirring…