HOLIDAY 2008

HOLIDAY 2008, took with us 38 people, mainly from Ashford, to enjoy the beautiful South Devon countryside, and staying in Torquay at the Red House Hotel. We were pleased this year to be able to share with more than the last few years, and therefore required more space and a full coach to be able to accomdate everyone. Three day outings were included to the Eden Project, Exeter and a coach trip on Dartmoor, including stops at Totnes and Buckfast Abbey. For many the visit to Buckfast Abbey was their highlight, and being able to enjoy the peace and beauty of this place a great inspiration. On free days people travelled to various places, including Bygones, Teignmouth, Brixham, Paignton Zoo and Babbacombe model village. The hotel food was amazing, and the facilities including swimming pools, games room, gym and jacuzzi, enjoyed by many too - including the beauty treatment. It was special as always, to see people of all ages coming together and spending time together. A devotional booklet, entitled TRUTH - and nothing but, was prepared by the senior leaders, and used by many which helped people have some spiritual input into the week. On the Sunday the majority of the party worshipped at Torquay Salvation Army and received a warm welcome. Some were even invited to sing in the songsters! Many returned valuing this time. We are grateful to all those who brought so much to the week and helped support each other and be there to enjoy time together.

NEW MEMBERS WELCOMED

SUNDAY 1ST JUNE was a special day for the church as we formally welcomed three new members. Stuart Marshall has been attended the church for some years, having started to attend with his wife and family. He thanked the leadership team for accepting his application for membership, and his wife for helping him rediscover faith that had laid domant for so long. Inga Fitzgerald has been linked to the church for some years, especially through the home and family meeting on a Wednesday. Inga underwent a major operation last year and when she realised that her life had been given back to her, thanked God and believed the church and their prayers had helped - with God - to save her life. In her words she thanked everyone for making her feel a part of the family. BP started to attend after meeting the senior leaders (who were neighbours) and started to get involved with catering at THE EVENT and after that at events throughout the week. BP decided to make the church her spiritual home. Eunice Westpfel, who was welcomed as a member some days before in a more private ceremony, was also prayed for publically and celebrated as part of this public ceremony. We thank God for this day and the opportunity we have had to welcome more people into the church family and recognise who God has called them to be - and where.

SUNDAY 1ST JUNE 2008

THE EVENT for June was a Songs of Praises event, and featured a wide selection of the church family who chose certain songs and outlined why the song meant something to them. Captain Susan led and orgainsed the meeting, which despite people arriving back off holiday yesterday, saw a full hall, with more seats needed than had been put out. The meeting also included the welcome of new members, which is reported in a seperate area.

DEAR FRIENDS....

DEAR FRIENDS..... we are writing to say that about 40 members and friends of the church will be travelling to Torquay for a weeks holiday tomorrow morning. We will update the blog as and when we can upon return. In the mean time, we are grateful to our assistant senior leader Carl, who will be leading morning worship at our church centre at 10.30am on Sunday morning. DON'T MISS SUNDAY 1ST JUNE which will return to the school at 10.30am, for THE EVENT - this month being a Songs of Praise. There will not be a meal to follow. As part of this special meeting we have the welcome into membership of about four people.

Sunday 8th June: we welcome for the day, guest speakers Majors Jenine and Paul Main

Sunday 15th June: as part of our morning celebration we will be enrolling some new junior soldiers as we will also be doing so on Sunday 22nd June.

TWENTY FOUR ACCEPT JESUS!

FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS, The Kingdom Kids have been exploring what it means to be a follower of Jesus, and how the impact of Jesus in a believers life is amazing. This evening, after a week of prayer from members of the church, twenty four young people prayed the prayer of Salvation and invited Jesus Christ to be a part of their lives. It was a very moving experience to see so many make a response, and then praying. PLEASE do pray for these children as they move on with Jesus, and that they will keep growing in Him in the weeks and months to come - guess really its about watching this space!

ASHFORDS GOT TALENT....

As part of their annual appeal challenge, the Kingdom kids are holding this very special event in June. To order your tickets see the children's ministries officer, Clare, or a Junior Soldier in the church. Please support this important event

OUTREACH GROWS AND CONTINUES

THE SOUTH ASHFORD OUTREACH into the heart of Stanhope continues every Thursday, under the leadership of Envoy Val Barkley, supported by District Pastor Elsie Willis and team. This week over sixty people attended the 'drop in' which provides FREE refreshments, and opportunity to chat and meet with friends, as well as make friends. The project is bringing in people of all ages, and each week it is good to see regular faces as well as new ones. For further information contact Envoy Val

NEW MEMBER WELCOMED

EUNICE WESTPFEL was welcomed today as a member of our church family. Eunice has been attending the church for some months now, and came after an invitation from her older daughter Caroline, who is a soldier at the church. Eunice came also with her other daughter, Sarah-Jane and her son, Charlie. The 'ceremony' was held in the church's quiet room, and was a private ceremony, attended by her two daughters, and supported by our discipleship officer, Lyn (pictured to the left of the picture). Captain Susan Woodgate is also pictures (far right). We thank God for the blessing of a new member in the family.

DEEPER.....

DEEPER tonight was an amazing night - you missed a very special time. We looked at similar to last time, to start with, the impact of the anointing of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. We then shared some of the amazing testimonies coming from days of refreshing in Florida, and how God is reviving His People and people are coming to Salvation. We recognised the importance that our own hearts were ready for a visitation from God, that there was room in our hearts for Him, and tha we were reaching out for the blessing - not for our Glory, or the Glory of The Salvation Army - but for the Glory of GOD. And as we prayed, God's spirit descended, as we prayed God released to speak words and see pictures - and as we prayed His Spirit continued to minister. One person requested prayer and God's power was so strong He fell under the touch of His Spirit. A further person then was over come by the Power of the Spirit and the testified to feeling that they were burning, this released someone else to share the same, and to say they felt they were burning, and they recognised that God was there! God then brought people to their knees, His Spirit touched us, and we were blessed. We pray others will be because we have been - we do not want to keep this blessing to ourselves. Maybe you did not come tonight because you were tired, or you did not have the passion or desire to. We pray with all our hearts you will have a desire to ensure time is set aside to meet with God through these opportunities, because you too, are a person God is wanting to bless tonight.

if you want to know more about the blessing and power of God, then contact us today, and we will pray with and for you.

NEXT SUNDAY

Advance notice: Next Sunday being the week of the church holiday, thus about 40 attending this, sunday morning worship will take place at our church centre and will be led by our assistant senior leader, Carl. There will only be morning worship.