Field Report - Armenia
Thirteen of us met up as planned at Heathrow and praise God we had a smooth journey, even reboarding the same plane from the same gate in Frankfurt! We watched as the sun began to rise behind the mountains as we approached Tsaghkadzor, (the valley of flowers), what a welcome!
After a power nap we met up for breakfast. Jan led the first of many insightful devotions based on Isaiah 62 and we broke bread, as became our custom. Then over to Di, to begin our three-day period of intercession. She gently challenged each of us to look at where we thought we were in the river of life, from Ezekiel 47:1-12. Through it we got to know each other better, and it would be a useful exercise to do again at home. It bought situations into perspective and encouraged us to look at the things that were holding us back. We continued the next day with a declaration formed from the things we believe the Lord had been saying to us and our prayer supporters and had a really active three days of intercession engaging spirit, soul and body as we battled for this country, its people and the nations beyond. This is non-negotiable at the start of a mission, breaking down walls and breathing life into dry bones, as we did. These times have to be experienced rather than explained, but l believe the Lord heard and saw our efforts at discerning his voice and declaring his will back to him; this we believe released kingdom power.
We were given a ‘Sabbath Rest’, Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Coffee shops, views, wildflowers, singing birds and the Kecharis monastery were all enjoyed. Saturday afternoon was entertainment time for our fellow hotel guests as we practised our dramas in the sunshine; they laughed and clapped, but no autographs requested!
After a power nap we met up for breakfast. Jan led the first of many insightful devotions based on Isaiah 62 and we broke bread, as became our custom. Then over to Di, to begin our three-day period of intercession. She gently challenged each of us to look at where we thought we were in the river of life, from Ezekiel 47:1-12. Through it we got to know each other better, and it would be a useful exercise to do again at home. It bought situations into perspective and encouraged us to look at the things that were holding us back. We continued the next day with a declaration formed from the things we believe the Lord had been saying to us and our prayer supporters and had a really active three days of intercession engaging spirit, soul and body as we battled for this country, its people and the nations beyond. This is non-negotiable at the start of a mission, breaking down walls and breathing life into dry bones, as we did. These times have to be experienced rather than explained, but l believe the Lord heard and saw our efforts at discerning his voice and declaring his will back to him; this we believe released kingdom power.
We were given a ‘Sabbath Rest’, Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Coffee shops, views, wildflowers, singing birds and the Kecharis monastery were all enjoyed. Saturday afternoon was entertainment time for our fellow hotel guests as we practised our dramas in the sunshine; they laughed and clapped, but no autographs requested!
We had a powerful time of preparation and, whilst gathered together with our Heavenly Papa, the skies exploded! The lightning lit up the darkness over Armenia, and thunder roared. l was reminded of when my own dad took my children, frightened, from their beds one night down to the warm kitchen.He flung the curtains open wide, and with them watched the power and awesomeness of the storm. The children were safe with him and gave them a new perspective. Seeing power in his presence was not frightening but exciting, he taught them about what was happening, indeed none of them has been frightened of storms since. Fear was replaced by wonderment and excitement! As we drew the curtains back and watched this present spectacle with our Father, l felt our preparation was complete, and we were filled with childlike excitement for what he was going to do in this land, even this week, and we were not afraid of his power, this was our Heavenly Father’s gift to us.
The sun came up and a new day dawned, it was Sunday, and the team was split. Jan led a team up to a church in Chambarak (visited in 2024), the other side of Lake Sevan, near the Azeri border. They were welcomed back with open arms and generous hugs. Fifty people hungry for God’s love were ministered to and saw him move. I was with Di’s team, where we were made really welcome in Byureghaven. Di taught on Spirit, Soul and Body, and the things that may hold us back, it dovetailed perfectly with the testimonies the pastor shared. We prayed for about 30 of the 38 people there. The team who went to Pastor Vardan’s church in Zorovan with lan had a great time, teaching along the same lines, praying for many of the 78 there. They saw a lady delivered from a spirit of abandonment and rejection and another set free from a spirit of shock and trauma following an accident. On our return we thanked the Lord for all he had done reminding ourselves, “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10: 20 He had done what he was going to do through us, what a privilege to be his sons and daughters.
