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Treasure Hunting in Huddersfield – Part 2 of Afros, Ice Cream and Tattoos

This is the second story from our time in Huddersfield working with the Ark Church (If your from or thinking of moving there check them out they are friendly bunch). Read the previous posts for an explanation of Treasure Hunting. This could be a long one.

So at the start of our week we went out in groups after worshipping, praying and listening to God for prophetic clues (words and pictures) that would help us find the people he wanted to share his love with. My Treasure Map had Afro, Converses, Tilly, Jack, Knee Hurt, “Crunch”, Trebor Mints, Father, GameStation. Sam and Sarah had the clues Ice Cream Factory, Pizza Hut and Cherry. (Correct me if I missed anything out) It’s worth mentioning that we had other clues that we didn’t find.

We figured we must have been rather hungry while writing down our treasure maps and started our journey looking for Trebor Mints, finding them in a market sweet shop but alas the shopkeeper didn’t match any of our clues. We had spotted an ice cream stall in the street so wandered over there with Ice Cream Factory in mind. Again the stall operator wasn’t on our map however a lady approached the stall with an Afro and proceeded to purchase a cone for her small son. We said hello showed her the map but due to a language barrier we didn’t get much further in chatting. We decided to move on stopping near the library chatting to a young couple with Converses which turned out to be fake. We walked up to the main street deciding to look for Pizza Hut. On the way we bumped into a band of boys, some who were wearing Converses (genuine items) and holding GameStation bags. They looked at the maps seeing they were on the list but didn’t want to be prayed for, I believe one had an injury. By the looks on their faces they were either trying to work us out but we left them knowing we were not crackers. We side tracked to the GameStation shop but there was nothing there and continued our exploration for Pizza Hut. All the time we were on the look out for people with limps. Seeing a lady near Pizza Hut limping Sam and Sarah chased after her (which wasn’t that difficult) and then prayed for her coming back to join me. All the time I was looking for clues, but didn’t realise we were very close to the clue Cherry. Sam noticed from his map the Cherry Tree Pub right bang next to Pizza Hut. Three men were stood in the doorway, two in crutches. We explained who we were and that we were on a treasure hunt. We showed one of the gruff Yorkshiremen in cruches a map to see if he was on it. His mate in the cruches began to complain that he didn’t have a map so I offered him mine saying we had plenty to go round. Ha ha! He went down the list and spotting the names Tilly and Jack exclaimed that “This is freaky!” He explained that Jack was his son who had died and that Tilly was his daughter, he was a Father. To prove it he showed us the names tattooed on his neck and wrist. I encouraged him to see if there was anything else on the map that related to him. “I Crunch that’s the sound my leg made!” I offered to pray for his leg and he said I could. Putting my hand below his knee I prayed that the Kingdom would be revealed. I asked him if anything had changed. He said he felt pins and needles and again the word “Freaky” was used as God had met with him. By this time everyone in the doorway knew that Jack and Tilly were on our map and their eyes were wide as saucers, “how did they know”? We told them that Jesus was alive and wanted to speak to people today. We were suddenly joined by one of their friends from inside the pub and they told him what had just happened while looking at the map and tattoos. He was obviously moved and asked that we pray for his heart, he had been to church at some stage when he was younger but knew he was distant. We obliged. Having to leave we reaffirmed that God had revealed himself to them all and wanted to know them personally.

It was a wonderful time adventuring with God and stepping out of our comfort zones. What struck me was that listening to God and inviting people to take hold of his Kingdom should be done with ease like you would introduce a friend but with the added trust and expectation for God to work.

Treasure Hunting in Huddersfield – Part 1

I love hearing from God. Recently I went to Huddersfield to be part of a team encouraging the Ark Church who were putting on an Alpha launch party. We got up to all sorts that week, lots of flyering, questionnaires and Treasure Hunting. Treasure Hunting is where we take time out to listen to God and then write down appearances, locations, ailments, names and even things that don’t make too much sense which we then use to help us find people the “Treasure” on the streets (See Acts 9:11 for a Biblical example of Saul and Ananias). We then share God’s love for them. After a fantastic time doing it earlier in the week we did it again. In the morning I had the clue blind. I felt God give me faith to pray for a blind person that day.

