Testimony

HOW I EXPERIENCED THE CONFERENCE:

My husband and I had the awesome privilege of attending the first annual Global Pioneering Conference in Gander, NL in May of 2009. We accompanied Bishop Florence Adderley from the Bahamas, as she is our dear friend and one of the invited speakers. Our Pastor, David Williston, was also one of the invited speakers as well as a board member of Global Pioneering. We went to the conference as ‘spectators’ - excited about sitting back and enjoying the services and seeing the way God is working through His Church around the world. One thing we learned very quickly is that Global Pioneering is not a ‘spectator sport’!
Each morning session was a time of ministry, where individuals could be prayed and prophesied over. It was stated that the morning sessions were for Pastors and Church leaders – so we did question why we were there as neither my husband or I are pastors or involved in church leadership. Regardless, we attended every session as ‘observers’.....

The first morning of ministry involved a lady from Newfoundland and Pastor Pieter immediately mentioned that he wanted people who did not know this individual to minister to her. He briefly looked over the crowd and then said in his authoritative voice, “Come Susan” – in which case my heart skipped several beats and I sat frozen in my seat. But only briefly, as Pastor Pieter insisted I come. After a short prayer by Pastor Pieter – in which I was praying over and over to myself, “Please Lord, don’t fail me now. Please Lord, don’t fail me now. Please Lord, don’t fail me now” – he passed me the microphone! My heart was in my throat and my palms were sweaty, but as I opened my mouth I began to tell the lady what I was seeing. At least I had a picture, having no idea what it meant or what I was doing. Tears filled her eyes as I began to tell her what I was seeing. After we had spoken over her, Pastor Pieter shared with us what was happening in her life. The prophecies confirmed some things for her and before long she was ministering right along with everyone else. In fact, in Saturday’s session, she ministered to me! Confirming some things in my life.
After that first session, Bishop Florence told me that she saw something very similar to what I was seeing over that lady, therefore there was no need of her adding anything to what I had said. That was huge confirmation for me.
I had several more opportunities to prophecy and pray over people. I never ever imagined myself in that role – and probably would never have operated in that role if Pastor Pieter had not used those two words, “Come Susan”.
Pieter’s heart is to get people involved, to discover their gifting and get them operating in those gifting. Global Pioneering is an organization where everyone can be involved and can grow and be used in what God has given them for the body of Christ.
We were truly blessed by the people we met in Gander. This was a powerful and amazing conference, where the love and grace of God was so evident and where we could see that the gospel is being preached, disciples are being made, and lives are being changed all around the world. If you ever have the chance to attend one of these conferences you will be blessed beyond what you can imagine – but remember; Global Pioneering is not a ‘spectator sport’!!
Susan Benson
Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick.