A Christian Ministry:-

Advent’ is a Christian ministry that the Lord brought into being in 1995 after we had been in the wilderness of unemployment for nearly three years. Many years on, it can be said that the work has a past, present and future. The vision has developed and grown and the future will bring still more changes and developments. There is still more to come.

The work starts .......... The work originally started as a Christian literature ministry based in the Snowdonia National Park mainly centred in and around the towns of Barmouth, Dolgellau, Machynlleth and Tywyn. The practical outworking of this was through the use of a Market Stall selling Christian books, cards and gifts in these towns as well as putting on Book Parties in people’s homes and various Church functions. The Market Stall work proved to be a very effective way of meeting people on neutral ground and many good relationships were formed with locals and visitors.

A scripture to give vision & focus .......

A Scripture which put the vision into focus at that time, and still does was 2 Corinthians 9 verses 10 to 15:- “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

Who enables it to happen? Such a vision could never in natural terms be financially viable in itself – only God could bring it to fruition. We were to trust Him to make it work but it had to be done his way. We were not to make public appeals for finance or borrow money. We were to work harder at coming to know God better and forming relationships with people than we were at creating sales. Much of this flies against normal means. That said, we were to make every effort at making sales and presenting the work in the most attractive manner possible. From the outset The Lord did provide for us in all kinds of ways even though it was very testing at times.

More revelation ............ The work was less than a year old when The Lord revealed to us that the real work of ‘Advent’ was hidden in its name – “the coming of the Lord.” We were to join with other Christians in Wales and beyond and “Prepare the way of The Lord” in various ways, to pray for the next move of The Holy Spirit, perhaps for the last time on this earth leading ultimately to the second coming of Jesus Christ. The signs in the world indicate that the time of the return of Jesus is near – he is “right at the door” Matthew 24 v33. The spiritual and social conditions are at such a low that it seems that most of our nation has turned its back on God and His Gospel. This “preparing the way of the Lord” is chiefly to be achieved through groups of people in Wales in various places linking up together in intercessory prayer and seeing the powers of darkness pulled down. Only a church seeking God with all their hearts can have any effect on the downward slope our nation is on and stay the inevitable judgements that would follow.

“If my people, who are called by name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin, and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7 v14. “Blow a trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.” Joel 2 v15 A place of prayer In 1998 the Lord began to show that he was expanding and developing the vision by leading us to acquire premises whose primary purpose was as a place of prayer. The premises could also carry out other extremely valuable ministries such as Book Selling, Fairtrade, Christian Gifts and a Café – a meeting place for people.

“My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” Isaiah 56 v7 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours…..” Mark 11 v22 to 24

We did ask for a building and God gave the faith to believe it would happen. Almost immediately things began to fall into place. The work would be incorporating some big changes. One of the main one’s being that the work would need others to be involved in a much greater degree. A team effort would be needed. Those contributing by prayer and finance would still very much be a vital part but people with other skills such as Catering, Building, Administration, Encouragement, Serving etc would be crucial.

The vision comes to pass .......... After many answers to prayer the vision came to pass in 1999 with the acquiring of ‘Hafan’ in Tywyn High Street. In 2000 the Market Stall work came to a finish. On 31st October 2009 after many years of God’s grace the work at ‘Hafan’ in Tywyn High Street moved to Broadwater House in Tywyn High Street.

The three steps .......... “Finish you outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house” Proverbs 24 v27. The above verse is a key one. There are 3 phases which are very easy to see. The first one has been completed and we are well into the second. The third is yet to come but the second must be fulfilled before it can happen. This second phase “getting your fields ready” is not limited to Tywyn only but is still related to Barmouth, Dolgellau, Machynlleth as well as Tywyn. The aims remain the same but the methods of carrying them out have been expanded. A most important word that Jesus left for all believers is “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ “ Mark 13 v37. God seems to establishing Watchtowers with watchmen who fervently remind God of his promises secondly to speak out any warnings of danger that may be apparent.

There is a job that only God can do and a job that God expects us to do and we must not mix the roles up! We are called to pray and God is called to answer.

“I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.” Isaiah 62 v6 & 7. and the present vision .......... So the vision at present is to “bother God” and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem on the face of the earth. ‘Jerusalem’ can mean the Church, here in Wales and beyond as we have already said. However Jerusalem can also mean the literal city in the nation of Israel. The Lord showed us very early on in ‘Hafan’ that he wanted us to pray for and support Israel and its people, the Jews and to be a voice to seek to correct the wrong teaching in much of the Church about Israel.

Paul says about the Jews “I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!….” Romans 11 v1. “For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.” Romans15 v27.

Of course God loves the Arabs and all peoples and has a plan for them. However the Bible teaches that although the Jews grievously sinned by rejecting their Messiah and have twice been scattered in judgement by the Lord, God says that at the end of the age he would re-gather his people to the land and afterwards after much suffering and tribulation Jesus would reveal himself to them again as their Messiah and that this time they would accept Him.

“All Israel will be saved…” Romans 11 v26.

When the Lord reveals things to us he expects obedience and we expect the vision at present and into the future to be one of proclaiming and teaching the place of Israel in the purposes of God. THE FUTURE OF THE VISION

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Habakkuk 2 v2&3 How marvellous that God has given us salvation but has also has a good plan for us now…… “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29 v11 “Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD? 2 Samuel 7 v18 & 19 The future of the vision is still not clear but is safely in the Lord’s hands. It is said that as the darkness gets darker that the light shines brighter. All the signs in our nation indicate that this is happening. God has a good plan and nothing can ultimately stop it. What a wonderful thing!