Father’s Heart School brings restoration of the relationship with my mother after 13 years.
Father’s Heart School brings restoration of the relationship with my mother after 13 years.
My parents divorced when I was 9 years old. My sister and I stayed with my mother. Around the age of 14, the relationship between my mother and me became increasingly problematic. I started going my own way more and more, which resulted in skipping school. Eventually, I was expelled from several schools.
My mother had become a hard and distant woman due to the divorce. She withdrew into herself. On top of that, she would go out to nightclubs every week, which I found very difficult. After a few years, she got into a relationship with a man who made the relationship between my mother and me even harder. At some point, the situation became unbearable, and after a heated argument, I packed my things and went to live with the mother of my then-girlfriend. I was very angry at my mother and closed my heart to her.
When I was 22, I moved out on my own. I found this very difficult. I had a strained relationship with both of my parents. When I was 23, I gave my life to Jesus, and the relationship between my mother and father improved a little. At 27, my mother’s relationship with her boyfriend ended. She wanted me to come back and live with her so that I could start fresh and possibly pursue further education. I canceled my housing and sold all my belongings and moved back in with my mother. After a few weeks, my mother was reunited with her previous boyfriend, and he moved back in with her. I felt so betrayed, and the tension between my mother and me quickly resurfaced. I also had problems with that boyfriend. Eventually, this escalated, and I packed my things for the second time and went to live with my sister.
The relationship with my mother had hit rock bottom. After about six months, I moved in with other people and lived there for two years. I saw my mother very little. I hadn’t spoken to my father for about two years.
In 2000, I moved in with a friend and lived there for about three years.
In 2003, I got married. Both my parents were at the wedding, even though I had a strained relationship with them. This went on for a while. In 2009, my father committed suicide, and afterward, my relationship with my mother and sister worsened due to financial issues related to my father’s death.
From 2010 onward, I had no contact with my mother. Although I wasn’t in touch with her, I was always concerned about her in my heart. I was very angry and felt betrayed and overlooked. I tried to forgive her, but I couldn’t.
In November 2022, at the urging of a few people, I attended the Father’s Heart School. I was very skeptical and had no idea what to expect.
I let it all happen to me. In the beginning, I thought, “Can I make it through this week?”
At one point, a lesson was given on the characteristics of an orphan. This resonated with me deeply, and I realized that I had lived my whole life as an orphan and had closed my heart to both of my parents.
This insight changed a lot. We were then asked to write a letter to our parents. I thought this was my chance to tell them what they had done wrong, but the assignment was to ask them for forgiveness because I had closed my heart to them. This was a huge shift in thinking…
I then realized that I had a problem because I had closed my heart to my parents. I also realized that this was separate from their faults and guilt toward me.
By seeing that I was an orphan and had closed my heart, I couldn’t forgive their guilt toward me. That day, I was able to forgive them and open my heart to them. The key to forgiveness was in my hands, and that changed everything.
I suddenly saw everything from a different perspective and realized that my parents also had the heart of an orphan, that they too had been wounded, and that they couldn’t give what they hadn’t received.
I took the letters I had written home with me. After about three weeks, I sent an audio message/letter to my mother. In this message, I explained that I had closed my heart to her and had decided to open my heart to her again. I also stated that this didn’t necessarily mean we had to reconnect. I left the choice to her…
After three weeks, I received a WhatsApp message from my mother saying that she was very impressed by my message and that she would like to have coffee with me sometime. A few days later, we spoke for about four hours without any reproach or blame.
Our relationship has now been restored, and we see and talk to each other regularly. I can say that our relationship is now on a whole new level. My mother has apologized for how she treated me. She regrets that everything turned out the way it did.
I have talked to her a lot and asked her questions, but not from a place of reproach or blame, but purely out of interest. Without this Father’s Heart School, this would have never happened!
He gives it to His beloved in their sleep
We received the following testimony from Bartel in the Netherlands:
“In November 2019, I was at the Father’s Heart School in Belgium. I was really looking forward to it because I wanted to experience more of God’s love.
During the A School, there was a lot of teaching. For me, it was enough to just be present in the classroom. Just being surrounded by words about God’s love gave me inner refreshment. I didn’t have to do anything for it, not sit up straight, not listen actively. I didn’t have to take notes. I didn’t even have to remember anything, just to be present in the space.
How did I experience that?
I had placed a camping mat and sleeping bag in the hall on the first evening. During the lectures, I put in my earplugs and lay down on the mat. I quickly become overstimulated and get tired easily. Therefore, it works really well for me to lie down. I become very receptive to what God is doing. Halfway through various sermons, I fell asleep, and then I woke up so refreshed! I mean refreshed from within, in my heart.
Recently, I read the following verse in the Bible, Song of Solomon 5:2: “I sleep, but my heart is awake.”
That’s exactly what happened to me at the Father’s Heart School. I love this verse because it perfectly describes what I experienced. During the school, I was allowed to lie down, sleep on a mat, and this allowed me to receive God’s love very well. My heart was awake, it was wide open.
Afterward, I saw many more verses in the Bible in a completely different way.
For example, when I read in Mark 4:38 that Jesus was sleeping in the boat during the storm, I now think: “Aha, maybe He was receiving the Father’s love at that moment?”
And what about Peter, who was sleeping between the soldiers (Acts 12:6)? Perhaps the Father was pouring His love into Peter’s heart when the angel came to set him free;
And Genesis 2:21? God brought a deep sleep over Adam and then gave him such a loving gift 🙂
All of this is also confirmed by Psalm 127:2: “He gives His beloved sleep.”
I’ve realized that this really suits me, to rest in His love.
Thank you for everything!”
Father’s Heart School touches lives deeply
We let Astrid and Lutgart share how they experienced our latest Father’s Heart School in Bredene:
“Since my first Father’s Heart School in 2005, I have gradually but surely experienced a solid foundation being laid in my once-empty soul. This allowed and still allows the love of the Father to be poured deeper and deeper into me.
Mark told us that the more our hearts are filled with the Father’s love, the more traumas come to the surface to eventually disappear.
I used to be very shy and ashamed, always feeling guilty, sad, and inferior. I was even so ashamed that I could barely say my name in a group. Since then, I have received much healing. Now I know that I am the daughter of my Heavenly Father.
On the first evening, Hugo gave us 2 Corinthians 6:18: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” This touched me deeply, and it still does.
The craters left in my soul during my childhood, youth, marriage, and divorce manifested as physical ailments such as fibromyalgia and severe digestive problems. For over 25 years, I had to follow a strict diet. Many times, different Christians told me that these so-called “food intolerances” had nothing to do with food but everything to do with the wounds in my heart.
At Father’s Heart Schools and conferences, I could eat anything, but once back home, it would always go wrong again. Because the Father’s love has brought deeper and deeper healing in my heart, I was able to expand my meals a bit after the penultimate Father’s Heart School. And now, after the last Father’s Heart School, this expansion continues. After all those years of cooked carrots with rice and rusks with smoked meat, every meal is now a celebration.
I don’t have to “cling” to all of this anxiously, but I can calmly continue to receive. It’s all Father’s healing love that enables me to walk more and more in my destiny as His daughter in freedom and health.” – Astrid
“I also went to the Father’s Heart School this year. I don’t usually experience much at the moment, but I know from experience that it always has an effect, even if delayed, but still powerful.
In the meantime, I can really enjoy seeing what happens to others on-site when they truly have a deep encounter with the Father’s love.
During the last session, there’s always room for testimonies.
Someone shared that they had been pioneering in Belgium for many years, but this was THE “missing link.” This reminded me again of how privileged we are in our church. The Father’s love is woven into and runs as a red thread through every bit of teaching we receive in our church, in every conversation, and in every greeting.
After the testimonies, there was, as always, time for a celebration.
