As you can see from Charles Whitehead’s letter, the Goodnews, which has always been subsidised by CREW Trust, is at a crossroads as to whether we will be able to continue in the future. Whatever the outcome I am at peace because I believe we are all in the Lord’s hands and he speaks to us through the events of our lives. Although things are not looking good from a financial point of view, I am actually very hopeful about the future and what I see the Lord doing among the people around me. At a recent meeting between the English NSC and the leaders of some of the foreign prayer groups in London, there was real sense of anointing and expectation. See the report on the news pages 32/33.

We have also been greatly encouraged by the wonderful response we have received for the Road to Pentecost prayer guide we have produced. We initially planned to do a 5000 print run, but ended up having to do a reprint and at the time of going to press (early April) we had only 1000 left of the 15000 that we printed. Priests were taking bulk copies of between 100 – 400 for their parishes, and individuals have been buying extra copies to give away to their friends and family members. This response I feel is just a sign of the way the Spirit is moving at the moment. I have a sense that God is planning something special for Pentecost this year. As God stirs hearts we offer some practical tips on organising a Pentecost vigil, drawing on the experience and insights of Kim Kollins, who set up the Burning Bush Initiative. This calls the CCR and the Church in general to go back to the Upper Room in an attitude of intercession and expectation. We have been getting the most wonderful letters here at Goodnews from readers telling us what they are up to. John Waddoups, who is one of our prayer partners, tells us how his daughter Grace encouraged him to pray on the streets with a homeless man who was healed. We also hear of another reader’s experience of Perpetual Adoration and how it was set up in her parish. Next month we will share the story of a prisoner who wrote telling us how he has been evangelising in the prison he is in. We also have been hearing great stories from down Brighton way, where John Ghazal has been evangelising the tarot card readers. (see his story next issue).

Damian Stayne, the founder of Cor et Lumen Christi Community, who travels the world running the Charism school and Catholic Miracle Rallies, tells how he feels that the CCR is at a moment of decision and opportunity. He believes that we are on the verge of a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which we need to get ready for and appropriate. One of the signs of this, he believes, will be a new emphasis on the supernatural and the miraculous. Fr Chris Thomas in his page, writes about the miracles in Mark’s gospel and explains why himself believes in miracles. He tells how his own mother was healed of a terrible and chronic back problem through the power of prayer. A couple of issues ago we asked readers to write in and share their own stories of healing through the healing power of God. We share some of these, and we plan to share others in future issues, so if you have any, do write and tell us of what God has done for you. In these testimonies it is interesting to note the way the spiritual, the physical and the emotional, are all intertwined. Sr Betty Nina, who is a doctor with the medical sisters of St Joseph in Kerala, India, shares how her own medical career was transformed as she came to understand the importance of Christ’s healing power and how patients needed to be treated holistically instead of just being prescribed medication. On an institutional level there is a also a very significant ecumenical gathering coming up which Charles Whitehead is involved in called “The Commission on Holy Spirit Empowerment”. This will be looking at the role of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Movements. He tells us a bit about this and reflects on its significance. Intercession is a theme that has been coming up constantly in recent months. The focus has been, in particular, on spiritual warfare and praise. Both these were early features in the CCR. Marie Beirne, the chairperson of the NSC in Ireland calls on us to give the power back to God. In her article she quotes an early prophecy from the 1970s “You are my army and I am calling you to fight, not with worldly weapons, but with the weapons of praise. Praise is the short cut to holiness, the work and the weapon are one.” This emphasis on the power and importance of praising God is emphasized too by Fr Pat Collins in his article “victory belongs to the Lord”. Someone who offered her whole life as a sacrifice of praise to the Father was Mary, and Pat Kennedy writes about the importance of her ‘yes’ to God and what we can learn from her.

It can be difficult to live as a Christian in our very secular society and being true to our faith can bring persecution in various forms. In my article “Standing up for the Faith”, I reflect on the way we can subtly conform to what society expects of us, so that we will fit in and be acceptable. When we are alone, it is difficult to withstand outside pressures. Alex Chavez, a young Brazilian, lives in London. In “Stronger Together” he shares his personal testimony and something of the difficulties that immigrants can face when they come from the vibrancy of the Brazilian church to Britain. He explains how this year for the first time the Latin American charismatics in London have pooled their resources to put on a joint (Portuguese and Spanish speaking)charismatic conference 8th-10th May called “Hosana Londres 09.” This same theme of people working together achieving great things, is also the theme of Sue Whitehead’s Other Half. So let’s all continue to work together this coming year for the glory of God and see what great things he is going to do with us and through us.