Brandon teaching a workshop

I was privileged to be the first one to preach. From that first night the Lord set the mood for the ministry time, that we as a team, had in Las Palmas. I preached on the daily life devotions of a worshiper. As I spoke, I felt God's presence in a powerful way, more so than I have ever felt before. It was as if it wasn't me that was speaking to the people but I truly felt that it was God speaking through me. It was the greatest feeling I've ever had!

Ironically, the pastor's wife, who leads worship at the church, had just asked the worship team members to sign a "contract" committing to a daily prayer and devotional time. It confirmed to me the word God had given me. She was teaching them "what" was being required for worship and I came along side to teach them "why" the requirements were so vital to their worship.

After that first night, nearly every time one of us spoke God directed us and our messages matched what had already been taught at the church. God was using us to confirm many things He was already doing in Las Palmas!

Ready To Minister  

Kristen leading worship

The church had a different conference going when we arrived. The pastor spoke about unity and how each person has their own gifts and unique calling. At the end he called for those who felt called to missions to come forward. He asked our team to go around and pray for people. This was very humbling and an honor considering he had not even met us yet! Amber and I prayed for one girl. As Amber started praying out loud over her, similar to what I was praying, the girl  began crying. It was exactly what she needed at that moment. Afterwards, she hugged me for about two minutes. We hadn't even planned to do ministry yet, but God was already using us! His plans are always greater than ours!

Spain Outreach Report     

Brandon and Kristen spoke first. We were all a little nervous about how they would receive us. What we taught seemed like common knowledge to us. It's what we have spent the last few years learning at the School of Worship and Technical Arts at CFNI. They both spoke on lifestyle of worship and biblical worship; similar but different topics. What was most encouraging was when one of the leaders came to us crying afterwards because she had never heard the things they had taught. Amber took her aside and prophesied over her. Must have been good because she started crying again! Amber definitely has a gift with that. Tuesday, I spoke about more practical things, such as practices, transitions and producing worship. Wednesday, Kristen spoke on being sensitive to the Spirit. Really good stuff! At the end she tied it together with open or prophetic worship. She did an excellent job explaining what it means and how to practically do it.   

We led the evening service. We played four songs in Spanish, then Amber and Brandon shared a message. I believe the worship time really gave the people a time to relax and just worship their Savior; to just be with Jesus! Brandon and Amber, without comparing notes, spoke on basically the same thing; to trust God and go where he has called you. It amazed me to see God pull everything together, connecting messages, both in service and workshops, things we never planned. He definitely sees the big picture.

More From Alisha Haney         

Saturday morning started our last event with the youth group. All the youth were there early, praying and seeking God. We then transitioned into a workshop with them. Kristen combined her two teachings together and spoke about Biblical worship and making it a lifestyle, as well as being sensitive to the Spirit. You could see the desire for God as they soaked up every word and looked up every scripture. We wanted to take this time to really allow them to have time to seek God. Amber and I both spoke a little bit about worship and how it has affected us. Then Kristen and I played while we gave them time to read their Bibles, have God speak to them, and even give words to each other.

Alisha teaching a workshop

We had one more service of worship and speaking. The youth had been in workshops all day long and you would expect them to seem a little exhausted.  

But they entered into worship immediately! Natan's father, the pastor of the church, spoke on seeking God, the main theme of the event. While we were sitting there, Kristen and I were trying to figure out a good song to play afterwards.  

We only had a small selection of songs we knew in Spanish.  

Natan suggested a song originally written in English, but very common in the Latin world as well called "Lord I Seek You". We quickly wrote out the words, figured out the chords in a key for Natan to lead in, and by that point Pastor had asked us to come up and play. Perfect timing. The rest of the band came up and it was amazing how quickly they caught on and were all played together. Youth were coming to the altar, lying face down praying, kneeling, standing and worshiping. God was definitely moving. For me this was when the greatest moment of the trip happened.

Only Brandon was playing on the piano at this point. Timetao, a guy from the church worship team, who was also playing electric guitar with us for this event, started to play a melody. But he stopped. Later he told us he stopped, but God told him to keep playing. So he did and the band followed and slowly built up. Right then it was as if God's presence completely filled the room. Earlier in the week we spoke on exactly things like this in our workshops, like prophesying on your instruments and being sensitive to the Spirit. It was exciting to see that happening with the team right then and there. Timetao had never done anything like that before and said it was one of the greatest experiences.

International blend of worship!

I recently spoke with Natan, and he told me since we came, everything is completely different. They no longer just want to practice. They want to take time worshiping together as a team. They are writing and recording their own songs. Overall their worship is on a completely different deeper level. God did far greater things than we ever expected on this trip!