Janet Handy

Sunday Morning – 31st August 2025

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Scripture Reading

Our WWMF Bible reading was from Isaiah 65 & 66 v.14 (NIV):

“When you see this, your heart will rejoice,
and you will flourish like grass;
the hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants…”

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Arrival at The Full Gospel Church

As we entered The Full Gospel Church (CRKVA CJELOVITOG EVANDELJA), Zagreb—a spacious, modern building—the atmosphere felt spiritually vibrant and joyful.

We arrived two hours early, and already a diverse mix of people had begun to gather in the foyer. Pastor Mario and his wife Bonnie arrived and warmly greeted the team. They were keen to ensure that all our needs were met, diligently checking that we had all that was necessary for us to minister.

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Opening of the Service

The service opened in prayer, followed by praise and worship, creating a heavenly climate and inviting a divine encounter with the Living God.

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Reverend Taylor’s Testimony

Reverend Taylor shared a tremendous testimony, explaining how she gave her life to the Lord Jesus at the age of eleven. Despite being brought up in a home where her parents had an intimate relationship with God, she realised that she didn’t know Him personally for herself.

There were many young people in the meeting, and Reverend Taylor spoke about how Jesus had kept her from her youth right up until the present day.

It was a word in season! Rev. Taylor declared that this was only possible because of Jesus, stating: “Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to me!” As this was proclaimed, the congregation broke out in spontaneous applause.

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Ministry Through Song

The Holy Spirit used Sincere Praise to minister in song as a forerunner to the Word. This was taken from Philippians 4 v.4:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

The emphasis of the message was: Maintaining Your Joy.

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Responses from the Congregation

After the meeting, one lady expressed how overwhelmed she was by Rev. Taylor’s testimony and the renditions by Sincere Praise. She had come over from war-torn Ukraine and reported: “This was just what I needed. If only the people in Ukraine could experience this.”

Another lady, who didn’t speak English, ran up to one of the choir members after the meeting and hugged her, trying to express her feelings but unable to do so because of her limited English. Her expression and excitement said it all.

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Closing Reflection

We join with the Psalmist and say:

“Sing to the Lord, for He has done glorious things;
let this be known to all the world.”
(Isaiah 12 v.5)

Arrival in Zagreb

A small group of us left an overcast and rainy London for Zagreb in Croatia. As the aeroplane landed on the tarmac of Zagreb Airport, we were greeted by bright sunshine and the picturesque scenery of mountains all around us. How great is our God! His goodness and mercy know no bounds!

After routine passport checks, we were able to have some light refreshment while we waited for our drivers to arrive. With that, we set off for Slovenia where we had a meeting at 7pm.

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Journey to Slovenia

The weather on the journey to Slovenia was in stark contrast to the sun-drenched region of Zagreb. The heavens opened, and we were accompanied by heavy rain, hailstones, and lightning. We arrived in Slovenia nearly three hours later and hit the ground running with just enough time to drop our suitcases, speedily change into choir uniforms, and get to the venue—Emanuel Church.

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The First Service

Pastor Dennis had called our home church to pray for the mission trip. As Minister Jenny led Sincere Praise in song, we felt the effect of those prayers. There was a weight and clarity to each word that was sung—it was more than a melody. No one could take credit; God had woven a sound that touched the inner being of those present.

Rev. Taylor spoke from John 4 on the woman Jesus met by the well. God, by His Holy Spirit, used Rev. Taylor to deliver a life-transforming message under the anointing to those present.

Rev. Taylor explained that sin separates man from God, but it has always been God’s desire to have a relationship with us. In times like these, we need God more than ever, because only God can change and transform lives. Many people in the UK are coming to the Lord Jesus because they see the emptiness and disillusionment of life.

The message showed that Jesus broke down all barriers to meet the Samaritan woman—religious, cultural, gender, and racial. His encounter with her so transformed her life that she confronted her sin and shame, went back to the people who had rejected her, and told them that she had met the Messiah. As a result, revival broke out in that town.

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Testimonies

After the service, we heard incredible testimonies of those whose lives had been impacted.

• One lady said that she had been invited to the meeting by a friend who told her, “You must come!” She said she heard the Gospel for the first time and “it has changed my life.” She now wants to know more about Jesus and will be attending the church.
• Another lady said that when she heard that Jesus came directly to the individual and cut through all the barriers, it did something to her and affected her so deeply that it is difficult for her to put into words.
• Another lady asked for prayer after hearing the Word of God. Her faith was inspired to trust the Lord for healing in her body.

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Closing Reflections

We thank God for all that He has done. We were asked to promise we would come again soon. This is a new door that God has opened for Sincere Praise, and the impact of the ministry was life-transforming.

All the glory goes to God!

27th May 2025

4th Meeting Thessaloniki 

Our final meeting was held mid-week at the Apostolic Church of Thessaloniki. Pastor Anthony Dimitriadis’s face was beaming as he greeted us. Despite it being a Wednesday evening the turn-out was good.

We arrived early to find some people had got there before us to ensure that they had a good seat near the front.

Our time in Greece was almost at an end.  We had witnessed God move in incredible ways and felt immensely grateful to be part of this.