I had just heard over lunch about a couple who had gone through a heavy loss some time ago. This had also put pressure on their relationship. During the final song, “Freedom,” they danced together. You could clearly see the Father’s love over them, but also their love for each other. It felt as if they were dancing at their wedding celebration…
And that might have been the most beautiful thing I saw this week… so much of the Father’s love that deeply heals and sets people free.” – Lutgart
Father’s Heart A School in Denmark
Liesbeth shares her story:
“Last year (2018), I couldn’t attend the Father’s Heart School because our school in Belgium wasn’t scheduled during the vacation. I was really disappointed. So, I started looking for where a school would be held during the summer vacation this year. I ended up in Denmark and invited two friends to join me. Jiska, who also wanted to attend an A-school, asked if she could come along. Of course, she could! We were thrilled!
On July 5, 2019, we set off early at 5:30 AM with a car full of stuff, heading towards Sjellebro, Denmark. We were reminded that we are Papa’s ‘favorites.’ We had a smooth drive, with no traffic, even where there is usually traffic. We arrived just on time. Papa had placed it on my heart that I should bring healing there. How that would happen was still a big question mark, but I went for it.
We got a beautiful apartment for the week.
Together, we enjoyed the teaching. We immersed ourselves in the Father’s love and had wonderful joyful moments. Of course, we also wanted to contribute by doing the dishes. And that’s where we got to work with healing!
Yep, during the dishes! Jiska was being bothered by a headache at that moment. She asked, “Liesbeth, could you pray again? This headache needs to go.” And what do you do? You toss the towel over your shoulder, place your hand on her forehead, and pray.
Donald, the person responsible in the kitchen, had seen all of this. A little later, he came over to us and told us to stop doing the dishes. We first protested a bit because we just needed a few more minutes to finish everything, but no, we had to stop immediately.
He then took us to Leif and said, “This is my friend Leif. He had surgery for cancer and was healed, but he’s been constantly nauseous and has trouble eating. Can you pray for him?” He didn’t have to ask us twice. The four of us got to work, laid hands on him, spoke healing, and thanked. Wonderful! Not only did we get to stop doing the dishes, but we also got to pray for healing.
That same evening, Donald mentioned that he and his wife, Karin, would like to speak with me. They had a question. Because of the open evening, we didn’t have time right then, but a day later, it happened. Jiska and I were made aware of the pain process that their son, Daniël, was dealing with. He asked us how we came to pray for healing. So, we shared our story, and Jiska explained that it was in the Bible, and we were just doing what it said. They were like, “WOWWW!”
They asked if we could pray for their son the next day because they had already told him what had happened, and he would come by. Papa opened the door to healing. The next day, we prayed with their son. I felt on my heart to pray again, place my hands on his hips, and rebuke the pain. I did this in Dutch. After the prayer, Daniël said, “I don’t know what you said, but it felt and sounded really good.” Even when you speak a different language and don’t understand each other, Papa goes to the heart. Daniël is a lovely 20-year-old man.
Before he left for home, I spoke with him. I know that our last conversation did him good and that he has opened his heart a little.
A few Sundays ago, I received a word for Daniël during our meeting. I shared it with him, and he was very thankful. I realize that God wants to use us to spread His love.
During our week in Denmark, we also met a woman who was very withdrawn but occasionally sat with us. On our free afternoon, we invited her to spend time with us. She accepted the invitation. Only Papa knows what she’s dealing with, but the last evening, she asked me to pray for her. She just wanted to say that she was sick. There was shame involved because she didn’t want to talk about it. But at the same time, she stepped out in victory. Asking for prayer was already a big step for her. The conversation I had with her about authority was confirmed the next day through the teaching. Again, I was grateful that when I do what Papa says, He always works with me.
And so, I was confirmed that we had been able to bring healing to this Father’s Heart School. The many conversations with our brothers and sisters there were blessed. Not only receiving but also giving? So wonderful. I’m so thankful that Papa trusts me to step out in His word. Jiska summed it up like this: “The devil thought he was smart, but didn’t realize that my headache was the beginning of a lot of healing.” Together with Papa, we are more than conquerors!”
From traumatized to beloved
And this is the testimony of Pun after attending the Father’s Heart School A in October 2017:
“I got to know the Father’s Heart Schools five years ago through a Belgian friend in my church. At that time, I wasn’t very motivated to go. Last year, I was in a very deep place, and my Belgian friend reminded me again about the school. So, I went out of desperation…
What touched me the most in the school was the teaching on forgiveness on the third day. I was abused by my mother, physically, verbally, and sexually, for almost 20 years.
I wanted to end my life over and over again. It took me a long time to heal and forgive. On the third day of the school, Unni spoke about forgiveness from the scripture in Matthew 18. It was a story I had heard many times and was very familiar with. But Unni used a new expression to summarize the story: forgiveness is canceling the debt.
In the afternoon, she asked us to open our hearts again to our mothers and fathers. This was a very difficult exercise for me… Up to that point, I had no understanding of sonship and had lived my whole life as an orphan… even though I had been born again for over 20 years. So I tried really hard to open my heart again. At first, I found this impossible, but slowly the Holy Spirit began to work in my heart. I started to see the pain of my mother and was able to look at her with more grace. This changed my view of her and had a positive ripple effect: the way I looked at my past and interpreted my past changed, and the way I looked at myself changed as well!
Up until that point, I hadn’t truly understood the Father’s unconditional and never-failing love for my life. I often told my friends: “I’m one of the most traumatized people you’ve ever met in your life.” But after this Father’s Heart School, I see myself completely differently. Now I tell my friends: “I’m one of the most beloved children of God you’ve ever met in your life.”
Now that I’m back in Berlin, my life is changing more and more. I’m less focused on success and performance and more aware of the Father’s love and presence. Every day, I start with the thought that I am a son, and that’s something completely new for me! I’m also thankful for all the brothers and sisters I met at the Father’s Heart School who encouraged me so much. All glory to God!”
It’s all about heart relationship
We received the following testimony from Jeanine in the Netherlands after our Father’s Heart School in October 2017:
“About six months ago, the Holy Spirit showed me an image. I was playing as a young girl in a playground. When I was done playing, I saw a man sitting on a bench. When I looked closely, I realized it was the Father. I sat next to Him. He put His arm around me, and I curled up next to Him and gave Him my little stones. They were precious to Him.
That image came back during the soaking time at the A-school and helped me to go to the Father as a child and seek His embrace each time. During this week, being a child of the Father became more real to me and sank deeper into my heart.
The topics “characteristics of an orphan” and the “mother’s heart of God” deeply resonated with me. Now that I am back home, I notice I am able to come closer to my heart, which brings up a lot of pain, but I keep seeking the bosom of the Father and hiding in His love. I believe and trust that He will fill the emptiness in my heart.
It is a precious gift to know that I can grow more and more in His lap and offer my “stones” to Him.
I want to sincerely thank you for the valuable week I experienced. Your love, and also the love of the other participants, I felt as a warm blanket. I try to nourish myself as much as possible at home with, among other things, your Sunday sermons and the USB stick from the A-School, which is of excellent quality. This past weekend, I also attended a Fatherheart weekend in the Netherlands with Trevor and Linda Galpin. That too was special and helpful in letting sonship land more and more in my heart.”
One year after my Father’s Heart School
Dora sent us a testimony one year after attending our Father’s Heart School:
“I had wanted to attend a Father’s Heart School for a long time. A whole week of relaxation in peace and silence sounded very inviting, but doubt was always stronger. It’s a financial investment, would I get time off from work, and would I really spend my vacation days on this? What if I didn’t know anyone, would I feel too lonely, would there be too much free time, could I fill an entire week with only God’s word, and would the concerns at home weigh me down more?
