LITTLEsunflower tales...

My Ministry Video...

2012-01-01T05:46:00.000-08:00

Faithful to the End...

2012-01-01T05:28:00.000-08:00

December Newsletter 2011 Gaylin Isobel Downie

Looking over Cape Town from Signal Hill.

What an incredible year has passed by! I feel relieved to say it is over! Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad at all. But it feels as though I have just climbed a very steep mountain, leaving me at the top now to rest a while and enjoy the view!

In the begining of the year I felt God speaking to me that 2011 would be a year of WAR (obviously not physically, but spiritually.) That it would be a war where God was calling me out of my comfort zone to fight in the frontlines...and that is exactly what happened. Fighting in battles isn't something that comes naturally to me...I would honestly prefer sipping tea in a country garden!

Here is a bit of what I have been doing this year:
The opening of Bethesda House to the public.
- I started our first training in prophetic art, including monthly outreaches and an exhibution.
- Hundreds of hours of inner healing and deliverence sessions.
- The running of our first acredited Leading By the Spirit Cource (LBCS) with the University of the Nations, training 40 students both in Cape Town and Egypt.
- A strategic prayer outreach focusing on the foundations of slavery and injustice in Muizenberg
- Hundreds (maybe thousands) of hours of prayer and Worship in Muizenberg :)
- Prophetic sessions on a weekly basis.
- Being witness to God encountering hundreds of unsaved people through Light&Life events.
- Co-leading the ministry team for two months while my leaders and part of the team were in Egypt.

These are just a few highlights of what God has done. (I do not share this to boast in anyway because i know that none of this is even remotely possible without God doing it!)

Looking back I can see that this year was not just about the fruit, but more importantly, it was the continuous moulding of my heart by my creator! He has been growing my capacity immensely, gently shaping my character, testing my trust and teaching me on the job!
It has also been a "Joshua season" for me, of conquering my enemies, claiming my inheritance and learning how to lead other's into their promised land.
This journey has not always been easy but I have seen God's unchanging faithfulness to me. There were certain things that perviously would have swept me off my feet, but because of how God has prepared me, I could take on these battles with confidence in the one who has called me. In this i have learned that real strength is found in weakness, that true safety is found in trust and pure joy is found in suffering. That no matter what battles i face, the God of heaven's armies is always victorious.
THE ROAD TO CYPRUS...

The Cyprus Team together in
North Yorkshire.

Please keep me and the team in your prayers as we travel to Cyprus on January 4th for an art workshop and outreach with YWAM Larnaca. I will be going with two friends that I have been working with at Bethesda House and we will be hosting the workshop with local YWAM staff as well as local believers in Larnaca. We are joining with their house of prayer and spending extended time in intercession for Cyprus, while also bringing encouragement and strength to the long term staff there. We will be doing art outreaches partnering with YWAM Larnaca and painting prophetically over the nation.
As we have been praying we are filled with expectation of what God wants to do in these two short weeks we will be there. We feel that this nation is ready for harvest and that it is time for the church to rise up into their destiny to reach the lost. We also feel that art is a key for the church to carry that will unlock the hearts of the people of Cyprus. We might not see the fruit ourselves, but our prayer is that as we train those working on the ground longterm that they would be empowered to take the message of Jesus to those hungry see an abundance of fruit in this amazing island.
Thankyou so much for your prayer and support in this past year!
happy New Year:)

At Loch Lomond, Scotland

Reaching the Nations with Art

2011-10-04T08:46:00.000-07:00

In the past years and months it has been evident that God hasbeen ON THE MOVE in the arts globally. Christian artists have been revived andawakened to the power they carry to bring God’s truth alive to a dying world throughprophetic creativity. This is the language of our era, and even though so muchis being re-birthed in this time, as in the days of the reformation, I sensethat we have only just seen the tip of the iceberg, and there is so much moreto come…

Getting stARTed...

Inmy life this has come like a sudden flood of creative revelation and steppingout with God in what I felt him calling me into. Not in the future, but rightnow!

