Deliverance at Lunch Time

'Hey, I feel like I need to talk to you! When can we catch up? I'm only in the country for another week, so it'd need to be soon.'

'Ok, cool. How about we grab lunch together?'

What started as a simple invitation to reconnect turned into a life changing deliverance session. 

I hadn't seen Rachel* in almost two years and just out of the blue, we 'randomly' ran into each other in a different city than we met in! We both happened to be doing a Community Development Seminar based on biblical principles of 'Helping without Hurting in Africa'. (I highly recommend it)

Beyond this seminar, God had a divine moment waiting for both of us. 

For me, a moment of beautiful confirmation that this is what I'm called to do with my life and that God has instilled the skills in me to facilitate people encountering him in a life changing way.

For Rachel, a moment of instant freedom & deliverance where she feels like she can 'finally live again'- her words, not mine. 

It's moments like this that I realise the Kingdom of God lived out looks like making time & space for intimate conversations so that the Father can bring freedom to one of His kids.

I won't go into all of the details because it was an intense 2 hour long session full of vulnerability, tears and the presence of Jesus BUT I will share a couple wild bits with you.

My friend had fallen in love with a Christian guy... who's family was steeped in witchcraft. She shared story after story from the last 2 years of demonic visitation, physical symptoms of voodoo style witchcraft, and of hectic spiritual torment that she desperately wanted freedom from, but didn't know what to do. 

Cue Shelly & the Holy Spirit.

As Rachel is pouring out her heart, Holy Spirit is giving me insight into what's been operating in the spiritual realm and dropping into my mind the questions to ask in order to bring things into the light.

After 2 years of not knowing how to bring separation between her and this guy... we prayed through some soul ties- emotional, physical, spiritual connections they made, broke off the influence of witchcraft over her life and declared the blood of Jesus over her. 

It was wild. 

It was peaceful. 

It was the freedom Jesus died for. 

With swollen eyes, she just looked at me and said, 

'Wow- I feel like I can finally live again. I feel so light, so FREE. Just WOW!'

This is the power of Christ.

2 weeks later I followed up with Rachel to see how she was doing and to get her permission to share this incredible story of freedom and I was sooo encouraged by what she said! 

'After what happened, there was a freedom and deliverance but the story didn't end there. 

It's the end of what's been happening to me the last 2 years!' 

-Rachel

Luke 9:1-2

'Now Jesus called together the twelve [disciples] and gave them [the right to exercise] power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 

Then He sent them out [on a brief journey] to preach the kingdom of God and to perform healing.' (AMP)

*My friend's name has been changed out of respect and privacy of those involved. 

This Girl Has Changed!

This Girl.

This Girl has CHANGED.

At the beginning of the year, I met this beautiful, gentle, shy, kind-hearted girl. She was sweet and timid but with an attitude that said she has what it takes to take on the world!

She would always be the one lingering. You'd know she's around but she would MELT if all the attention was put on her.  

Exhibit A:

   February 2, 2023 One of our devotional sets in the YWAM Muiz Prayer Room here in Cape Town. 

But let me ask you this real quick. Did you even see the stunning girl at the back of the prayer room? As far back as she could be? Black dress, tan sweater. Right next to the door.

That's Kaylin. 

Kaylin came to do the School of Worship and Prayer with us in Jan 2023. What a hidden gem!

During the school we had this wild moment of absolute trust in Jesus when we all had to do something to step out of the fear of man, a 'freedom exercise'. 

For Kaylin, that meant singing in public. 

Where other people would hear her, see her, be focused on her. 

What an absolute nightmare!

BUT

She chose to STEP OUT OF FEAR! 

...Out of Fear of man, Fear of what others think of her, Fear of what her voice sounds like, Fear of making mistakes, Fear of being seen, the list could go on.  

As I started this freedom exercise with the school, with absolute trepidation, Kaylin grabbed the microphone out of my hand and said,

'If I don't go first, I'm never going to do this!' 

