BrianIngraham.com | ASPIRE

Last week found me celebrating my birthday at a mission’s conference in Hungary. CRM- Europe does a local conference on years where there is no global CRM conference. It was great to spend time with a bunch of missionaries, some of whom are experts in fields I want to learn more about.

I also had the honour to report on what God is doing through our team in Scotland. How we continue to enjoy God’s gracious favour. How we are now beginning to expand beyond our Re:Hope Church Plant beginning ministries with expanded kingdom impact.

God has continued to bless us with an ever-expanding team, focused not just on Re:Hope but on Scotland, the UK, and beyond.

Continue to pray for discernment. We have an ever-increasing amount of opportunities, not all of which we should pursue. Also, pray that we would bear much fruit this year!

Thanks for praying!

In Northern Ireland I met an old Baptist pastor named Alistair (we were seated next to each other during a wedding reception.) During our conversation it surfaced that we had a common passion for missionary biographies, specifically on ‘men of prayer.’ His personal favourite is called “Mountain Rain: A biography of James. O. Fraser” by Eileen Crossman. He tells me it is “his book,” the most influential book he has ever read, and that he rereads it yearly.

With such a strong recommendation I had no choice but to read it. It really is great. It is the story of a young man, growing up in the church of the west, going to a tribal people in China and his realization how much he underestimated the spiritual forces of evil, and how underdeveloped he was in the area of prayer. Fantastic.

It has already affected me in how I pray for people who are sick. I know the bible says that church leaders are to pray for the sick but that is done so many different ways. Some, it feels to me, are trying to strong arm God into healing; others seem to think their prayer is a bother to God giving him every reason they understand why He wouldn’t heal.

James talks about praying in faith differently than I have heard before. First, he prays for discernment, then, after getting direction, he can pray with confidence (faith) that he is praying God’s will.

If that makes no sense, or if you want to hear more, pick up “Mountain Rain” and prepare to both learn and be inspired.

PS. Choose well the books you read.

While reading Acts today I came across this passage where Paul is recounting what Jesus has commanded him (Paul) to do.

“…I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. So that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” - Acts 26:17-18

Personally, as “a sent one,” sent from my homeland, across the planet, I too have this same calling for Scotland. I am also called to…

1. Pray and speak so that the spiritual eyes of this nation will be opened.
2. Pray and teach so that these people will turn from darkness to light.
3. Pray and Help them break free from the power of Satan as they dedicate themselves to God in the power and name of Jesus.
4. So that these people can be forgiven.
5. So that these people can be made holy by faith in Jesus.

Watching Paul throughout the book of Acts he stays on this mission, but he doesn’t keep the job to himself. All the way through Acts, Paul is calling men and women to join him in his Jesus given mission.

If you are reading this from the States join us and intercede in prayer with me on behalf of Scotland for the 5 things above, as well as for an ever-increasing amount of people on this side of the world to join with me in the ministry of the above 5 things.

If you are reading this in Scotland. This is at the heart of our mission, it is why I am here, it is why Re:Hope started. To see people become saved and set free from the power of Satan so that they can be both forgiven and made holy. Join with us on Tuesday evenings at 8pm or Sunday afternoon at 2pm to pray this over the people of our nation and let us encourage each other to be bold in speaking of the greatness of Jesus.

Prayer is powerful!