In 2009, I attended an amazing prophetic art conference in Scotland(hosted by the Glasgow Prophetic Centre) in which God brought fresh revelationand empowerment to my own personal prophetic painting. From there I starteddoing art evangelism with Light & Life events. As I returned back to SouthAfrica I felt the Lord calling me to start something here with art. Nothinghappened for 10 months, and then In November I started with running a simpleworkshop at Bethesda House with both YWAMers and local believers from variouschurches. This was an explosive beginning to what God had on His heart for theministry of prophetic art at Bethesda. After that first initial workshop, eightof the people began meeting weekly for further training and experience; and sothe first Bethesda art group was birthed. This was a three month group, afterwhich another was run in May 2011, with some of the previous gang helping tofacilitate what they had learned. Once a month we would host an art outreach inMuizenberg where we would offer simple prophetic pictures to the local peopleas well as joining in with Light & Life events every now and then. Duringthis time dozens of lives were saved, and countless others were touched by thepresence of God through this language that reaches even the hardest of hearts.

But it seems that this is not where it ends…

NEXT UP...CYPRUS!!

Some YWAMfriends of mine have been pioneering a house of prayer in Cyprus since 2009. Wehave been chatting on and off for a while about the possibility of me coming todo an art workshop with their ministry in the Mediterranean... hard to say noto that;)I never really considered it because of how much we alreadyhave on our plate here on the home front…

But it was decided by my YWAM leaders that Bethesda staff betaking a two month break at the end of the year, and so this opened up anopportunity for me to consider going. I prayed about it and God said YES GO!!My missionary friends did theSchool of Intercessory Prayer (SOIP) here in at YWAM Muizenberg in 2008 andhave a similar desire to us here at Bethesda House: to bring worship, prayerand evangelism together to reach the lost. Over the past months God has beengiving them a burning desire to take art to their streets. And they stronglyfeel it could be a key to unlock the hearts of the Cypriote people; who are notexactly very open to hearing the gospel in words. But they might be open toreceiving a simple picture of God’s love;)

So I will be going with a small team in January for two weeksto come alongside the team in Cyprus to coach them in how to use prophetic artas a tool to reach the lost and broken, the rich and poor. We will be teaching,praying and worshiping with them and then partnering with them to take art tothe streets!! We are looking atmobile prophetic art at the beachfront areas. We also intend on going into thered light district and drawing pictures of God’s love to the girls workingthere. We have also talked about going into the northern occupied part ofCyprus and painting prophetically over the nation! There are some other options we are talking about, andplenty of room to be led by the spiritJOur goal is two fold: to train, equip, encourage and helplaunch this group of missionaries into what God has for them in the area ofprophetic art. And, to impact the people of Cyprus with the message of thegospel through prophetic creativity.

With this said I am trusting God to move a few mountainsbefore the end of the year!On my way to Cyprus, I plan to spend the month of December inScotland reconnecting with friends, meeting up with Light & Life leadersand having a break. So I need to apply for two visas and raise R18 000 (€1680)for the trip. Under normal circumstances I would be tempted to put theseambitions aside and keep it safe. But I feel God is challenging me to trust himextravagantly! I have a deep faith in my heart for things to fall into placeand for these mountains to be moved for the adventure ahead.

Please would you standwith me in prayer to see breakthrough for this trip! I have had the nation ofCyprus on my heart since 2007, and never knew why. But now I really feel thatthis is the time and reason to go. I know that God is not a liar. He is alwaysfaithful and true to His word and I am excited to see His provision come oncemore. Your prayers would be so valued in these next few weeks of preparation:favour for visa applications, paperwork, finances, faith, affordable planetickets, strength, more vision and wisdom. And if you do feel led to be part ofthis by giving financially, I am just an email away, and my contact details arein the green box

Much Love,

Gaylin.

2011-09-06T05:33:00.000-07:00

A Story…

A young European girl came to South Africa to work as a volunteer at a children’s home in the Cape Flats. For the story’s sake, let’s call her Alex. Alex had been in and out of traditional European church and had never encountered the tangible presence of Jesus and was yet to find her identity in Him. One of my friends and fellow team members; Janko, invited Alex to a community meeting and by the time it was over her eyes were big, her heart seeking, and her mind full of questions.

One of us pulled her aside and began processing what Alex had experienced during worship. She decided that she would like to begin a relationship with this Jesus that had spoken to her in such a gentle but powerful way. And as she invited Him into her life, she immediately felt different; “I feel so good! I don’t know what this is but I feel like a new person… I need a cigarette!”

Alex’s life has been drastically altered! And she has become a regular at our community worship services and Bethesda Open Times, and has experienced a great deal of God’s heart for her through a prophetic session and continuous one-on-one discipleship. This is why we exist as a ministry: to be where the people are at and provide opportunities for them to encounter true spirituality through Jesus!

