Hello Dearest Friends and Family:
This past month has marked some satisfying breakthroughs for us in so many ways. Most importantly is the revelation that we are resting in God’s Presence first, then from that we are moving out to do something for the Kingdom. We recently went on a retreat in Wales for the purpose of learning how to start a House of Payer. This is a grass roots kind of prayer meeting with a core group of committed people who meet on a regular basis to pray and worship together. God has put it on our hearts to start a house of prayer and creativity – a place where artists (and other people!) can come and worship for hours while painting, playing their musical instrument and resting in God’s Presence. We will use a rhythmic prayer schedule, similar to the Celtic model of morning, midday and evening prayers. Michael and I have started already and are praying for the right couple to form a core group with us, and we are also praying for a space which can be permanently dedicated to prayer. We want people who need to be in God’s Presence to have access to it 24-7, and be able to pray when in need.
We are planning on renting a space in a building where Christine and other artists will have studios. We feel that by renting the space in a creative setting we will attract other creatives who might not otherwise go to a church to pray.
We are beginning to understand more our calling as Cultural Revivalists, who want to bring God’s Kingdom through the arts. Christine has started teaching painting in a secular setting to a group of older adults and she is also teaching Prophetic Art at a really great church in Bristol called Elim, as part of their evening school of transformation. She’s continuing volunteering at the Wellspring Center, drawing young mothers and their babies, as well as assisting Michael in Chaplaincy times.
This is a view of Chrst Church in Bristol’s art walk celebration with one of Christine’s icons of the Crucifixion hanging on a column amidst brightly colored leaf shapes. These leaves had prayers written on each one and were heartfelt testimonies to their hope in restoration and healing.
What’s not immediately obvious here is Michael’s beautiful photography making it all possible. He has one more trip back to NY for work this month. We’re praying that God will place him in some good work situations here in the UK, but we are also grateful for answered prayers of work in NY. Michael is getting more excited and experienced in videography and is making some short documentaries of how God is working in our midst. We will post them on the blog when they’re ready!
This is a detail of an 8ft x8ft prophetic painting Christine did for Elim Church’s One Thing Celebration. The Scripture reference was Psalm 24:8 “Who is this King of Glory? the Lord God Almighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.” It was an awesome night or prayer and worship, and we prayed for Bristol to be full of God’s blessings. I believe that Revival is coming in to the UK like the ocean tide – slowly, almost imperceptibly at times, but steadily inching forward.
Our friends the Morrisons have completed the 501-3c application for the charity “Unto Life” which we are blessed to be part of. Now, if God moves any of you to contribute financially to what we’re doing, it will be tax deductible if you: make the check payable to Unto Life and write on the memo “For Michael and Christine Hales”. You can send it to: Unto Life, 411 Gettysburg Pike, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055. If you have a purpose you would like it applied to, just send us a note or email and we will earmark it for that purpose. We want to do a lot of outreach once we have the prayer house established so that we can bring God’s love to people who are hurting and in need in various ways.
The retreat we went to about the House of Prayer was a Trans Med Vision – houses of prayer spriging up in nations around the Mediterranean. We asked if Bristol could be considered as being on the Med 🙂 and God’s favor on us charmed them into it! So we are now part of a team of English and Welsh people with a vision for establishing Houses of Prayer in England and Europe. Very Fun!
We send you our love and prayers – we are praying several times a day now, so if there’s anything specific you want us to pray for let us know! Love, Michael and Christine
Kingdom Arts Ministry 
Wonderful news! Praise God for the expression of His love in you two!
Jane: You are so amazing. Probably the most joyous person I know! Keep the sale of our house in your prayers, too!
Love to you and George,
Christine
Praise the Lord, what a blessing to read what God is doing in your lives and ministries. I rejoice in our Great God and Savior. Blessed be His Name. Miss you both. Love, Sally
Praying for your India trip. Be blessed!
Love, Christine
It’s good to see how it’s all coming together. Last night I thought about the two of you so this update is just in time. If you’re able, please call once you’ve made it to the states Michael. I love you guys!
-Myron
HI Myron: It’s always so good to hear from you! Michael’s in NY so try to reach him if you can. 518-672-0014. He’s working during the day but an evening would be good ;).
Love,
Christine and Michael
It is so wonderful to read about what you are doing, and to see your beautiful work Christine! I look forward to seeing and hearing much more. God Bless you both!
HI Susan:
I love reading of your adventures on Facebook. We’ll pray for you all when you go the DR next.
Much love,
Christine
Encouraging news – and a beautiful photo of Cwm Gwaun in late afternoon light!
I’m so happy too receive your beautiful updates. I still regret not getting a chance to visit you in New York–but who knows–maybe we will meet across the globe. I’ll keep you in my heart and prayers. Love, Edith
HI Edith: You’re in my prayers as well. Who knows, maybe we’ll visit Florida again – God has a plan for us!
Love,
Christine
Christine and Michael,
We have access to your blog through Torre Bissel’s prayer line emails. It is so wonderful to read about all the wonderful ministry you are doing in Bristol! We are praying for you and all your work to be blessed abundantly and mightily!
Peace of the Lord,
Carol & Randy Lukas
Dear Mike and Christine, as of yet we still have no internet so when we can we use the library, pretty lame excuse hun! I just read your blog Nov 10, I thought it was great it helps me see more of who you are or should I say who you are becoming. We just went to the voice of the Apostles it was great, wish you were there, I had a wonderful encounter with Jesus, of course, on the floor, I was so smitten buy His presence……… I pray that He would give you the ability to bring the other side into focus for everyone else, the side where He dwells. Father I ask right now in the name of your son Jesus that you would release an anoiting on Mike and Christine that would enable them to bring Heaven into earth, I pray that you would give them a breakthrough that would enable others to experience the Glory of your presence, may your spirit flow from them and may many be touched, amen! We are currently planing to go to Mozambique in June 2011, this time Virginia will be attending the Harvest school and I hope to on staff or working with the ministry, in the meantime we hope to sell our house and build a smaller one.I have such found memories of our time at global- More Lord Love Fred
Hello Fred, So very good to hear from you. Yes we really could use that anointing to bring people into God’s Glory. This country is really in desperate need of a revival.
It really breaks my heart to see what is happening here, but God can make huge changes and I believe He will. But it is so closed up in the governance to the Spirit it is tough.
On the other hand there are some really good things going on and we are starting to get a picture of what God is calling us to.
Well I hope your house sells, we are praying for ours to sell too and it has been quite the issue. But God, He has worked there too for us with a neighbor who really I am mentoring has taken on the house as a personal project and done a whole lot of work and is overseeing it for us. Thank God.
Yes I really miss our days at Global, they were really special but God has sent us out to do things for now but we will be back again on the floor one day.
Bless you and Virginia and all the family. More of your will Lord. love to all Michael and Christine.
PS Tell your beautiful wife I miss her!!! And we are looking for more floor time – definitely!
Love to you both, Christine