2007: A Norwich Christian couple who left the city 10 years ago to work with the needy in London have returned to devote themselves to prayer walking around the City Gates.

 

Bob and Linda Humphries (pictured right) left Norwich in 1996 to work in South London with the Salvation Army helping the homeless and those suffering from drink and drugs.

 

While there they worked with ex-offenders and prisoners in HMP Wandsworth. In 1998 they became prison mission partners at St Mark’s Battersea Rise and led over 100 people into the prison ministering to inmates, especially those that were prone to self harm and suicidal, which is a massive problem in prisons.

 

After eight years in the prison, the couple started Kedesh Ministries (Kedesh is one of the cities of refuge given to Joshua) and in February 2005 they opened a Drop-in Centre working under the St Mark’s church leadership.

 

Bob said: “The Lord told us not to publicize the drop-in because He would bring those He wanted to minister too and word soon got round through the miracles that Jesus was doing in it. Many things were done by the power of Jesus including last year when three women due for surgery for hysterectomies came to the centre and were completely healed.

 

“These miracles began breaking out where God’s grace came in powerful healing and deliverance during the two years the centre was open. Many people came that were caught up in the occult and we watched the Holy Spirit set them free. That usually started through a word of knowledge He gave to either one of us during the time of ministry,” said Bob.

 

“Last autumn the Lord began reminding us that it was time to return to Norwich and start prayer-walking again around the City Gates where we left off in 1994.

 

“We Prayer-walked the gates with several pastors many times including those and members of their flocks that joined us on October 31 1993 during the Prayer and Praise Celebration in Norwich Cathedral when J John preached.”

 

In February 1994 Bob and Linda opened a small shop opposite Anglia Square in Magdalene Street for the JIM Challenge (Jesus in me) and the Minus to Plus events. It continued after the events as an evangelistic outreach until August 1994.

 

Bob said: “The most important thing the Lord emphasized to us when we return to Norwich is that we are to start prayer walking the city gates again and invite the pastors and leaders and members of their flocks to join in and encourage them of their authority that Jesus taught us during our work in the prison.

 

“He also told us to tell them that the driving force behind the good things the Holy Spirit is doing for the coming revival in East Anglia is through the unity of the churches and its leaders.”

 

Bob and Linda Humphries are at present staying in the Rectory of Mulbarton while Jess and Ann Mary Stubenbord are in Africa. All their contact details are in the Network Norwich website address book.