Reality LA Blog

The affluent towns of Kensington and Knightsbridge were on the agenda for our team today, along with Notting Hill, where Reality London had its first service around this time last year. Our morning started off with prayers not just for those residing in these areas, but also for what God is doing in our hearts during this trip. As the days pass and we fall more in love with this beautifully fascinating city, we are coming to realize how much more of Jesus we need, and how important it is for us to understand the foundational elements of his love and grace.

We were reminded to pray for God’s love to be real in our hearts and for it to be something established in a will and resolve to serve, instead of how any one of us is feeling at any particular moment. We prayed that we would love the way that God does, who died for us while we were still sinners and whose love for us is not based on what we deserve but on the kind of heart that He possesses.

One of our first opportunities to do this came about as we were walking towards Hyde Park and met a couple squatters from Bosnia who shared a little bit about their lives. The woman had to shoo the men in our group away because of the Ramadan holiday in August (where Muslim woman are forbidden to speak to non-Muslim men in addition to fasting), but the man was open to talking to us.

We were able to converse and pray with them, as well as provide some Euros for food and other expenses, trusting that God would make good out of what we were giving them regardless of intention. Since He is a patient God of grace, we are continuing learning on this trip what it means to give grace in the same way.

The rest of our time was spent on Portabella Road, a market-lined street dotted with small business vendors, and a variety of artists and craftsman hoping to sell their work to locals and tourists. We had a great time finding and purchasing unique treasures and meeting with the shopkeepers.

We are exactly mid-way through our trip right now, and are excited for the remainder of our time here. Although it is such a blessing to be here, our flesh is always battling against the will of God so all prayers are greatly appreciated.

It’s also been very encouraging to be receiving e-mails and prayers from our friends in Los Angeles, so we thank you for that and would just like to remind everyone to keep Mark and Lizzie in their prayers. Lizzie met up with us today and shared the struggles of being here. The soil is hard, but they have been incredibly faithful as far, so please pray for patience, timing and wisdom.

Prayer Requests:

- Endurance and perseverance for the remainder of the trip, so that we would be able to better observe our surroundings and prepared to minister and serve the great amount of people here

- Wisdom and discretion as to how to behave towards the locals and to one another that would best reflect who Christ is; that seeds would be planted through our interactions with them and we would be patient and trusting regarding the fruit of these actions

- For the growing Muslim population to experience and witness the love of genuine Christians and have their perception of Christ be turned around as a result

- Courage that is rooted in love and powerful enough to overcome any anxieties that may hinder us from reaching out

- Sincerity in our conversations and trust in God to speak through us, and not simply from ourselves

LOVE, Gloria (on behalf of Adam, Nicole, Patrick, Pip and Anu)

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Hello beloved Brethren!

Today was another blessed day in the city of London. After a start at Paul (its not idolatry, its just really really good food) took in the communion service at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The liturgy was sound and filled with Scripture; however, it was very apparent to us that there was no heart behind the people’s worship.

We are not the Lord and cannot see into the depths of the soul, the Holy Spirit does impart discernment and wisdom to those in whom He dwells. As we sat through the service, the Lord once again revealed to us the emptiness pervasive in the religiousness ever-present in London.

Our own hearts were grieved to hear the masses reciting sweet phrases such as “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty” without any fervor or joy or reverence and seemingly without understanding. At times it seemed we sat in a whitewashed tomb – beautiful, but lacking life – and The Lord brought 2 Timothy 3:5 to remembrance. Together we yearn to see them fall in love with Jesus Christ, who saves by grace through faith, not by works so that no man can boast.

Please continue to labor with us that moralism and religiosity would crumble to pieces, that people would abandoned systems and trust the Savior. There is JOY in salvation that is nowhere to be found within the Cathedrals or places of worship, but only in Christ Jesus.

Afterwards, to the glory of God, the religiosity in our own hearts was brought to light. We praise our faithful Father to discipline those whom He loves. There was and is nothing but thankful brokenness amongst us.

The Lord blessed the rest of our afternoon with a time of sharing, confession, and repentance within the group. Honestly, we feel royally leveled by the goodness of God in the most beautiful way possible. Thank you for praying for our hearts, we praise God for our faithful brothers and sisters who have been lifting us up during this mind-blowing journey. Jesus Christ is worthy of any and all praise!

Tomorrow, after a teaching by Adam Smith, we’ll have the day to go about as we please. Pray that our spirit of brokenness would not subside, Jesus is shown as strong in our weakness! Also, pray that our intentionality would not fade as we tour, recreate and shop throughout the city.

