The Journey of Hope to Israel had two distinct mandates: to repent to the Jewish people and to go to sites of ancient Biblical power and "call forth ancient anointings for end-time purposes". This was done in accordance with Habukkuk 3:2 "Oh Lord, we have heard of your fame, we have heard of your deeds. Renew them in our day".

While in Israel, the Lord spoke to us that He would He would now release His favour to help us see the healing of a deep wound in Canada - the division between French and English Canada. In the fields of Gadara, the Holy Spirit began this work of repentance and reconciliation. Years before, through a prophetic vision, the Lord had revealed His desire for French and English to walk in a covenantal union, whereby the two people groups would fall in love with one another, forgo their historical animosities and begin to own the unique destiny of Canada. A new journey of healing was beginning.

Repentance in the fields of Gadara (Large)
Repentance in the fields of Gadara (Small)

During the Kelowna Gathering in September 2001, the Lord began working through the hearts of his leaders. The English leaders humbled themselves, kneeling at the feet of the French leaders, declaring that there is no separation between the English church in Canada and the French church in Quebec. The leaders of Quebec wept profoundly and the two groups stood and embraced, singing the national anthem in both languages. Later, in the national open gathering, Odette Menard a leader from Quebec shared how for the first time she had felt proud to be Canadian. At the end of the gathering a national 40-day fast for French Canada was called to take place October 2001 to November 16, 2001.

Article: Let My People Go - A Fast for French Canada

Between October 2001 and April 2002 a number of regional leadership gatherings were convened in Ontario to Quebec to continue to seek the Lord for His strategies in the healing of French and English Canada. Then in August 2002, the nation gathered in the birthplace of Confederation in Charlottetown PEI. There in front of 1500 members of the Canadian church from throughout Canada, representative leadership of the church of English and French Canada prophetically agreed to "court" one another, in anticipation of an eventual "marriage". The beginning of this courtship was witnessed by a representative of the parent nations, England and France, who came to give their blessing to this union.

Courtship (Large)             The Blessing (Large)
Courtship (Small)              The Blessing (Small)

This "courtship" took the form of the La Danse Celebration Tour. From July 25, 2003 through August 9, 2003, 250 members of a team composed of church leadership, Gen Xers, native leaders, youth, children, worship and dance teams, traveled from Montreal to Victoria, stopping in a total of 12 cities in 14 days. In each city, teams of local churches welcomed the tour with celebration services and artistic expressions that reflected the city's unique redemptive gifts and cultural attributes. In addition to the thousands of Canadians who participated in these local celebrations, many believers from Canada and around the world, followed the daily coverage on 100 Huntley Street, as well as the interactive La Danse website (www.ladanse.ca).

The Quebecoise (Large)
The Quebecoise (Small)

Just before the tour began it came to light that Sir John A MacDonald, our first Prime Minister, referred to Confederation Day, July 1, 1867, by saying " we are about to be united in Holy Matrimony…" Subsequent research has shown that the marriage analogy was commonly used by the fathers of Confederation in describing the formation of Canada. We believe this covenantal union is God's original spiritual design for this nation and the obedience of the church in reclaiming this inheritance will release a new authority from heaven to deal with the government, by addressing principalities and powers over this nation (Ephesians 6:12).