She is the one that took the first step to lead our whole school into this exercise of freedom.

And TONIGHT, she lead our entire community in worship!

Singing her heart out for all to hear, see and know how good our God truly is!

I have been blessed to be a part of her journey, her growth, her adventure in following Jesus and I am proud to see the woman she is becoming. 

Kaylin, YOU inspire me!

Exhibit B:

 November 2, 2023 - YWAM Muiz Base Worship / Community Night

Do you see her now? At the front of the stage, wearing a plaid shirt, arms lifted to Jesus and the sweetest song flowing from her very being? 

Yeah, that's Kaylin. 

An Altercation

'If you don’t get out of my parking space right now- you’ll regret it!’

‘This guys gotta be joking.’ I think to myself as I’m walking away from my car. 

‘Did you not hear me? I PROMISE YOU, if you don’t move your vehicle, it won’t be here when you come back.’

I’m clearly dumbfounded as I turn to the parking attendant who directed me to this empty space… ‘Do you hear this guy threatening me?’ ‘Did he really just say that to me?’ 

The woman who was honking her horn behind me pulled up angrily and started yelling at the man who’s now out of his car threatening me and my vehicle. 

She looks at me with sincerity and says, ‘He can’t just threaten you like that! You have to report him- he can’t do this to you!’ 

I look at her with trepidation, ‘I don’t know how to do that. Where do I go?’

With looks of concern from those observing what’s happening, I jump back into the safety of my car.

Shaky hands didn’t stop me from turning the ignition and getting out of this situation as quickly as possible. 

I just couldn’t get this guys face out of my mind or how he reversed into that space at high speeds in his silver VW GTI. 

This is the altercation I had in the parking lot of a mall in South Africa. 

This is NOT a common experience for me in this beautiful country which is why it shook me to the core all the more. 

It was just so… unexpected. Shocking. Threatening. 

I eventually found the security office and made a formal report of the incident. 

Thank you to the two security guards who walked me back to my car and inspected it. 

No damage was done BUT

Fear had crept into my heart. 

‘What if he retaliated, even though I gave him what he wanted?’

‘What if he’s there when I go back out to the parking lot?’

‘What if I see him again? Maybe next time won’t be just threats.’

Too many ‘What if’s…’ plagued my mind. 

Suspicion. Paranoia. High Alert. 

The capstones of trauma. 

I hope I never run into this guy again. 

I’m leaving the bank at the mall where this altercation had happened the day before and I look up to see my perpetrator standing JUST before the door I need to walk through in order to leave. 

I stop in my tracks.

What do I do?

He’s talking to someone on the phone, so if I’m careful, I could just sneak around him.

My heart’s beating but my spirit takes pause. 

Speak to him. 

Don’t hide in fear.

One step closer.

‘Hello. I think I took your parking space yesterday. Listen, I’m really sorry about that.’ 

Surprise covers HIS face this time as he hangs up from his phone call. 

‘No, it should be me apologising to you. I’m so sorry about how I spoke to you yesterday. This is what was going on with me. I had R250,000 in cash in the back of my car and if anything happened to it, I’d be responsible to pay it back! I’d been waiting for that spot in order to deposit all the cash and my stress levels were through the roof!' 

    'I’m so sorry for how I treated you and spoke to you yesterday. Would you forgive me?’

Looking him straight in the eyes, 'I forgive you’ flowed from my lips as we shook hands and parted ways in peace. 

All fear gone in an instant. 

‘Did THAT really just happen?’ I asked the Lord as I walked out of the bank. 

This divine, holy moment of heaven touching earth… in the doorway of a bank?

Understanding. Forgiveness. Reconciliation. 

Between different genders, different racial groups, different backgrounds.

This is what I’m living for.

Understanding. Forgiveness. Reconciliation. 

This is the Kingdom of God LIVED OUT in this diverse, rainbow nation that is South Africa. 

Be the one to take the first step. 

‘As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present outcome.'

