Sammy Tippit made his first trip outside the United States since his cancer surgery. He traveled to British Columbia, Canada to speak at the Faith Mission – Canada’s official opening of their retreat, conference center and camp. The center is nestled in the mountains outside of Vernon, British Columbia. 

Tippit spoke to Faith Mission staff, Board members, and Christians from churches throughout the region on Saturday and Sunday during the celebrations. He spoke about the necessity of revival and called for a prayer movement to pray for families. Christians responded to Tippit’s first message with enthusiasm. He preached on the subject Desperate Praying.

He told a packed audience that “There’s been a growing prayer movement in North America, both in Canada and the United States. I’m thankful for that movement. However, there appears to be a lack of desperation in our praying.” At the close of his message, many people came to the “altar” in a spirit of brokenness and seeking God.

Tippit wore shirts with an emblem of a deer on them as he spoke to the Canadian audience. He told the listeners that he had a dream when he returned from the hospital after his surgery. He saw two Native American Indians – one a boy and the other an old man. He then heard a voice that simply said, “Wounded Deer.” Tippit had learned of his Native American heritage during the past couple of years and the dream impacted him deeply.When he awoke the next day, he couldn’t shake what he dreamed. A Scripture song then began to fill his heart, “As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs for Thee, oh God.”

He told the audience, “As I worshipped the Lord, I longed to know Him more intimately. The thirst of my soul is for God. I spent hours, even days, seeking God during my recuperation from the surgery. It has been one of the best times of my life. I don’t want to lose what I have experienced as I now begin to travel. It took me seven hours to drive from Chilliwack to this conference center, which is normally a three hour drive. But I stopped at scenic places along the way and spent time worshipping God. It was fabulous. Thus, today, I come to you as a “Wounded Deer.’” “I’ve been drinking from the Living Waters. I don’t want to ever forget what I have experienced. Thus, my wife and I went out and purchased some shirts with a deer on them. I am simply a wounded deer whose only hope in life is to drink from the Living Waters.

”Several people commented that God worked deeply in their hearts as a result of Tippit’s message on Desperate Praying. One lady summed up the response of many of those in attendance saying, “God has placed a great thirst in my heart to know God more intimately.”

Tippit continued his messages, challenging those in attendance to commit themselves to praying for their families. Sammy Tippit Ministries (STM) and The Faith Mission of Canada have had a working relationship for many years. Tippit met John Bennett when he was speaking at a conference in Ireland, when Bennett was working with The Faith Mission in Ireland and Scotland. Tippit has spoken at conventions in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and Scotland.

The Faith Mission has a rich history of prayer, revival, and evangelism, a similar burden to STM. Tippit has been invited to speak at the Bangor, Northern Ireland convention in March 2008.For now, the Wounded Deer has returned to San Antonio, but still has ministry engagements in Oregon, West Virginia, Illinois and Brazil this year. He plans to continue drinking from the refreshing waters of life as he travels.