Looking forward to Commission Festival 2023

Memories, happy memories, they so often flood our minds in moments of solitude. That melting summer 99 ice cream on Bournemouth Pier, the laughter of children splashing into the cold sea, the early morning birdsong that greeted you on your first spring stroll, the cry of a new born baby as you hold them for the first time. Festivals for me conjure up so many wonderful memories and I thought I would invite you to walk with me and imagine the sights, sounds of smells of past but also future Commission Festivals.

The warm welcome from volunteers as you arrive tired from your journey, as they give you your pack and point you to your site. The buzz of the Festival Zone as you check out books, new initiatives, kingdom enterprises and small entrepreneurs inviting you to buy or taste.

Walking to the kids zone, mums and dads chatting happily, children, a little nervous, then wowed by the stage and sets, greeted by happy workers and finding a new friend. Each day hearing the joyful worship as they encounter God, become Christian’s, get filled with the Holy Spirit.

Follow me into the main meeting hall with the shiny stage like some giant rock festival, wonderful anthems of Christ centred worship, crowds of folk joyfully filling the rows eager to bring their songs and give their attention to the word. Come with me to the Youth tent, a humid, jungle, where sweat pours down your back and meet the young people so passionate for Jesus and for making their lives count.

A page has turned in the life of Commission and we begin a new chapter at the Bath and West Showground. Thousands are gathering with great prophetic expectation of what God will do. Early this year a word was shared with Commission leaders about this years Festival, of heaven releasing a Tsunami wave of Holy Spirit blessing that will wash clean, energise families, empower for witness, give new direction and carry many to the mission fields. It has been my prayer for this year that God would come in revival power upon this event, this nation, and each one of us would know the unshakeable God building his unshakeable kingdom for an eternal harvest.