On the first of February, the bright red door of Bethesda House was officially opened to the public! We have started hosting Open Times on Monday nights, where wondering locals have a chance to come in, off-load their burdens, relax, and soak up some live uplifting music. We offer prayer and prophecy to those who would like it, and many have had an opportunity to taste the Living Water and experience the atmosphere of an open heaven. Someone even commented one evening: “The energy in here is so great – can I bring my plants here to grow!”

Since we secured the building space in August 2010 we have been renovating, training, praying, seeking God’s heart for this vision, and ministering to YWAMers and locals on request. We are awestruck at how far God has brought us in so short a time! We have seen several dozen people drawn into the presence of God and our expectations growing and expanding along with God’s ideas and intensions.

Our prophetic sessions have been an incredible blessing and encouragement to hundreds of people since we started with them

last year. Prophetic sessions are booked appointments in which three team members prophesy over a person’s life for thirty minutes to strengthen and encourage them with the heart of God. We have had a great variety of people come and hear what God has to say to them; including confirmed atheists, new believers, unsaved individuals, and mature Christians.

This has given us the opportunity to grow in our prophetic gifting. We are continually training as a team through in-depth teachings that challenge us to mature, not only in our gifting, but especially in our character and relationship with ChristJ

One of my main focuses is in the area of inner healing and deliverance. More than 10 hours of my week is dedicated to this task, in which people that are seeking break-through in specific areas of their lives book appointments with us. My leaders are training me so that soon I’ll be able to facilitate this area.

It is such a privilege to be equipped in my passion and to get so much practice in it. It is a blessing and an honour to be one of those fighting for the freedom of God’s beloved people, and experiencing the sheer joy of seeing bondage broken and lies unmasked in the light of Jesus! There is nothing more life-giving to me than seeing Jesus bring healing, freedom, and restoration to lives. Though it is extremely challenging and takes a few weeks of meeting with people and many late nights, it is always worth it.

We have recently seen someone set free from a 12 year eating disorder! God’s light really is so much more powerful than darkness!

Art Mentoring.…

I have, for a long time, been praying about starting an art group in Muizenberg, where believers can be mentored in prophetic art to use as a platform to share Jesus.

In December 2010 I ran a workshop which helped create a greater awareness and passion for prophetic art, and through it we saw the art team for the Light & Life events grow in size.

Freedom... August News 2011

2011-08-14T06:03:00.000-07:00

LBSC & Internship complete…(for now)

After many months of nonstop action, I have enjoyed to get away for a quiet two week break in my family’s home in the wine lands of the Western Cape. There is nothing quite like stopping to rest and take a deep breath after a season of hard work! Through the last challenging and busy season God has taught me more of what it means to take courage in the face of opposition. I realise that nothing great has ever been achieved without persevering through trying circumstances.

After six great weeks of staffing the Leading By the Spirit Course (LBSC), we graduated 20 amazing students on the 10th of June. In this leadership course (designed by my ministry leaders) the entire staff take part in teaching, facilitating, demonstrating and coaching based on our own firsthand experience of what we have learned in pioneering Bethesda as well as in other ministry settings. God did so much in all of our lives, bringing breakthrough in and through us in massive ways!
This was a very intensive time for us staff because not only were we running the school but also Bethesda House, as well as maintaining all else that we had started, with many hours a week in prophetic sessions, inner healing and deliverance, open times and other appointments. But through the grace of God it was possible to be like fountains – not giving from our own strength, but God’s abundance. We are continually learning to be fountains.
We had 10 students remain behind for a further 6 week internship in Bethesda House. This was a first for us, and an opportunity for them to get more practical ministry experience. They plugged into various ministries at Bethesda, and working alongside us, grew in insight, in a Godly character, and in their gifts. They received further guidance through book reports, discussions, and one-on-one times, and gained some experience in certain leadership capacities, with many opportunities to lead prayer and worship both at YWAM meetings and Bethesda open times, including a 24hr worship event that they organised.
…Here are some encouraging personal testimonies from the past few months working at Bethesda House: For more infosee:www.facebook.com/pages/Bethesda-House
"I have been blessed and encouraged in my walk with the Lord through Bethesda House. The ministry at Bethesda is refreshing, life-giving and exciting. God is getting ready to release an outpouring of His Spirit on Bethesda House that will impact Muizenberg and beyond." -Eric Karanja-

