Flags and Banners

I was introduced to flags in Christian worship many years ago, attending workshops to learn how to use them, what their colours represented and the Biblical foundation for using them.

For the non-dancer they are a great way to get moving in worship; the material takes the attention off the user and helps to keep the focus on the One we worship, rather than ourselves. I made some flags experimenting with different sizes and weights of material, and in my church encouraged people to use them as an expression of their worship. Sometimes I helped to choreograph simple pieces for presentation at services and Alpha courses, and was part of joint churches events through the streets and in public venues.

When we lived in Brazil I planned to take a flag to a conference in Australia, so bought material and tried to locate a wooden dowelling stick, to no avail. However, I found that a bamboo cane, from the garden centre served the purpose, and so worked on my piece in preparation. Unfortunately, the stick was too long to go into my suitcase, even by reducing its length, so I carried the rolled up flag as an extra to my hand luggage.

The journey to Brisbaine, entailed catching four planes and took over 24hrs, so there were times when I regretting making the flag and constantly worried about leaving it in an airport lounge, or having someone trip over it, breaking the precious stick. But those concerns were nothing compared to the anxious moments waiting to declare my 'wood product' at the customs in Australia, imagining that all the previous effort was about to be wasted as my bamboo stick was confiscated.

Unfurling the flag hesitantly, the customs official asked me where I bought it and then examined it, finally giving her permission for me to keep it. What a relief!

When we left the conference we were travelling to two other places in Australia before making the long journey back to Rio de Janeiro, so Andy insisted that I donate the bamboo stick to the gardens; after all I could always buy another stick back in Rio.

The flags we used at the CDFSA conference were huge, with extending plastic poles - rather like a fishing rod. The material is silk and moves beautifully. Each one had a unique design, representing one of the names of God. This one is the Lion of Judah Resting - YHWH self-existent, eternal. The background is actually purple, not royal blue, as in this photo. It portrays majesty, strength and courage at rest.

David Stanfield the inventor and visionary teacher of banners internationally is standing on the left (yes, he has half a beard - another story!). David is a flamboyant character, which you see by his colourful shirts, but he had great sensitivity and awareness in worship. You can find out more at http://www.worshipbanners.org/ . Georgie Brodie, a tiny lady with a big intercessor's heart is next to him. She personified 'My Utmost for His Highest' (Oswald Chambers), lead a workshop on spiritual warfare and also taught in the main sessions.

Banners were also used at the AGM for CDFSA, which was held one evening. This is prayer for the national committee after they were elected to serve for the next two years.

The word 'banner', is used in scripture, rather than flag. A banner is anything which is lifted up to declare the word of the Lord. It is a physical act of a spiritual truth; the material itself does not hold any significance, and infact almost anything can be used as a banner.

One time, I helped to organise a special children's event at Walsall Football Club, as part of the year 2000 celebrations. More than 100 children ran onto the pitch carrying a large piece of packing card above their heads, which had been painted red on both sides. We did a simple routine using the song by Doug Horley 'We want to see Jesus lifted high, a banner that flies across the land...', Then the pieces of card were placed on the ground to spell out the name JESUS in bold red letters across the pitch. It was a way of declaring the truth in our town and the banner had great spiritual significance.

Having recently not been involved much with banners, I found the banner workshops reinforced and extended my understanding of their use and renewed a desire to use them more in worship. David's emphasis was on using them corporately, so that together they bring unity and order. These were aspects that I had thought little about until now. He also used them prophetically, demonstrating how diffferent designs can be used in prayer. I found this very powerful and experienced such a release in my own life through one particular example. Again, there is no power in the banner itself, but combined with the prayer, the act of raising it up and using it as a declaration of the presence of God, it releases spiritual power into the situation.