Thanks to everyone who supported me in prayer whilst on WalkCumbria last week with Through Faith Missions.
It was an awesomeweek and Satan was injured. Many came to Christ and a lot more have been told that they are loved by God. Unity was growing between the churches and they have a fire in their belly now for evangilism.
Colchester could really do with inviting Through Faith Missions tocome and help out with mission here - its inspiring. Check out thelinks for what happened in Walk Cumbria and what Through FaithMissions is about:http://www.walkcumbria.org.uk/http://www.through-faith-missions.org/
They only work and get involved when local churches invite them along.
Going on the Walk was excellent and you really learn firsthand about bold but gentle evangelism. Next big mission is Walk Swansea Valley in September 2008 but there are shorter/smaller missions in the meantime.
God Bless,Joe
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
Opportunity to support a prayer room in Clacton
Some fantastic people in Clacton are running a 24/2 prayer room from 6am Friday 8 June to 6am Sunday 10 June.
Here's your chance to get involved!
Contact Dorothy Smith on 01255 426921 to book a one hour or longer slot in the prayer room.
The prayer room will be at 7 Wellesley Road, Clcaton on Sea, CO15 3PP.
(from Richard)
Here's your chance to get involved!
Contact Dorothy Smith on 01255 426921 to book a one hour or longer slot in the prayer room.
The prayer room will be at 7 Wellesley Road, Clcaton on Sea, CO15 3PP.
(from Richard)
Keep on Making Poverty History
Remember Make Poverty History? Live8? G8 at Gleneagles in 2005?
Well, 8 world leaders made some very important promises....
Click on this link to add your voice to make sure they honour those promises.
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/campaign/g8/index.htm
love Richard
Well, 8 world leaders made some very important promises....
Click on this link to add your voice to make sure they honour those promises.
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/campaign/g8/index.htm
love Richard
Friday, May 18, 2007
News from the Lakes Ministry
Hi All,
I was joined yesterday at the lakes by Ann Blackmore which was such a blessing as she really just goes with the flow and is such a blessing to the patients in there... thankyou Ann :)
Yesterday was a good time in the lakes... it wasn't particuarly spiritually hard going and we could really sense the peace and gentleness of the holy spirit. We spoke on resting in God's presence and on how we can leave all our baggage at Jesus' feet and just rest in his presence.
One of the patients sparked a discussion on how she felt when she was sectioned (detained against her will). she said how she has been wondering whether this was some sort of punishment from God.... so that steered the discussion onto God's grace and unconditional love.
A prayer pointer... there is a guy that has started coming reguarly that is very ecentric and is very dilusional... he thinks that he has led a life, that he quite clearly hasn't. anyway he has been quite disruptive and yesterday in the midst of the flow of the holy Spirit he started steering the meeting off in a different direction and to be honest I had to really shut my thoughts down and focus on God to get back on track. it was almost like he was there to throw confusion into the mix. Obviously not intentionally.. but I felt like this was abit of a counter attack from the enemy to disrupt the peace that was in the room. This guy brings a scientific argument to everything we mention and also has the ability to hook the other patients into his ramblings which are mostly fictional.... I long to see freedom in this guy!!! Yay!! Please pray against confusion!
I am away in singapore for the next lakes service... but I think that a couple of the team are still going to go in so we would still appreciate prayer cover as normal please.
I just want to add that I am so grateful for all the support you all give this ministry... It can be very demanding at times but God has some amazing things up his sleeve. We just need to keep pressing in and I truely believe that there will come a day when God's Glory will just be poured out in that place and we will just see the shackles fall off these lovely people!!
I listened to a sermon last night about God's glory.... and that before the Glory always came the order. This last year has been a year of God bringing order to our personal lives so that he can use us as pure yielded vessels to flow through us freely and also to prepare the ground in the lakes for what he is about to do!! So watch this space!!
Thankyou also to Ally who has been putting loads of time into organising the prayer and keeping great records of prophetic stuff and of what has been going on during the services.
Bless you all loads and thanks again
Sarah
I was joined yesterday at the lakes by Ann Blackmore which was such a blessing as she really just goes with the flow and is such a blessing to the patients in there... thankyou Ann :)
Yesterday was a good time in the lakes... it wasn't particuarly spiritually hard going and we could really sense the peace and gentleness of the holy spirit. We spoke on resting in God's presence and on how we can leave all our baggage at Jesus' feet and just rest in his presence.
One of the patients sparked a discussion on how she felt when she was sectioned (detained against her will). she said how she has been wondering whether this was some sort of punishment from God.... so that steered the discussion onto God's grace and unconditional love.
A prayer pointer... there is a guy that has started coming reguarly that is very ecentric and is very dilusional... he thinks that he has led a life, that he quite clearly hasn't. anyway he has been quite disruptive and yesterday in the midst of the flow of the holy Spirit he started steering the meeting off in a different direction and to be honest I had to really shut my thoughts down and focus on God to get back on track. it was almost like he was there to throw confusion into the mix. Obviously not intentionally.. but I felt like this was abit of a counter attack from the enemy to disrupt the peace that was in the room. This guy brings a scientific argument to everything we mention and also has the ability to hook the other patients into his ramblings which are mostly fictional.... I long to see freedom in this guy!!! Yay!! Please pray against confusion!