The Gospel message rang out in song as Sincere Praise entered into worship. We felt the presence of God fill the whole room.

Pastor Dennis in his address to the church told them that there is a move of God all around the world. In our own nation church attendance has increased by nearly 40%. Many young people are coming to Jesus and many of them are men. 

He went on to say that God has given him a message that has been on his heart since he arrived in Greece… Isaiah 6:1-8. 

In this passage Isaiah in the presence of a Holy God recognised that he was a man of unclean lips. Once he was cleansed, God asked, who shall I send? And he was able to say, “here I am, send me.

Pastor Dennis shared his personal testimony and said, “There is a great need for revival, for everyone that is here God has an assignment for your life.

As Pastor Denis gave the invitation to those wanting God to unblock areas in their personal life stopping revival, most of the congregation stood up.

Reverend Taylor prayed a powerful prayer under the rich anointing of the Holy Spirit. She declared that every stronghold over individual lives preventing this was broken

Many came forward after the meeting to share the impact of what God had done in their lives through the message, prayer and songs.

One woman said, “I heard the Gospel for the first time and it’s wonderful!”

We give God heartfelt thanks for all that He has done during our time in Greece, over and above anything we could ask for or even imagine.

God is good and His steadfast love endures forever (1 Chronicles 16: 34).

27th May 2025
Tour of Philippi

Acts 16: 25 – 26 (KJV)
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

We travelled the two hour journey to Phillipi by coach on a glorious bright sunny day.

Soothing inspirational music and gospel songs flooded the coach which felt like a haven of peace. There was a quiet, stillness and a sense of calm as we journeyed, each person taking the opportunity to rest.

On our previous mission trips, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the team followed in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, travelling to the countries that he visited as he spread the good news of the Gospel.

It was therefore a tremendous opportunity for us to visit the archealogical site at Philippi where the Apostle Paul and Silas were imprisoned. We were able to view the spot where by divine intervention through an earthquake they were miraculously set free. Additionally to view the place where the first church was founded in the house of Lydia.

Our guide for the tour was knowledgeable not only in terms of historical information but also in relating the authenticity of the Bible to archelogical evidence and events. She showed us that these events were corroborated geologically.

The role of Lydia, a rich business woman, who alongside the apostle Paul was a co-founder of the church at Philippi was explained in its historical and social con̈text. As a leader of the early church in Philippi Lydia was also involved in baptising people.

It was wonderful to have both our Pastors with us on this trip.

Pastor Dennis gave us a deeper biblical insight as we viewed the place where Paul and Silas were in prison. He expressed that as Paul and Silas were singing in prison all the other prisoners heard them and what they heard created faith within them and they were also set free”.

Pastor Dennis went on to say,
“We thank God for the great move of the Holy Spirit that is taking place around the nations of the world, as the praises go up God is inhabiting the praises of His people. The jailer went from suicide to salvation not just for him as an individual but for his whole family.”

“The prisoners who were in an inner prison chained securely ended up sitting at the table of the jailer who had received the Gospel.”

Pastor Dennis concluded by saying,
“There is power in the Gospel! God is at work right where you are. He is the same yesterday, today and forever! His son Yeshua has made provision because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life!

If you invite Him into your heart you can experience the freedom the jailer did 2000 years ago.

Sincere Praise Mission Trip to Athens 22/05/25 – 29/05/25.
Third Meeting – Sunday 25th May

1 John 1 v 5. This is the message we have heard and declare to you, that God is Light and in Him there is no darkness at all.

The heavens opened and it poured with rain as we made our way on Sunday evening to Pikermi in East Attica to a warehouse building made of corrugated iron, the meeting place of a local Christian fellowship.

As the occasional shaft of sunlight touched rain that had settled on foliage it cast an iridescent glow reflecting God’s beauty in nature. Truly God is Light and in Him there is no darkness!

Pikermi is a small town in east Attica twenty kilometres northeast of Athens located on the slopes of Mount Penteli.

As we entered the building we could see there were large sofas, set around small coffee tables. Just beyond that was the sanctuary with rows of neatly arranged chairs and a sign that simply stated City Church.

The choir gathered together and led by Minister Jenny committed the evening events into God’s gracious and capable hands.

Sincere Praise opened up with “Praise the Father! Praise the Son! Praise the Spirit three in one. We lifted our hands in grateful adoration to our Heavenly Father and as we sang the sound reverberated around the sanctuary.

Rev Taylor delivered a message directly from the throne room of heaven: The man by the pool of Bethesda (John 5 v 1- 8).

Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. Rev Taylor emphasised he had to get rid of his mat in order to move on with his life.

She said God is calling us to get rid of the old and dirty mats in our lives that tie us to the past; old grudges and hurts, the things people say about us so that God can be effective in our lives.

Pastor Dennis spoke from Isaiah chapter 6.

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.

However when God asked who He should send to the people, Isaiah said, “here I am send me”.

Pastor encouraged those present that God wants to use them to reach the people of Athens for Him.

The awesome presence of Christ was felt in a tangible way.

The Pastor of the fellowship stood up, visibly moved after God’s messengers had spoken and expressed how encouraged and challenged they all were by what they had heard.

We can truely say that God has done exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or even imagine.

What a mighty God we serve!!