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SESSION 1
Download – London’s Spiritual History.mp3
Mark Dyrud

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SESSION 2
Download – Concerning the Kingdom.mp3
Tim Chaddick

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SESSION 3
Download – Desperation in Prayer.mp3
Dave Lomas

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SESSION 4
Download – Perseverance.mp3
Mark Dyrud

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Shoreditch and Islington today. Aaron and James had an opportunity to pray with a man named Paul. Paul’s parents are Christian, but he had hardened his heart to Jesus, and had so much bitterness towards Christianity. What was really cool though, was how God worked us all together as a team. While Aaron and James were talking to him, the rest of the team just began to pray for a softening of his heart, a seed to be planted and for him to not forget what he had heard.

When the guys came back over, they told us his situation and it had been exactly what we had been praying for! Just an amazing reminder that God has it all in His hand. His plans are perfect and He knits us together for His will.

Please pray with us for Paul’s salvation, and for him to come to church this sunday.

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Today was a pretty awesome day for Team 1. After Lizzy Dyrud rocked us all with the devotion she prepared, we went out to Buckingham Palace and saw the changing of the guard. We prayed for the Royal Family and for the nation in a nearby park. We walked through Soho and then came back to Westminster Abby and the House of Parliament.

At the end of the day we met a young woman from Poland, Jastine, who was in town with the Make a Wish Foundation. She was here with a 17 year old boy named Tom. Tom has Lukemia and has always dreamed of studying english in London. She told us that she was Catholic but that a priest recently told her that she was “the daughter of the Devil”. We told her about the love of Christ and explained the gospel to her. When Tom came out from touring the House of Parliament, we had the opportunity to pray for both of them.

Throughout the day, God really created a bond within our team. The six of us shared with one another about what God had been doing in out lives and prayed for one another. We are super excited about what God is doing in London and in our team.

Please keep praying for us and please pray also for Jastine and Tom.

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On Wednesday we visited Regent’s Park, which was a distinct break from the concrete jungle of the city. Once inside the park, we headed to the London Central Mosque, where we were handed brochures about the Islamic religion. As we sat outside of the mosque and read these brochures, we took notice of the tendency of false religions to try to be attractive to myriad demographics by mentioning animal rights, water conservation, and even a mention of Jesus as a prophet of Allah.

The current political tension in parts of Europe over the legality of Muslim women wearing burkas in public has exposed to a greater degree the oppression and violence towards women in certain parts of the world (see Time Magazine). Our hearts were broken for the women and children that suffer under the tyranny of many fundamentalists. Many of them are not allowed an education, access to information, and hence have little to no knowledge of the gospel and freedom of Jesus.

Please pray for conviction of truth for the followers of Islam. Pray that an influential leader within the Muslim community be saved so that the gospel can infiltrate that religious pocket which is so quickly growing in London.

We spent some time as a Team praying on top of Primrose Hill overlooking London for all of these things and invite you to pray with us!

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Tuesday, Aug. 17

Hello people! We are team B.C. (self appointed team name). What it stands for will remain hidden due to ongoing covert operations throughout the city of London. We are very excited to be in this beautiful city and are expectant that Jesus has great things for it!
From right to left: Andrea, Abby, Cailey, Ashley, Jon, Matt, and Tim.

In the morning meeting, Vicar Andrew of St. James Church gave insight on the British mind towards Christianity. The British mind, in some cases, can be resistant to new ideas due to their staunch hold on tradition and this fact inhibits forward progression and stunts growth in the church. Andrew spoke of his admiration for the American “can do” attitude and how we are more willing to jump on trying new things. Pray that they will be more open to new ideas.

Please pray for Andrew’s mentorship of Mark and that God will bless their relationship.

On the first Day of our Prayer Tour we visited Islington, an up and coming district made up of young people and young families. Please pray for these young families who may be considering looking for churches to raise their children in. Pray that these families find Jesus and learn to raise their children in gospel-centered homes. Pray for the churches in this district, specifically St. Mary’s Church, to be faithful in preaching the gospel.

- Psalm 16:5, “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.”

After Islington, we went to the district of Shoreditch, which was originally called “Soer-dyge.” Shoreditch is a prime example of how gentrification is taking root in parts of London. This area is comprised of a younger generation where there is a huge focus on the arts and independence. Pray for the Christians there to unite under the gospel and to live out the mission of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray that the gospel would saturate this area and affect many lives.

- 1 Peter 2:13, “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution.”

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Yesterday 8/18 we traveled to SoHo (which according to Buxton’s new book) was named such after some famous general’s battle cry. We walked, prayed, and sat in the middle of the square where many people were eating lunch. Seeing the brokenness and bondage of so many youth, was extremely hard. Our hearts were burdened to pray for healing of their hurt, confused sexual identities and of their misconception of Christians and Christ’s love.

Please pray with us for miraculous salvation & to raise up missionaries to come & love on these kids.

