Tom preaching with Missionary Stan Strunc at Slovak Roma Church in Derby, England.

By Tom Shanklin

After 17 days of traveling, preaching, praying, and personal ministry in the United Kingdom, Susan and I returned with a sense that God had fanned the flames of revival and brought forth His Kingdom purposes. 

People were saved, healed, filled with the Holy Spirit, and charged with divine purpose for reaching the world for Jesus. Everywhere we went, from the beautiful hills of Somerset in South England to the old coal mining valleys of South Wales to Anglesey Island on the Irish Sea in North Wales to the Midlands of England where the industrial revolution began, one theme predominated—the fire of the Holy Spirit. 

I preached about John the Baptist’s announcement of the coming Messiah:

“I indeed baptize you with water to repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Matthew 3:11 MEV)

John called Jesus “the lamb who takes away the sins of the world,” but here he announces another vital aspect of the ministry of Jesus, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” John’s business was to baptize (immerse) people in water. But Jesus came to immerse us with the Holy Spirit and fire. 

When a person is baptized in water, they become drenched with water, but when someone is baptized in the Holy Spirit, they become drenched in the power of God. We need this today, not only in the United Kingdom but throughout the world. 

Before I left for England, I heard the Lord say, “I want my fire to burn in England and Wales, so preach the full Gospel—salvation, healing, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Don’t hold back. Preach the whole message.” 

I believe that we are living in a time when people need to hear about everything that Jesus has done for them. With the veil of deception that is upon people’s minds because of humanistic philosophy and false religion, we must have the power the Spirit and the uncompromised Word of God to break the strongholds of the enemy. 

So with that in mind, I went armed and ready to give it my best to stir God’s people to press into the mighty power of God. For some the challenge was new. For others, it was a reminder. God is not done with the United Kingdom, but He is bringing revival. 

I believe that the Lord is saying, “Out of the ash heaps left from long-ago revival fires, you shall stir up embers, glowing embers, which shall once again grow into flaming fires. Stir up the embers, My hungry ones. Stir them up and place upon them Gospel fuel. Feed the fire with Words of life from the throne of God. Then let my Holy Spirit come once again and breathe upon the fire, and it shall burn. Let it burn and it shall spread. Feed the fire, My people, and let it grow!”

Although I was preaching from the same text much of the time, each time it came with a different emphasis. Susan’s ministry, too, was challenging and perceptive to the special needs of each situation. We both sensed that God was leading us step by step and guiding our preaching, praying, and conversations. There was a great sense of teamwork between Susan and me, as the Lord orchestrated our movements. We were also aware that the Lord was drawing on our years of experience in ministry to help believers and ministers to find their way forward in the plans and purposes of God.

Susan sharing at Tor Cleve Christian Fellowship in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, England.

Ministry in Somerset

In the hills of Somerset, South England is some of the most lush, beautiful scenery in the world, and yet the spiritual landscape is in need of much rain, cultivation, and nurture. Many people are far from God, yet there is a remnant who are hungry and crying out for Him to move. 

At Wiveliscombe, I shared the message of the fire of the Holy Spirit with believers at Tor Cleeve Christian Fellowship, which gathers in the home of Andrew and Lynne Kelley. Andrew’s father George was converted at a Christian student weekend event under Martin Lloyd Jones, who received Christ at Billy Graham’s crusade in London in 1954. At Tor Cleeve, Susan also had a great time speaking about the “Seed of the Word of God” to the women, who said her message was just what they needed.

Andrew Kelley and the saints at Tor Cleeve are reaching out to their area through a ministry called Christians Against Poverty (CAP) which helps people struggling financially to overcome debt. In the context of credit counseling, clients are given the opportunity to find new life in Christ and to connect with local churches. 

After returning back to the U.S., we were happy to hear a good report from Tor Cleeve Fellowship that they had 23 visitors to their Easter service and several of them prayed for salvation. Church members were very happy to see that people who they had invited came and responded.

Bill and Mandy Caines of Scarr Chapel. Somerset, England.

