Wednesday 30 July 2008

Strength in Weakness

..so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. - Isaiah 55:11

Personally I had a pretty bad day on Monday, my eyes were firmly fixed on me, I was tired and feeling a little bruised. I don't think I was the only one, others had come from long days in the heat, journeys back from holidays, nagging doubts about our ability or lack of likelihood that we would be used by God. What better place to be, these people full of weakness are those used by God, it is ALL in His strength.

John was not able to join us this evening, he was needed elsewhere, we were joined by Phil, Rob & Helen and of course family, Mary and her son Sam, Phil, Helen (Len) and Dave & Matt. Quite a team, there is a strong sense of family being built in this group not least because there are two physical families but also because we all feel united under Christ, marching out to The Vyne with a purpose, God's purpose, for which when he sends he will accomplish what he desires.

When we reached the rec there were four men playing a gaelic, hurling, throwing balls, large sticks, irish accents game in the middle of the field, not sure what the game is called, answers on a postcard. It felt like it was going to be an evening of prayer. We started to kick a ball about and then slowly in dribs and drabs young people started turning up and joining us until we had a game of football on our hands. One of the girls who came down had been to St Johns church earlier that day for Holiday Club, yep you guessed it, she was in Helen's group earlier and had not planned to come back on Tuesday, by the end of the evening she was booked up again! I couldn't help feeling that things that happen by God's will don't come back empty, nothing is wasted by him.

Another larger group turned up later in the evening, some flyers were found for the event in Knaphill in August on Friday nights all through August, should be grand nights any young people reading this. (we are on a small commission - only joking!!) Phil and Nen (Helen Coffee shop) went over to the larger group while the rest of us either coughed up a lung on the side of the now rather hot football pitch or talked to the youngsters we had already met. I saw the larger group and had real doubts about going over, not because of prompting, just fear. Eventually I plucked up the courage to go and join Phil and Nen, I was there for about 2 minutes and think they must have got a whiff of my O' De Bo De Football a short sharp cologne I had picked up not far from there!! I think it was a case of cramping their style a bit with these adults around, however we had made contact and this is where it all starts. Phil and I discussed our initial fears, thoughts of feeling like going over the top in the trenches (how much braver were those boys!) and how these small steps make great leaps forward into the future of God's plans.

God's word doesn't come back empty, we need to get it out there and watch it grow. I am so looking forward to next Monday....

For His Glory

George

==============================================================

Well, I wasn't able to make it out on Monday, but I joined Phil's group yesterday evening. This time there were just the three of us - Phil, Nick and me. Holidays starting, meetings and other stuff create shifts in the dynamics of these out-times, and each time this happens we learn something new about ourselves and about the way God works.

Yesterday evening was very similar to what George describes above. We prayed, drove down to the field (we usually walk so that we can visit houses on the way but this time there were too few of us to be on the field - where the kids expect us - and in the houses chatting), and arrived to find just three young people! One was a lad who I've described before. What comes out of his mouth is unadulterated stupidity. However, I've seen the way he is with the younger children and although he treats them roughly, he does so in a way that recognises their weaknesses. Holding a 7-year old upside down last night he says 'I'm not going to drop you on your head am I you *** ***'. As an adult it's hard not to intervene. What's interesting is that the small kids come back for more, and so far no bones have been broken.

I've reasons for believing that this lad is special and that God one day will use him powerfully. I hope that you will join me in praying with all your heart that this will be so. I've no idea how long it will take but I have a confidence that this will happen.

Anyway, we arrived and within 10 minutes there were enough kids for two sides in a football match. Phil and Nick ran themselves ragged, Nick was in goal, and I was a professional spectator praying on the side.

Phil displayed his leadership skills, stopping the match and calling time when one of the lads stopped playing so that he could complain he was on the 'wrong side'. In other words, although he was one of the best players on the field, he didn't like the rest of his team as much as he liked the players on the other team. He just stopped. Phil 'having a go' transformed the lad's attitude and his excellent playing transformed the play of the rest of his team too. Interesting... how like church is that! Sometimes it's good to call time-out and read the riot act. Life isn't comfy and perfect and sometimes we need to be challenged so that we take action ourselves, and in doing that inspire the confidence and will in others to step up to the mark.

Back at the ranch, (otherwise known as New Life Church), the three of us chatted and prayed. It's at these times of closeness that we discover how alike we are. Either God uses people with similar personality traits or almost everyone has the same issues in life. Doubt, a murky past, past failures, a feeling of inadequacy, currently poor earning power :o). The only difference between us and those who haven't yet found Christ is that they haven't yet found Christ. That feeling of purpose, being, confidence and love for one-another comes only from Him and is what we must share with others. As George says, 'it is ALL in His strength' - which is possibly why He uses us for the job - as His tools we're blunt, few in number, chipped and getting quite old :o) so when His plan works, it can only be down to Him.

