Infuse: inspirit transformative relational inspiriting

Pentecost Sunday is celebrated worldwide today.  Holy Spirit’s inspiration to breathe fresh wind and light fresh fire to the kindling of our life.  And what fresh wind?  What fresh fire have I to bring?  Perhaps the freshness of what Holy Spirit has initiated in the part of God’s Church known as InSpirit.

InSpirit is a kingdom venture.  The result of Spirit’s lead through opened doors following my overseas study of Mission Shaped Ministry.  A seven year old outreach of the Church of England, bringing attention back to the primary call of the Church that recognizes the continuum of changing cultural needs around us.   What can be done in the face of these changes?  I was called to address not only what can be done; I was called to do something.

Tenant resources for the apartment complex of my residence asked me to provide spiritual leadership for the elderly, chronically ill and disabled residents.  When I returned from the course, the door remained open, enabling me to begin implementing my learnings.  Through prayer, praise and waiting on the Spirit, much like that of our Lord’s original disciples, the Spirit did, once again, empower this disciple to take the Gospel into the part of the world to which I have been called and prepared. 

The response was warm.  People were curious.  A missing spiritual piece to their wholeness was now available.  We began worshipping together every second week.  Our first communion service was met with amazed gratitude.  For many it had been years since they had received the bread and wine.  By Advent, the repeated requests to meet weekly was answered.  Desire and momentum were visible signs of Spirit’s work, inspiriting awe and wonder.  Holy Spirit was actively interceding, companioning and counselling as I drew innovation and creativity in weekly planning.  The members progressively created their own beautiful Advent banner and I continued to illustrate the lessons of Jesus coming at birth, in response to prayer, and promised Second Coming.   

For the final Advent service, Holy Spirit inspirited me to invite the people to offer their hospitality to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who desired to hear their ‘Come Lord Jesus’.  Desired to fellowship with them daily.  In fact, was waiting to be invited into that personal relationship.  I asked if anyone would like to do that.  Eleven responded ‘Yes’!  Eleven noble hearts took turns drawing a heart on their palm, symbolising their commitment to fellowship with theTrinity.  More awe and wonder of Holy Spirit who knows full well what He has prepared in advance.

 InSpirit members are determined to attend every service.  Despite poor health on arrival, they testify to always feeling better when they leave.  Their Lent journeys were amazing testimonies to personal experiences of Jesus’ reality. Anointing oil with healing prayers and requests for blessings are frequent. They desire to learn, love to fellowship, with teatimes regularly following services.  A perfect expression of the relational ministry Jesus exemplified.  Evidence of Spirit’s fruit in their lives is revealed in generosity.  They asked me to provide opportunity for giving financially.  Teatimes are abundant with shared goodies whether homebaked or purchases specially chosen.

Extra opportunities for worship are welcomed and initiated by InSpirit members as they continue to learn.  Ashes of remembrance were requested as a service on Ash Wednesday.  Maundy Thursday we washed each other’s feet, learning Jesus’ mandates of love, service and communion by following His commands.  Another of which was taken by three at our Easter celebration. 

Baptism!  Declaring their desire to publicly confess following Jesus.  I prepared them with the Word as Holy Spirit prepared them inwardly.  Absolute tangible Presence of God as they stepped forward to be washed in the life giving water of baptism.  Dying to self.  Resurrected new creations in Christ.  In the presence of His family.  And we celebrated!  Christ’s resurrection and theirs!

What joy to break the bread of Life with these precious people.  People for whom Christ has come.  People to whom Christ has come.  In fresh wind and fresh fire.  Thanks be to God!