Flood the Valley                Ottawa Valley, Ontario

They called for a flood, and the rain came down!

Five short weeks after the rallying cry went out to gather together to proclaim the power of God and His Sovereignty over this capital region of Canada, history was made as hundreds gathered together at Logosland to cry out for and proclaim revival starting in the Ottawa Valley and spreading across the rest of Canada.

An incredible sixteen churches from across the valley, from various denominations and faiths, gathered together and as one voice proclaimed that God is pouring out rushing rivers of his Holy Spirit. The heavens responded and mirrored their cry, pouring down sixty-eight mm of rain in the forty-eight hours leading up to the opening of the first tent meeting. This was the highest accumulation of precipitation in any two day period this year, and more than most months’ total precipitation since January. A local area farmer, who has just begun harvesting his fields, stated that the rain this week came “just in time” to ensure an excellent harvest.

Prophets, pastors and participants agreed that the location was the right place for this to occur. It was also the right time.

Interestingly enough, the placement of the stage was a mere ten feet in front of a monument explaining that this location was the exact spot that Samuel de Champlain had travelled through in 1607.

He was seeking a passage to the west for the King of France. While traveling up the Ottawa River he met the obstacle of the Chenaux Rapids and was forced to detour around them, hence needing to portage and travel through this area, which links several smaller lakes and streams. During these portages through very rough country, Champlain was met with amaze by the Algonquin people, who were incredulous that he had been determined and persistent enough to travel through country that was even too entangled for them to travel: they would usually skirt around it.

Sometime during this difficult portage, Champlain lost his Astrolabe. This was a round, metal navigation device in use at the time that showed directions when lifted up to the heavens; where he had been, and where he was to go.

The monument details how a fourteen-year-old boy found Champlain’s Astrolabe at this location in June of 1867. Significantly, it was found at the same time that Canada was being founded as a nation.

Champlain was a very spiritual man and taught the First Nations People about God and claimed the area for the kingdom of God. He was a man of peace and negotiated with various tribes to bridge their differences and work together for the common good.

A highway is currently being constructed that involves building several bridges that will increase the flow and speed of traffic travelling north and south in the Ottawa Valley. The girders are just being placed across the span for the bridge decks, and like the team God is assembling, connections between communities and churches are also being made.

Four hundred years after Champlain’s arrival, just like the Israelites were freed from the slavery of Egypt, the churches in the area have joined together and proclaimed this gathering as the time and place to leave the slavery of past local religious constrictions behind them and step forward into the Promised Land of Kingdom Vision and claim the harvest of souls as their inheritance.

The first evening featured the husband and wife team of Valerie and Fred Bennett from the Vision Channel. They spoke on the impartation of the “Baptism of Fire and Revival.” Fred stated he heard “thunder” in the heavens, and again nature echoed the words in reality.

The next morning, they were scheduled to travel across Canada to assess what is happening all across this nation for God and they stated that they were surely taking the fire of God with them all across the land.

To every pastor who attended the “Flood the Valley” gathering, Pastor Mark Redner, of the West-Carleton Christian Assembly, gave a jar of honey with honeycomb in it. He explained that it took many workers labouring together to produce the honey and that no one bee or cell could nourish and expand the hive unless many cells were joined together. He explained that each cell had seven others cells adjoining it and together they could sustain the hive and bring forth the next generation to fruition and similar production. The sweetness that resulted was because of the many workers who contributed to the same cause.

By day two, skies had cleared and the evening meeting occurred under an “open heaven.” Worship to God resounded across the lakes and hills under a star-filled sky. During praise and worship, a giant circle was formed by most of the people attending. It passed across the alter area and spilled out onto the grass surrounding the tent. Stomping and words of battle were spoken forth against the powers that would defy the armies of God and their attempts to hold back the advance of the Kingdom of God. Just as the “warshippers” of God spilled outside the walls of the tent, so did those in attendance determine to spill outside the church walls and go to those in their communities who were in bondage and need, and bring them to Christ.

Paul Wetzel, the “granddaddy” of the Brownsville revival spoke on “What does this mean?” and the questions the locals had on the day of Pentecost.

The Spirit of God fell in a mighty way, and healings, people being slain in the Holy Spirit, and holy laughter broke out. Some were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke with tongues. Outside the tent walls, several people were falling over from the power of God and no one was even touching them. Many people needed assistance to walk to their cars or campsite.

The third day, again, dawned clear and hot. Open heavens once again blessed the gathering. Pastor Mark Redner referred to “The Ottawa Valley Outpouring,” and the uniqueness of the unity of the many churches who gathered together to proclaim the move of God in that place. The original owner of Logosland was called up and honoured for the vision she had and all she had done to develop property and by dedicating it to God’s glory and purposes thirty years earlier.

Paul Wetzel spoke on the “Year of Jubilee” from Leviticus 25 and proclaimed we were living in a Jubilee Year. In a year of Jubilee, a trumpet would sound, and all slaves would be released, all debts would be forgiven, a rest would be proclaimed for the land, and no crops would be planted, just the harvest from past years enjoyed. All property and family members that had been confiscated or taken as payment of debt were returned and restored to their families and everyone had a new beginning to start life afresh, unencumbered with debts or payments. Hope was returned, and joy, peace, and reconciliation were the over-riding emotions. Everything was pure and clean again; just like salvation for the soul.

The alter time that followed was incredible as person after person fell under the power of God. Bodies piled up on top of each other and even the speaker had to be supported so as to continue praying for “folks” until finally, he too, succumbed and was gently laid down on the floor. Some of the seekers were children, young people, and adults who were so weakened and “drunk” in the Holy Ghost that they wobbled all over, couldn’t get up at all, or had to be helped to the extent that several had to appoint alternate drivers to take them home when it was time to leave.

Friday, the last day, was the busiest one of all. A water baptismal service was planned for the afternoon and several of those prayed for had to be “rescued” from the water as they collapsed into the water and had to be lifted up and out. A Baptism of Fire came down and salvation, healing, and Holy Ghost baptisms came to several people.

Day four revealed that pastors from as far away as Cornwall, Manotick, Petawawa, and Quebec were attending with even United Church clergy taking part. The evening service was a special one because Rev. Bill Prankhard, who had facilitated a revival in nearby Beachburg in the 1970s was the featured speaker. He is a healing evangelist who has a passion to see an army of healing evangelists raised up to minister in this country. He and his wife have traveled across this country preaching and healing for thirty-five years. His topic was “Choices and the Power of Faith-Filled Words.”

“There is a new sound being released in the Spirit,” he said. “It’s a sound of joy, a sound of worship and praise, a sound of thunder, like the rattling of old dry bones coming to life again. Tonight is not the end of the meetings, but the launching pad of what is to come!”