Stay Blessed

John

Tuesday 22 July 2008

Monday and Tuesday

Many thanks to everyone who asked to be added to the blog's distribution list. I want to start this week by saying that I was touched by the comments that followed my chat on Sunday night. That said, I'd also like to say that today I've been reflecting on what, for me, was good about getting up and speaking. Having reflected, I've been left with some guilt because I enjoyed too much the round of applause and kind comments I got after doing a rap. I guess I enjoyed the feedback because that was the first time ever that I've been able to speak with any passion on any subject - and it felt good to have sparked any emotion in those who were listening. But there's a danger, isn't there, of not reflecting glory back to God when praise of that kind is received?


This work in Knaphill and Old Woking for me really is as much a journey of self-discovery as it is a journey of discovery about our Lord. I've found that just when I think I'm in the groove, the needle jumps out and I'm left having to fall back on Him. I think I know now a little of how Peter must have felt when the cock crowed. It's the realisation after an event that you've not properly honoured Him, that takes the wind out of your sails. Had it not been for going out yesterday evening and this evening, I would probably be feeling quite morose right now.

Anyway, enough of that. This week, the highlight on Monday was Helen's (Nen's)family turning out en-masse, with Nen walking and praying, Rob playing a massive game of football along with son, Matt, and Vicky bringing along her football-playing (currently trialling for Stoke) boyfriend - the appropriately named, Gazzer. On top of which Mary came with Sam. Mondays are turning into a real family affair and it's particularly heartwarming to see a loving Christian family moving out into a community that they've only recently moved to themselves.

This week we didn't have Len (formerly known as Helen) from St John's, Phil or George. So we went up to Alexandra Rec where we met our regulars - but they were just off to another party. So we wondered over to the other side of the field where there were another couple of groups and we had a great time.


Conversations were had - interesting chats where we learned that we have a number of people in common, and we started to realise what a small world this really is. The evening was gentle, the kids pleased to see us, and Rob demonstrated some footballing moves, the mental pictures of which have been indelibly imprinted in my mind for ever. My sporting skills were shown for what they are - completely non-existant. But the lads were really forgiving even after I'd let in my ninth goal.

Pray, please, for each of the Knaphill team. The Lord knows that a couple of our team are at points in their lives where potentially they will be hugely blessed. Please pray for His plans to reach fruition.


Tuesday - just back from another gentle evening, much of which was spent with a parent who has one of those lives that you couldn't make up. I'll simply ask for prayer for her - a softening of her heart, willingness to change, God moving in her life. George shared the Gospel with more kids, Phil, Nick and George played ball with a large number of them, again. Don't know where our lads' energy comes from. They're amazing. I spent a leisurely remainder of the evening dishing out drinks, and with Nancy chatting to some of the smaller kids.


The evening ended with another of those signposts. Walking back to the church we met a lad we'd earlier prayed to meet. Just like the one last week, this lad hasn't been around for several weeks. This is a lad whom Marcel gave a Bible some weeks ago. I've not really spoken to him before this evening but he struck me as someone with a gentle heart. He says he reads his Bible in his room most evenings, but I think he's actually quite keen to get instruction in it. It's one of those things - our team feels like it's being stretched - mainly because we can't be in several places at once. Please, pray for a strengthening of our team so that we can respond to requests like that. Either that, or that one of the churches sets up a Youth Alpha course, or something.


I tell you, when the weather is warm and the kids are happy - as they were again this evening - there is no time that I feel closer to God than I do when I'm out on the harvest fields in Old Woking and Knaphill. If God's laying something on your heart, then GO; ask questions later. Ready, Fire, Aim has been a motto I've lived by for many years. Life's more interesting that way, and it's great to be actively doing as the Lord asks - especially when He's actually holding the target.


Lots of love





John

Wednesday 16 July 2008

From George - Arks, Faith and Rewards

By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told. . . .

As a result, Noah became intimate with God. Hebrews 11:7 (MSG)

There is a feeling at the moment that we are not sure what we are building, however we know we are building. We are being called by God and we step out with that spirit firmly in our sails. Tonight saw the addition to the team of Rachel from St Johns church, also one of the foundations of the Tuesday night group Marcelle has moved on to fresh pastures. I am also going to allow the devil to get a big mention tonight as for me there is a strong sense at the moment that he is trying to disrupt and divide, normally I take all my encouragement from the Lord, however I want to thank the devil for his encouragement it means we are in the right place. He is often the easy target and if I'm honest I think we blame him for too much, however his prowl is noticeable and it is tough to ignore. Please pray for protection for all involved.

The plan for this evening (Tuesday) was for Phil and me to try and find one of the key figures in the Gloster Road project, a young lad with a history of trouble with the police and a bleak future without Christ. The other half of the group, Helen, Nancy and Rae were to go to the main rec and reach out to the group there. We thought it was going to be an evening of walking as the young lad can be hard to track down, last week he was on the run from the police. On walking up to his house he was just walking out the door, perfect timing. We had a brief chat outside before he challenged me to a game of snooker, he has a full size table in a shed out back. Amongst other things that were misspent in my youth was time on a snooker table, I kept that quiet for the time being. He wanted to play for a £10, so I said if you win I'll give you a tenner if I win I get to explain the gospel and what Christ has done for you, game on, he was up for that!!