The same questions went through my mind at a themed evening a few weeks before the Father’s Heart School began, when we found a new invitation on our chair. But now Ria was sitting next to me; she also still had doubts. It was quickly decided, we would share a room together…
I have a beautiful memory of the Father’s Heart School. We all struggle with so many things in our lives. God lovingly touches you during the Father’s Heart School at so many moments. Sometimes it was intense and difficult, other moments were deeply beautiful, loving, or even exuberantly joyful on the last evening. But above all, we were there for each other. The very first time I came to God’s Ambassade, I didn’t know anyone and sat next to Ria. A little later, she blessed me during worship with His word: “God has begun a good work in you.” I suddenly thought of that last morning of that week, and I believe that’s what the entire Father’s Heart School is about! It is God speaking through another saying: I love you, love Me! Look into the other’s eyes, and you look into God’s eyes: simple, sincere, vulnerable, but full of joy!
Two weeks later, I found a package with two pairs of earrings in my mailbox, from a Dutch participant in the Father’s Heart School, along with a beautiful card: “You are my dear daughter,” and a short, sweet note: “You are a precious pearl in the Father’s hand! He sees you, and I think He wants to tell you that the time of being invisible is over! Beauty for Ashes! Enjoy the earrings… one drop seems very small and insignificant, but all the drops together form an ocean of Papa’s Love for us!”
Not that I knew her well, we only spoke briefly at the Father’s Heart School. I emailed her to thank her; it was as if God Himself sent me this message. I had to promise her I would do my best to wear the earrings for my son’s wedding the following year. I struggled to do it, but I immediately remembered this when, on my birthday a few months later, I unexpectedly received a pair of earrings and a matching necklace from my son, specially to wear at his wedding. I enjoyed wearing them on that wonderful day; God couldn’t have given me a better gift!
“Come to the Father” is an encouragement for me for the Father’s Heart School. “Come to the Father, come as you are. All your heart, all your pain is known to Him. The Love He gives, the words He speaks. Everything is ready when you come.”
Attending the Father’s Heart School bears lasting fruit (Proverbs 4:23 and 21:2). I notice it again now at work. People are assigned new roles without any appreciation, boxed in, and pitted against each other. In such moments, it’s good to know who you truly are!”
Coming home to the Father
We received the following testimony from Monique:
“At the age of fifteen, I chose Jesus as a Catholic Dutch girl, but somehow I couldn’t hold onto my faith. I got into trouble but didn’t even realize that, somewhere along the way, I had lost God.
At a later age, I began searching again for something—I didn’t know what—and also sought healing for my wounded soul.
After many wanderings in various things, I truly found my faith in Him when I was already 38 years old, and that’s when I also moved to where I now live.
From that moment on, deep healing began with Jesus, whom I had rediscovered. I was baptized by immersion and also baptized in the Holy Spirit. After a long process of deliverance and healing, I began to step out in faith: praying for others (the sick). It was a joy to be part of everything in this, but during that ministry, I felt that my prayer was sometimes quite mechanical. I really wanted to experience more of His love for others.
When I attended a two-day conference in March 2016 on the Father’s Heart of God, I heard the word ‘coming home,’ and I knew what I wanted: that! More peace and deep love to experience…
At the end of June, I decided to sign up for the Father’s Heart School in Belgium, a five-day school that would teach on this. I chose this for myself and also to guide others in this later on. The week in Vaalbeek was wonderful. The first days, I missed my home: Leon, my husband, the boys, and my beautiful recently renovated living room, and my own bed. But soon, His Love and coming home to Him became much more important that week.
Because I had always lived so much in the future, I had recently written for myself that it doesn’t really matter what I do (in the future) or where I live, because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). I especially highlighted the word ‘the way’ in my Bible. So, Jesus is the route I should take! He Himself is the path! But the phrase after the comma, which we all know, began to force itself more and more upon me, now more as a revelation: “No one comes to the Father except through Me!” says Jesus. So, we go through Jesus (as the path) and His redemptive work to the Father! It’s about the Father! He is our (ultimate) goal. Jesus also wanted to point us to this with His teaching, in His humanity, and in being the Son of the Father. He wants us to live as sons and daughters, dependent on the Father. Talking to Him, sitting on His lap, calling Him Papa: coming home to the Father’s Love!
For God is also love (1 John 4:8), and He continually leads us further up, up the path of love (1 Cor 12:31). Yes, we are His beloved children, every day!
Have I come home to the Father during that week in Vaalbeek? Yes, I was wonderfully immersed as a daughter in His Love for me. Can I describe that Love in a feeling? Yes and no. Yes, in the deeper love I received in my heart, where, when I talk about it, I can get emotional. But actually, it was also just calmly coming home to Him. Coming home I also experience as a choice you can make when you have been able to leave the old behind and perhaps already experienced healing and then, from that love and in total surrender, dare to live even more in dependence.
So, it has been quite a process. After my conversion, it was a journey that lasted 13 years: deliverance, healing, and now truly coming home to the Father. And physically, also really coming home to this place in Brabant where He has let me live for 13 years now. Still, of course, I hope to keep growing in His love because we can only truly give of His Love when we are completely filled and overflowing.
I wish, hope, and pray that everyone who reads this can also one day say: I am home with the Father! For there is no better place! I have now chosen to truly step over the threshold of His (home) and I expect that I will slowly feel more and more at home in it. I now also know that He can help me even more in everything I will undertake for and with Him. For His power is fully revealed in my weakness. So, I will present myself as His little child. And that’s how I feel now. And I want nothing more than to see the Father do it first. I am so happy with that!
Each person’s life journey is different. Our way to the Father goes in the order that is best for us and fits who we are. Only the Father knows that! But what I discovered after much pastoral work is that when you immediately connect people to the Father and let them know right after their conversion that they are children of our loving Father, they almost without any intervention from others, receive the things the Father wants to give them. How wonderfully He has made and meant it. I am happy that I discovered this, because now I know that connecting people to the Father is absolutely necessary! People connected to the Father feel loved, and the Father’s love can heal all wounds, without being overly dependent on anything or anyone in our life journey. Because, first and foremost, we may be dependent on Him.
And sometimes, a hug from the Father is all you need… how simple can it be!
Yes, people, creation eagerly awaits the revealing of who God’s children are (Romans 8:19)… And that Love will show it! And first… Love will find you (too)!
Let yourself be ‘hugged’ in His loving arms!
Don’t know how to do that? Then attend a Father’s Heart School sometime! ;-).”
A whole new life
We received the following very heartfelt testimony from someone who attended our latest Fatherheart School. She asked to remain anonymous, and we gladly respect that:
“For years, I struggled; life felt like a battle I had to survive. I felt surrendered to this battle: negative thoughts, depression, pain, and loneliness.
Every time things seemed to get a bit better, I was already bracing myself for a downward spiral that would surely come again. I felt trapped in this cycle. I thought I was doing everything I could to get out, but I just kept sinking deeper into it until I was completely stuck.
I didn’t understand anything about God: if He had the best for me, if I saw Him working in the lives of others around me… then He surely wouldn’t want anything to do with me, because I felt nothing…
My life couldn’t be what He had intended for me. I felt lost, abandoned, and ultimately always alone. I had lost all trust in God, in people, in the future. The only thing I trusted was the negative thinking: it’s going to go wrong again, it always does.
I believed the lie that no one could be trusted, and I was angry at life, at myself, at God. I was also angry at the people around me who seemed to have faith or things going well (with God). Somehow, I couldn’t bear it because I was struggling so much, and deep down, I feared being left even more alone as they moved forward. This anger and fear made me avoid more and more people and activities, and I became more and more detached from life.
God intervened by bringing the right people, the right sermons, the right music, and the right help into my life. Slowly but surely, I saw my own role in the struggle, which I had thought was happening to me, and I learned to ask for forgiveness. I saw the lies I had believed and how they isolated me more and more, and I learned to question those lies and seek the truth. I realized that I had closed my heart off so that no one could hurt me anymore, and I learned to open myself again. I realized that I had been harboring resentment and learned to forgive.