Monday morning was housekeeping, like at home, preparing for the week. Some were tasked with shopping for water and tissues, others were sorting out the bills, some writing their talks. The meeting room was spiritually swept clean and cleansed thoroughly. We were excited by our upper room, humbler than last time but more suitable to our needs. Midday came, and we welcomed our guests to The Forge. We were straight into the teaching after lunch, the participants hungry for it from the start. We gave each a gift of an olive wood cross from Jerusalem and established our evening ministry groups.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday saw days of more intense teaching by the team. It was well received and business with God was apparent, much ministry being done corporately from the front. Following the talk on the Father’s Love, we enjoyed heart to heart hugs, God is good! The subjects covered and illustrated were obviously taken in, which made it much easier to appropriate in the group ministry after supper. The Lord was at work, and praise him, the groups gradually opened up. We saw serious questions being asked about many issues facing pastors and their wives, things were shared and discussed. As they understood more from the teaching and got to know us, the Lord moved in their lives. We saw the lifting of grief and trauma, deliverance from fear and rejection, forgiveness and repentance, the presence of God being restored into parched lives, a deeper revelation dawn, new strategies being imparted and an excitement arise. As bookmarks were given out one day, l prayed that these days may make a significant mark in the stories of many that were there.
The sun came up and a new day dawned, it was Sunday, and the team was split. Jan led a team up to a church in Chambarak (visited in 2024), the other side of Lake Sevan, near the Azeri border. They were welcomed back with open arms and generous hugs. Fifty people hungry for God’s love were ministered to and saw him move. I was with Di’s team, where we were made really welcome in Byureghaven. Di taught on Spirit, Soul and Body, and the things that may hold us back, it dovetailed perfectly with the testimonies the pastor shared. We prayed for about 30 of the 38 people there. The team who went to Pastor Vardan’s church in Zorovan with lan had a great time, teaching along the same lines, praying for many of the 78 there. They saw a lady delivered from a spirit of abandonment and rejection and another set free from a spirit of shock and trauma following an accident. On our return we thanked the Lord for all he had done reminding ourselves, “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10: 20 He had done what he was going to do through us, what a privilege to be his sons and daughters.
Monday morning was housekeeping, like at home, preparing for the week. Some were tasked with shopping for water and tissues, others were sorting out the bills, some writing their talks. The meeting room was spiritually swept clean and cleansed thoroughly. We were excited by our upper room, humbler than last time but more suitable to our needs. Midday came, and we welcomed our guests to The Forge. We were straight into the teaching after lunch, the participants hungry for it from the start. We gave each a gift of an olive wood cross from Jerusalem and established our evening ministry groups.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday saw days of more intense teaching by the team. It was well received and business with God was apparent, much ministry being done corporately from the front. Following the talk on the Father’s Love, we enjoyed heart to heart hugs, God is good! The subjects covered and illustrated were obviously taken in, which made it much easier to appropriate in the group ministry after supper. The Lord was at work, and praise him, the groups gradually opened up. We saw serious questions being asked about many issues facing pastors and their wives, things were shared and discussed. As they understood more from the teaching and got to know us, the Lord moved in their lives. We saw the lifting of grief and trauma, deliverance from fear and rejection, forgiveness and repentance, the presence of God being restored into parched lives, a deeper revelation dawn, new strategies being imparted and an excitement arise. As bookmarks were given out one day, l prayed that these days may make a significant mark in the stories of many that were there.
We were so blessed each day by Monica who led us right into the Lord’s presence, with passionate worship, a gift from the Lord, honed and anointed. The Lord inhabits the praises of his people, there was such unity in the worship even if not in the language; it was beautiful and powerful! I believe it commanded a blessing, and the enemy had to flee.
During the Healing of the Land teaching, we saw business being done in the regional pastors’ groups, repenting together and excited about applying the teaching when they got home. The message of moving from prayers of petition to those of intercession took root, seeking the Lord’s will and declaring it back to him, some grasping the power in speaking the declarations they had formed, and making a step of faith. We saw emotional healing and people set free.
One lady felt the presence of God from the beginning, when she hadn’t for a long time.
One pastor came for a rest due to confrontation in his church, he said he was going back to his territory to do battle with the enemy! He slept for the first time in ages.
