Daily Bread Missions (Under Construction)

1 Co 2v14  But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Sheila and I were in an old tin hut in Coursley Wood, near Wadhurst in Sussex.  The hut could only be reached by walking or driving down a narrow lane.  The roof and side walls were made of corrugated iron built onto a brick base wall    This was the local church and a place of great blessing to us.

It was an experience to enter the hut.  It took you back to a hundred years ago.  Then the walls had been of wood, darkened with time.  The smell of age and damp mixed with fumes of an old oil fire burning in the centre aisle tickled the nostrils, sometimes inducing sneezing or coughing.

A raised platform, fronted with a balustrade, formed the pulpit and also held an aged pedal organ .  Very often their was no one to play the instrument.  Brother George would oblige; the faltering notes issuing forth would occasionally cause amusement as the organist hesitated or missed a note altogether.

It was Christmas time and all those who had helped in the Ministry during the previous year had been invited to dinner followed by a meeting.  There were about twenty-four of us.

Margaret and David had traveled from Hastings with a par cooked dinner.  The kitchen had no gas or power points.  They were going to have to slave over a “pumped up” primus stove and small gas rings in the kitchen, (outhouse at the back of the Church).  It was, therefore, a mammoth task to prepare and serve a hot meal for 24 folks.

The meal was delicious, piping hot roast turkey with potatoes and five other vegetables and gravy, followed by Christmas pudding and custard, hot mince pies, coffee and biscuits.  Yes, a truly amazing meal.

We lingered over our meal, the dishes cleared away and the pews re-arranged again.  We sat waiting expectantly as Pastor Smith made his announcement.  It was 10.20pm.

Pastor Smith stood in the pulpit above us and outlined the programme for the evening.

‘We have Pastor Lywood, Pastor Wills and the “Daly Bread” who will sing and give testimony.’

The atmosphere became electric as we listened spellbound, to Pastor Lywood tell of God’s miracle healings and His power in saving souls. How we lifted up our voices in praise and adoration, faith growing as the small congregation listened and absorbed the teaching of what our God has done and is capable of doing.

Pastor Lywood’s Ministry had been mainly amongst the home less and the Gypsies.  He told us how, on one occasion, the Gypsies asked him to visit one of their relatives in the local hospital.  They knew that the Lord had given him a “healing ministry.”

‘I never move until I have waited upon the Lord in prayer and received a Word from God,’ Pastor told us.  ‘As I was praying the Lord told me that the woman would be healed.’

The ward staff directed Pastor to a small room.  He had knocked on the door and was bidden to enter.  There were four doctors sitting around.  He asked to see the woman, mentioning he had come to pray for her healing.  The doctors were sceptical explaining she was very ill and not expected to live.

‘The Lord has said, “I am going to heal her.” Pastor told them.

The doctors were determined, ‘You do not fully understand, the woman is dying!  We have X-rays of her pelvis, it’s been shattered into fragments by the lorry that hit her.  There is no way she could ever recover.’

‘I have received “a Word from the Lord,”  He has told me she is going to be healed.’  Pastor had insisted

Later, Pastor told us when he saw the dying woman, the Spirit had witnessed to him that she had faith.

‘Do you believe the Lord can heal you?’ I had asked her.

‘Yes,’ she replied.

‘I laid my hands upon her and asked for her healing in the name of Jesus. Nothing happened, I left the ward, believing.’

In those days each ward had one night nurse .  It was during the night, as the nurse was sitting at her desk reading, the woman suddenly got out of bed.   Nurse screamed, she knew it was physically impossible, the woman had no pelvis.  She ran over to the bed but the woman had stood up and was walking!

Pastor was a thrilling speaker and I was blessed as I listened to this story but I wasn’t prepared for what happened next.

‘God did a miracle, I called her Mrs Lazarus.  Will Mrs Lazarus please stand up.’  Pastor Lywood’s voice rang out, everybody could hear his call.

Without warning, an elderly lady beside me stood to her feet.  Mrs Lasarus had come to the meeting to be a living testimony to God’s healing power.

Everybody was amazed and praised God.

The meeting ended with many people shouting, ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘Praise the Lord.’

It was almost 2am. before we arrived back in Hailsham.  I guess the neighbours would have been surprised had they known we had been to a wonderful Church meeting.

We continue to visit Cousley Wood Free Church.  Pastor Smith is still there, faithfully preaching and caring for his small flock.

It’s much warmer than it used to be, the oil fire having been replaced by gas.

The kitchen now has a gas stove and facilities for cooking.  The place is dry after much work on the fabric of the building, replacing waterlogged and rotten floor boards.

The walls have been pained with a pastel shade of emulsion and the ceiling repainted white.

It will always be a place of blessing to Sheila and myself.  A place where we heard of miracles and learnt faith.