Gen 50:20a (AMP)

Don't Lose Heart

Sometimes I find it too easy to focus on everything I'm doing, the ministry that's happening and the people around me that I care about instead of focusing on JESUS. Slowly but surely, as I focus intently on these things that I love, I realize that my eyes are no longer on Jesus but on what's going on around me.

 I'm so thankful for his GRACE and LOVE for me in these moments. 

He gives me time to reflect and to refocus and to come back to prioritizing the most important thing in my life; my relationship with HIM. Sometimes this is easier said than done, but I know the Lord gives me strength to find a balance between spending time with him and ALL the other things I need to do! 

I know I'm not the only one to struggle with this from time to time, and if you feel like you're in a similar place, DON'T LOSE HEART. The Lord loves you and will give you grace & strength for the mundane everyday things that need to happen. 

When you get a chance, just talk to HIM for a little bit and let him remind you of how much He LOVES YOU!

UGANDA ~ SWAZILAND ~ ENGLAND

From working with prostitutes in Liverpool to high school students in Uganda, and tent revivals in Swaziland, November & December has been full of adventures!

Pearl's Project in Liverpool!

My first week with my new team was incredible! From team meetings to prayer & worship times to one on ones and getting to know the women we minister to--- it was a lot to take in but I can't wait to jump into it all again now that I'm back in the UK! We did a 'Give-Away Day' for the women! We set up this church with different stations of donated clothes, tea/coffee, delicious food, nail painting & foot massages!! The women really enjoyed themselves, opened up to us and shared where they were at in life and felt sooo loved by us & our Father God! Pray that the women continue to see how God is working in their lives and know how much He loves them!

Missions Trip to Uganda!

3 Church Services, 2 High schools, 1 Book Launch!

Rob and I had an amazing time with Dennis Sempebwa, Lisa Romesburg and Mary Njoki from Eagles Wings International in Uganda! We had the privilege of ministering in 2 different high schools, giving out 3,600 copies of 'Timeless Truths' that Dennis wrote in order to equip the next generation with tools to achieve their dreams and gain wisdom to effect every sphere of society with biblical principles! We also ministered in 3 services in a church in Kampala. It was incredible to see many give their lives to the Lord after hearing testimonies of what Jesus can do with your life! Many were delivered and set free from bondage and evil spiritual influences. Sounds a lot like Acts doesn't it!!! Here's the team at the main Christian Television station in Uganda! Dennis was interviewed about his book and we were able to watch it all on set!

Swaziland with my Family!

We had a lovely time visiting my family in Swaziland! For us, it was a time to rest, spend time with my wonderful family & friends and meaningfully connect with the Lord! England is a very fast paced culture so I welcomed this 2 week break! Catching up with old friends and having them meet Rob was so much fun!

TENT REVIVALS!
My parents disciple almost 200 pastors in Swaziland and recently they bought a large tent in order for local pastors to do 'tent revivals'! A tent revival is where they set up this tent and sound system in a rural area of Swaziland for 1-2 weeks and every night they tell everyone about Jesus! As the week carries on, more and more people come because word spreads of what Jesus does in these meetings. Rob and I were asked to come speak and minister in whatever way the Lord leads us. It was an incredible opportunity to share our testimonies to nearly 300 people! We did an 'alter call' for the young people to come forward for those who want to receive the Holy Spirit and be empowered to live righteously and fulfil the calling God has on their lives and 120 young people came forward for prayer!!!
What's Next???

After a very exciting first Christmas with Rob's family here in the Wirral, I'm ready for a spectacular 2017! I can't wait to see what the Lord does in this next year--- There's a limitless amount of joys and adventures to be had!

My next adventure is taking me to YWAM in Wrexham, Wales to teach on a Discipleship Training School for a week on the topic of 'The Holy Spirit'. I'm so grateful for this opportunity to teach and I'm very expectant of what the Lord is going to do in us and through me in this week!!! Please be praying for me during this time, from January 8-13, that the Holy Spirit is free to do everything & all that He wants to in this time and that I teach the Word of God truthfully & accurately!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

Thank you for all your encouragement, support, prayer and shared memories in this last year! It's such a privilege to be a part of the family of God and for us to do life together. It's be an honour to minister alongside many of you and to be praying with you and hearing testimonies from you of what the Lord has done all over the world!

