LIGHT LIVING

We are pleased to introduce you to LIGHT LIVING, which is the new name for our adult ministries. For sometime we have been building a ministry to work with those in the twenty plus age group, and seeking God for its purpose and design. Adult Ministries Officer Sara Hayward, has been doing much work, as well as waiting on God, and this week the new name has been uncovered! It means so much - Light Living meaning that as a ministry they seek to help make Life lighter for those under their influence, and Light Living, meaning that they seek to help 'adults' to walk in His Light. Wow, amazing! We pray for the growth and influence of this ministry, as we do its leader, and we pray for a team to come forward and work in this ministry. However we also already recognise those engaging in it, including our Home and Family Team, District Pastors, Pastoral Support Team, and Cell Groups.

WHAT AN AWESOME GOD....

People continue to be testifying to God's touch on their lives last week during our prayer week, and we thank God for this. Gary's Blog records some of his thoughts and feelings.

News from Soul Survivor is that God has been doing some amazing things among those who have gathered. Despite the weather in Ashford they have avoided much of the rain, but have known His Reign over them!!!!! There will be much shared we are sure, but already reports say that one of the little boys, George, who has gone with his family, asked to go to the meeting instead of the film night, and then at the end of the evening, went forward to become a Christian!!! Hallelujah! And, last night as some of those attending prayed for Captain Sue, her hip pains went! She has struggled with this since her last pregnancy. We thank God for all this. This is their last day now and they return tomorrow, but we pray equally on this day that all lives will be touched. Thank you Jesus!

PRAYER WEEK PICTURES

CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO SEE LARGER IMAGE.

MEET G.E.F.F.

The last few weeks our usual mission programme does not take place - however that does not mean that nothing happens! Time is available for people to visit others, to share time together, to build relationships - and its been great to hear that has been happening. BUT too, at our church centre it gives us time to clear it up and engage in some sorting out projects. This summer we welcome a new addition to our family - two new sheds. One will house our parent and toddler toys, and the other, known as GEFF will house community things, such as clothing, bric a brac and also a general store for things. Both sheds come at no cost to us - they come from a grant, granted to us. But they were not as easy at people might think, and our property managers, Norman and George, engaged in many hours to get this done. So, in celebration of them it has been named after them GEFF. Thank you guys! Also a massive thank you to Kevin Hayward for all he did, including the concreting of the base. It was a real team work, and we cannot thank Kevin and others enough. Not forgetting either, those who made the teas and stood there encouraging!!!!

SUNDAY 19TH AUGUST 2007

Despite quite a number being away on holiday, and some at Soul Survivor, we still had about 40 people sharing with us today which was great. Our senior leader, Ian, led worship and spoke from The Word, and we concluded our Beach Party series, lookin at the Eternal Beach Party - the reality that at the end of our journey we can celebrate and dance before God, there in His Glory, in His Presence, where we shall see Him face to face. During the meeting there was opportunity for sharing, and there was a real roll of people wanting to share especially from experiences during our week of Prayer and Worship last week. Our Prayer team led prayers which was helpful. At the end of the meeting quite a number of people 'journeyed to the cross' and made prayers and received prayers. We thank God for His touch, His Word and His Spirit among us.

AND THEY ARE OFF.....

Just over twenty leaders, members and friends of our church have just left to attend this years Soul Survivor. This is the third year we have attended this event. This is also the most we have taken which is also exciting - and among the numbers are people of all ages. Those going will be camping for the next few days - and will return on Thursday. There will be lots of opportunity to enjoy time together, as well as time with God. Please pray for those attending, and for Captain Sue as she oversights the week, and cooks for all these people. We are grateful to our assistant senior leader, Carl, for helping with transportation to and back.

PRAYER WEEK PICTURES

WATCH OUT FOR PICTURES FROM THE PRAYER WEEK.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE LAYOUT OF THE PRAYER ZONES.....

OVERWHELMED BY...THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Final Day of our week of prayer and worship was a further powerful day and started with Prayer and Share at the home of Buddy and Frances Back, and led by our senior leaders. The afternoon prayer zones gave people opportunity to reflect and be still before God and pray for many different things. Our Bible Study at 4,30pm, led by Ian, looked again at Ephesians and we studied each chapter and what it said to us about what being Overwhelmed by His Spirit really meant. Our final meal together, coooked by Captain Sue, again was great and this led us nicely into our final celebration meeting, led by our senior leaders, and attended by a good number of church members and friends, as well as people from other churches! God moved powerfully and touched peoples lives in lots of way, and we rejoice in this. We thank God for overwhelming us with His Spirit, and pray that this is a place where we stay and not take ourselves in and out of the 'God Experiences'. Its a place He longs for us to dwell. Thank you too to everyone who was able to give sometime to the week as a whole.

OVERWHELMED BY.....LIFE

Today in our Bible Study we reflected on Pauls Teaching about the reality that we are called to prayer in the Spirit on occasions, and importantly for each other. That importance has been reflected as our leaders, members and friends have pulled aside, and many fasted from the things of the world, to engage in prayer for church ministries, members, the council, the councillors, the lost, the hurting, requests from around the world and much more. Its been a very special time, and tomorrow will be our last opportunity in this way. Overwhelmed by LIFE has been the focus today, and in that we have considered the things many today are overwhelmed by, that being life itself. Yet we have recognised a believers God does not want us to be overwhelmed by those things, but just by Him! Our day started in Willesborough, and shared together with a number of members of the 'community church' in Willesborough with other 'community churches' and their leaders. It was special, and led by Pastor Elsie. There was a lot of challenge and much discussion. The afternoon prayer zones saw many being lost with God, and our Bible Study a helpful time too. Following an amazing dinner cooked again by Captain Sue - we concluded with a full hall of people singing and worshipping the Praises of our God! Please join us tomorrow....

OVERWHELMED BY....FORGIVENESS

Day Two of our week of prayer and worship was again a very special and powerful time and well supported by leaders, members and friends. In the pace of life today its so easy to not have the time to pull aside and reflect and prayer - and yet Scripture teaches us the importance of it - and as someone once wrote are we too busy not to pray?! Today our focus was on Forgiveness and we looked and studied Ephesians Chapter Two. We looked at what we were before we were saved, and now what we are is we are saved! What an overwhelming God! Pastor Elsie started our day by leading Prayer and Share at her home, and then the various prayer zones were available for people to use. A meal, beautifully cooked by Captain Sue followed, and then we concluded with an evening of prayer and worship. God's Spriit came beautifully among us, and His Peace and Blessing - as well as forgiveness was known. Again it was good to have the attendance of others from other local church communities. Thank You God for today.