Well, I have finally managed to finish Terry Virgo’s no well worn paths. I don’t normally take so long to read a book but life has been and continues to be very busy!

What can I say about the book?

Its great! A fantastic outline of the history of the UK charismatic movement. As I read it I couldn’t help but think ‘Terry you were born at the right place at the right time!’ But then this is actually true for all of us!

I am encouraged by the man, his journey and his ministry. His apostolic oversight has proven successful not to mention biblically balanced and Spirit anointed. No well worn paths is obviously the theme, the idea that Terry and his team have pioneered and established a very new style of church.

At one point, a little cynicism crept in though, it was when he described his journey from house church to purchasing purpose built buildings. He then went on to talk about NF being impacted by the toronto blessing, and the cell church movement and many other recent activities. At this point I began to wonder if NF had simply embraced every fad and bandwagon that has blown through the church over the last few decades!?

My cynicism subsided, at the end of the day Terry Virgo is a very gracious man. He has sought to be faithful to the Lord, the scriptures and the work of the Spirit. Not an easy path to walk. He has sought to be biblical and relevant and cutting edge and his openness to other ministries is a sign that he doesn’t see himself or NF as spiritually elite. This is true humility. God has done an awesome thing through Terry Virgo and New Frontiers.

Terry included this prophesy by Smith Wigglesworth.

Smith Wigglesworth’s 1947 Prophecy

 ”During the next few decades there will be two distinct moves of the Holy Spirit across the church in Great Britain. The first move will affect every church that is open to receive it and will be characterized by a restoration of the baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit. The second move of the Holy Spirit will result in people leaving historic churches and planting new churches. In the duration of each of these moves, the people who are involved will say ‘This is the great revival’. But the Lord says ‘No, neither is this the great revival but both are steps towards it.

WORD AND SPIRIT 
When the new church phase is on the wane, there will be evidenced in the churches something that has not been seen before: a coming together of those with an emphasis on the Word and those with an emphasis on the Spirit.

When the Word and the Spirit come together, there will be the biggest movement of the Holy Spirit that the nation, and indeed the world, has ever seen. It will mark the beginning of a revival that will eclipse anything that has been witnessed within these shores, even the Wesleyan and the Welsh revivals of former years. The outpouring of God’s Spirit will flow over from the UK to the mainland of Europe, and from there will begin a missionary move to the ends of the earth.”

This prophesy is amazing. I have to say that in my view newfrontiers reflects the coming together of word and Spirit like no other movement I know of.