This was and is a process, with the breakthrough coming through the Fatherheart School last October. That week was a battle for me; I felt like an outsider. A reflection of the struggle I had been fighting for as long as I can remember. I felt alone, miserable, rejected, I felt like I was failing. It wasn’t God’s fault—I could see Him working in people around me. I concluded that it must be my fault. I was definitely doing something wrong.
But on the last evening, the breakthrough came. At one point, I knew: “This is for me too!” God is there for me, I belong with Him, I am His beloved child. I let go of control for a moment, and that was the best thing I could do. For a moment, I didn’t feel alone, for a moment, I felt free. When I stopped ‘working,’ God could do in me what I couldn’t do myself. He knows exactly what I need, what is good for me. He gave me a new life!
This experience was the starting point, the beacon, of a process in which God is setting me free. He leads and He provides, He is the one who does it. All glory to Him! It’s impossible to put into words what it means to live this new life. I look forward to God and what He is working out. It’s no longer about me or what I do, but about Him.
Thank you for organizing the Fatherheart School and for allowing yourselves to be used by God!”
The Father's Heart of God? I already know that!
“I actually thought I already knew it all. I had read a lot and heard about the Father’s heart of God, knew the songs about ‘His Father’s heart that has been caring for me for so long,’ and I prayed to ‘Father in heaven.’ So, I didn’t expect a conference on this subject to bring anything new. And yet…
I discovered this week that the Fatherheart School is not there to teach you more about the Father’s heart of God, but to help you experience His Father’s love. It wasn’t about an abstract concept of God as Father anymore, but about the love of My Father for me. During the week, He spoke to me, for example, in the silence of my heart: ‘My love drives out your fear.’ And I am worthy to receive His love! That makes it suddenly very personal; it’s about His relationship with me, who He wants to be for me, and who I am in His eyes!”
Willem Kolpa, participant Fatherheart School-A, 2014
Going home!
I have seen the enormous impact this week, the deep teaching, and the encounter with God as Father has had.
“Going Home! Those were the words the Holy Spirit spoke into my spirit on an early Sunday morning. I was preparing to take the plane to Norway, where I would attend a Fatherheart A school. That evening, after I arrived at the conference center, James Jordan opened the evening. Very quickly, in his message, he explained: ‘You came here because the Father desires that’—and he literally spoke—’you will be coming home!’ The whole message was about ‘going home.’ What was the Holy Spirit planning?
I thought I had already gotten to know the Father’s heart of God during the days of the outpouring of the so-called Toronto Blessing. My walk with God as Father had, in my experience, been stable over the years. But apparently, the Holy Spirit wanted to bring me into new dimensions of knowing the Father’s heart.
In the days that followed, I often sat with tears in my eyes, listening to new revelations about God’s Fatherheart. The Holy Spirit exposed deep truths, and my spirit was being prepared ‘to come home.’ On Thursday evening, there was a time of ministry. I participated, and after I sat down in my chair, the Father showed me a vision. I saw myself standing at a low point in my life, and the heavens opened above me. A beam of light, filled with love, penetrated deeply into my being and filled my spirit. My life played out in broad strokes like a movie before me, while the beam of light kept shining on me, and I heard the words: ‘My son, I have never been able to take My eyes off of you.’ Words filled with love, like a father looking at his child and just can’t take his eyes off him. Immediately after, I saw myself standing in front of a big house with an open door. I knew instantly: this is the Father’s house, as Jesus depicts it in the story of the prodigal son. I stepped over the threshold and heard the words, ‘Welcome home, my son.’
I have seen what an enormous impact this week, the deep teaching, and the encounter with God as Father has had. Like never before, my heart is filled with a deep certainty that I am His beloved son. Where uncertainty once filled my heart, it has completely disappeared since then. It seems that a new fruitfulness has come to my ministry, which I sometimes look at with great wonder. My walk with the Father has grown to a new depth of deep trust, love, and assurance. This week has had an indelible impact on my life and ministry.
I strongly encourage you to participate in this school. It will be an investment that will profoundly and permanently affect your life and walk with your Father!”
Daniël Renger, Pastor of Evangelisch Centrum Europoort in Rotterdam
Disciples of Jesus recognize
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35
During the Fatherheart School in 2012, one of the participants, a Dutch lady, approached someone from our church. She said, “You are with quite a number from your church, aren’t you?” The person confirmed this. “I can tell by the amazing love and respect with which you interact with each other! Very special,” said the lady. Jesus already said in His Word: they will recognize you by your love for one another! Ingrid found this a great compliment for our church, and it truly is!
How the love of our Heavenly Father can completely change people's lives
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35
During the Fatherheart School in 2012, one of the participants, a Dutch lady, approached someone from our church. She said, “You are with quite a number from your church, aren’t you?” The person confirmed this. “I can tell by the amazing love and respect with which you interact with each other! Very special,” said the lady. Jesus already said in His Word: they will recognize you by your love for one another! Ingrid found this a great compliment for our church, and it truly is!
How the love of our Heavenly Father can completely change people's lives
We let Marco and Esther Eijsackers, our team members from the Netherlands, speak for themselves:
“In 2004, Esther (my wife) and I went to Toronto for the first time for a ‘Catch the Fire’ conference. It was something completely new to us. There was a lot of talk about the love of God the Father. For us, that was okay. We believed that God the Father was love and that He loved us. What we didn’t know at the time was that you could have a real, deep relationship with Him, that He wanted to be a Father to you daily, and that you could tangibly experience His love.
In 2006, we went back to Toronto with a large group from our church in The Hague, where we were part of at the time. My parents, Hans and Gerda Eijsackers, also came to the ‘Father Loves You’ conference. During this conference, I didn’t fully grasp the message of the Father’s love, but my parents were deeply touched. Especially the messages by James and Denise Jordan resonated with them. After this Toronto adventure, my parents continued their search and discovered that James offered a Father Heart School in Belgium. They went to that A-school and learned to know the Father’s love for them in a very personal way. Meanwhile, I was full of everything that happened in Toronto and the movement of the Holy Spirit, but I had not yet experienced the Father’s personal love for me.
Because my natural father (Hans Eijsackers) had changed so dramatically through the touch of God’s love, it sparked a desire in me to get to know God and personally experience His love. I had not always had a good relationship with my natural father. I didn’t get along with him very well when I was younger, but because I saw such a change in his life, I thought there must be hope for me too. If he could change 180 degrees through the touch of God’s love, then I wanted to look for that too. I used to see my father as a grumpy man, but he had changed, and not just a little bit: he had become a truly loving father and a big teddy bear.
In 2008, Esther and I went to an A-school in Antwerp. Experiencing God’s love and learning to know Him as my Father completely changed my life. I had the feeling that I didn’t really have the right to exist, that I was good for nothing, and I often felt worthless. Despite being relatively successful in the eyes of the world, there was a real hatred towards myself. I just didn’t belong, and nothing I did was ever good enough in my eyes. Many years of self-hatred turned into deep acceptance because my Heavenly Father accepts me as I am. He personally showed me that there is nothing I can do that will make Him love me less, and nothing I can do that will make Him love me more. His love for me is perfect. The relationship with my natural father was also completely restored. I was able to forgive him for the mistakes of the past, but even more so, I had to ask for forgiveness for not having the heart of a son towards him.
Our relationship has been restored so much that I asked my father last year if he would bless me with the blessing of a father to son. He thought about it for a while, but then he blessed me. This was such a beautiful blessing because he broke all the wrongs in the family line in Jesus’ name but also passed down all the good things from father to son. I love serving alongside my parents in various activities within and outside of the church. I am very grateful to them because they have continually brought me back to Jesus and because of them, I’ve come to know the love of God my Father!” – Marco
“We also had a special A-school in July 2013, partly because we had a mother and her baby with us, who taught us important lessons. I knew how important it is for a baby to be held and loved by the mother and others around them. I had already heard and experienced the whole message of the Mother Heart of God, but when Ann shared about the mother’s eyes, passing on love, I knew that there was still some healing needed in me. What I recognized in Ann’s story was that children who had been in the incubator often have difficulty making eye contact because they weren’t looked at enough by their own mothers. I didn’t know this, but I recognized it in myself: I found it difficult to look people in the eyes. When I met new people, I would unconsciously look away because I thought, “I shouldn’t even be here.”
