Transcription
It's been a very eventful week. Um, so a lot has happened this week. [Music] Um, you know, obviously we were meant to have the March for Jesus yesterday in Belfast. Um, in case you didn't hear, it didn't happen yesterday.
And, uh, so just very quickly before I get into the message, um, I would like to explain not just, uh, to yourselves, but also to the thousands of people, uh, who are planning on being there. Um, hundreds of churches from both north and south intended to be in Belfast yesterday for the March for Jesus. And um, so hopefully I can just, in a very concise manner, explain what happened.
Uh, I suppose first and foremost, um, you know, we had made extensive preparations for the march. Um, there's no doubt that there are a lot more stringent requirements for Belfast. Um, partly because it's, it's I guess, a different nation. You're dealing with British law, etc. And uh, but also I think, you know, just in view of the history of Belfast, uh, parades obviously are quite a contentious issue at times and therefore they're just a lot more regulations.
Um, and so we fell foul of some of these in our preparation. Uh, there were some essential permits and permissions that weren't obtained, um, simply because some of the people advising us up there didn't have a maybe a full grasp of what was involved and um, and so as a consequence, we had some major issues leading up to the march. Uh, the police, PSNI, and I also were quite concerned about the numbers that we mentioned that were coming to the city and uh, again there were health and safety issues around that and um, and and so in some respects, we were kind of um, you know, victims of our success in terms of we had mobilized a very large segment of the church on this island and uh, you know, I believe it could have been a very, very powerful day in terms of um, you know, bringing healing, unity, but aside from the natural, you know, opposition, and I made it clear um, you know, that we're not blaming the authorities, they were simply doing their job, um, you know, it would appear there was a lack of, of Um, you know, that some of our preparation was clearly lacking.
Um, I mean down here in essence, you you you speak to the guard and away you go. So um, it's it's just a different environment and and we accept that and and um, certainly a lot of Christians were getting very um, you know, angry um, uh when we canceled but you know, taking the best advice given to us and taking on board um, you know, with quite a number of consultations with the PSNI and various um, state authorities in Northern Ireland. Uh, there were serious concerns about the safety of crowds, the numbers that would be there, etc. And um, and you know, first and foremost, I am a shepherd. I'm a pastor. Um, you know, my reputation means nothing. Um, you know, ultimately, it is a march for Jesus. It's not about a church. It's not about an institution, and it's certainly not about a person. Uh, it's about Christ, our savior.
Um, and uh, you know, at the end of the day, nobody died. Um, but safety was a serious consideration and um, you know, certainly as a pastor, I I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something, you know, if if people were hurt um, you know, as a consequence of our lack of preparation um, or ignoring maybe ignoring some of the laws because you know, I had Christians say well, you know, you can you have a human right to march, you can you can just go ahead and do it. And yes, on one level, we have the human right, but um, on the other, you know, God has set the authorities there for a reason. I do think it's important that we respect the authorities.
And uh, you know, for any of the people making allegations about Cardis or you know me not having courage to um uh you know, to to ignore them well you know there's you know there's there's a difference between being courageous and being reckless or being foolish and um and and so again we we we uh want to work with the authorities. I think to be quite honest um, certainly for for me as a pastor, I have taken some very controversial stands over the years, at least controversial in the woke world uh or or for those who you know hold to those views and um uh you know I have taken a stand for for righteousness and for the the word of God and during Covid, like I said, we did defy the authorities when they were saying that we couldn't worship Christ and we met safely at uh you know in the Phoenix park. But you know I I to be quite honest I do think some Christians have come out of Covid with a persecution mentality whereby they see all authorities as the enemy and I don't think that's healthy. I don't believe that's the way we're meant to be. I I I think we should respect whether it's the Guardi or the PSNI or or anyone in government. Obviously if you're being told to do something that is contrary to your your to your faith that's that's a different issue. But in in in in this instance, um, like I said, you know, the there were very legitimate issues they were bringing up.
And um, you know, unfortunately in retrospect, I think it it would have been helpful if we had uh some people from maybe some of the uh organizations that large that arrange very large parades in Northern Ireland who would be more mindful of the of the the rules and regulations which are quite uh which are quite like I said they they are quite stringent. Um, we did have approval from the parades commission. Uh, but that was just one of many other permissions that were required and um and and so again we are going to reschedule. We're working at a date in August. I do believe this day needs to happen. I do believe it's important that the church north and south comes together but obviously we want to do it responsibly and safely and um, all I can say is that the door has been left open with the authorities and I do believe they respect the fact that we wanted to be responsible, that we wanted to work with them and um that you know that we weren't determined to ram through this um you know this day irrespective of their of their of their concerns and so um it it will happen.