Many thanks to those who have generously supported me financially over the last year! Because you have been open handed with what the Lord has blessed you with, I've been able to carry on the work the Lord has for me here in England and many other nations in this last year!!!



You're welcome to partner with me again OR for the first time in this next year! There are 2 ways you can be a part of what I'm doing here in England --- PRAY & GIVE ---

Pray--- wild, radical prayers of faith to see Jesus encounter the people I'm ministering to and those living here in England. Pray that I continue to be soft & sensitive to the Lord and what he wants to do and speak to those around me!

Give--- either a one time donation or become a monthly supporter! 

(Click Here to Give) 

All donations are tax-deductible for Americans and enable me to continue ministering the love, joy & salvation of the Lord w YWAM in the United Kingdom and many other nations!

I trust you had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and I pray that this NEW YEAR is full of joy, grace, favour and blessings from the Lord!

SURPRISE! I'm Moving to Liverpool!

In mid November I'll be moving up to the Wirral to join a great team of people with YWAM Liverpool! As sad as it is to be leaving YWAM Harpenden after being here for 2 1/2 years, I'm really excited about this next season and all that the Lord is going to do with me! 

I'll be doing ministry with YWAM on a project called Pearls Project. The Pearls Project vision is to bring these beautiful women who are street sex workers and involved in addiction into a place of knowing their value in Christ and having a hope for their future. The team has already been loving & serving the women through visiting them and offering one to one support, by doing pamper nights & trips out, by helping them develop different life skills and by praying for them!

Jude, the team leader, has been investing into relationships with a lot of these women for years now! She has incredible stories of what God has done in the lives of these women and she's also had challenging times of asking the Lord for wisdom in what to do. I'm really looking forward to working alongside Jude and the other teammates to see how I can learn from them and minister the love of Christ to the women we meet with! 

Moving to Liverpool will also enable me to see Rob more often. Rob and I met over a year and a half ago and reconnected in June of this year. Rob visited the YWAM Harpenden base with a friend of his, to spend time with the Lord for a spiritual retreat. We have continued to get to know one another and try to see each other when we can, which is challenging because we are 4 hours apart! Rob is a co-pastor at his church and also owns a construction/plastering business. He is involved with missions through Eagle's Wings International which is a prophetic ministry to churches all around the world!

At the end of November, Rob and I along with a few others will be taking a missions trip to Uganda with Eagle's Wings International! I'm very excited to do prophetic ministry with them to multiple churches in Kampala, Uganda. I was able to be a part of their team last September when they were in England ministering to 4 different churches through a weekend conference, and I can't wait to see what the Lord does in our time in Uganda! I would greatly appreciate your prayers while we are out there from November 26 to December 6. After our missions trip, Rob and I will then spend 10 days with my family in Swaziland and have an early Christmas with them!

Over the years, the Lord has been so faithful in His provision for me as a full-time missionary for 10 years TODAY! Moving to a new city, my expenses will increase per month. Currently, I am able to live on roughly $400-$500 per month and I anticipate an increase in expenses of about $400 per month.

I am asking you to prayerfully consider partnering with me in what the Lord is doing through Pearls Project, as well as other ministries like this opportunity in Uganda. I am praying and asking the Lord to move in people's hearts to partner with me! I don’t want to limit God BUT I am praying for 20 people who can give just $20.00 per month. If you would like to be one of those people, check out the ways you can donate below!

Thank you for your interest in what the Lord is doing here in the UK, Europe, Africa and in the nations! I thank the Lord for your encouragement and partnership in seeing people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and believers being equipped for the work of the Kingdom!