"During the inner healing and deliverance times I had at Bethesda House God brought such freedom, healing and new perspective to my life. I was able to get breakthrough in areas i have been struggling with for over 12 years. There was a safe environment at Bethesda House and the staff members were very loving and encouraging. God." -Young girl set free from eating disorder

"Through the art ministry at Bethesda House I have seen how a simple prophetic picture can really impact individuals and communicate Gods words so powerfully and directly. Learning about the prophetic alongside various artistic techniques really creates a unique place to discover more of God's heart of creativity. For me personally, my creativity has really been awakened, after many years of neglect and disinterest. I recommend it to everyone." -Felicity Davies-

‘Where have you been all these years? We love the vibes coming from your place, so much peace, chasing all the bad vibes away’- man from local business in village

‘Bethesda House refreshed and renewed my spirit with their encouraging prophetic prayers. I met with God in very personal and intimate ways during the prophetic worship times. The staff at Bethesda are sensitive to the leading of the Spirit and I commend them wholeheartedly.’ – Mandi Dreyer

‘I was so hungry and thinking of what I should make for supper, then I looked up and saw your building and decided to come and change my life.’- local resident

“I was incredibly blessed during my prophetic session at Bethesda House. Everything was accurate and God used that to bring consolation, encouragement and healing to me. Wow, He is so good.” – Jenneth, a lady from one of the local churches.

After our strategic prayer outreach that I shared about in my last newsletter, we saw evidence in the news of God already breaking in with His light and justice in this recent drug bust.
W.Cape police raid illegal shebeens
Rafiq Wagiet | 6 June 2011
“Western Cape Police at the weekend conducted raids in the Muizenberg cluster of the City of Cape Town, including Lavender Hill, Capricorn Park and Seawinds among others. Police raided several illegal shebeens arresting people in possession of drugs and confiscating almost 700 litres of liquor. “In our fight against crime in the Muizenberg cluster we had several crimes prevention operations over the past weekend. Nineteen houses were searched and four people were arrested for possession of drugs. We also arrested 18 wanted suspects,” police spokesperson November Philander said.”
Light &Life @ Greenmarket square…
On Friday the 15th of July we prayed up a storm, packed our gazebo, art supplies and musical instruments and headed for Greenmarket Square in the city centre of Cape Town along with our interns, to simply share Jesus with people through a Light&Life stall. This is where we offer prophecy, healing, and free spiritual art to people walking by in this African market. (This is the second time we have run an event in this location; the first time was last year during the world cup.)
Today’s society is becoming increasingly indifferent toward religion. Church buildings are being converted into theatres and night clubs in many “Christian” nations and increasing numbers of people are disillusioned with church and live with a false conception of God. Light&Life stalls and events take Jesus to where the people are and provide opportunities for them to encounter a living, loving, all knowing God, outside of a church building.
Our simple desire was to bless the people of the city with God’s truth, joy and love! During the four hours that we were open we saw ten individuals come to salvation, and over forty others come to experience God’s love through words of encouragement or paintings.
One story I will never forget was with a young gentleman who came and sat down at the art stall in front of me. His eyes were so big and he looked a bit puzzled. He said to me I was asking for answers to my life and just felt something draw me down this street and then I saw this stall and felt I needed to sit down!’ I welcomed him and proceeded to tell him how things worked at the art stall. I shared a simple picture and told him what I felt God was saying to him and it turned out to be exactly how he had been feeling. He confided in me and my team mate about his relapse into drugs in the previous 10 days, and his
intense desire, but also struggle, to get free of it. There was a deep hunger for freedom in his eyes and I sensed that He was close. I shared with Him how Jesus came to us a rescuer: He rescued us from every addiction and pain, no matter how deep. Through His death and resurrection He defeated that power, and He is present with him in his addiction and ready to help. After our conversation and prayer he enthusiastically received Jesus to be his Lord and Saviour and invited the Holy Spirit to be his helper. He was overjoyed and grateful to have met with the true, living God! For more info see: www.lightlife-za.org

Holding the Fort…
In September we are running another LBSC; this time in MiddleE (i cannot openly communicate the exact location for security reasons). This training for those workers in the MiddleE has been on the agenda for 4 years, and we finally feel that the time is has come. So a portion of the team will be going along with my ministry leaders to run the course in September and October. During this time I will be overseeing the Prayer&Worship Department and Bethesda House and leading the remaining team along with one of my team mates. I would really appreciate your prayers in this regard as it is a challenge for both teams:
– for us remaining behind: for sharpness, readiness and wisdom as I manage and lead the team in the absence of my YWAM leaders. Also, for strength for the team and spiritual stamina to push through to the end of the year. Praise God we have five new staff members joining, with more to follow in the new year!
– And for the LBSC team: obviously safety is a big issue, supernatural protection, access to food, financial provision, favour for visas, childcare, for all the students coming from the MiddleE to do the training and for strength and wisdom for the staff as they are running the first course in this location during a very difficult time in this nation’s history.

