One of the unusual features of this course is that one session is taught outdoors as I lead the school around some of the 54 acres of land stopping at several places to teach on seeing God's glory in creation. The weather in Australia makes this somewhat easier than in the UK!

This is still my favourite course, both for the privilege of teaching it and for the joy of seeing so many people finally 'get it'. Most of us know 'theologically' that God loves us, but when that truth explodes in your heart as revelation rather than only in your mind as education the change can be profound. You are loved and can live and mature in the certainty of that unchanging love.

Land is mentioned some 1700 times in the Bible and scripture makes it clear that land can be blessed, cursed or spiritually defiled. This course brings an understanding of the reality and the consequences of these issues, and also scripture's answers to the reality and consequences. Along the way I tell many stories from my own life and ministry experiences.

The question and answer time also showed how real this issue is in many lives.

The course poster reads,

Ken Symington brings essential teaching on how to bring cleansing to land and buildings which have become defiled. How do you spiritually cleanse the ground and buildings that you have authority over? Ken's clear biblical exposition matched with many years of experience makes this course a valuable learning opportunity.

 

The testimonies during the final session were very encouraging.

September 1st - 6th. A holiday!

Courtesy of long-standing Aussie friends, Linda and I had a wonderful week long holiday at a beautiful beach house close to the most easterly point in Australia, near Byron Bay. The weather forecast was for rain all week, but God was gracious and we had perfect sunshine until the day we were leaving. We watched and photographed humpback whales making their annual migratory journey along the coast, and large pods of dolphins hunting just of the beach. We read books, enjoyed good food, long walks and many conversations over coffee. I went canoeing in an estuary and tried body board surfing in the sea. Thank you Lord. Thank you John and Ilona.

This Friday morning sermon was delivered at Ellel Pierrepont, Frensham Surrey on July 17th and was made available on the internet

in mid-August. The talk was extracted from the editorial of this name on this site. Because the majority of the audience was to my right and the video camera to my left the result is that you see more of my side profile than my face!

This is  - we estimate - our 12th or 13th prayer ministry school.  Invitation is by word of mouth only so until the first night we have no idea how many people will come. On opening night more people came than the hall we hired had seats for, and some delegates had to sit on the ground. Conscious of possibly breaching the maximum numbers allowed by insurance and fire authorities most of the Cri team retired to a nearby member's home to pray - something usually done in a back-room within the venue - before returning at 9.30pm to provide supper. (One team member had to dash to the shops to buy more disposable cups) The next day we found out that we could legally accommodate more delegates and the provider supplied two additional rows of seating to take us up to the maximum number allowed. The hunger amongst the delegates is palpable and some of the distances people have travelled to be here is inspiring. One man does an evening round trip of 120 miles - and this is his second year coming on the school!

Those who know my story will know that prior to being saved at the age of 42 I was a fairly serious athlete. Hundreds of events included 8 Belfast Marathons, 1 Dublin Marathon, 2 New York Marathons, many Irish Triathlon championships and in 1987 the world Triathlon Championship in France. (2 mile swim + 77 mile cycle + 20 mile run)

Shortly after I was saved the Lord asked me to give up competitive sport (which was hard to do, but I obeyed) because, with hindsight, I now understand He had another destiny planned for me instead.  Then in 2005 a heart virus nearly killed me, and left me with the following heart condition.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy with left ventricular systolic dysfunction + Mitral regurgitation + Atrial fibrillation. With a heart working irregularly at only 23%. This is one of my heart monitor readings...

It is a miracle that I survived the virus attack especially with no surgery or implant, but wisdom dictated that I should never undertake anything too strenuous. 

In November last year while watching our local Saturday morning 5K Park Run I silently asked the Lord if perhaps one day it might be possible for me to do the run.  Three months ago the Lord gave His peace to gently start training which (somewhat nervously) I did. Very gradually I ventured into longer and longer runs, and then on November 14th - one month before my 68th birthday - and on a freezing autumn morning I successfully ran the 5K with no ill effects.  I was delighted! Total, absolute, Glory to God.