Then I noticed that my arms were hanging at my side. “Oh no,” I cried, “I have dropped my baby.” I looked all around but I could not find it. I remembered that there was a hospital nearby and went there. I inquired on the maternity ward if anyone had seen my baby. Yes, they had! I asked to see it to be reassured. The baby was brought to me on a stretcher and apparently was peacefully asleep and safe. I was satisfied and did not want the baby to be disturbed. I asked that the attendants take it back to its crib, and they did. Then I woke up, shaken but very relieved.

Prayer of Dedication for “The Hiding Place” Sign by Jim Croft March 31, 1986 Father, we now come to You in the name of Jesus as we dedicate and hang this sign over this your ministry. Lord, we thank you for all You have done in this Your place through Your servants Peter and Rebekah in times past, now and in the future. We bless You for all those you have touched, healed and encouraged through them. Father, you have told me that I could declare a thing and You would establish it. I trust You and therefore now proclaim: Lord with the hanging of this sign we believe You for a new epoch in the lives and ministry of these Your humble servants. We proclaim that hundreds, even thousands of Your people will come and find this Your Hiding Place. Your people shall go forth from here renewed and refreshed with a new zeal to take the particular land that You have allotted to their sphere. They shall have confidence that they have authority to see that the scepter of the wicked one does not rest on the lot of the righteous. Lord, grant that this will indeed be a Hiding Place. Put it on the Highway of Holiness, revealing it only to those that You want to come. Keep it hidden, Lord, from all who do not belong and from all that would hinder. It shall be hidden from evil, the snake, the adder, the lion cub and the lioness shall not be able to find it. Lord, I declare a new day for Peter and Rebekah. You now bring them into a broad place where there is no lack of any good thing. Grant them faith for not only sufficiency for the good work, but also for Your gracious abundance in every area of life. In Jesus’ Name Amen

In the morning I told Rebekah my dream and with profound insight she said, “The baby represents your ministry. It has been as dead for a number of years, but because you loved it so much and were willing to pray and intercede with much weeping, it has come alive.” As I reflected upon the dream further, I can see how exhausted I have become in giving birth to the dream. But as I remembered the attendants in the hospital, I was reassured that others are now helping to care for and raise my baby.

What is my dream” It is written in Isaiah, “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people,” saith your God. These are also the opening words of Handel’s Messiah, and the International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem has adopted these same words as their motto. Who are these people who need to be comforted and encouraged? Isaiah speaks of them when he says in Chapter 42, verse 3, A bruised reed shall He not break and smoking flax shall He not quench. These are the people who have poured out their souls and lives and have given and given until there was nothing left in them to give. They are exhausted, totally spent, or burned out. They are now crowded by unreasonable fears, distorted anger, confusion, and much indecision. Even their faith in a loving God and a caring Christian family may be undermined. They are like little children who need the loving protection and reassurance of parents and friends.

When Jesus spoke to the apostle Peter and said, “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren,” He also spoke to me and probably to many others. We have interpreted these instructions to mean that we must learn to recognize those soldiers who have been wounded in battle and then provide a place and setting in which they can be safe and heal. I would like to think of our homes as hiding places where such healing can take place. The Psalmist said, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15). We believe that we are to translate the word “precious” as “costly” and act accordingly.

I wish to acknowledge the work of Francis and Edith Schaeffer. They have played a part in giving birth to the dream of “The Hiding Place”. Edith Schaeffer describes in her book L’ABRI, which means “shelter” in French, how and for what purposes L’ABRI was born. As I read the book and subsequently her newer book: THE TAPESTRY, the Holy Spirit touched my soul. The idea for a spiritual hospice was born.

We have mounted a new sign as a part of our gateway. It read THE HIDING PLACE (Psalm 32:7) as you enter, and TAKE THE LAND (Deuteronomy 1:8) as you leave. Come and see what the Lord is doing in this place. Whether you need to hide or want to help, you are welcome. We invite you to join the ranks of Stretcher Bearers for Christ. LET NOT ANOTHER WOUNDED SOLDIER DIE.



(The Upper Room was completed in September 1987. Please connect to this link to view the guest apartment: The Upper Room )