Scarr Chapel near Wiveliscombe was built in 1830. Many of the old chapels have fallen into disuse, disrepair, and many have been torn down. But Bill and Mandy Caines purchased the old chapel and have been holding services there for 30 years. At Scarr, I spoke on “We Need the Fire” and shared my testimony. Two Bulgarian men who live and work in England were there. Afterward, one asked me to explain the difference between the Holy Spirit in the new birth and in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, I explained that He is the same Holy Spirit, but just a greater measure of power. 

Susan and I preached on the Holy Spirit at a Fire Within Class at the Oasis Church in Weston-super-Mare near Bristol with Pastor Kelton Black and Pastor Ronnie and Carly Griffin. Susan shared a spiritual picture about trees. Trees give shade. They feed others. They are a safe place. They have strong limbs for children to swing and play on. Our churches are like trees. What we have to offer is good for everybody. One man was baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues.

Worship at Bishop Sutton Community Church

Bishop Sutton Community Church is located in a valley just south of Bristol. Pastors Dave and Jenny Dickerson are both musicians with a great heart for worship and the presence of God. We had a very revivalistic type of service there and the people were greatly encouraged, as were we. Susan had a spiritual picture of wine bottles which needed to be “uncorked.” She laid hands on everyone to be uncorked, and I spoke on “The Purging Fire of the Holy Spirit.” This audio recording of our messages is available on our website. 

Pastor Ralph Upton of Blaenycwm Chapel, Tynewydd, South Wales

Fresh Fire in South Wales

Susan and I had a wonderful service at Blaenycwm Chapel, Tynewydd, South Wales with Pastor Ralph and Carol Upton. This chapel is one of the first places that Revivalist Evan Roberts preached during the early days of the Welsh Revival of 1904-05, a move of God which truly touched the world. I stood in the place where Evan Roberts had preached to a 1,000 people, and I prayed for Wales and the outpouring the Holy Spirit to come once again. A small band of believers continues to meet at the chapel where Pastor Upton has been faithfully proclaiming the Word.

Since coming to the chapel several years ago, the Uptons have seen seven baptisms, which I believe is a sign that God is cracking the hard shell of this old coal mining community. Amazingly, the initial baptism they had was the first in 60 years at the chapel. This is a portrait of the spiritual climate of England and Wales. They need revival, just as we need revival.

It is amazing that places like this, which have experienced such mighty moves of God in times past, now are experiencing such a lack of spiritual life. And yet, that is what happens when religion is emphasized rather than relationship. One generation experiences revival, and then they tend to try and teach the next generation how to behave like a Christian, without helping them to know the One who can truly change them. Then the next generation grows up without a true experience with the Holy Spirit, and as a result, rejects Christianity as dry and lifeless.

Pastor Philip and Margaret Evans of Oasis Church, Beaumaris, Anglesey Island, North Wales

Anglesey Island, North Wales

At Oasis Church in Beaumaris led by Pastor Philip and Margaret Evans, Susan spoke on “Standing Firm” from Ephesians 6, and I spoke once again on “The Holy Ghost and Fire.” I shared a message from Leviticus 6:8-13 about the law of the burnt offering, how the priests were commanded to remove the ashes from yesterday’s fire and keep the fire burning. Likewise, we cannot like on yesterday’s ashes. We much have fresh fire today. For more about this, check out my message, “Fan the Flames of Revival … and Let it Spread!” The crowd was multi-generational, and we ministered in prayer to many individuals, who were encouraged with prophetic words and prayers. 

On a Thursday night, we were asked to share our testimonies of salvation in hopes that a group of teenagers would join us for the meeting. The congregation has been praying for the youth of their city for years, and a group of them have been popping in from time to time during their Thursday night services. Just before we were about to speak, they came into the old chapel. They were a noisy, rowdy bunch, using their cell phones, laughing, wrestling, and running in and out of the service. 

When they came in, I quickly gave a Gospel message from John 3:16, thinking that if they all left, at least a seed would be planted. Susan then began to share. A 14-year-old boy named Alfie was very disruptive, but Susan disarmed him by having him come forward and separating him from the pack. Then she gave her testimony wonderfully, and I gave an abbreviated form of mine. I then gave an invitation and two boys came forward and I led them in a prayer to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. The church erupted in joy and clapping. We trust a Gospel seed has been planted among the youth of Beaumaris.