Youth With A Mission is a non-profit organization and an international community of missionaries living in trust of God to provide for our personal and ministry needs. We are currently 17000 workers in over 160 countries working to make Jesus known to all people. But all our efforts to further the Kingdom would not be possible without the spiritual and financial partnership with the rest of the body of Christ. We believe that this relationship based support promotes mutual communication, accountability and prayer. For more info see:www.ywammuizenberg.org
If you would like to be a part of the expansion of God’s Kingdom through giving, then do please pray about becoming a supporter!
-Monthly support- In order to be here and do what I am called to, I do need to raise all my own personal support. You can be a part of my finance team and be a part of God’s kingdom expanding in Cape Town and beyond through giving toward my monthly needs.
-Prayer supporter- Pray for me and my team daily, weekly or monthly. (Or hourly, if you really would like!) Please let me know if you are praying so i can send you prayer needs.
-One time Donation- An opportunity to give and support, no matter how small or big your contribution.

Love&Peace

Gaylin

June Newsletter - In the Heart of the Village

2011-06-06T14:25:00.000-07:00

THIS IS BETHESDA HOUSE, WHERE WE HAVE BEEN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS NOW, OFFERING PROPHECY AND HEALING TO THIS DIVERSE COMMUNITY. ALONGSIDE THIS WE ARE 5 WEEKS INTO OUR 6 WEEK ywam TRAINING SCHOOL, CALLED THE LEADING BY THE SPIRIT COURSE. I HOPE THIS LETTER CAN CAPTURE SOMETHING OF WHAT GOD IS DOING HERE…

Our Monday Night open times have been a blessing to all who come off the streets to enjoy the uplifting music and the tangible presence of God. We have recently seen a dramatic increase of people receiving salvation during these times, and others having deep encounters with God, Over the past 5 weeks we have seen 10 salvations at Bethesda House. Even street kids are literally being drawn into the arms of a loving heavenly father. We desire to simply give people a taste of Jesus in a language they can understand, knowing this will dramatically change their lives forever!

Our Leading by the Spirit Course (LBSC) has taken off like a house on fire. We have 20 students and 11 staff, from many different countries learning and applying together what it means to truly live and lead by the spirit of God. Our students are diving head first into this action packed course, The theme for the school is RESTORE, EQUIP & COMMISSION, and this is really the goal! We have seen amazing breakthrough so far in the lives of these people. This 6 week course has now been accredited with the University of the Nations and is completely run and facilitated by our department and we desire to launch it internationally soon, starting this September. During the school I have had one foot in Bethesda and one foot in the classroom so it has been an incredibly challenging and busy season! Once the school is finished, we will commence with a 6 week internship partnering with Bethesda for students who desire further experience and seek to join our ministry.

The past prophetic art mentoring group (a three month weekly group) graduated with an exhibition celebration a month ago, and 5 students from the last group are now helping me to facilitate this next one, which we are now 5 weeks into with 11 new students, from the local church, YWAM base and many from the LBSC. This group includes teachings on different elements of the prophetic, as well as art and how the two come together. Our goal is to teach, develop and release individuals in prophetic art and to usher them into the fullness of their God given creativity and prophetic calling; and, to use prophetic art as a tool to bring the lost into an encounter with the love and truth of Jesus, through open times, stalls and events partnering with Bethesda House and Light&Life.

