By Alicia DesMarteau
What is a sign of new hope for a city? Christians in Toronto may have a surprising answer.
Near Fort York, Toronto’s historic birthplace, an ancient spring called Garrison Creek has resurfaced.
Remarkably, the announcement of its re-emergence coincided with the greatest prayer movement the city has ever seen. Unprecedented numbers of Christians in Canada, as well as tens of thousands of Christians abroad were praying for Toronto. One of the events taking place in the city was the House of the King; 12 days of 24-hour worship and prayer.
Since the scriptures often represent the life-giving presence of God as a spring of water, some believers feel that the creek may be a sign that God is restoring life to the city.
Garrison Creek was buried in an underground sewer for about a century and a half because of industrial expansion. After testing the creek’s surprisingly pure water, city officials confirmed its reappearance.
Historic Fort York administrator Jo Ann Pynn said there had recently been a lot of earth moving and development happening in the area. “The creek’s natural routes to the lake have been interfered with, and so the creek water is coming to the surface.”
House of the King team leader Richard Long said that the creek suddenly re-emerged as Torontonians began to pray and worship. “We took that as a real sign that the water of the Spirit was beginning to well up again in our city.”
Although the little spring currently appears neglected, the City of Toronto has plans to take action and incorporate it into the landscape rather than bury it underground again with the city’s waste.
Similarly, as God’s Spirit begins to move in the city, believers are being encouraged to respond said Long.
“Many Christians felt like something really good was beginning to happen over our city and we encouraged people to take advantage of that.; to get out and pray some more and bless their neighbourhoods and interact with their friends and believe that this is a time where we have an open heaven over our city.”
Could the natural revival of the little spring reflect a spiritual revival? Although Garrison Creek is tiny and hidden away, to some Christians it is a clear indication that God is answering their prayers. Some believe that it is an encouraging sign that a greater outpouring of the Spirit of God is just about to come.
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