I've just seen this video and want to share it with you http://www.newlifechurch.org.uk/downloads/Video/Gloster%20Road.wmv You've seen what I've said about Phil Hazelden and his team, now you can see a video - if you have broadband, (just click on the link. If you don't have broadband, please find someone who does - come to me if you like, but please do it). It's a snapshot of the work they've undertaken building up relationships in the community near to their church. For me, it's the interviews with the kids and parents that tell the story and I hope it's a story that you can buy into by supporting Phil and his team in prayer and by keeping on doing that, just as they're faithfully keeping up their work in that community.
On Tuesday I went out again with Phil and his team and first we all prayed to meet a lad who had expressed interest in learning about God but who hadn't been seen for a while. As we left the church, there he was on the other side of the road, going into the chippie. God's really good at answering prayer like that! Marcelle chatted with him for a while and the lad thanked him for 'the book' which he has started to read. Prayer needed there; he's started at the beginning so Marcelle is going to help him with bible notes next week.
Phil and I spoke about how best to support the work in Old Woking and to grow it further afield, and so we're now looking at forming a charity under the name, Outside Light. I'll be talking to friends and contacts about that this week. The idea would be to provide support and to try to oil the wheels, so to speak. For instance, they would like to be able to hold bbq's for their young people but lack the resources to cater for H&S and insurance. Our hope is that by formalising under a name and addressing the backroom stuff that Phil's group hasn't the resources to undertake, we won't just address those kinds of issues for them but will create a pattern for other groups to follow too.
Earlier in the week I also spoke to a really helpful officer at Woking Borough Council, Sarah Henderson, Youth Development Officer, and discovered that the Council is very proactive in supporting youth projects and is supporting Andrew Hargreaves who is a Community Development Worker with a project. On land in Goldsworth Park Andrew hopes to be able to place a redundant sea container, of the type you'll have seen on films, with doors, they're quite large metal boxes. In this they plan to run a motorcycle repair project, to attract young people and teach them something practical. In itself this isn't a Christian project, nevertheless it's a positive one and interesting to relate here.
Sarah also told me that Knaphill Residents' Association are actively looking at providing indoor facilities for the young of Knaphill. Interestingly, that's called Inside Y out H, which sort of dovetails with Outside Light and seems to suggest that the two groups could work together in some way. I've made an initial contact with them and plan to meet soon.
Phil's team had prayed a long time last week at their admin meeting (these tend to be more prayer than admin) and from this they had decided to meet on St Peter's Rec. When we got there, there were lots more young people than they'd seen before in one group, many of them they'd never seen before. It was almost as though the team had cast its nets on the other side of the boat and were reaping the benefits. Conversations were had, relationships were started, plans were made and Phil joined in the football. Meeting there is good.
The thought occurred that one of the sea containers could be a useful addition to a quiet corner of St Peter's Rec, where it might make a useful store, meeting place, drop-in. I hope that Sarah will be able to give us some encouragement about that.
On the way back we met one of the lads that we'd met on Waterer's Park - the chap who had lost his grandmother. It seemed that God was punctuating that evening with another small sign that we're on the right path - small signposts that tell us not so much where we're going but where we've just been. As George says, it's important to GO. Phil's group has acted in obedience these past couple of years and they've gone out into their community. There's no doubt in my mind that God is rewarding their faithfulness. It's not until you take action under the direction of The Holy Spirit that you see the result.
PLEASE, PLEASE, pray for:
- The lad who is now reading the Bible
- Phil's group and how they might best be helped
- Thank God for his signposts
- Outside Light and what is its future?
Much Love
John
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