Ways to Donate:

Donate from the USA: tax deductible for American Tax Payers CLICK HERE or 
        Write a check to: Missions In Africa Inc., PO Box 264, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, 53066                Memo: Shelly Brennan

Donate from any other part of the world by CLICKING HERE!

{Hygge}

This one word basically sums up who I am as a human being.

It's a Danish word that doesn't exactly translate but 

the concept can be understood and felt deeply by those around you.

So the last couple months I've taken a few trips to Denmark and the Lord has been doing incredible things with me there and stirring my heart for what He's already doing! I've connected with old friends and made loads of new ones who all want to see the Kingdom of God released in a new and powerful way over their nation. It's been so encouraging every time I've gone as I see more pieces of the puzzle coming together and am seeing answers to prayers I've prayed coming together before my eyes!

This is a little story of an answer to prayer from my last trip!

In April, when I first went to Denmark, I met up with the YWAM Copenhagen team to encourage them, pray with them, get to know them and hear their vision of what the Lord was doing with their team in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. As we chatted and I heard of their long term vision to see Danes (Danish people) come to know Jesus through street evanglism and start up home churches from those who've received the Lord, it became abundantly clear that they needed more WORKERS! 

The harvest is sooo ripe and plentiful in Denmark, but they need people who are passionate and called to Copenhagen to join their team! So I did what I knew best, which is always to PRAY.  We probably spent at least 2 hours praying together for the Lord to bring the right people to join them... and a month later when I returned to Denmark, I met Nico.

  I met Nico through a friend at Hillsong church in Copenhagen and it was almost like I was hearing the words I had prayed a month earlier coming out of his mouth! Nico has just done his DTS and ONE MONTH EARLIER (when YWAM Copenhagen was praying for more people) the Lord spoke to Nico about pioneering YWAM Copenhagen and gave him a long term vision to be there, ministering, worshipping and telling people about Jesus! Even though Nico is Danish, he didn't even know that there was a team already in Copenhagen and so when he returned home from his DTS he was able to connect with them! He has vision to do another YWAM school to become more equipped and then return to Copenhagen and continue ministry there!

Nico is just one answer to the prayers we've been praying! 

{If you feel like you're called to Denmark too, I'd love to connect you with the team there!}

Now. This is why I shared that story with you. 

Because, I too, feel like the Lord is doing something with me & Denmark.
What exactly it is, I'm still figuring out, but it's gonna be awesome!

See, I was strolling down the High Street in Harpenden and mulling over what the Lord was doing because when I moved to England, I really felt that the Lord was calling me here long term and I don't believe this has changed, however, there's a bit of an unexpected twist--- this whole Denmark thing. As I'm chatting with the Lord about England and Denmark, He puts such a peace in my heart that yes, England is where I'm suppose to be and yes, there's things He's doing with me in Denmark. What all the practicalities look like, is really beyond me, but I know that my heart is to be open and obedient to what the Lord wants to do in both countries! This all collided for me as I noticed this little shop in town that I'd never been in even though I loved what I saw from the store front window. I finally took a minute and went inside and the first thing that drew my attention was this simple scented candle! 

To my complete surprise... {Hygge} was scripted on the front of this candle!

This lovely little shop, Mint Velvet, had been started by 3 English women who had based their fashion designs off of Danish style! I felt like it was a little something from the Lord to assure me that some how these two nations are connected and I'm to be a part of it in some way! In my excitement of the Lord speaking in the little things and how much this concept really hits home for me... I shared it with some close friends of mine this afternoon! Once we finished up together and were walking back to the car, past Mint Velvet, we decided to pop in so I could show them what I had been talking about! Little did I know that they had conspired to buy me this beautiful {Hygge} candle! What a blessing to have a God & friends who care about the little things in life, that all come together to create a giant lifelong adventure!

{Hygge}

The Danish art of building a sanctuary of cosiness, 

stirring the senses & appreciating the simple things in life ~ uncomplicated & beautiful

Be a part of my many adventures with the Lord by
praying for me and supporting me financially!
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