Pastor Andre and Sue Rudolph of the Barn on Anglesey Island, North Wales

We ministered at The Barn in a rural area near Amlwch with Pastor Andre and Sue Rudolph. This is a church which loves and welcomes the presence of the Holy Spirit. Susan spoke on being who God made you to be, and I spoke about “The Baptism of the Holy Spirit” with an emphasis on the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus said that this Gospel of the Kingdom must be preached in all the world and then the end will come. The Good News of the Kingdom is about God sending His Son, the Messiah King, to uproot the kingdom of a cruel dictator, Satan, who has been ruling in the hearts of men and women since the days of Adam and Eve. The Gospel of the Kingdom is a Gospel of power, through which Jesus has come to “destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8

Praying for the sick at the Encounter Word and Spirit School in Holyhead, Anglesey Island, North Wales

At Elim Church in Holyhead, we spoke at the Encounter Word and Spirit School with Pastor Gus and Karen Coney. This ministry school is led jointly by Pastor Coney and Pastor Philip Evans. It’s a great example of cooperation between churches. We spoke to a great group of hungry souls of various ages. Susan spoke on “God Looks at the Heart” from the life of David. I shared on “The Healing Anointing.” People with ailments came, and I enlisted others to pray for them as a practical demonstration. Some were totally relieved of pain in their bodies. Everyone received partial relief. When we prayed for a lady with severe back pain, all pain left, and she was bouncing up and down with joy. A young woman who couldn’t raise her hand above her head was freed to lift her arm. Another lady testified later that she went home and prayed for her husband, and he was healed!

Roma Churches, Midlands of England

By the time we reached the Midlands of England, we were quite tired and needed to draw on some deep resources from within. It was at Derby that we dropped off our rental car and began to travel with our friends, Stan and Sarah Strunc, which was both a great relief and joy. Driving in England was not my cup of tea, but I thank God for the grace he gave me and for safety on the roads. We had no scrapes or dents, despite the extremely narrow roads, very busy traffic ways, and an overabundance of roundabouts. 

We love the enthusiasm of the Slovak Roma people (sometimes called Gypsies). At Derby, we ministered at the All Nations for Christ Slovak Roma Church with Pastor Ondrej Gazi, and his mother, Pastor Fatima Gazi. Susan exhorted the people to receive from God and draw from the opportunities that are in every day, and I spoke on “The Healing Anointing.” I was led to ask if there were those who needed healing in the internal organs and several people came forward and found relief from pain.

On Saturday, we held an evangelism seminar and revival service at Rotherham, hosted by Christian Centre Logos with Pastor Tibor and Luba Nistor. I spoke on The Tool Box for Evangelism, which includes prayer, the Gospel message, the love of God, and the gifts of the Spirit. I shared examples from the Scriptures and personal experience on how God uses the gifts of the Spirit to reach people for Him. Three people came to rededicate their lives to the Lord.

Susan spoke on “Lifestyle Evangelism” emphasizing the role of the local church in reaching people for Jesus. She highlighted the word “Go!” from Mark 16:15 and exhorted the people to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.” At the end of the session, one man was shouting. “Go! Go! Go!”

The room was filled with over a hundred people, including pastors and people from more than seven different churches. In the evening, I shared about the 5-fold ministry gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher, and encouraged the people that we need all the gifts, but that the real purpose of these gifts is to bring release to the ministry of the entire Body of Christ. I also spoke once again of “The Fire of the Holy Spirit” and enthusiasm rose in the people. One lady who came with tremendous pain in her legs testified that she was totally relieved of pain. She began to dance and twirl with joy! Then a man came requesting power for evangelism and I gave an altar call for those who felt a calling to the ministry. I then laid hands on them, calling forth the fire of God. 

Praying for salvation at All Nations for Christ Church in Derby.

On Sunday, back at the Roma Church in Derby, Susan spoke a word of warning about unholy alliances. I then spoke on “How to Use your Faith” from Mark 11:22-24. Three girls came forward to receive Christ and one person received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and spoke in other languages. We also prayed and prophesied over the pastors who were there and ministered strength and encouragement to the local church.

Throughout this trip, we were keenly aware of the prayers and support of our friends and partners. Without you, we could not do this work. Together, we are making an eternal impact. Let’s keep spreading the fire, in Jesus name. God bless you!