One lady who had fled from Artsakh, traumatised by her experience, and felt cold inside was freed from her fear and anxiety and melted inside.
During the Healing of the Land teaching, we saw business being done in the regional pastors’ groups, repenting together and excited about applying the teaching when they got home. The message of moving from prayers of petition to those of intercession took root, seeking the Lord’s will and declaring it back to him, some grasping the power in speaking the declarations they had formed, and making a step of faith. We saw emotional healing and people set free.
One lady felt the presence of God from the beginning, when she hadn’t for a long time.
One pastor came for a rest due to confrontation in his church, he said he was going back to his territory to do battle with the enemy! He slept for the first time in ages.
One lady who had fled from Artsakh, traumatised by her experience, and felt cold inside was freed from her fear and anxiety and melted inside.
The final morning saw an increase, an increase of intimacy in the worship, it was extraordinary.
After the final devotion and teaching on Lordship, we had some more testimonies:
A pastor had revelation that when he was a child he had been dedicated into an ungodly covenant using the blood of a rooster! He was set free from the witchcraft curse, and you could see the difference in his face! After his testimony, a lady needed deliverance for the same thing. Alleluia!
One lady confirmed our teaching was true, testifying with her own story 5 years before. Another young pastor who had suffered from a life of rejection, testified he had been set free, not only his countenance, but his whole demeanour had changed. Final communion, certificates and hugs, and it was all over. Praise the Lord not only for the seen, but the unseen work he has done, is doing and will continue to do in and through these precious people. On the Sunday Di’s team went to Yerevan, driving through the centre. Graham spoke on forgiveness and discs were nailed to the cross. They prayed for 15-20 people out of about 40 and were encouraged in a more conservative congregation than the others. Ian’s team went to Mkhchyan, he spoke on Spiritual Warfare, and the majority of the 45 strong congregation had prayer. They came back excited, and with very full stomachs! I went with Jan’s team to Charentsavan, the fifth Flame visit there, Jan having seen it through its embryonic stages, praying over the land initially to see a thriving church, with capacity for 600. Jan taught powerfully on Release from Trauma, and following the service we spent 2 hours praying for at least 100 of the 150 there. The needs were deep but the hunger for God was extraordinary, people were doing business with their heavenly Father, it was precious to be a part of it. There was an amazing spread at the Pastor’s home afterwards, and further prayer for him and his family.
Debriefs, final devotions and thanks closed another chapter in Flame’s walk with Armenia, and all that God is doing in his people there. We have had a privileged time as
co-workers, in God’s plan for this much-loved country and its people. Alleluia!
After the final devotion and teaching on Lordship, we had some more testimonies:
A pastor had revelation that when he was a child he had been dedicated into an ungodly covenant using the blood of a rooster! He was set free from the witchcraft curse, and you could see the difference in his face! After his testimony, a lady needed deliverance for the same thing. Alleluia!
One lady confirmed our teaching was true, testifying with her own story 5 years before. Another young pastor who had suffered from a life of rejection, testified he had been set free, not only his countenance, but his whole demeanour had changed. Final communion, certificates and hugs, and it was all over. Praise the Lord not only for the seen, but the unseen work he has done, is doing and will continue to do in and through these precious people. On the Sunday Di’s team went to Yerevan, driving through the centre. Graham spoke on forgiveness and discs were nailed to the cross. They prayed for 15-20 people out of about 40 and were encouraged in a more conservative congregation than the others. Ian’s team went to Mkhchyan, he spoke on Spiritual Warfare, and the majority of the 45 strong congregation had prayer. They came back excited, and with very full stomachs! I went with Jan’s team to Charentsavan, the fifth Flame visit there, Jan having seen it through its embryonic stages, praying over the land initially to see a thriving church, with capacity for 600. Jan taught powerfully on Release from Trauma, and following the service we spent 2 hours praying for at least 100 of the 150 there. The needs were deep but the hunger for God was extraordinary, people were doing business with their heavenly Father, it was precious to be a part of it. There was an amazing spread at the Pastor’s home afterwards, and further prayer for him and his family.
Debriefs, final devotions and thanks closed another chapter in Flame’s walk with Armenia, and all that God is doing in his people there. We have had a privileged time as
co-workers, in God’s plan for this much-loved country and its people. Alleluia!
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