Scotland - Update from Jessi Welsh

YWAM Boston DTS Team Report

 So far around 776 people have made decisions to follow Jesus since we began in Belfast!!! Praise God!

 We had a great time in the Govan end of Glasgow with Victory A/G. The church has sections around the church in a circular radius where they have been trying to plant mini-churches for quite some time now. They call these areas the Gospel gates. They desired for us to go to these areas to reach out to the people and try to get people to come to their evening gatherings. They have been running these evening gatherings for some time now and haven't had more than one or two people come. We went into these areas during the day and did short shows and invited people to come in the evening for the gathering.  

The pastor said that he would be shocked if we got people to come. In fact he said he would be a personal slave to all of us in heaven if anyone came. 25 people came to the first one and around 45 came to the second one!!! Looks like Pastor Alec is gonna be busy in heaven!!! haha! We also made friends with some people in the community around the church, getting them connected with the youth group and other ministries at the church. The guys went out every night to play football (soccer) with some guys across the street from the church. It was cool to see God moving in such a tangible way.

On Saturday morning we joined with another church to do their monthly outreach near the subway station. We arrived to hear an older guy singing hymns from a loud speaker. Not many people were around at all, and the ones that were around, we running for dear life. Bless their hearts, they wanted to see people get saved, but were having a difficult time connecting.

We quickly began our show. Once the drama started an older lady came and stood beside me, obviously quite drunk. But she was quite a cute wee lady-very beautiful in fact. She was kinda watching and kinda just looking awkwardly at me. So I began to explain to her what was happening in the drama. When the swing dance music started in the boyfriend scene, she got really excited and began dancing her way into the drama. I frantically ran after her and danced with her back to our spot. I locked arms with her to keep her close.

Afterwards I introduced myself and told her that I was here to tell her about how much God loves her. She said God can't love me, I'm an alcoholic, and I've been this way, most of my life. I felt the Spirit of God rise up within me, and I took her by her shoulders and looked intently in her face as I began to pour out the love of God into her. I told her everything I could think of about God's plan for her life, and His desire for her to know Him. Tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn't believe this could really be true. I knew that God wanted to set her free. I asked her why she drank, she said because she is lonely. I said, no more! Jesus is going to take over and fill your life. She said, I want a new life, I hate the way I live now!

 So I prayed for her first before I had her pray with me to give her life to Jesus. While I was praying for her I had one hand on her one shoulder and her hand was on my other shoulder, she pulled our foreheads together as we called out to Jesus for freedom for her. When I was finished tears were still rolling down her face and she exclaimed, Something happened in me! I'm different! Her demeanor had indeed changed, she was in her right mind, sober. So then I had her pray with me, and she gave her life to Jesus, renouncing her slavery to alcohol! It was so incredible! Afterwards, she exclaimed again, My life is changed, You changed my life, Jesus changed me life!! I'll never be the same! So Helen was indeed set free. She said that she was going to come to church yesterday, but I didn't see her.  I gave her contact info to the church, so hopefully she will get connected soon! God is so amazing!
There are many stories like that, but that's the one I know the best, cause it's mine.

All the people at the church were so encouraged to see evangelism that actually worked. This church actually does do evangelism, but its slightly dated. The pastor even said when we first got there that he realized that their ministry was ineffective and irrelevant. He was so happy so see a way that it works. They look forward to having us back again next time.
We arrived this evening in Edinburgh. The people here are so excited for what God is going to do this week. We have a very full schedule and lots to do!

Belfast
 

It has been a most exciting time of outreach for the DTS students in Belfast, Northern Ireland.  During intercession times the Lord gave the verse about catching so many fish the nets would almost break. 

During the first week, the team has been sharing with people in the streets.  Over 120 have given their hearts to Jesus and many are starting to meet for Bible studies in the cafes.  The team held a 5 day Bible club for children with 50 coming out each day to hear about Jesus.

In this historic city, there is so much division.  The Protestants and Catholics have long had deep animosity for each other.  Yesterday, the children prayed to forgive those from the "other" side that they had hated most of their lives.

Please continue to pray for our team as they "creatively connect with the emerging generation for transformed hearts and changed lives."  Their NETS are full already and who knows what the Lord will do in the next weeks.

Emails to the team may be sent to connect@ywamboston.org