God had already done so much healing in me, but there was more to be done.
I was born three months premature because my mother was very ill. That was 46 years ago… and back then, it was nearly impossible to keep a baby alive who was born three months early. When I was born, they placed me in a separate room because they were convinced I wouldn’t survive. When I eventually started crying on my own, they were surprised that I was still alive! I spent 7 weeks in the incubator, and my mother went home. She still had 7 children at home to care for! There wasn’t much visiting because the hospital was in another city, and we didn’t have a car. Back then, babies in incubators weren’t held or touched as much as they are today. As a result, I wasn’t able to properly bond with my mother and family, and I often felt alone.
At this school, Papa showed me that He wants to fill me completely with His love and heal me entirely. He wants to make up for every deficit in me. I can enjoy every day of His eyes upon me, affirming me as His beloved child. He made me as I am, and He is proud of me.
I also find it beautiful that in Flemish, “I love you” is translated as “Ik zie je graag”! Our Heavenly Papa, who is also Mama, sees me lovingly, and He is proud of me! His eyes are always on me and fill me with His healing love!” – Esther
Miracles and signs at Siloam
Here is the translation:
We went sailing with the Siloam again this year from June 30 to July 5. “Father’s healing love, more than ever!” was the theme of this conference week. Here are some of the many testimonies:
André and Martha Ceelen have been sailing with us on the Siloam for many years. Every year we get to pray for their health. This year, André could only walk very short distances. When we got off the boat, Martha pushed him in a wheelchair. About a month after the conference, we received the following email from them: “Today it has been four weeks since I stopped wearing my ankle braces! My feet are still somewhat sideways, but I haven’t sprained my ankles even once. The distances I walk are increasing. This week I even walked to the local library for the first time in two years: 1.5 km there and back! In the evening, my ankles are a bit swollen, but in the morning, it’s gone. We don’t fully understand it, but we are very thankful that I can move around again. Martha stopped taking one blood pressure pill after the prayer you spoke over us, and that is also going well. The blood pressure is now around 120/87! We are very grateful people, thanks to the Almighty and your ongoing prayers for us. Thank you so much, Hugo and team!”
Bertie, who went as a volunteer on the boat, was healed of trigger finger in her left pink during a conversation with Hugo and Father one evening. This condition happens due to hardening of a tendon after tendonitis. When you bend your finger, you cannot extend it again. She had been wearing a splint over her pinky to keep it extended. Normally, the bump can only be surgically removed. First, the pain disappeared, and later, she could move her finger normally. The next morning, the bump on the tendon had disappeared, and Bertie could fully bend and straighten her finger!
Annie, another volunteer on the boat, had fallen off her bike in January and had a complicated ankle fracture. She was still in pain, couldn’t walk long distances, and couldn’t stand on her toes. She knew us from other boat trips and came expecting healing. During the healing meeting, Hugo prayed for her. That same evening, she got out of bed in her pajamas to show everyone that she was no longer limping, had no pain, and could stand on her toes without difficulty… which had been impossible since the fall!
Harry had fallen off a ladder at home and had been experiencing severe pain in his left ribcage for several weeks. He hadn’t gone to the doctor, but Ann and Nadine suspected heavy bruising or possibly even a few broken ribs. He could not sleep on that side and any touch caused intense pain. During the healing service on Wednesday evening, prayer was offered for him. Later that evening, he came to Hugo and asked him to strike his left ribcage. Hugo did this carefully, but Harry insisted on a harder strike. He felt nothing anymore… the severe pain was completely gone, and from that night onward, he was able to sleep on his left side without any problems!
Suzanne Peeters had also fallen off a ladder two months before the Siloam trip. She still had pain everywhere, in her neck, back, and other parts of her body. After prayer, all the pain disappeared. She went straight to sleep that evening, and in the morning, she told us that she had walked and sung with the Lord all night. She didn’t even hear the bell that morning! Joke told us that she came to the boat without hope, resigned to her situation, but left with hope and had deeply experienced the love of the Father!
Els also testified that Father was healing her deeper and deeper, like peeling an onion, layer by layer! The word deeply impacted her, and she became more aware than ever that Father is fully loving her… She went home strongly built up!
François had a severe allergic reaction on the first evening. After sneezing several times, he could hardly breathe because his sinuses and tonsils were swollen. He couldn’t fall asleep and started proclaiming Bible verses and praying in tongues… without any result! After a long while, he had the thought to stop fighting because Father gives His children rest in their sleep. He let go of the struggle, and a few minutes later, he was able to breathe freely and peacefully fall asleep!!
Fatherheart School deeply touches numerous lives
From June 30th to July 5th, 2012, we were able to organize our sixth Fatherheart School A in Belgium, in Vaalbeek. The school was led by Trevor Galpin, director of Fatherheart World, and Hugo Van Leemputten. Once again, it was a privilege to witness how the Father touched and healed people’s lives to the very roots of their existence.
Here are a few testimonies from some participants:
“You may not have noticed, but I left without saying goodbye. I couldn’t do it: I was overwhelmed by emotions and tears and only said goodbye to Danny. I want to thank you once again for making it possible for me to be there for a week. The whole week deeply touched my heart and breathed new life into me. It especially pleased me to hear so often that with God, you don’t have to, but you may! That really set me free to look at the Father with different eyes. I hope that through your message I can see God even more as a loving Papa. I wish you all the best for the future and God’s blessing. (name known to the editorial team)”
“I attended the Fatherheart School for the second time. I can’t remember much about the first time. This time, the message really ‘got me’! I replaced many lies in my life with truth! At the beginning of the week, I felt small, but during the week, I began to feel bigger!” Michiel
“I am small and felt very small and unimportant… The Father showed me this week that I am just as big in His eyes as anyone else.” Rosa
“This week was very special to me because our son Bart was here. At one point, we all had the chance to bless each other with the words: ‘You are family, we have the same Father!’ When I did this with Bart, I wondered for a moment if I was saying something wrong… the same Father as my son?!? The Father spoke to me at that moment and told me that He took all the mistakes I made as a mother from me… That went very deep! When we were asked to write a letter to our parents asking for forgiveness for not always having the heart of a daughter, I spent the whole afternoon working on it… It had been so long… That evening, just before I went to bed, someone knocked on my door… It was our Bart, who came to give me his letter… I read it, I couldn’t say anything… We already had a good relationship, but our relationship really opened up from that moment… Our Heavenly Father intervenes intensely and restores in a way no one else can! Also, Nadine’s teaching on the heart of an orphan deeply touched me. I know Nadine’s story well, but all the points she raised this time really stood out… it all became so clear to me… I immediately bought a CD!” Mia
“I had already emptied my backpack when I gave my life to Jesus almost a year ago. Then, Trevor talked about a basement full of stuff that we like to hide deep under a door, where we stand, and how the Father invites us to open that door to empty and clean our basement… That spoke to me immensely, I ripped the door out and threw it away… I know there’s still work to do, but I want to let the Father do His work and let go of everything with Him! A year ago, I would have laughed at you all, now I can’t keep my mouth shut… Everyone needs to hear this!” Robby
“I didn’t feel I needed to be there but would come to help Sam with the tech. Midweek, a flammable joy came upon our team, a fuel that exploded with the smallest spark, which worked very liberating in my life… I look forward to what the Lord will do next in my life…” Philippe
