The Sound

At the end of January the forum team gathered for the first time for fellowship, worship and prayer.   The worship was led by Stephanie Mainville from New Brunswick, who was part of the fasting for Edmonton (God had led certain people from outside Edmonton to be part of the fast for the city.) Just before she began playing, she shared:

“As a person from the Maritimes I feel to say “thank you” to you, as Albertans.  Alberta has been a place of blessing for many people from the East, who come here to get jobs so they can feed their families back home.  And I’ve noticed that instead of being thankful, it seems all you ever hear across the country is people grumbling and complaining about “rich” Alberta.  But I want to bless Alberta because you have been a blessing to us and to the rest of the country”.

As her hands touched the keyboard, an amazing presence of God swept through the room and we were all caught up instantly into a place of intense declarative worship and intercession.  And God graced us with the gift of divine unity and we were able to easily flow together in worship and prayer in a way that often takes months or years to develop with others.

After about an hour, the Lord released us to begin to share with one another what we had felt during the worship.  Rick Van Dewark, one of the pastors from Edmonton, said:

“When Stephanie first spoke her blessing over Alberta, my spirit was deeply moved.  I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone from Eastern Canada say thank you to Alberta. And during the worship, I felt the Lord spoke to me that we in turn need to honour and welcome her and her gift here, in our city.  Does this witness with anyone?”  

There was an immediate agreement and while we were completing this prophetic act, the Lord spoke that it was not only Stephanie but all the worship leaders in the room that needed to be honoured and welcomed.

One of the callings on the city of Edmonton is to birth new sounds of worship that will touch the nation and the world. Because of this destiny, worship-focused events have always flourished in the city – YC, Breakforth as well as ongoing city-based worship gatherings for young people such as Glimpse and Nights of Praise (U of A).  Also during the Latter Rain Movement there were meetings in Edmonton during which there was a manifestation of a heavenly choir and the release of prophetic singing in the spirit that became a hallmark of the Latter Rain movement worldwide.

But sadly, because the enemy knows of these purpose for the city, worship leaders have also experienced a great deal of warfare and resistance, especially younger people who had a longing in their hearts to see a deeper connection between worship, intercession and the prophetic flowing together in one expression.

As the worship leaders present stepped forward  they were encircled by the pastors who said, “We know that many times you have suffered attack through church leadership who didn’t understand what the Lord was trying to birth through you. And on behalf of the pastors we want to say we are so sorry, we repent.”

At this, a wave of the Holy Spirit hit the worship leaders and some fell to the ground weeping.  A time of intense prayer and ministry followed during which the declaration was made that Edmonton is a safe place for the Lord to birth the new sounds He is desiring to birth.   With this,  the whole room was enveloped in the peace of God.  And as we felt the pleasure of the Lord we knew we had fulfilled His purpose for this meeting.