Now you can ‘LIKE’ our page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Light-Life-South-Africa

We have run two LIGHT & LIFE events so far during the LBSC, on the 6^th May and on the 3^rd June. The students have come alongside us to apply what they have been learning in the classroom. We hosted these events from Bethesda for six hours each time. Together over ninety people have come through our door to hear what God had to say to them. Throughout the event we had teams of people prayer walking the streets, others handing out roses and inviting people to come along for a free spiritual reading, some were doing intercession in our back room, while others were offering coffee and chatting with people coming in and showing them to a free stall, and others were trying joining us in the spiritual readings and prophetic art and live music. A whole lot of surprisingly organised chaos! Some of the students were so surprised by the words that came out of their mouths, they would have never imagined a month ago that they would be prophesying over spiritual seekers! During both events together, we saw 4 salvations and 5 recommitments to Jesus and dozens of others encounter God’s loveJ

Here are a few testimonies:

- This past Friday the 3^rd June, right at the end of the event a street lady came in who was deaf in one ear and in need of an ear operation; some of our staff and students gathered round her and prayed for her ear. And a few moments later her ear literally burst open, leaving her and everyone else shocked and celebrating!! Her hearing was completely restored!!

(the same women was at an open time at Bethesda House the previous Monday night and some days after she had noticed her reflection in a broken piece of mirror… the deep

facial scars that she had were completely healed spontaneously with no one even praying for her!)

- One story that I will always remember from the 6^th May was with a lady who came in with her daughter. I was working at the art stall and painted a simple picture for her of a pearl reflecting different colours, surrounded by words like valuable, beautiful, lovely, worthy. I told her that she is more valuable than all the money in the world that no one can put a price on her worth, and that God is offering her a ring, that expresses His faithfulness and everlasting covenant. I did not know why, but felt I needed to share these simple words. Her daughter nudged her side and they exchanged a knowing look and a smile. She then confided in me and my team mate of her job selling herself on the street since coming to Muizenberg from another African country, in order to provide for her daughter. She said prostitution is her only way to survive. We prayed with her, and ministered God’s comfort and faithfulness toward her. After she left we were speechless with God’s perfect restoring love!

We did a week long strategic outreach in Muizenberg with the LBSC students, to model this practically and give them a taste of the sheer adventure of prayer! As a ministry team we have been praying weekly for Muizenberg for over 3 years and now we finally felt that it was the right time to deal with the historical roots of some current day issues, in regards to slavery and an orphan spirit.

Strategic outreach always includes 3 keys: Research, strategy and attack, so this is what we spent our time doing. This included the students going out and prophetically spiritual mapping various areas of Muizenberg. Loads of research was done, as well as strategising, waiting of God, and then praying in layers. Starting with repentance for historical sin and going all the way through to onsite prayer at various locations, including an old battle site between the British and Dutch, the beach, the train station, first church, and places of false comfort. We even had a Dutch student on the school who was related by blood to Jan van Riebeck. He was able to repent for the injustice that came through the first Dutch settlers in the Cape! It was amazing to see the way that God spoke so clearly to all the students giving specific keys that all came together and formed a picture of what He was leading us in. This encouraged them to realise that they can hear God’s voice and have a massive impact on the future of a city. We ended with what we called the “BIG HUG” by dividing into 6 teams and praying at specific points forming a circle all around the town, and each declaring scriptures expressing God’s comfort and restoration over this area! We all felt a massive breakthrough and expectancy for all that God wants to release in the future in Muizenberg!

·
THIS IS HOW YOU CAN BE PART OF THIS:
Finances- I live by faith. This means that I trust in God to provide for my daily needs. If you have a heart to be a part of what I am doing through becoming an ongoing supporter or contributing financially, then please contact me.

· I would appreciate your prayers during this busy season: for the team and myself for STRENGTH, perseverance, grace, intimacy with God and increased capacity. This is a long race, and I’m in it for the long haul, I do need all the prayer cover I can get in this journey!

Much Love,
Gaylin

Songs of Freedom - March 2011 Newsletter

2011-04-10T02:47:00.000-07:00

A Story…

[A young European girl came to South Africa to work as a volunteer at a children’s home in the Cape Flats. For the story’s sake, let’s call her Alex. Alex had been in and out of traditional European church and had never encountered the tangible presence of Jesus and was yet to find her identity in Him. One of my friends and fellow team members; Janko, invited Alex to a community meeting and by the time it was over her eyes were big, her heart seeking, and her mind full of questions.

One of us pulled her aside and began processing what Alex had experienced during worship. She decided that she would like to begin a relationship with this Jesus that had spoken to her in such a gentle but powerful way. And as she invited Him into her life, she immediately felt different; “I feel so good! I don’t know what this is but I feel like a new person… I need a cigarette!”