In a team with Ben & Hannah we did our hunt and found the boy who’s mum’s friend was Julie in a Chequered shirt with Asthma and Eczema opposite Wilkinson and a Charity Shop while a Policeman with a Helmet walked by (correct me if I missed anything out guys). Which was great! But no blind person. I was a little frustrated, and a little disappointed (sorry guys), that we hadn’t found a blind person during that hour. The reality was I was focused on success. I began to realise that God was after much more. Later that day I was giving out leaflets to the Alpha Course with Simon and in my own heart I told God that I didn’t want to be there just to have success but to appreciate working with him. I wanted to share who he was because I loved him. 10 – 15 minuets later a couple from South Africa took my leaflet and we got chatting with them. I quickly discovered that the gentleman had a cane and was partially blind! We offered to pray with them and they agreed. Although he wasn’t healed, God healed my thinking, sounds cheesy, but it is true. I was able to share God’s love with them with the right heart motive. It is awesome to befriend God and work alongside him. I’ll share another Treasure Hunting story in a different post, I just thought it was important to highlight the journey that you go on with God in these adventures.

Treasure Hunting on Brighton Pier

Upadate: Looking for a photo of Brighton Pier? You may want to check out this church also Church of Christ the King Brighton.

You may have read my previous posts on treasure hunting, if not let me briefly explain. Basically Treasure Hunting is a new name for having divine God scheduled adventures, something that Christians have been doing for centuries. In small teams you pray that God gives you pictures, visions (the clues) which you then write down on some paper (treasure map) and then head out looking for the people (the treasure) who match the clues. These clues can be placed in all sorts of categories including appearance, aliment, names, locations and the just plain odd. So far I have been on three treasure hunting expeditions but wanted to share the last one I went on in Brighton in a Treasure hunting seminar we did at Mobilise.

Continue reading…

Continuing on the Treasure Trail

It looks like the Treasure Trail Healing Stories I blogged about in my last post, “Treasure Hunting Leads to Seven Youth Heald!“, are inspired by a Book by Kevin Dedmon called “The Ultimate Treasure Hunt“. I have added it to the Library section on this website, man I really want to read it! If you want to have an advanced read before you get your mits on it can do that on the US Amazon site. Thanks to Nat Carey for pointing the book out to me.

We as Christians seem to either go jelly at the knees or “wowzer!” when we hear of stories of people getting healed today. I was suddenly struck that actually we have a whole Bible crammed with awesome stories and practical examples where people have been healed by God’s power. These are reasons enough to get out there and begin praying for people, but Jesus says something that I feel gives us total permission and freedom in the knowledge that we too can do this work and heal people in John 14:12-14. Thank you Jesus!

I know I need to stop looking at the tails where Jesus healed as a surface stories but dive deep in to the relevancy they have for us today and to not only think about it but get practical about it because they are strong exhortations to GET CRACKING for HIS KINGDOM!

Treasure Hunting Leads to Seven Youth Heald!

I came across this awesome video testimony with a chap named Simon Holley who is the lead elder at King’s Arms Church. Him and a friend called Tabo basically asked God to be their treasure map and were directed to people to pray for through pictures given to them. They directed to a group of youth and the results were amazing with the mark of an awesome God interested in revealing Himself as the ultimate treasure. “Treasure come and treasure go but Jesus your eternally mine”

Simon Holley Interview from P&F on Vimeo.

You can find more on the Treasure Hunts at the King’s Arms Church website I found this video indirectly through Andy Bradley’s blog Theologising. I love stories like this where God is directing, inviting us to get involved in seeking people, healing and encouraging people to make decisions. If you have any simillar stories where God is working why don’t you share them in the comment section?

UPDATE:

There are also some brilliant audio testimonies from church members doing street encounters using the Treasure Hunt method. The one published on 29/11/08 is particularly encouraging.

15 healed on the streets of Bedford! - 29/11/08
Treasure Hunting Tales – 09/09/08
Treasure Hunt – 01/07/08