HOME AND FAMILY TEAM LEADERSHIP MEETING

The Home and Family Leadership Team met for discussion and planning this week. Led by Captain Ian, and supported by adult ministries officer, Sara, we explored where we are at the moment, and looked ahead to the year ahead and all that that could mean for this programme within the church. We thank God for the opportunities He has given us this year already

FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS

Next Thursday will see the return of the Welcome In Project in South Ashford - and an exciting new home. The Parish Rooms in Stanhope Square will be our new home and will be open from 10am-12noon every Thursday. Please pray about this important ministry

MISSION & PROGRAMME

Next Monday sees the return of our mission programme. Throughout the summer group leaders have been preparing for the return of these groups, and time has come to welcome back people again. On Mondays our community group meets, Tuesdays our Toddler Group, Wednesday our Light Living Home and Family Programme, Thursday our toddler group, and Friday our Childrens and Youth Ministry Groups. Please pray for these and be involved if and when you can. Last year on average 200 people passed through our doors.

THE ANNUAL APPEAL

The Salvation Army's Annual Appeal is an important opportunity to ask the public suppport in helping the organisation/movement to continue to be able to Be The Light of Jesus into the darkness that many people face. The money collected support the social and community expression of the army - which means that its will support the ministry everyday of the year, as the work of the army never ceases - whether it be in a social centre, a community programme, supporting people in desperate need and much more. The army is the largest provider of such care after the government, in this country. This year, Ashford still has a commitment to collect at least £6000, and we need people to help and support us in this as much as possible. Please do come and help us collect door to door - most evenings we leave from our centre at 5pm. If everyone helped to do something then we would be able to share the responsibility and not exhaust just the handful that might! If everyone collected £70 within the church, we would raise our target! So, if you can help and support, contact Captain Sue or Carl Whitewood - or if you do not live in the area but would make a donation, please do forward to us as soon as possible. Thank You so much.

RELIGION

The following is taken from an article in the times, published today - Sunday 2nd September

From The Sunday Times
September 2, 2007
Religion causes harm, says poll
Richard Brooks

NEARLY half the British think that religion is harmful, according to a poll carried out by YouGov. Yet more than half also believe in God “or something”. The YouGov poll commissioned by John Humphrys, the broadcaster and writer, found that 42% of the 2,200 people taking part considered religion had a harmful effect. “One reason might be the publicity attracted by a handful of mad mullahs and their hate-filled rhetoric,” writes Humphrys in his new book, In God We Doubt, an extract of which appears in today’s Sunday Times News Review. Only 16% of those polled called themselves atheists; 28% believed in God; 26% believed in “something” but were not sure what; and 9% regarded themselves as agnostics - like Humphrys himself, who had a religious upbringing in Wales but calls himself a “doubter”.

He writes: “Even though the dominant faith - by a massive margin – is Christianity, only 17% thought the influence of religion was beneficial. That is even fewer than those who claim that they believe in a personal God. And yet when we asked which of the main religions was ‘most effective’ in getting its message across, most thought it was Christianity. Only 10% cited Islam compared with 32% who said Christianity.” In the survey 43% said they never prayed, 31% hardly prayed, and 10% prayed every night. “More than half of those who say they believe in a personal God cannot be bothered to pray to him every night,” writes Humphrys.

What do you think?

SUNDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER 2007

Today, the first Sunday in the month, was our monthly all age 'event' and about 70 people met together. Some still away due to school holidays and others catching up with family and friends before schools are back, or routine gets going again. We had a good morning, this month looking at 'THE FAMILY TREE'. Lots of different things happened, but through creativity and the Word, we were reminded we are Created, we are Created to Belong, and We are Created to Belong and behave!!!! God is our Family, and we are called to connect to Him. During final moments many people came forward in prayer response and placed their name on 'the tree' recognising that their belong to God, or asking Him to help us 'behave' - the importance of connecting to Him. As part of this celebration we welcomed Diana Anderson as a member of the church. The meal at the end of the Event saw 50 people enjoying a really lovely meal thanks to Elsie and her team.

THIS SUNDAY

We extend a really warm welcome to you this Sunday, for our monthly 'EVENT', which is held on the first Sunday in the month for people of all ages. This month we are going to be exploring where we come from - discovering our roots and our identity. We serve refreshments from 10.15am, and following THE EVENT encourage everyone to stay for our Family Celebration Meal, celebrating one another. A donation of £3 for adults and £2 for children is encouraged if possible for the meal. It is also encouraged that you book in advance so please telephone 01233 643480, and if you need transportation, please also inform us.

THIS SUNDAY

We warmly welcome you to come and share as family this Sunday morning at 10.30am at the East Stour School. This will be our last Sunday in 'summer' format, and return next Sunday to normaility - whatever that is! In the absense of our senior leaders, our assistant senior leader, Carl Whitewood will be leading worship and our Childrens Ministries Officer, Clare Hayward will be speaking. Please do come along and hear what God wants to say through them and be ready for God to do what He wants to do! Yours prayers for there preparation would be helpful too. We thank God for both these servants of God.

DON'T YOU JUST LOVE THEM - WE DO!!!

Some said being proud is a sin.... we we are going to have to sin then, and say there is a lot to be proud of at the Ashford Salvation Army Christian Centre. Despite what people might say - we have a great family of people - great leadership team - all far from perfect and they admit it - thats what makes them great. We are not professions in what we do, and far from what others churches are able to do and present- but we are seeking to be what God makes us and wants us to be. We have great church ministries, who are being very effective in what they are doing, we have people wanting to go deeper with God, new membership coming through, people of all ages and much more. We could go on, but here we want to go on about four people who we just love so much. Today, GCSE examination results day. Nathan, Ellie and Rachel and Gemma have all done so well - actually Nathan gets his results tomorrow! But whatever their results we love them, because they got through many months of studies, weeks of exams - and above all that have an amazing relationship with Jesus Christ and thats eternal, so thats really all that matters. BUT theres results were great too, and we thank God for being with them, and protecting and supporting them - and we know too they were well covered by the prayers of their church family as well. So, to you four guys, and everyone else, remember you are loved, accepted, valued for who you are ...... and well done for your results too.

SOUL SURVIVOR 2007

About twenty five people from our church - including some friends of members of our church - travelled to the Royal Bath and Wells Showground for Soul Survivor. In the main this is a Youth week, focussing on the Ministry of The Word and The Spirit, but attended by people of all ages. About 12,000 others attended with them. This is the third of such weeks, as so many attend this event! The week is full of worship events, lots of teaching, seminars, films, resource centres and much more, so there is lots of do. Camping is the way, and despite the weather in Ashford the soul survivors report they did not have much rain at all. The week was oversighted by Captain Sue, and supported by Clare, The James Family, Caroline, Rob and other older people who aided in many ways. Our assistant senior leader, Carl, helped massively again to make this possible with transportation and the use of his family caravan which was a great blessing. So much happened, and we are hoping that the soul survivors will add comments, but they saw people saved, healed, filled with the Spirit, and much more. We look forward to seeing God using them more and more as the see the fruit of the touch of His Spirit in the weeks and months to come - and we thank those who ensured it was possible it all happened. To see larger images click on it. We could not use all 70 plus pictures, mainly because we have seen enough of Rachel in these and see seemed to be in all of them......