TORONTO:  THE MEETING PLACE

What an incredible week of meetings we have had in Toronto!  Our hearts are overwhelmed with gratitude for all God has done—and is still doing.  We actually feel we have glimpsed His glory!

Diversity of race, religion and lifestyle define and set Toronto apart from other world cities. The name Toronto actually means “meeting place” and the city now claims itself as the most multi-cultural city in the world. Nearly three-quarters of Torontonians have direct ties to immigration, half having immigrated themselves and the rest children of immigrants. So, it is not surprising that more than 100 languages and dialects are spoken there.

Throughout the week, we glimpsed a partial fulfillment of Revelation 5:9:  “With your blood you purchased men (women) for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

Meeting Him at The Empire Club
On Tuesday of revival week, Anne had the honor of addressing The Empire Club of Canada, the country’s recognized speakers’ forum. Founded in 1903, the Club has hosted a “who’s who” of world leaders in politics, business, culture and religion, with every speaker bringing his or her unique view on our changing world. In addition to addressing a sold-out crowd of Canada’s most influential business, education and political leaders, Anne’s address was broadcast live on television. All who listened heard Anne use God’s Word from Luke 4:18-19 to counter the bad news of Canada’s daily newspaper headlines with the Good News of Jesus Christ:  that He has come to offer us forgiveness of sin, freedom from spiritual oppression, and the favor of God.  The elite audience gave her a standing ovation when she concluded.

Meeting Him in the Media
With the Greater Toronto’s population topping 5 million people, it seemed a daunting task to cut through the noise of the messages on the streets of such a bustling city. Yet, the Lord used the credibility Anne gained by her invitation to address the Empire Club, her previous experiences in addressing the United Nations and other world bodies, as well as simply applying His supernatural favor to fling open the doors to the city’s secular media establishments. Toronto’s largest secular talk radio show, the major newspapers (citywide and national), and magazines, as well as the  Canadian Broadcasting Network all gave Anne airtime to share her bold and clear message – there is only one solution to the societal ills in Canada and that solution is for each citizen to establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In more than one media opportunity, Anne found her interviewer openly sharing his agnostic view of God and his jaded view of religion. One interview actually began with the introduction, “Well, folks, we have an agnostic and an evangelical Christian in the same room.  This should be fun!” Though the interviewers were secular, skeptical and at times even cynical, Anne was struck that not one denied her the opportunity to directly, specifically and boldly share the Gospel in its entirety. Some even seemed strangely drawn to the truth themselves as she shared it. The unseen thousands that were “met” in the two days of media appearances was a blessing we pray that bore much eternal fruit, and one that only the Lord could have folded into this revival week.

Meeting Him in the Air Canada Centre
In a country where “hockey is king,” the Air Canada Centre is most known as the place where fans come to worship their beloved Maple Leafs.  But, for September 29-30, the arena was consecrated as a “most holy place” as it became host to what may be Canada’s largest-ever, multi-denominational Christian women’s gathering. The women (and men!) who poured into the arena, formed a massive crowd that rivaled any hockey turnout. But, unlike hockey games where the throng gains its strength by cheering in mass, the power in the revival audience came as each attendee had a personal, fresh encounter with Jesus

Meeting Him at the Foot of the Cross
The crowd inside the arena was true to the city’s diverse form with the audience forming a multi-ethnic sea of faces. The language diversity was addressed with the vast offering of simultaneous language translation, so attendees were able to receive the teaching in their native languages including Cantonese, Hindi, Tamil, Spanish, Mandarin, Korean and Portuguese. But, by the end of Anne’s Friday evening Gospel message – the language barriers disappeared and the diversity melted away-- replaced by unity at the foot of the cross for hundreds who streamed forward to accept Christ and get right with God. In a touching scene, many of those who responded dropped immediately to their knees, in total humility, as they reached the arena floor near the cross. In that powerful moment, with the faces of every nation reflected in those standing at the foot of the cross it was if we were witnessing a preview of Jesus’ ultimate return to earth when “He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”  (Mathew 24:31) 
 
Meeting Him in Worship
Throughout the weekend, the diverse sea of faces became a heavenly choir of the nations as Fernando and Stephanie led the “congregation” in worship. Using classic hymns and familiar choruses, not one voice was left behind as women of every denomination, generation and nation were able to join in with familiarity and passion.  The glorious sound of thousands in one accord  seemed to echo that which the apostle John heard when he testified, “I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:  ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’” (Revelation 5:13)

Meeting Him in Prayer
As moving as the congregational worship was, it was equally glorious to hear thousands praying aloud together. The awesomeness of the corporate prayer during Jill Briscoe’s session, was amazing not only to those participating. It was reported that an Air Canada Centre building employee entered the arena during the group prayer time and dashed out to grab a colleague who was out on the arena’s concourse saying, “You’ve got to come in and hear this – they’re all praying…at the same time! You’ve never seen anything like this!” Fresh from her ministry experiences throughout the world, Jill offered great new insights into how we can talk to God in prayer and, along with Stephanie Seefeldt, drew each one closer to the Father’s heart.

Meeting Him in His Word
Proving once again that God speaks personally to each of us through His Word, Anne carried out her signature Bible Study Workshop. As one attendee shared later, “Even though there were thousands of us in that arena, it seemed like I was just sitting in your living room and you were showing me how to ask, ‘What does the verse say? What does it mean? What does it mean to me?’” Approximately 140 Bible studies are beginning throughout Ontario, and beyond, in the weeks ahead.  Thousands of women will attend as God’s Word is turned loose.  We pray each Bible study will spin off others until Ontario is saturated in God’s Word!

Meeting Him … Committed to Introducing Him to Others
The encounters with Jesus resulted in more than a special weekend together in a sports arena. The thousands present joined Anne in her challenge for each to literally, and in her heart, “wave her flag of surrender” to Him.  Each white “flag” raised signaled an intentional decision to fully yield plans, desires, goals, habits, schedules, families, heart, mind, soul, and body to Jesus.  The women left the arena with tears on their faces and renewed resolve in their hearts to not only live for Jesus, but to make Him known to the world between her own two feet. 

Meeting Him…In Continued Prayer
Please meet us in our place of thanksgiving for all He has done through Just Give Me Jesus Toronto. Join us in a continuing united prayer effort.  Thousands in Greater Toronto and throughout the world have committed to pray for 40 days following the revival. Between now and November 9th, we invite you to ask the Lord to protect and grow the seeds that were planted at the Air Canada Centre. Ask Him to pour out rivers of Living Water on the thousands who will be spending the next seven weeks in the follow-up Bible studies!  “We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified…”  (2 Thessalonians 1:12)

To God be the glory, great things He has done, and great our rejoicing through Jesus His Son!