I am away in singapore for the next lakes service... but I think that a couple of the team are still going to go in so we would still appreciate prayer cover as normal please.
I just want to add that I am so grateful for all the support you all give this ministry... It can be very demanding at times but God has some amazing things up his sleeve. We just need to keep pressing in and I truely believe that there will come a day when God's Glory will just be poured out in that place and we will just see the shackles fall off these lovely people!!
I listened to a sermon last night about God's glory.... and that before the Glory always came the order. This last year has been a year of God bringing order to our personal lives so that he can use us as pure yielded vessels to flow through us freely and also to prepare the ground in the lakes for what he is about to do!! So watch this space!!
Thankyou also to Ally who has been putting loads of time into organising the prayer and keeping great records of prophetic stuff and of what has been going on during the services.
Bless you all loads and thanks again
Sarah
New date for Street Pastors meeting - 8 June
Thank you to all those who have got in touch about the forthcoming Street Pastors meeting. Being the first weekend of half term, there are a few people away who would otherwise like to be there, so we've decided to move the meeting on by two weeks.
The meeting will now be on
Friday 8th June, 9:30pm to 11:00pm, at Eld Lane Baptist Church.
A revised notice to this effect has been sent to churches for their notice sheets, but please could you spread the word to any you know who were intending to come on May 25th.
We've had lots of expressions of support for getting Street Pastors under way and although we're keen to get started, it's important that as many people as possible can take part in the early stages of setting up Street Pastors. This is worth doing well and we hope this change will enable more people to get involved.
As before, please could you let me know if you can get to this meeting. This not only helps with planning, but gives us an indication of whether this date works for people.
Thanks,
Tim Abbott
The meeting will now be on
Friday 8th June, 9:30pm to 11:00pm, at Eld Lane Baptist Church.
A revised notice to this effect has been sent to churches for their notice sheets, but please could you spread the word to any you know who were intending to come on May 25th.
We've had lots of expressions of support for getting Street Pastors under way and although we're keen to get started, it's important that as many people as possible can take part in the early stages of setting up Street Pastors. This is worth doing well and we hope this change will enable more people to get involved.
As before, please could you let me know if you can get to this meeting. This not only helps with planning, but gives us an indication of whether this date works for people.
Thanks,
Tim Abbott
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Report from Jesus Centre Prayer Room
Jesus Centre, Colchester 24-7 Prayer Room
22 – 29 April 2007
The Jesus Centre 24-7 prayer room was used by more than 40 people from more than 10 church congregations. There were also prayer requests posted into the prayer room by the local community. The prayer room hosted worship music sessions, united prayer with local congregations, soaking prayer and sessions with young people.
Here are some stories from people using the prayer room.
“I had a two hour slot in the prayer room. But it wasn't long enough.”
“I valued the community feeling in the prayer room. It felt like home. It was a wonderful place with intercession, worship and creativity going on all at the same time. It was a place of personal spiritual expansion.”
“I came back from a time away and walked into the prayer room. I fell to my knees from the presence of the Lord, crying, praying for Colchester and thanking God. I was led to pray for the homeless and The Lakes (psychiatric hospital).”
“I thought it would be just hard work, and that I'd only last ½ hour, but I stayed for 2 ½ hours!”
“My colleague from work came to the prayer room. He loved it. He said the smell of fresh baking reminded of him of his grandmother's house! He came back the next day to read more prayers and scripture, and to receive prayer.”
22 – 29 April 2007
The Jesus Centre 24-7 prayer room was used by more than 40 people from more than 10 church congregations. There were also prayer requests posted into the prayer room by the local community. The prayer room hosted worship music sessions, united prayer with local congregations, soaking prayer and sessions with young people.
Here are some stories from people using the prayer room.
“I had a two hour slot in the prayer room. But it wasn't long enough.”
“I valued the community feeling in the prayer room. It felt like home. It was a wonderful place with intercession, worship and creativity going on all at the same time. It was a place of personal spiritual expansion.”
“I came back from a time away and walked into the prayer room. I fell to my knees from the presence of the Lord, crying, praying for Colchester and thanking God. I was led to pray for the homeless and The Lakes (psychiatric hospital).”
“I thought it would be just hard work, and that I'd only last ½ hour, but I stayed for 2 ½ hours!”
“My colleague from work came to the prayer room. He loved it. He said the smell of fresh baking reminded of him of his grandmother's house! He came back the next day to read more prayers and scripture, and to receive prayer.”
And here's a report from St Lukes, Highwoods
Here's news of a prayer room that happened at St Luke's Highwoods, from our friend Gillian.
We’ve been encouraging people to pray at St Luke’s over the choosing of our new leader. There were even a couple of 6.30am prayer times in the prayer room! (I confess I wasn’t at those!) Numbers have been small and sometimes its felt discouraging at times but God has definitely been at work.
You may have heard already but I thought I’d let you know that it was announced in our Easter Sunday service that a new minister has been appointed for St Luke’s which is great news for us. His name is Jeremy Noles. He will be coming with his wife Gill and 2 daughters from Southend. He will start working here in September.