“On Wednesday, I still said to Hugo that I didn’t understand why I was there… I felt like I was being completely broken down… but then a turnaround came, I was rebuilt… The Father showed me that I was getting a complete renovation, and for that, you must first break down and then rebuild! Something else special happened… When I finally knew I would go, I had the impression that the Father told me I would stop smoking on a Sunday. I had been praying for this for a long time. I didn’t want to try it by my own strength anymore because I knew it would make me grumpy, and I didn’t want that… and then came the word. I immediately thought it would happen the first Sunday of the school, but it wasn’t… it was the Sunday after! I stopped smoking (I smoked 20-40 cigarettes a day) without any withdrawal symptoms… Thank you, Father!” Marc
“I don’t usually feel much, but this week I felt deeply accepted, everyone just belonged, no matter who you were or how you looked! I enjoyed the contacts and the humor… I found it very difficult to get a hug of Mother’s Love, I didn’t want to hurt my own mother… but I decided to do it anyway. The Father showed me this week that the choice of whether I want to change is up to me… if you don’t take steps yourself, you’ll stay where you are! I learned that I may go to Him for love, but the choice to do so is entirely mine!” Eva
“I’ve always found it hard to come and tell something, but now I’m not nervous… my shyness is gone, I have received love… I was able to settle the accounts of the past and deeply forgive a whole list… I was able to let go and ask for forgiveness because I had closed my heart as a daughter to my parents. I was still present in our family but had laid down my daughterhood. Despite their mistakes, that wasn’t fair of me, so I wrote a letter and asked my parents for forgiveness. After that letter, I felt much freer… my heart has grown!” Carine
“Usually, I have a hard time the first evening at a conference. I always wonder what I’m doing there and would rather be home with my husband and children. This time was different… I immediately felt at home in so much love… I studied psychology and want to emphasize that a Fatherheart School is truly something unique! As a psychologist, you know that many people’s problems can be traced back to a lack of father and/or mother love… you know it, but psychology can’t do anything with it… you have to face it, accept it, and learn to live with it… A Fatherheart School gives deep, real solutions… The Father wants to fill our lack with His love and lead us into our destiny… I think everyone should attend a Fatherheart School at least once, and preferably more times… I also began to see more deeply how we all still believe lies and how we must make the choice every day to lay down the lie and choose God’s truth. Papa does the work in us, but we have to choose for it!” Jasmijn
“I often heard Inger say during worship: Father, I love You, I love You with all my heart… I couldn’t say that, not with the best will in the world, I pushed it all away. On Wednesday or Thursday evening in bed, I suddenly heard myself say: Father, I love You… it was such a wonderful feeling! Now when I start or finish praying, I always say: Father, I love You, not with my head but from the bottom of my heart! And I enjoy it!” Maria
“I didn’t go to the Fatherheart School, my wife, Danny (who was responsible for many organizational matters), did, but the Father was also at home with me! Tuesday morning, I was going to trim the hedge. I had already prepared my materials. At that moment, I twisted my right foot. I had done that many times before. The last time, three years ago, I couldn’t walk for six weeks and had pain for three months. I twisted my foot and needed a few minutes to recover… then I started trimming the hedge, and by noon, I had done 60-70 meters. I went to eat and rested for an hour in the chair, but after that hour, I couldn’t walk on my right foot anymore and couldn’t move my foot at all! It was 1:30 PM, I knew the afternoon session was about to start and called Danny. She told the whole story to Ann, who called me a few hours later and prayed with me. I had already crawled back into the chair with my Bible and had rebuked the devil. There was no improvement, so I called Manu, our son, and asked him if he would take me to the hospital the next day for X-rays. He told me he didn’t have time because he had to go back to the Ardennes to prepare for a camp… That evening, I went to sleep and had to think about ‘He gives it to His beloved in their sleep’… I know I’m loved by Him, so I expected to wake up healed. The next morning, however, there was no change… I still couldn’t walk on my foot! I called Danny again and then Hugo, who was nearby, prayed. One hour later, while I was still in the chair, I noticed I could move my foot again. I got out of the chair, the pain was gone, and I went back to trimming the hedge for another 50 meters… When Danny called me, I said I had gone to the doctor. She asked if I went by bike. No, I answered, I went on foot, and he said: get up, grab your mattress and walk… Danny couldn’t laugh at first until I told her the whole story… considering my history, this is a huge miracle!” Hugo
Deep forgiveness and Father’s love heal
Chris had been determined for months not to attend the Fatherheart School B. A week before the school began, she was driving home and suddenly thought, “Chris, you want to live for the Father, but if there’s something you can learn, you’re not going.” That same evening, she called Danny and signed up.
During the school, everyone who wanted to could pray for the ministry of the Father’s heart or Mother’s heart. However, Chris just stayed in her seat because she was upset about something that had happened the previous day. James came to her and asked if everything was okay. It was not the case… James prayed for love and forgiveness for her father who had committed suicide at the age of 47. During the A school, a deep healing process had already started, and this was now clearly continued. After James’ prayer, an immense peace came over Chris, and she spent a long time enjoying being with the Father. She experienced this as a great liberation. On the last day, there was a moment for testimonies. Chris was determined not to go, as she does not like speaking into a microphone. When James said that people who wanted to testify could sit in the front row, Chris leapt from her seat and boldly testified. She is more determined than ever to pass the torch to others…
HEALING FROM REJECTION
After the Fatherheart School in November, we received a very beautiful testimony from Ans. Ans, who is currently 71 years old, also attended our healing school. Let her tell her story herself:
“But the path of the righteous is like the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18
My story is one that goes from “exclusion” to “completely belonging.” The awareness of rejection came slowly into my life. We never really spoke about it. I think it started at my birth. My mother got thrombosis and was not allowed to move for days. I was a disturbing element who cried and needed attention and care. I had to make do with a pacifier with sugar. I grew up in a Christian family where the Lord was spoken about. I had a wonderful father, but he died when he was 39. My younger sister, a year younger than I, was always the sweet and obedient girl. I was very entrepreneurial and was automatically blamed whenever something went wrong. As a child, I found it very hard to make friends. I was never part of the large group. Participating in social settings was difficult. I simply didn’t dare to be myself and spoke little.
When I was 20, I accepted the Lord. How to do this was not explained to us. In my struggle for certainty, I called out that I believed that Jesus died for my sins. At that moment, I received deep certainty. In my work, I felt safe and secure. Outside of work, however, relationships were difficult. People mostly turned away from me. For example, the seat next to me on the bus was always the last one taken. At a course, reception, or birthday party, I always felt alone and always stood by myself. My husband was completely different. He was a social person and enjoyed being in groups. He never understood me in this, but accepted me and helped me. It was nice to go out together, as long as it was business or just the two of us. Visiting people was more difficult. I always dreaded it. Having guests over was a task. We had 3 children whom we raised to the best of our ability. Through various detours, we ended up in a Christian church as a family.
The first time someone pointed out my rejection was about twenty years ago. They described what I was experiencing, and prayer was offered. I did notice some change afterward and thought that was it. Until a new confrontation came after my mother passed away. After everything around the funeral was arranged, it turned out very different because of my half-sister’s actions. Again, rejection… but a brother-in-law and sister-in-law from my husband’s side prayed with me, and all bitterness disappeared. “Now it’s over,” I thought. The real test could now begin. I received an invitation for the Fatherheart School, and after praying, I knew I had to go. But things didn’t go as I expected right from the start. After the first gathering, greeting each other… yuck, that manipulation! The first morning, my alarm didn’t go off. I didn’t dare to be late for breakfast, and I felt like I was too much everywhere… no one seemed to want to connect with me.