Today 8/19 we traveled to Kensington where Reality London meets at this pub called “the kensington.” The owner Sarah and employee Chloe, are two beautiful people who we want see blessed. Because of there allowing us to worship Jesus in their business!

We took a break at a local playground where we had so much fun on the swings, just enjoyed laughter and each other! If all you amazing family members back in Los Angeles could pray with us for the children of the city, that their innocence be protected, hearts to be softened for them to hear the truth of the Gospel, that would be awesome.

Following lunch, we got to spend some time with mark & lizzie praying for them at their flat. Being with these sweet godly people has really convicted us to pray for our church family near and far who are doing the Lord’s work.

Lastly, please pray for all of us out here, that we can love each other and see each other as Christ’s sees us. That beyond tiredness, jet lag, hunger, heat and cold that we are truly servants to one another. Encouraging and uplifting one another as we share the Gospel with London.

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ” Romans 12:9-11 (ESV)

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What another blessed day serving the Lord in this city!

We started the day out with exploring the area of Marylebone and decided to go into the local church of the same name. As we sat and prayed inside the church, we were all overcome with a beautiful awe and wonder of the Lord. In the apse behind the altar, Jesus was shown as seated at His glorious throne with all of creation and all of the angels rejoicing in His splendor. God ministered to our hearts, and we were blessed with some rest and quiet worship.

Afterward we headed to Paul for some killer sandwiches and pastries. Walking down the street and eating our lunch in the appropriately named Garden of Rest and the Lord used this area to confirm a particular calling to France for one of the team members.

We then strolled through Regent’s Park, to the London Central Mosque. While in the Mosque, the team had various experiences, from the feeling of an oppressive presence, to demons revealing themselves and being cast out, to a free Qur’an being given by a stranger. As we sat down afterwards to discuss and pray, there was one clear impression everyone was left with – Islam is the same religiosity and works-based salvation system as any other.

Pray:
- For release from religious bondage
- Freedom from confusion and contradiction
- This subtle lie to be apparent to all believers who look into the religion and especially those who visit this Mosque

We spent some time in deep prayer and thanksgiving, then headed back toward the college to rest up and grub before the night’s service. However, it turned out God was not finished with us. Some of the group chose to walk back while the others chose to take the tube. The walkers happened upon a simple blue door on a side street that read ‘All Souls Clubhouse’. We recognized the church made famous by John Stott’s teaching and decided to drop in. It turned out that that little door lead to a place where God has been working for some time. In this off-the-path locale, we met two women who have been working in ministry with youth, elderly and single parents for years.

The youth ministry has seen a recent growth of children with Muslim backgrounds receiving the Gospel and starting next month they will have a youth intern from a Muslim nation who was awakened by the Gospel and fled to London to serve God’s work there. We were able to encourage and pray for a few of the workers at the clubhouse and were blessed to have them pray for us as well. Praise God for this little oasis and a comforting end to our day.

Pray:
- Praise! The clubhouse is transitioning right now and there are more laborers coming to help with the harvest
- They also need direction as they plan new programs and outreaches to touch the forgotten of society with the Gospel
- For young workers of the Truth to preach the grace-filled, compassionate Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Islamic population of London

Praise God for His soveriegnty and devine appointments. He is and has been working in London! This great city has not been abandoned by the love of God!

Praise the Almighty who was and is and is to come!

Team Terry Potter out.

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After lunch a few of our team members hoped over to Sainsbury’s, a London grocery store chain to buy chocolate bars. Outside on the steps sat a man with a medium length red beard and oversized backpack, who looked as if he may have been on a long camping trip or hike. Unsure if he was homeless or not exactly, one of our team handed him some money, which promptly brought the man to his feet as he smiled and exclaimed “this is first money I have seen all day sitting here!”

Carl or Pebbles (his street name) introduced himself, when asked how he was doing replied that he had been made “redundant.” That was a little confusing, as it was assumed maybe that meant he felt useless? However, as he continued, he explained how he had lost his job, turns out becoming redundant is slang for being laid off in the UK. To make matters worse, his Landlord withheld his deposit which would have been enough money to keep him going until he found another job. Out of money, he had taken to the street and took up begging, though he felt humiliated he forced himself to sit outside the store each day.

On the same day a young man named Vassil, who hitchhiked 72 hours from Bulgaria to London had given Carl a Bible verse written on a scrap of paper. Vassil (a friend of Witney from Reality LA who has been on short term missions in Bulgaria) had joined our team for the day before heading back to Bulgaria the following day.

Carl asked for prayer for stability, that his life could somehow someway get back on track, even though it seemed hopeless. Please pray for Carl, that God would grant him justice in his case with his Landlord and that a way out of his current situation would be provided. Pray also that Carl would come to know the value that God placed on his life when Jesus went to the cross to die for him.

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