We have been very conscious of God’s hand being on all this. The day of the interview we had our little temporary prayer room open and over 20 people came at different times to cover the day in prayer. It was very encouraging to me as prayer leader that this happened but what was even more encouraging was that several people reported back to me afterwards about what an good time they had praying in the prayer room!
We were able to pass on to those involved in the vicar selection words the Lord had given as people prayed.We can use our prayer room for a while longer but the vicarage is going to be sold. I’m praying that the Lord will somehow provide us with a new prayer room!
We’ve been encouraging people to pray at St Luke’s over the choosing of our new leader. There were even a couple of 6.30am prayer times in the prayer room! (I confess I wasn’t at those!) Numbers have been small and sometimes its felt discouraging at times but God has definitely been at work.
You may have heard already but I thought I’d let you know that it was announced in our Easter Sunday service that a new minister has been appointed for St Luke’s which is great news for us. His name is Jeremy Noles. He will be coming with his wife Gill and 2 daughters from Southend. He will start working here in September.
We have been very conscious of God’s hand being on all this. The day of the interview we had our little temporary prayer room open and over 20 people came at different times to cover the day in prayer. It was very encouraging to me as prayer leader that this happened but what was even more encouraging was that several people reported back to me afterwards about what an good time they had praying in the prayer room!
We were able to pass on to those involved in the vicar selection words the Lord had given as people prayed.We can use our prayer room for a while longer but the vicarage is going to be sold. I’m praying that the Lord will somehow provide us with a new prayer room!
Report from St Stephens Prayer Room
Here's a report from the St Stephen's prayer room, back in January 2007...
Lots of people seem to have experienced a sense of God’s presence in the prayer room and a number of people said that the time went very quickly one person wrote “my time in the prayer room has been a wonderful moment of healing in a safe place where we felt able to be open with God and one another, 3 hours went very quickly.”
Someone else wrote ‘praise the peace of god in this place.’ There was also the chance to just relax and be yourself. One of our visions for the prayer room is summed up in this next quote that someone wrote during their time ‘be still and know that I am God … they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…’
During the week this theme of light has been a feature of some people’s comments in the prayer room log. Some prayed that our church would be a beacon of light for Colchester and Hythe. Some people felt strongly that God is seeking to give a voice to this church in our community and saw this church covered in light drawing many to his kingdom.
During the week many scriptures have been given, Mary was repeatedly given Isaiah 40 9-11 and 29-31 which we have repeated here:
“Jerusalem, go up on a high mountain and proclaim the good news! Call out with a loud voice Zion, announce the good news! Speak out and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah that their God is coming! The Sovereign Lord is coming to rule with power, bringing with him the people he has rescued. He will take care of his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs together and carry them in his arms; he will gently lead their mothers.”
“He strengthens those that are weak and tired. Even those who are young grow weak; young men can fall exhausted. But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.”
One friend who is an agnostic was reluctant to go but on entering someone prayed with him and he found it a comforting place and stayed for two hours.
The superb news is that our prayer room has inspired another prayer room at Wickham Bishops.
In addition we also felt the need to do more pray together and therefore a 24 hour day of prayer was arranged for 24th -25th March.
‘We give thanks to those who have built your church here. The mantle of stewardship is with us now and here. We are the laborers now, for the mill cannot grind with the water that is passed.’
Lots of people seem to have experienced a sense of God’s presence in the prayer room and a number of people said that the time went very quickly one person wrote “my time in the prayer room has been a wonderful moment of healing in a safe place where we felt able to be open with God and one another, 3 hours went very quickly.”
Someone else wrote ‘praise the peace of god in this place.’ There was also the chance to just relax and be yourself. One of our visions for the prayer room is summed up in this next quote that someone wrote during their time ‘be still and know that I am God … they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…’
During the week this theme of light has been a feature of some people’s comments in the prayer room log. Some prayed that our church would be a beacon of light for Colchester and Hythe. Some people felt strongly that God is seeking to give a voice to this church in our community and saw this church covered in light drawing many to his kingdom.
During the week many scriptures have been given, Mary was repeatedly given Isaiah 40 9-11 and 29-31 which we have repeated here:
“Jerusalem, go up on a high mountain and proclaim the good news! Call out with a loud voice Zion, announce the good news! Speak out and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah that their God is coming! The Sovereign Lord is coming to rule with power, bringing with him the people he has rescued. He will take care of his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs together and carry them in his arms; he will gently lead their mothers.”
“He strengthens those that are weak and tired. Even those who are young grow weak; young men can fall exhausted. But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.”
One friend who is an agnostic was reluctant to go but on entering someone prayed with him and he found it a comforting place and stayed for two hours.
The superb news is that our prayer room has inspired another prayer room at Wickham Bishops.
In addition we also felt the need to do more pray together and therefore a 24 hour day of prayer was arranged for 24th -25th March.
‘We give thanks to those who have built your church here. The mantle of stewardship is with us now and here. We are the laborers now, for the mill cannot grind with the water that is passed.’
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