Report Back: European Prayer Assignment July 2016 Portugal
Team: John and Heather Alcock, Frank and Suzanne Ferret
Intention
Sound the alarm
Stake the territory
Secure perimeter points
Overview
Faro Airport
Our team arrived in Faro on Monday afternoon and our first stop was the outskirts of Faro airport, where we staked the ground as a European perimeter and Gateway. We decreed an open gate for spreading the Gospel and for openness across Portugal for a return to true spirituality and a closure to dead religion. We also decreed the release of God’s purposes for the nation. Prophetically we saw Fivefold ministers ‘flying’ into Portugal to help in this next season as well as a return of the nation to its prophetic destiny as a missionary, sending nation.
Faro Airport
On Tuesday morning, we drove from Lagos up to Foia, the highest point (900 m) on the Monchique mountains on the Algarve, and took our stand on a rocky spot overlooking the country. It was very misty, with swathes of cloud and mist around us reminding us of the winds of the Holy Spirit and the Presence of the Lord on Mt Sinai. A summary of our prayers and declarations is below, but the overwhelming sense was God’s weight on shifting governments and restoration of His purposes. Of all the decrees, the ones about alignment seemed most powerful, although all of them were released with great faith.
Foia, Monchique, Highest place on Algarve Team Portugal preparing for united prayer strike
In the afternoon we drove back to Lagos via a little beach town and while enjoying the sun and sea, spoke to one of the sidewalk craftsmen selling his jewellery. When invited to accept Jesus as King and Son of God, he enthusiastically said he wanted to do that, and Heather led him in a short prayer. We took this as a first fruit of the salvations and revival that are coming to Portugal. It was interesting that he was an informal entrepreneur.
John and I left Lagos for Lisbon, on Thursday. On Friday we were joined by a local pastor and his wife, who drove us to some strategic spots in the city. These included the Belem tower, which was constructed as both a ceremonial and defensive gateway to Lisbon in 1514. This tower is at the mouth of the River Tagus, which we sensed is a strategic feature in Portugal and we ‘saw’ the revival and release of God’s purposes flowing up through the country and into Spain. This spot was also adjacent to the port and so we staked the ground as another European perimeter. Our third stop was in front of the famous Discovery monument, where we made further decrees for Portugal’s revival of innovation, discovery and entrepreneurship. We had another interesting encounter with an informal entrepreneur and gave him a prophetic word.
Throughout the week, we felt saturated with the Presence and purpose of God, and surrounded by angels.
In front of Belem Tower and Tagus River mouth Signs and wonders claimed for Portugal
More prophetic acts: shooting the arrows of the Words of the Lord
On Sunday evening, Portugal won the Football Wold Cup and we couldn’t help making a link between this and the prayer strike. Interesting as well that Andy Murray and Lewis Hamilton also had wins for Great Britain.
Perspectives and Impressions
We were aware that we were not in a vacuum, and were building on the foundations of prayers and prophetic activities of believers who have gone before us. We would like to include and honour them. We may not know them all, but we know of the group from Oasis church in Lagos that have prayed and decreed God’s purposes for Algarve and Portugal for many years. In previous years, they have visited and prayed at Sagres, St Vincent, Monchique, Lagos.
We have a sense that a massive shift and breakthrough has taken place. We now need to occupy and maintain that space with BREAKOUT. In military strategy the breakout protects the breakthrough
Strong sense of changing of the guard and we will see the change soon.
Unity was key. It was a very powerful experience to hear the other prayers and declarations being decreed as well as to see the team praying and singing and agreeing in the War Room in Burton. This produced a massive sense of synergy, unity, achievement and victory. How wonderful to be a part of such a magnificent team.
Trained teams was also a key. In our experience from previous missions, victory has been aborted or postponed because of immaturity, lack of discipline or vague goals.
Leadership and organisation: the prayer strike was a consequence of God given vision, followed by true apostolic leadership, planning and clear strategic and tactical thinking.
Focus: Actions were based on clear objectives
First fruits: we were witness to immediate first fruits. In addition to the two individuals we met the result of the connections in Lisbon was more than we ever expected and will open doors into the country for further prophetic and apostolic work.
We were very aware of excellent leadership, preparation and organisation, and very clear vision.
Thanks
This was a very impressive undertaking and we were so delighted and grateful to be a part of it. Every part of the vision- casting, leadership, planning and organisation was excellent. Thank you, thank you to Jenny and Steve and Maria for outstanding leadership. Thank you to every member of the praying team, we felt so strongly connected and part of the Bride Army. Thank you to the masses of others who supported us in prayers, encouragement and love. We look forward now to the next glorious ‘battle’.
Next Steps
The follow up to BREAKTHROUGH is very important. It’s the BREAKOUT: to occupy and possess and build.
Next steps:
Continue to bombard the heavens with effective strategic and apostolic prayer
Immediately, identify strategic people in nations and bring them to KAN, with objective of establishing similar centres in nations. This is to demonstrate what is being done and to ‘plug them in’ (Alignment) If necessary support with finance. Things are better ‘caught than taught’.
Drive the wedge deeper through the breach (Breakout). Possibly, in the beginning a strategy is to take trained prayer teams in or preferably take in trainers to equip the local people to do the job. ( Prayer school, Psalmody School, Prophetic school, Healing school)
–establish centres or groups that will take responsibility for cities, regions and nations
– establish ‘Touchpoints’ in nations
– Immediately, identify strategic people in nations and bring them to KAN, with objective of
establishing similar centres in nations.
Summary of activities during simultaneous prayer strike
Sounding the alarm
Our prayers and declarations included:
Dismantling demonic strongholds
Repentance
For religious laws that bind, false covenants, ancient covenants, church and business links to secret societies, rich Jewish families linked to people in power, blood spilled in violence and murder, good called evil, evil called good
We broke the covenants with the queen of heaven, financial and political covenants, the dark desire for wealth connected to the empire, slavery
Breaking Roots and uprooting demonic strongholds
roots of Islam out of the foundations of the nation
party spirit among churches
Anti – Semitism
Declarations and blessings
Blessing shall come in from the sea, dry bones hear the word of the Lord
decreed the release of the word of the lord
Arrows shot into the air for salvation, prosperity, deliverance, light and healing
Prototypes, business church, navigation spiritual school, schools of the spirit,
Stir the pioneering spirit, not to worry about the bullies in Europe, not to be timid,
Nation shift into alignment with Gods’ purposes and stand in the heavenly flow
Gateway from Heaven to the land to align with God’s purposes
Release of prophetic words
Comfort for those who have been hurt on the church
it’s a new age in Christ
It’s a planting season acceleration and multiplication across Europe
Called that was sown into life
God’s purposes in Portugal to flow to the old colonised nations: Mozambique, Angola, others
A literal Fire alert on Monchique : released a baptism of fire for the whole of Europe through the Gateway Portugal
Released it to flow into churches, cities, towns and villages education, law, government
media , arts.
closed off the back lash of the enemy, we called in angels to protect government officials and those who are about to turn to the Lord.
Vavs
Released the nation into its own identity, breaking off others agendas. called forth evangelists and Bible teachers to go to the nations.
Scriptures
Deuteronomy 32: 1-3; Psalm 107:20; Isaiah 60:1,2; Jeremiah 29:11
Portugal : today is the day of your salvation.