Weddings of churches in Switzerland

On Friday morning we were invited to a regional prayer meeting in Hochdorf, which is a small town situated in a valley outside Lucerne, south of Zurich. This group meets together regularly to pray for Hochdorf and the people in the valley. Among the group this morning were two pastors, and a youth pastor (who was about to settle in the area to begin planting a church). These represented two different churches, situated at either end of the valley. They shared with us what had been going on in the area, the things they were praying for and the people whom God had put on their hearts, like a woman who had recently been converted from Satanism. Every week the women in the group, from different church fellowships, ran a Christian book stall.

The group told us over the last few years they had been trying to plant a church but so far had been unsuccessful. It is interesting to note here that at either ends of this valley there were barricades to this work in the form of a Satanist at one end and a white witch at the other.

Through Isaiah 19:23-29 we could relate the situation between the three nations: Egypt, Assyria and Israel, with the people who lived in the valley, the pastors from the churches outside the valley and the church they were trying to establish within the valley. As in Isaiah, the folk from the valley had the authority to give permission to those outside to come in and plant a church and to help them bless the people in the valley together.

We decided to use the prophetic symbolism of a "wedding", asking the two churches involved to come together, laying down their lives for one another as bride and groom, for their mutual benefit and the blessing of their offspring. This enabled the second wedding to take place between the newly wedded church and the people of the valley.

The ' Wedding' being celebrated: The pastors from the two sides of the valey and the local group of Ladies, with GN team blessing this new stage in their relationship

What happened next was very moving. One pastor humbled himself, opening his heart to the other pastor and confessing that he had put up many barriers to their relationship. Namely, that of fear. He was afraid that some people from his church would leave him and join the other pastor's church. Also, if the church plant grew, he would be made redundant. We were aware that God was giving us a very special privilege to witness what was happening - a day which will never be forgotten as the pastors embraced, blessing each other and eagerly desiring to go ahead together with a joint Alpha course.

The pastors pray for each other and make the commitment of going ahead together in this joint church planting

As the church and the people "married" before God it illustrated the willingness on both sides to be equal participants in the work, to welcome, love and affirm each other. The group formed a circle and prayed for one another whilst we, the GN team, stood outside the circle blessing and encouraging them. Their hearts were full of a new love and understanding for one another and their roles in what God was calling them to do in the area.

That afternoon we were asked to return to Hochdorf and pray for the lady formely involved in Satanism. She had broken every commandment possible and was in terrible distress. As we prayed, she began to manifest and after some time God set her completely free. She will need continued prayer as her life will take some time to be completely restored and healed.