Reaching new cities – Dublin

Chris and Rachel Vincent, from The Oasis Church, Chelmsford, felt God speak to them through dreams thirteen years ago, and since then have continued to ask God to speak to them in this way. Recently, God spoke to them dramatically about moving to Dublin, and we asked Chris and the family to explain what happened.

Chris begins; ‘In September 2005, God spoke through a prophetic word. We were standing at the threshold of a large, new room, identifying options that we could consider taking, as I counted them out on the five fingers of my hand. Unknown to anyone, only a few days earlier in our kitchen, we had asked God that very question, as I counted out five options on my fingers. We realised immediately that this was God speaking to us but we were slow to recognise that God was preparing us for a big move.’

The following year, Rachel had a number of vivid dreams that were obviously from God but the interpretation was unclear at the time. In November, Tony Thompson invited Chris to travel with him to Dublin. God had been speaking to Tony about seeing a church started there and he wanted to know if Chris would consider leading the new church.

Chris went to Ireland saying “No” but whilst there, listening to the details of how God had been speaking to Tony, he realised that God was interpreting the dreams Rachel had been having. As he arrived home his overwhelming concern was that if God wanted them as a family to go to Dublin, the children must feel the same call and faith to move there. They prayed… “Confirm that this is you God by speaking to our children.” Later that week Anna (10) came down to breakfast asking whether they were going to move. Chris and Rachel asked why and Anna explained a vivid dream she had dreamt the night before, which she describes here;

‘I had a strange dream, in which the detail was so great I cannot possibly write everything down. But I dreamt that a woman was showing our family around a massive house. The house was quite modern, had a slate roof, had a gravel path leading up to the front door. There was a sundial in the garden, a turquoise chair upstairs, and many other wonderful details. The woman encouraged us to put an offer on the house, which we did and we ended up moving in.’

Chris and Rachel were stunned at how quickly God had answered their prayer but agreed to say nothing to the children at that point. They decided to visit Dublin as a family for Rachel’s 40th birthday. Rachel began praying that if this was God, Anna would see the house from her dream in the window of a Dublin estate agent, whilst they were there.

Anna continues the story; ‘on the second day in Dublin, we were walking back from a park and passed an estate agent when I shouted: “Mum, Dad! That’s my Dublin house!” We went inside and got a booklet on the house I recognised to be mine. As soon as we flicked over the first page…the pictures were familiar! We kept on reading through the book, and I found everything to be exactly the same as in my dream. WOW! Mum and Dad explained everything to me and my brothers - the move, the new church, how they had prayed. We went to see the house the next day and I tell you, it was amazing!’

As Chris and Rachel talked with the children, they were amazed at their faith and excitement about what God was calling them to. Some days later Chris finally said “yes” to God. He phoned Tony and told him that evening. The next day a family member phoned up and offered to pay off their mortgage! Praise God for His wonderful provision!

The Vincent family hope to move to Dublin in early 2008. They are planning a Dublin Day on Sunday 18 November at Oasis Community Church, Chelmsford. Contact Chris at chrisvincent@theoasischurch.org.uk for more information.