Our prophetic sessions have been an incredible blessing and encouragement to hundreds of people since we started with themlast year. Prophetic sessions are booked appointments in which three team members prophesy over a person’s life for thirty minutes to strengthen and encourage them with the heart of God. We have had a great variety of people come and hear what God has to say to them; including confirmed atheists, new believers, unsaved individuals, and mature Christians.

One of my main focuses is in the area of inner healing and deliverance. More than 10 hours of my week is dedicated to this task, in which people that are seeking break-through in specific areas of their lives book appointments with us. My leaders_are training me so that soon I’ll be able to facilitate this area.

We have recently seen someone set free from a 12 year eating disorder! God’s light really is so much more powerful than darkness!

(Join us on facebook for more regular updates)

Art Mentoring.…

I have, for a long time, been praying about starting an art group in Muizenberg, where believers can be mentored in prophetic art to use as a platform to share Jesus.

In December 2010 I ran a workshop which helped create a greater awareness and passion for prophetic art, and through it we saw the art team for the Light & Life events grow in size.

Eight people from the first workshop are now part of what has become a 3 month weekly art mentorship. Included in this mentorship we have a monthly art outreach where the public can come to Bethesda House and receive a prophetic picture, painted on the spot by one of our artists.We are now two months into this mentorship and have had two art outreaches so far. We started the first one by inviting the YWAM community to come and receive prophetic pictures, so that we could get in a bit of practice with a “less risky” audience.

Then on the 1^st of April we invited the public to come receive a picture of destiny. We paired up a prophetic artist with others from the Prayer&Worship Dept to prophecy with words, just to give more thrust. We had around 40 people come through our door into an environment swelling with the presence of God to receive a picture.

Those who came where so spiritually hungry and ready to receive something true and real in their lives! There were 6 salvations in two hours!! God brought in the broken and hurting! There was even a young girl who had been a victim of human trafficking, she wept as she invited Jesus to come be a part of her journey!

The 3 month art mentorship will be rotated continually and be held at Bethesda House. When people have completed the mentorship they may join the team to help facilitate the next one.

Leading By the Spirit course

I will be part-time staff on this upcoming school that we are running as a ministry from May second till June tenth. Bethesda House still needs to run simultaneously so I will have my feet in both fields. This course was first trialled last year, and we have now expanded, developed and accredited it with the University of the Nations. The LBSC is a now a 6 week course designed to equip YWAM staff to spiritually carry and lead in ministry settings, while fostering a lifestyle of living by the Spirit. Whether serving in a training environment, work in a ministry or the frontiers, this course is designed to increase effectiveness as a spiritual leader.(see www.ywammuizenberg.org)

A Personal Note…

Oftentimes, I am so busy trying to fit ministry feedback into my newsletters that I forget to let you all know how I am doing in all of this!

So, on a personal note, I am well and am really enjoying the challenge of waking up to my destiny every day. After more than a year in one place, I am, only now, settling down into my life in Muizenberg. I am blessed to live in a lovely house right in the heart of the village, two blocks from the ocean with three lovely housemates.

I enjoy going for long walks along our breathtakingly beautiful coast and I love the YWAM community and local neighbourhood. Also, I try reading as much Narnia as I have time for,

I know without a doubt that God has called me for this purpose: to bind up the broken hearted, to set the captives free and to create beauty in broken places. At the same time it is definitely not easy: every day is intensely challenging. Being part of this ministry’s core team has been, to me, an acceleration of growth and leadership. I have learned that pioneering multiple ministries at one time requires all of me.

Although I desire to one day have the opportunity to work in and impact other places in the world. I know that God has called me here for this season to be trained and equipped for what lies ahead. I am very excited for what the future holds as I learn and grow in things that have the potential to radically change lives and nations through prayer and action.

We have just had our core team retreat in March during which we cast the vision of this ministry for the next 5 years, and all I can say is that I am shaken to the core with excitement and fear! The future is alive with possibility. Be sure of this: God is on the move. I will share more about this later.

Financially I am doing well and have seen God’s miraculous provision from month to month, but do still trust that He will provide regular monthly supporters. If you feel led to pray or give in any way toward this ministry, please contact me, I have included these details in the contact box. Also, I absolutely love receiving post in the mail… so letters, postcards and packages are welcomeJ

Thank you so much for your encouragement, support and friendship!! You are a vital part of this ministry!