On Monday evening, I packed my bags and told the Lord that if He didn’t do something tomorrow, I was going home because I couldn’t handle this. Tuesday morning, the sermon was about forgiveness. When you sin against someone, you damage that person, you rob them of something. And I felt I had sinned against the lady who at the table wouldn’t say anything. That morning, she had given me a few friendly nods, and I hadn’t responded. I was angry. After the meeting, I went to her and made things right. There was forgiveness, acceptance, and great joy. A woman I knew from the healing school was my neighbor in the hallway, and we became closer. But I still wasn’t there yet. Thursday morning at breakfast, I looked around and suddenly thought, “I belong here!” What a revelation for me, what joy. I don’t know when it happened… during the soaking? During the prayer? I didn’t feel anything special at the time.
There is only honor for my Heavenly Father! He sent me there, made the loneliness pile up, and put me in space! On the last day, I was the first to testify… I could, because all those people were now my family! “I haven’t belonged for 71 years, now I belong!” After that, I danced until I couldn’t anymore. From one person to the next. Wonderful, I had never done that. I was always on the sidelines. Every day I enjoy now. I can laugh again, and my strength is coming back. The fighting is over. When I came home from the school, I hugged my son. I hadn’t done that since New Year’s Eve… then you do that… Feike got a strange mother back. My arms had become stiff, and I laughed at the strangest things. I wanted to draw flags everywhere…
Now I understand why I was always tired. Dealing with people was always a fight because I didn’t belong. Going to the healing school was a battle, not because of the school itself but because of those breaks! Now I thank the Lord every day for the restoration of my strength and for the healing of every illness, because both are promised! I feel so happy! I belong, and that was my Heavenly Papa!
Fatherheart School gives new life.
GOD GAVE RIA A WHOLE NEW LIFE
Ria has been coming to our church even before it was officially a church. Through Josée and Eugeen, she got in touch with the then prayer group. She could no longer attend her own church because she frequently had severe epileptic seizures. The therapist who was working with her at the time strongly advised her to come to the group on Tuesday evening. Ria never knew exactly why that woman suggested it. At first, she came just to get away from home.
She says she was always very well received, even when she had a seizure.
Ria, now 56 years old, mother of four children and grandmother of three grandchildren, had a very difficult childhood and adolescence. She can’t remember ever being hugged or picked up by her parents. There wasn’t much of a relationship in the family. She was the only daughter among six brothers. Her father became an orphan at the age of six and grew up in a foster home where he had to work hard and didn’t receive love. Ria’s parents also had a very difficult financial situation. She had to make do with hand-me-down clothes and was always laughed at and stared at for that reason. Furthermore, she was repeatedly sexually abused during her youth. Her young life was filled with humiliation and shame.
GOD WANTED RIA!
She knew no joy and wondered why she had come into this world. About 10 years ago, she gave her life to Jesus, and during those 10 years, the Lord has already brought much healing into her life. Especially the last 5 years, she has truly gotten to know God. Slowly, she learned that she was someone to God. People told her that she was changing, and when her neurologist also said that she had changed, Ria could only attribute it to God. Two years ago, Hugo prayed with her after the service that she would “be the head of the family and not the tail.” She had always felt that she wasn’t really part of the family. Recently, one of her sisters-in-law said, “What would we do without our Ria?” Ria is now taking on more and more responsibilities in the family. When the invitation for the Fatherheart School in Torhout came last year, she was very eager to go. She asked her husband, who immediately agreed and transferred the money.
METAMORPHOSIS AFTER THE FATHERHEART SCHOOL
During the Fatherheart School in Torhout, Ria received much healing again.
When you ask Ria what the Fatherheart School meant to her, she says the following:
“I have learned to cry and to laugh. The teaching unlocked much from my past but also brought deep healing. The invisible bars are gone from my life. I dare to move in space now. I am much freer and happier and find it easier to make contact with other people.
HEAVY BURDEN OF HUMILIATION DISAPPEARS
I was deeply touched by what Janice shared about the shame of the woman with the bleeding issue. For 12 years, she was humiliated by everyone, everything she touched became unclean, and she was deprived of any form of contact. She was robbed of everything, and the whole world was against her. Until one day, she touched Jesus, and He gave her a new start…I recognized myself very well in her story. After soaking, the tears started to flow, tears I hadn’t cried in years. The heavy burden of years of humiliation was lifted from me. The guilt I felt toward my children was also gone. The guilt because I gave them too little love when they were little.
AND THEN SHE STARTED LAUGHING OUT LOUD…
Thursday evening before the service, I first felt a smile around my mouth. Shortly after, I started laughing out loud… something I had never known. Even that night, I couldn’t stop laughing. The laughter continues to this day whenever I experience a funny situation and sometimes even without any reason. On the last day, a woman from Switzerland came to bless me and rubbed my back. I had not been able to tolerate that for years, but now it gave me a warm, wonderful feeling. I now get to experience how important it is to embrace someone, and I enjoy it for the first time in my life!”
When she turned 50, Ria declared that her best years would now come. She always keeps the verse from Psalm 103:5 in mind: “So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” This is indeed happening in her life.
For those who know Ria, the school meant a visible transformation. She feels calmer and happier than ever… People who see it ask her and inquire about it…
The desert blossomed like a rose… and God continues to work in her life!
Recently, her husband had to make a payment for their son and asked if he should transfer the money for the next Fatherheart School… Ria is eager to join again…
A look back at a wonderful Fatherheart School
VADER’S LOVE EXPERIENCED: A LOOK BACK ON A WONDERFUL FATHERHEART SCHOOL
A year ago, when we, as a team, attended the Fatherheart School in The Hague, we had a strong impression that we should invite this school to Belgium. Shortly after, we set a date with the Fatherheart team from New Zealand: November 13-19, 2005. It was quite a challenge… who would invest a whole week and money in education and ministry on the topic of “God’s Fatherheart”?
Danny (thanks again!) patiently but persistently searched for an affordable place where a group of about sixty people could gather. This was the intended goal… but God had much more in mind! It turned out to be a wonderful week in the midst of nature at the beautiful diocesan center in Torhout. To our surprise, our Heavenly Papa sent 80 participants and 11 staff members from 8 different countries: Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, England, Canada, and New Zealand. James had never had such a large school before!
From our church, we were a group of 21 people! Our speakers were James and Denise Jordan from New Zealand, and Ian and Janice Ross from Canada. All four had been traveling the world with God’s healing Fatherheart ministry and served us with it during these days. God had placed on their hearts to work with schools so that people could be “immersed” in the teaching and ministry of the Fatherheart for a longer time. Right from the start of the week, the hunger of those present was palpable… God’s tangible presence was a clear answer to that! We all drank in the teaching, many new friendships were formed at the table, we enjoyed the wonderful soaking moments together, and there was a lot of laughter!
We’d like to share some stories of participants about how this week impacted their lives…
Els and François have been walking with the Lord for a long time and have attended many conferences. When the invitation for this week came, Els was not looking forward to attending. “Another conference… the umpteenth one…” She secretly hoped François wouldn’t want to go. When she discussed it with him, François said: “If we don’t go to this one, the Fatherheart of God, what are we really doing?” So, they registered.
Els shared that all the sessions deeply impacted her, but some things in her life were especially touched. From the beginning of her conversion, Els always heard babies crying when she went into her garden. She searched and heard everywhere but there were no babies around. After some time, she realized that this must have had a spiritual meaning, but she didn’t understand what it was… Was something related to babies happening in her area? Abortion? Persecution of Jews? She never understood where that crying came from. A year ago, it stopped, but just before attending the school, she heard it again.
During the school, Denise shared one evening how she had felt a deep emptiness in her life. This emptiness was so great that she could hear herself as a baby crying, even though she was an adult woman! God showed her how she had received too little motherly love, causing that strong void in her life. Immediately, Els thought of the babies she had heard crying… Despite her conversion, she was still carrying a feeling of emptiness, sadness, and deep loneliness. That evening, she received a deep touch from God’s motherly love, which gave her life a new direction.
The first night after they returned home, God made her aware that she had been born in breech position. The delivery had been very difficult, and at one point, the midwife thought Els wouldn’t survive. She was born, but her mother was completely exhausted. So, Els didn’t get the necessary attention and motherly love in those early days.
