No Better Place: The Homecoming Gathering Begins

by Peter Jordan

There is no place better to be, than with a 1000 brothers and sisters, on a hot and humid, sticky and sweaty July summer night, than in a basketball arena in Montreal - if you believe that is God's place for you. With no air-conditioning but a few laboring fans with drippy people clustered around them seeking a little movement of air - there was a sense that God was present. And a personal sense of being in God's will.

This was Evening One of national gathering known as The Homecoming - the long-awaited return of France to make things right with French Canadians - almost 250 years after first abandoning its colony of pioneers. The rest, as they say, had been history; and not a particularly happy history for French Canadians. But in truth, through their perseverance and faith they had made a home for themselves in Lower Canada (now Quebec), and developed a beautiful and unique culture all their own.

But back to the sweaty arena… Beside the large and tastefully-decorated stage is a replica of a three-masted, square-rigged French frigate, complete with furled sails and all the ropes and rigging that hang from its massive masts. From the prow, flies the Tricolore, the blue, white and red flag of France.

The band leads us in worship for a time, moving into a free-singing welcome song. We glance over toward the ship and discover that it is now filled with the 40 French leaders from the Body of Christ in France. They have sailed in to 'rescue' and to embrace the 'children' that France had abandoned so many years ago. This is a re-enactment of an actual repentance and reconciliation that took place a few days earlier in Quebec City (To read more about this prophetic act, see the article The Homecoming.) but still it is a surprisingly emotional moment. There seem to be more and more of these occasions for tears. It may have something to do with the French influence on us staid and proper English Canadians!

As the French visitors disembarked from their frigate, French Canadians pour out of their seats to welcome and embrace them (two kisses, one on each cheek, is 'de rigueur' in this culture). I am learning; it's not so bad, it just takes a little coordination so you don't scratch someone with your glasses on the cheek-to-cheek changeover!

Pretty soon, English-speaking Canadians join the French throngs and all of us create an enormous, perspiring traffic jam as we head out of our seats, to 'bienvenue' the visitors. It's a mosh.

Many minutes later, order is restored and a French dance team from Montreal gives us a treat of treats. To the song, "The Dreamer of Your Dreams," in an exquisitely choreographed dance, they totally captivate us a story of the hearts of fathers turning to the children and the children to the fathers. More tears flow easily. Encore! Encore!

Then it's time for a presentation from the very large contingent of Inuits - perhaps 30 or 40 of them - who have traveled at the expense of multiplied thousands of dollars each, all the way from Nunavut in the High Arctic and Nunavik in Northern Quebec, to be part of this historic event. Garbed in their summer white parkas, they touch our hearts as they share their singular purpose for their journey. They have come as the host people of the land to honour the French and welcome them to our Canada, and to thank them for coming to our land. Traditional Inuit gifts, such as soapstone carvings and handmade wall hangings, are presented to each of the visitors from Europe. The French leaders are so moved many cannot even speak but only weep as they are embraced by the Inuit.

The evening draws to a close. Earlier, pastor Andrew Bryce from PEI, had exhorted us that this whole endeavor is not about France; it's not even about French Canadians; nor is it about any other Canadians. This is about Jesus and His presence being among us. It's about doing that which pleases Him that He might find a resting place in our wide and beautiful and spacious land. It's about God having dominion from sea to sea.

The Homecoming Gathering took place in Montreal, Canada between July 6 and July 10, 2004. For more reports on the events of this gathering, please visit www.thehomecoming.ca

Peter Jordan, along with his wife, Donna, is a founder and director of YWAM associates, International, a ministry of Youth With A Mission. YA´s mission is to encourage and build up those who have served in, and been trained by YWAM.

For more information or to be in contact with Peter, visit www.ywamassociates.com