Short Term Trips
THE KING'S heart is in the hand of the Lord, as are the watercourses; He turns it whichever way He wills. - Proverbs 21:1
The Josiah Team had over 86 meetings with Members of Parliament over the course of November 22-26. Our focus was to first of all honor our Members of Parliament for their service to Canada and thank them for various Bills that they tabled, voted on or passed that stood for righteousness in Canada. Secondly, to let them know that there were 22 young adults from across Canada that paid their own way to Ottawa to share their hearts about Bills that were coming up that we would like to see them support such as Bill C-575 First Nations Financial Accountability Bill tabled by Kelly Block, C-593 National Suicide Prevention Strategy by Megan Leslie and some that we didn't want to see supported such as Bill C-386 Transgender Discrimination by Bill Siksay.
Our main focus of the trip was to support Roxanne's Law that Rodney Bruinooge tabled earlier this year and is going to be voted on December 15th. My team that I was on had between 6-8 meetings a day. Every meeting we had our strategy that worked the best was to share what Bills were on our hearts and end it with asking the Member of Parliament to support Roxanne's Law and vote for it on December 15th. At the end of every meeting I shared my testimony (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDYPCRlqFOg ) and personally asked for their support. While some MP's were on the fence and some were not even going to look at the Bill because their party or secretary had advised them not to pay attention to it they were moved that we had showed up to the Hill to ask them to look at it. Some MPs wanted to know what size of groups we represented at home to feel out how their votes would affect their riding and re-election. My Canada has over 100,000 people networked through facebook and twitter!
Here is one story of God's power that hit the man who tabled that abortion should be provided to third world countries at the G8 Summit. Before we went into this meeting we had been asking God what his heart for this man was. During intercession for him God revealed the depth of His love for this man. We interceded for about a half hour before going into this meeting. Our leader seemed a little nervous and didn't tell us what this man had voted or tabled in the past she just said "lets look for the gold here".
He was walking down the hall when we were walking toward his office. He welcomed us and ushered us in. We all sat down at his conference table and he said that My Canada has become a force to be reckoned with on Parliament Hill. He asked us what was on your hearts. One by one we went around the table and shared various Bills and finally it came to me and my testimony. I shared just like every other meeting and asked him to support this bill. He looked at me with sadness was shocked and appalled apologizing for what had happened to me and said that He will look at this bill again and he will definitely take it seriously. He was very compassionate and looked so moved by what we were talking about. He looked around the table at us and said "should we pray?" At first we were confused and then he stood up and put his hands out to hold ours. We didn't know for sure if he was going to pray or if we were. We prayed and blessed his office and staff and left feeling Gods manifest presence knowing that He touched the heart of this man. It was a complete miracle that was ushered in by intercession.
Another meeting we had with a man that was obviously a powerful man with a close relationship to the Prime Minister. When we asked him to support Roxanne's Law he gave us a speech about how sometimes you have to loose a battle to win a war. We urged him that anytime you stand for righteousness you win. It became tense and awkward in the room and I really wanted this meeting to end when felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit to share my testimony. I argued with God that this man's mind was already made up about the Bill and it would be pointless. Nervously I heard my voice cut through the awkwardness and start to share. Suddenly the power of God came on me and I began to weep while telling my testimony. The emotion of my testimony overwhelmed me and as I looked at this man I saw his heart breaking. He began to cry with me.
I finished my testimony and asked him to support the Bill and advised him that it would be a free vote. He hugged me for some time apologizing for what happened to me. Then I gave him the gift that My Canada provided which was a picture of a boy on a skateboard going down a steep hill and a quote that I read to him while choking back tears: "Courageous Leadership is having the integrity to do the right thing even if it means you stand alone and are uncertain of where it may lead. We pray that in these days when leadership decisions are shaping the course of human history that our God who is alive will give you profound wisdom, steady courage and tremendous foresight to make decisions that will lead to nothing but life and vitality for future generations/ Call unto me and I will answer you and tell you great and awesome things you did not know. Jer 33:3 - My Canada"
I saw him again at the My Canada reception where I shared my testimony to over 26 MPs. He came directly over to me and said, "I'm proud of you. You are changing things keep telling your story, Canada needs to hear it. I needed to hear it."
Meeting after meeting went like these stories the power of our testimonies, prayer and intercession that took place before, during and even still happening now was burning on me the entire week. I could literally feel the weight of the war and witnessed the shifting of hearts and minds that took place over these "kings" as we met with them. We showed up to these meetings feeling completely unqualified and soon learned that it was the call that qualified us on Parliament Hill that week.
What am I doing now? Getting Roxanne's Law Petitions signed (http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/support-c-510.html)and leading a prayer conference rumble until Roxanne's Law is passed. I am hosting if you want to call in! I would love if you join the Josiah team and I in watering those seeds on Parliament Hill!
Prayer Rumble @ 6pm - 7pm:
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010
Tuesday, December 14th, 2010
Conference Dial-in Number: (605) 475-4000
Participant Access Code: 846292#