Also, when James spoke about how God created man, Els was deeply touched by the Father. God breathed the breath of life into the nostrils of man… He was so close when man opened his eyes and looked right into the eyes of his Creator… It was as if He kissed the man… Els stepped into the creation story when James told it and felt as if she was recreated by God. For the first time, she knew that her Heavenly Papa truly loved her, and this time not with her mind but with her heart… A daughter of the Most High God discovered her true identity…
Filled with God’s love, François and Els went to visit François’ mother the evening they returned home. She had been a widow since May and was struggling. Els and François listened to her, spoke with her, let her cry, and embraced her… and by the time they left her home that evening, she was completely different. Without love, you can do nothing, says the Word. “I always tried to do good, but now I had God’s love with me, and it was so different,” testified Els. “Before, I did good out of a sense of duty… Now, I overflow with the love of the Father.” Even in the church, Els can now truly look people in the eyes and embrace them with the love of the Father. Giving herself has taken on a whole new depth for Els. She always faithfully gave tithes and offerings, but now she realizes that only love can truly give… “I have to hold myself back now; for the first time, I understand how people can give everything from that deep love…”
Even those who could not attend the school were impacted by this week. Elly heard the testimonies of several people who spoke about asking their fathers for forgiveness for their own mistakes as children. She felt deeply touched by this and brought it to prayer. She forgave her father, who had already passed away, and asked him for forgiveness for all her shortcomings.
That night, she had a dream where she was allowed to see her father in heaven. She asked him for forgiveness for her mistakes. He forgave her, and Elly, in turn, forgave him for all his mistakes. There was a loving embrace. Very special, Elly herself thought.
Danny thoroughly enjoyed the whole week… for her, the message of the Fatherheart School strongly resonated with what we do in the church… healing is all about the relationship with God as Father. Everything revolves around building your love relationship with Him. The vision that God had already given her for her life was once again confirmed and refreshed. James spoke about how God thought of each of us before the foundation of the world. He designed us as unique individuals with a unique purpose on this earth. Often, people feel too much, thinking they would be better off not being here. But God wants to free us to become who we can be! During this teaching, James said: “You were born for love,” and at that moment, he looked directly into Danny’s eyes and pointed at her. Danny felt how this hit her like a thunderbolt and gave deep healing. She cried a lot and then spent the rest of the morning lying down, experiencing how deeply healing that was. Together with her husband, Hugo, they enjoyed a very beautiful week and testified that their relationship was also deeply touched by the school.
Hugo was deeply touched by the message about forgiveness towards your parents. Hugo’s parents lost their first son. After the birth of his oldest sister, he was the boy who had to fill the gap left by their first son. As a result, he was very overprotected. He was hardly allowed to do anything because his mother was always afraid of losing him… Even making decisions for himself wasn’t allowed: he couldn’t play sports, even though he loved it, and couldn’t draw, although he wanted to pursue that as a career. His whole life was determined by the choices his parents made for him. This straitjacket had caused him many problems. A few years ago, God told him that he had to forgive his father and mother in order to be freed from the chronic joint pains he had suffered from. Although it was very difficult, he forgave them. Since then, he has hardly had any joint pain anymore.
James explained that there is a difference between forgiving with your will and forgiving from the heart. During the prayer after this teaching, James asked us to visualize our parents and speak forgiveness. Hugo did this and clearly saw his parents, who had already passed away. He could describe exactly what suit his father was wearing. In prayer, he placed his hand on his father’s shoulder and felt how God helped him. This brought even deeper inner healing to Hugo. The testimony of Ian and Janice challenged him to do something with his own heart’s desires. On December 15 of last year, Hugo had a heart attack. Through prayer, he was miraculously spared, but he became very tired. He feared that he might not be able to manage the school. The first day was very difficult for him. From the second day on, he was no longer tired in the evenings… Papa renewed his strength! A while after the school, he had to go for a check-up with his GP for his blood pressure. For the first time in a long time (Hugo has had high blood pressure for over 30 years!), his diastolic was 9. It had always been 10 or more before. The inner healing had clearly affected his physical health.
During the autumn holiday, we held our second Fatherheart School in Torhout, Belgium. Again this year, the school was fully booked months in advance. We had a group of 84 participants, including people from the Netherlands, Belgium, and a woman from Estonia currently staying in Belgium. The deeply anointed teaching on the Fatherheart of God by James and Denise Jordan and Ian Ross brought all of us closer to the Father’s heart.
We also received many beautiful testimonies from this life-changing week. The last testimony service in our church seemed like a promotion campaign for the Fatherheart School! This time, it was not us encouraging people to attend; it was the participants from the last school in Torhout themselves who encouraged their brothers and sisters to join next time (29 people from our church participated!). Here is one of the testimonies we received.
Healing during vacation trip on the Siloam
Here is the translation:
“Stichting Siloam has been organizing Bible study boat trips from Kampen (Netherlands) for years. Since the summer of 2006, Hugo, Inger, Ann, and Nadine have been leading Bible study weeks on the ship. In 2007, the theme was “Life and Abundance,” and in 2008, it was “Understanding Father’s Voice.” Ank, a lady from Elburg, has been joining the Siloam for 14 years. We met her in 2007. She signed up for the vacation week where we would be speaking in 2008. As soon as she arrived on the boat, she shared her testimony from the first year.
Last year, on the boat, she received a tremendous peace about her children, whom she hadn’t seen in years. She experienced it as a huge cesspool that God opened, where all the trash was taken out and filled with the Lord’s love. Since then, she has had complete peace in her heart about the situation with her grandchildren, whom she doesn’t know at all. At one point last year, Ank fainted beside the boat. Ann and Nadine, both doctors, were called in. Ank shared that she was taking medication for high blood pressure. She also had diabetes, for which she was on a diet, and suffered from obesity.
Ann told her that she could get better, yes, that the medication could even be stopped with God’s help. At that moment, Ank couldn’t accept it at all. However, the week after the Siloam trip, she started dieting and exercising. After three weeks, she struggled a lot but began to realize that this wasn’t coincidence, that the Lord had “switched a button” inside her. From that moment on, she asked Him every morning to help her stick to the diet. In November, she stopped dieting and had lost 8 kg. Around that time, she had a check-up with her doctor. The diabetes was gone, and she was allowed to stop one of her blood pressure medications. She still had to continue taking the other.
In January, she went back on a diet, and a month before the Siloam trip, she was able to stop her other blood pressure medication. By then, she had lost a total of 16 kg, was free of high blood pressure and diabetes… all with God’s help! She was also able to stop her stomach medication, which she had been taking for years. And so, what we had told her and what she thought was impossible on the boat came true… Ank looked radiant!
This year, the Lord had many more plans for her. Right at the beginning of the week, Hugo spoke about adopting God as your Papa. Ank couldn’t get this out of her mouth and struggled with it for a few days. A lot of rejection came up. On Wednesday evening, Hugo and Inger prayed with her, and immediately afterward, Hugo sent Ank to bed. She slept wonderfully, and when she woke up the next morning, she went to her cabin on her knees and called God “Papa” for the first time. Now, “Papa” rolls off her tongue very easily, and she is very happy about that!
The part that Nadine brought about the different “ways” to keep your “quiet time” really resonated with Ank. Ank is a true Dorcas, who loves nothing more than sitting behind her sewing machine and sewing for everyone, often for the mission. Every time she does this, she puts on a CD or some music and starts praising. Often, this ends in worship on the floor next to her sewing machine. Many well-meaning brothers and sisters had told her several times that this was not the right way to keep “quiet time.” The feeling of “doing it wrong” hung over her life like a dark cloud. However, through what Nadine shared, she was confirmed in her own way. The dark clouds disappeared from her life… and now she feels truly free to worship her Papa behind her sewing machine… and she enjoys it immensely!”