And just lastly, to all of those, you know, keyboard warriors out there who have been given all sorts of opinions. Like I said, my reputation is irrelevant. It doesn't matter. You can say what you want um uh about me, but all I'd say is this. It's very easy for somebody who doesn't have any skin in the game uh to be giving an opinion. um you know many of the believers or leaders giving all sorts of opinions over uh the last few days um you know weren't involved in trying to make this happen. We do have to understand there is a spiritual element to this. The powers of darkness do want do not want the church to come together. They do not want us to be in unity standing together and praying together for revival. They they they do not want, like I said, believers from north and south coming together to worship and lift up Christ our king. That that is a fact. And all I can say is the spiritual warfare over the last number of months has been very intense. And I appreciate all of the people that have been uh praying for me.
Um, but you know, aside from anything else, you know, as a church, we've probably spent thus far probably somewhere in the region of 16-17,000 in trying to make this day happen. And so again like I said it's very easy for people who have done nothing uh to sit back and and criticize but um again there there is you know a spiritual element to this. The powers of darkness do not want um uh the church to come together. They do not want us praying for revival. They do not want us to lift up Jesus Christ. But I believe God's purposes will be accomplished. Um, you know, I believe that I I believe he will make a way. And this is the irony is that uh over the last number of days I've probably done seven or eight interviews at radio stations and newspapers and um and you couldn't have bought the publicity that uh it has brought to us. I I've been very clear to people in in not blaming the PSNI. I mean they didn't cancel it. I canceled it. I accepted responsibility for that fact and um because I I I do want this to proceed in a safe and and you know in a respectful manner and I do want all of our our ducks in a row so to speak. I do want all of the approvals that that that that are required so that we can gather safely and so that you know God will be glorified cuz God is a God of excellence and uh and and and and like I said you know I do believe that we can work together with the authorities to have a wonderful day. So we're we're we're working towards a date in August and and please keep it in prayer because like I said it's it it you know it is a challenge trying to bring all of the strands of the church together. There's so many different, you know, um, you know, opinions and and and and differences and and and, you know, the easiest thing in the world is to focus on our differences. I mean, but I I believe this is a season where God wants us to focus on what brings us together and and and Christ is Lord. And that is something we can all agree on, and we can all agree in the fact that Jesus is the answer. We can certainly agree when we look in our societies that our our our societies are broken, that there's, you know, such a prevalence of darkness and despair and hopelessness. And instead of arguing and fighting each other, I think it'd be a wonderful thing for us to work together to humble ourselves and pray just like the Bible says and and cry out to God for our generation for that revival and so that he will uh as he has promised in 2 Chronicles 7:14 um you know forgive our sin uh hear our prayer and heal our land.
And so that's that's my prayer. I hope that has given you some sort of a context in terms of what has happened. I didn't cancel the the the parade lightly. I I I was jumping through all sorts of hoops and trying to do what what I could to to make it happen. Unfortunately, like I said, I I'm I'm not sure we had, you know, the necessary um expertise and and and people around us to to enable us to have everything done in time. uh Pastor Gian Paulo really did a a sterling job in in terms of you know seeking to to address some of the deficiencies but in essence we ran out of time and uh you know the bottom line is this there were hundreds of churches coming, there were churches all over the country both both north and south that had booked buses and I had to make a call, I wasn't going to make this call on Thursday or Friday, it was too late, so Wednesday morning after consulting with the the authorities I decided to to uh to pull the plug.
Um, I I I'll be honest, I made a decision at that stage. I was going to close the church in Belfast. I was leaving. I was never coming back to Northern Ireland. Um, but since then, I've I've uh I've actually asked the Lord, you know, um about what he wants me to do. And I believe I'm meant to continue. And I believe I'm meant to [Music] [Applause] uh you know we can do crazy things when we allow our emotions, our feelings to lead us. We have to pray and you know we have to pray and ask God what does he want and uh and so anyway I believe the day will happen and I believe and this is the funny thing is that I believe it's going to be bigger and better than it ever would have been yesterday. So there's a principle in the Bible what the enemy meant for evil. God will turn to good. Amen. So come on, give a shout of praise to the Lord [Applause] today. Maybe we could stand to our feet and uh Lord today we just uh come before you and uh we just pray father that you would enable this uh march to happen. Um, you know, I pray that you will uh give us the wisdom and the understanding, that you will surround us with the right people, that you will make a way, Father God. We thank you that you would make a way for us, Lord God, because I believe unity is key to revival. And I pray, Lord God, I pray a blessing over Belfast and over Northern Ireland. We pray a blessing over the PSNI and over all of the uh authorities who are just simply doing their job and looking out for people and ensuring uh everything is done decently and in order. And uh and so, Father, we just pray that you will make a way for us, Lord, that you would enable us to find the right days, Lord, in in August to enable us to have this. And uh I just trust you, Father God, that you will be glorified, Father God, that your that your presence will be felt, your glory will be seen, and your name will be honored. Hallelujah. And that your people by God's grace will be united. Uh in Jesus wonderful name we pray. Amen.