With Love,

GaylinJ

For more information see:

www.ywam.org

www.lightlife-za.org

A Beautiful Ending And A Soon Beginning - December Newsletter 2010

2010-12-15T05:44:00.000-08:00

Much has happened in the past twelve months that it feels like it has been two years since I was back in South Africa writing for the first time, of what may lie ahead. Looking back, I think God outdid himself! What a packed year and what an amazing God who is clearly on the move!!

Prophetic Art Workshop…

On the twenty sixth and twenty seventh of November, we ran our very first Prophetic Art Workshop at Bethesda House! This workshop marks the beginning of what will be a prophetic art ministry that I have started to initiate through the year. This was the first time I have ever had to teach on this topic and to teach for so long! it was a challenge for me, but by God’s grace it was a tremendous success.

The theme and goal of the workshop was “Freedom in Creativity”. Topics were covered such as: art as a tool for healing, blockages to flowing in the prophetic, the significance of colour, the language of God, reclaiming art into the Body of Christ, expressing God’s words in pictures and such. This was interlaced with prophetic worship, prayer ministry, practical applications, commissioning and so forth.

There were 16 applicants both from the YWAM community and local church around the city who came together to engage with God’s creativity. As a diverse group there was a really great dynamic and those who came were so open, hungry and teachable. People were literally knocked off their feet by the way God met us in such a beautifully tangible way.

Bethesda Pool

From the beginning there was an open heaven over this gathering, and we were soaked with the outpouring of God’s presence and all BLOWN away by the magnitude of what God did in this time. There was a sense that He has been waiting to release His creativity into the church of Cape Town for such a long time and this was a time of intense outpouring. Those who came were so touched and empowered to create through the spirit of God and to partner with Him to bring the beauty and colour of heaven to earth.

There are a hand full from this group who are interested in joining the art group which will be running weekly from Bethesda House from next year, where we will have art evenings open to the community to come and receive prophetic pictures from God’s heart to theirs!

Some of these individuals have already joined the Light and Life art team… So we have a little army!

We wait expectantly to see what the future holds

Light & Life invades Palmer Street once more...

Thank you for praying for us. We had a great day. In the 8 hours that the festival lasted, we saw well over 120 people come in for spiritual readings and spiritual art. The majority of those that came were in tears as the Lord spoke truth to their hearts. Every single person was very visibly touched.

We saw 3 people come to the Lord through prophetic art and several people coming just for a hug/embrace from the Father. Many came back from the previous fair with increased openness to us. The majority of the people that came today had been very very hurt by religion and had gone very deep into the occult for solutions. They were far from ready for a relationship with Jesus, but the majority encountered an unexpected open heaven and meeting with the Living God.

Outside, many of our visitors testified at how amazingly accurate the messages were, how intense and powerful their God encounter was and ended up being our greatest promoters! One man said that it was the most amazing experience He has had in His life. It was a great day and so many of them have asked to book prophecy sessions and if they could attend weekly meetings so they can attend to learn more about this Jesus.

Thanks so much for all your prayers for us over this event. We could feel how the intercession was carrying us.

Please do continue to pray with us:

Personal finances. I live by faith and am still trusting for monthly support from the beginning of next year. Please would you stand with me to see this mountain moved before next year.
Please pray for spiritual strength for our team. We plan to open Bethesda House officially to the public by February! There is still much to fall into place practically before then.
Unity for the team – this is an area that the enemy can so easily use to bring down the purposes of God.
Protection spiritually, physically and financially. We would appreciate as much prayer cover as possible, the kingdom of darkness does not appreciate what we are doing.

At the beginning of the year God challenged one of my co workers to ask God how many people would be saved through our team this in this year. The number he received was 50 people, at the time it seemed impossible. But that is exactly the amount of people who received salvation through our service this year!! God is so faithful and is so able to do things that seem impossible to us.

I would like to thank everyone who has sowed into this ministry and into me individually with your prayer, encouragement, finances and friendship. I would not be able to do what I do without the support of my brothers and sisters in Christ as well as by the amazing grace of God. I know this is a cliché, but it is true! This year has been incredibly stretching and challenging as God has had me in a season of training, moulding, and surrender in the midst of intense pioneering. Thank you for being part of this!

As I was praying about the year ending and the next one beginning, I felt God saying that next year will be the war! What we have seen so far in this year has felt like a war, but it is just the birth pangs, the boot camp, it is just the battles before the war. So much has happened, but it has just been a time of preparation. Next year is when we declare war, and fight for the long haul, along with the armies of heaven!

The Prayer Worship Department so far :)

Love,

Gaylin Isobel Downie