Over the past year, my husband Joe and I have had the honor of living and serving in Thessaloniki, Greece—a journey that has stretched us, blessed us, and shown us more of God’s faithfulness than we could have imagined. What began as a step of obedience has become a testimony of God’s heart for His church, His people, and His dwelling place.
A Church Awakening in Thessaloniki
We’ve been privileged to serve under Pastor Paul and alongside an apostolic community that is passionately pursuing God. Weekly Bible studies, house gatherings, and a church plant in the city of Serres—led by three courageous women—have become places of revival and restoration. One story especially close to my heart is that of a 90-year-old man who recently got baptized and married, weeping with joy as he came up from the waters—proof that it’s never too late for new beginnings in Christ.
Beyond Thessaloniki, we’ve traveled to minister in Athens, at Albanian churches, women’s conferences, and youth camps, often finding ourselves in diverse, multi-generational communities hungry for the presence of God. We’ve witnessed young people fall on their knees in worship until 2 a.m., and pastors defying religious tradition to embrace the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
Evangelism, Unity, and a Move of God
One of the most miraculous developments has been the unity among churches in our city. Through the efforts of Awakening Europe’s “Million Project,” we saw churches that had long been divided come together—charismatics, evangelicals, and even an Orthodox congregation—working as one to evangelize the city. For two weeks, teams preached the gospel morning and night in the streets of Thessaloniki. Lives were transformed, people were healed, and perhaps most powerfully, pastors built lasting relationships.
One Orthodox priest was so moved that he asked us to pray for boldness to preach Christ, joined our Pentecostal celebration service, and later arranged a meeting with the city’s bishop. His words still ring in our hearts: “Our city needs to be evangelized again.”
The Heart of the Sanctuary
As I sought the Lord about what He wanted to speak to His people, I was awakened by these words: “Prepare Me a sanctuary.” He led me to Exodus 25, where God called for a willing offering from His people—not just gold and silver, but thread, oil, spices, wood—each person bringing what they had, uniquely.
This is the essence of the sanctuary: not a building, but a people offering themselves for one purpose—to create a dwelling place for God. The tabernacle’s primary purpose wasn’t to serve people, but to minister to God. In Ezekiel 44 and 1 Peter 2, we’re reminded that we are a holy priesthood called to offer spiritual sacrifices—not out of obligation, but from a heart willing to minister to the Lord.
In this season of building, growing, and reaching, we must not lose sight of the core reason for it all: to minister to the heart of God. He is seeking those who will go beyond their own needs and step into the holy place—where praise and prayer lead to presence.
A Call to Unity and Restoration
The Lord also exposed a strategy of the enemy: to confuse communication among believers in order to halt the building of God’s house. Like the Tower of Babel, miscommunication can divide and delay. But by the Spirit, we declared healing, clarity, and reconciliation over the church. We broke the spirit of comparison, competition, and rejection, and released the spirit of adoption and belonging.
God is calling prophets to rise and speak, unafraid. He is raising up spiritual fathers and mothers, placing mantles of safety and leadership on those who will receive them. And over the state of California, I saw a fire consuming the weeds of demonic ideology—turning ashes into nourishment for the true move of God.
Bringing What Only You Can Offer
Every person has something to bring—whether it’s gold or goat’s hair, thread or oil. Whether it’s a physical skill, a spiritual gift, a word of encouragement, or a hidden prayer life, God says, “Let them prepare Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.”
This is not just Joe and Liz’s mission. This is a movement of churches partnering together, a prophetic fulfillment of decades of prayer. And we are so grateful to those who have stood with us in faith, finances, and intercession.
May we each be found bringing what we have, willingly, so that God might dwell fully in our cities, our churches, and our lives.
“Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” — Exodus 25:8
Discussion Guide
Ice Breaker
What’s something simple that makes you feel at home—either in your house or at church?
Key Scriptures
- Exodus 25:1–8 – “Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.”
- 1 Peter 2:4–5 – Living stones built into a spiritual house.
- Ezekiel 44:15–16 – The priests who minister to the Lord.
- Revelation 21:1–3 – “The dwelling place of God is with man.”
Main Idea
God’s desire from the beginning has always been to dwell with His people. In this message, Pastor Liz shares a powerful update from their ministry in Greece and releases a prophetic invitation from the Lord: “Prepare Me a sanctuary.” This sanctuary isn’t just a building—it’s a people offering their lives, gifts, and worship to host God’s presence.
We heard stories of radical evangelism, revival in traditional churches, and unprecedented unity across denominations. In the midst of growth, the Lord is calling His church back to simplicity: to minister to Him first. Every offering matters—gold, thread, wood, oil—each part is needed. Pastor Liz also exposed a strategy of the enemy to confuse and divide, and prayed for unity, clarity, and boldness to arise in God’s people.
The message ends with a charge: prepare Him a sanctuary, both corporately and personally.
Discussion Questions
- What part of Pastor Liz’s message or update impacted you the most?
- When you hear the phrase “Prepare Me a sanctuary,” what does that look like in your personal life?
- According to Exodus 25, God asked for many kinds of offerings—from gold to thread to wood. What does this say about how God values different kinds of contributions?
- Pastor Liz said the primary purpose of the tabernacle was to minister to God. How do we sometimes shift into ministering for God or for people more than to Him?
- What might it look like to build a life that hosts God’s presence—not just on Sundays, but daily?
- Have you ever struggled with comparison when it comes to your gift or role in the body of Christ? How did this message speak to that?
- What are practical ways we can guard against miscommunication or confusion in our church community?
- Is there anything God is asking you to “bring” into His sanctuary in this season?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for inviting us to build a sanctuary where You can dwell. Teach us how to minister to You with our whole lives. Whether we feel like gold or thread, help us bring what we have with a willing heart. Silence confusion, release unity, and fill this house—and our lives—with Your presence. In Jesus’ name, amen.