London Mission Team – 2010
Guest Editorial: Michele Williamson

Written by Michele Williamson on November 1, 2009 – 12:00 pm -

“Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to Him who was sitting on the cloud, ‘Take your sickle and reap… for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” – Revelation 14:15

Wow!  What an electrifying time we had in London, England – Lord willing – our future home!  Tim and Lianne Kernan served up an action-packed weekend for us beginning with The Gathering III Conference entitled Harvest the Earth.  The London Remnant Group has been an upward call to the entire movement, as in the last six weeks the Lord has blessed them with eight baptisms – three of which were at the conference – and two restorations, bringing their total membership to 31 sold-out disciples!  Of special note for us, Tosin – recently baptized in our AMS Ministry in LA – was able to get her mother and sister to attend Sunday Service.  From London to England to Europe to the entire world, God is truly harvesting the earth!

We arrived in London on Thursday October 15, 2009.  After a 10 hour flight, we were immediately whisked away into central London – accompanied by Chris and Kerri-Sue Adams from Syracuse – into the Leadership and Campus Workshop on the University of London campus.  Preaching to all the leaders, Chris and Michael gave powerful lessons on the theme Gathering the Harvest.  Next, we traveled 25 minutes on the underground rapid transit system called the “Tube” to the Speaker’s Dinner, hosted at a quaint Caribbean Restaurant near the Kernans’ home in northern London.  The room was buzzing with about 50 people in attendance!  Immediately after dinner, Daniel and Ruth were baptized – both campus students!  Then, Michael preached on Leaders for the Future.  Completely exhausted, but greatly moved and warmed by the fellowship, we retired to the Kernans’ one bedroom flat (apartment) for a great night’s rest.  We were very touched that the Kernans sacrificed their bedroom for us and slept on the floor in the living room.

Friday morning began with Tim leading a walking tour of the city.  We were able to see Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street (where the Prime Minister resides), Big Ben, Westminster Abby, and the massive River Thames.  The weather was overcast with a slight drizzle, and with the many bridges crossing the Thames, London so reminded us of our spiritual roots back in our beloved Portland, Oregon!  At 1pm, we met for a soccer game, or as the British would say, “futbol match.”  It was “London versus The World.”  This time “The World” won 3 to 0!  Later that evening was the official opening of The Gathering.  Kip delivered the theme message Harvest the Earth from Revelation 14.  We were all convicted at the new insights he shared, especially his first point of “The Seven Signs of Falling Away.”

Saturday, the conference broke into separate Men’s and Women’s Programs.  The women, led by Elena, met in the morning and of particular impact for me were the heartfelt “sermonettes” by Jeanette Groenwald of London and Lianne Kernan.  After the program, the sisters were able to enjoy long lunches with one another.  In the afternoon, the men were taught by Mike Underhill (now in New York City), Chris, Jacques Groenwald, Tim, and my Michael.  That night, the Singles had an incredible fellowship and dance, including a musical performance organized by Mike Underhill, who shared how grateful he was for the LA Mission Team restoring him in May of 2007.  In the meantime, we went out to dinner with Vova & Natasha Biliavskyi – the leaders of the Kiev Remnant Group – and several of their fellow Kiev disciples.

On Sunday morning, God moved powerfully as Rik – a student from the Netherlands and brother of Kimmy from London – was baptized at 7:30am!  Rik will finish out his commercial pilot license this December.  Sunday Worship Service was spectacular!  The singing, prayers and preaching solidified our convictions that Jesus’ dream – the evangelization of the nations in this generation – can and will be accomplished!  Michael went through the book of Acts showing that the disciples were constantly in prayer, enabling them to evangelize the world.  After service, we had lunch with Erik af Klint of Stockholm, Sweden and Kaspar Tambaur of Tallin, Estonia.  Later we enjoyed afternoon tea, “British-style”, with the Adams.  That evening we visited an English pub with our dear friends CL Salamanca – from our sister church in Honolulu, Mike Underhill, Shay Vloet from LA, and some brothers from Estonia.

On Monday we caught an incredible vision for the city, when we accompanied the McKeans to the London Eye.  The London Eye is the largest ferris wheel in Europe and is located on the south bank of the River Thames across from Big Ben.  It is 30 stories high (443 feet) and it gives you the most spectacular view of the city!  The wheel carries 32 “passenger capsules” and rotates at 10 inches per second, so that one revolution takes about 30 minutes.  At the pinnacle of the rotation, we gathered for an unforgettable prayer over London.

That night, we were able to experience a life-long dream for Micheal and me; out of the McKean’s own personal finances, we were treated to tickets to the famous musical Les Miserables!  Les Mis is a story written by Victor Hugo, and examines the natures of law and grace.  Personifying grace and the experience of redemption is the ex-convict Jean Valjean and personifying “the law” is his adversary – Inspector Javert.  We all cried as grace triumphed over the law!

On Tuesday Kip wanted us to understand the difference between “London” and “England.”  London is the most culturally and racially diverse city I have ever seen.  Every language imaginable is heard as you walk along the streets and ride the Tube.  However, England is much different.  We visited the city of Cambridge (about an hour and a half from London), which hosts one of the most prestigious universities in the world – Cambridge University.  While there, we counted only six “black people” including Michael!  During lunch, Kip gave us an incredible Bible study on “Selecting the Mission Team.”  We were inspired to follow the Spirit’s example from the book of Acts to (a) Find the Hearts, (b) Entrust the Choosing to God, and (c) Weave the Bonds of Friendship.  We are now praying that God will find us the FEW!

Also helpful to us was seeing the power of campus ministry.  After the McKeans visited London in late April, they admonished the Kernans to start a Bible Talk on the University of London campus.  In the last five months, several students have been baptized, changing the face of the London Church!  Our prayer for Cambridge (and Oxford) is to have a house church there in two years after the mission team arrives in August 2010!  Tuesday night was the last time we had with the McKeans and the Kernans.  They left for Paris, France early the next morning to “spy out the land.”  The Kernans – who are fluent in French – prayerfully will come to LA, when we leave for London.  After training, Lord willing, they will lead the Paris Mission Team.

Wednesday night, the London Church held separate Men’s and Women’s Midweek Services.  Michael shared vulnerably about his life with the brothers and they were able to have an incredible time sharing what they had learned from the conference.  The sisters were equally encouraged to share with one another and were blessed to have Daisy, from our sister church in Washington DC, accompanied by her mom in attendance.  Thursday Micahel and I spent quality time as we were able to do last minute shopping for gifts, ride a double-decker bus and explore the West End together.  Early Friday morning, we said good-bye to London and flew home!

On behalf of Michael and myself, we want to express how grateful we are that God, the London Remnant Group, and the City of Angels Church gave us this life-changing opportunity to participate in The Gathering III.  Our lives will never be the same, and our hearts have already fallen in love with the British people and London.  We have already begun to pray and trust that God will send disciples from all over the world to come to LA and train for the London Mission Team.  Prayerfully, the Spirit will send us back to London at the 2010 World Missions Jubilee in Los Angeles on August 4-8, 2010.

Please contact Michael at [contact form]@hotmail.com or me at [contact form]@gmail.com if you are interested in learning more about this incredible opportunity!  If you hold a passport from one of the European Union nations, please consider that this is not by chance.  Remember, “God determines the times and the exact places [we are born]… so that men would seek Him.” (Acts 17:26-27)  God may be calling you to fulfill your destiny of evangelizing your home nation.  Pray for the London Mission Team. And to God be all the glory!

In His Majesty’s service,

Michael & Michele Williamson

Posted in Articles | No Comments »