He gave me a twenty point head start and I managed to win the first game (I've not played for a while and I think the Holy Spirit had a big part), he offered double or quits, so Phil said "if he wins again I get to pray for you afterwards", genius. Thankfully the Holy Spirit won 3 games, we explained the Gospel to him and were able to reference it to his own court appearance the next day. Phil prayed with him and it had great power. We couldn't give him a tract, he can't read so agreed to give him a DVD next week.

It was for me a great experience, two things I really love, telling people about Christ and playing snooker! (Heb 11:6 believe God rewards!!)

PLEASE pray for him. We met up with a few others on our walk back to meet the rest of the team and then returned to the church for a de-brief. It appeared Helen, Nancy and Rae had not had as positive a time and what this is down to we are not sure. As I alluded to earlier, we are stomping on Satan's ground and he has a habit of getting upset, a prowling lion. We need your prayers. They had some good conversations and Helen had an opportunity to have some in-depth chat with a group of girls. This is what church is all about for me, taking Christ to people letting him meet their needs and warning them of their danger without him. Although we may look silly out there sometimes, like building a boat in the middle of a desert, we act in faith and know that there is something happening that we cannot see.

What is better than becoming intimate with God, you can almost touch him in some of these moments? We felt a little thinly spread tonight with two of us doing one on one, is God telling you to GO and build a boat somewhere, maybe down Gloster road, maybe in Knaphill.....maybe somewhere entirely different?

George

[John: I'm almost lost for words. Thanks for this report, George. Had to get my hankie out for this one.

I find myself more and more wanting to go out; instead, last night I chaired a meeting but my thoughts and heart were in Old Woking.

Marcelle (who is moving on to another dynamic Christian movement [remembering Noah building a boat on dry land - well, Marcelle's ministry is with Christian Surfers]), Helen, Nancy, Catherine, George, Rae, Nick and Phil, your utter devotion, obedience and faith, and that of the Knaphill team, is an inspiration to me and it will be to others. What's becoming clear is that God is putting together teams who bring different strengths and gifts - all with one purpose but each person an individual with their own God-given approach and style. One person's good at one thing, another is good at something else. This hopefully will be encouraging to anyone reading who thinks they're not able to go out, for one reason or another, because they don't have the 'right' gifts or skills or lack confidence. I'd encourage you to pray about this, if that's a description of you. You can't be any more dense than me or have less sensitivity or be more unconfident. I'm certainly no better than you (these are not just words, I really used to dislike myself) and doubtless there are things you will be better at than anyone else. Is it perhaps that you're at the moment unable to recognise your own gifts? Ask God to show them to you.

It's by Faith and Grace that His plans will bring a rich harvest and I can truly say that I've never felt closer to Him than now. Love you all. Pray for our snooker-playing friend. JD]

Tuesday 15 July 2008

Helpful Words

From a friend of George's

"Yes George, a real blessing. Keep it up my friend, my prayers are with you all. I stumbled upon this passage yesterday whilst in fellowship. I did wonder why, I believe this is for you guys, please pass it on.

Isaiah 60:
Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see.
For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.
Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth,
but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you.
All nations will come to your light;mighty kings will come to see your radiance.
“Look and see, for everyone is coming home!
Your sons are coming from distant lands;
your little daughters will be carried home.
Your eyes will shine,and your heart will thrill with joy,
for merchants from around the world will come to you.
They will bring you the wealth of many lands."

Monday 14 July 2008

Keeping Faith

On the face of it, tonight was set to be a disaster. Satan had several dirty little tricks lined up for us but God overcame each of them and had the last laugh.

For good reasons we were short-handed; firstly Helen was away. Then Phil found himself in bed all day with a bad head and cold, and Sam had a school-related problem, one that he's not used to and that required his undivided attention. We didn't have the lovely gas bbq equipment that we had last week; the meat and bread supplies we had last week couldn't be obtained this week. I also found myself driving back to my home and the shop no less than four times because of little things that could have spoiled the evening - ok this was probably down to my failing memory again rather than anything satanic. While I was away there was a feeling that one of the neighbours looking out onto the green where we had set up wasn't happy with our being there.

A couple of days ago Phil said this...

"Sorry about this. Sometimes it happens, you try to plan something and everything works against it or makes it difficult to carry it out. The question is I think one of three things. Is it just a coincidence that it is getting difficult? Is it the Lord directing us to another day that would be better? Or is it that we are supposed to be doing it and the enemy is making it hard? We have come across this type of thing all the time in Gloster Rd. It hardly ever is the first one and it often is the last two reasons in equal amounts. This shows the need for constant prayer in decision making even for a bbq I suppose."

What actually happened was that Sainsbury's were selling 12 bread rolls for 29p, and burgers were a tenner for 30 from a nice little butcher in West End. George and Helen also had meat and rolls, so we were 'sorted' for not much more than £20. Then we were joined firstly by Ollie, George's friend, who sacrificed his football night to come out with us - George and Ollie came with their (St John's Church) charcoal bbq. Then Helen from The King's House, and Vicky her daughter joined us. Then Michelle, our walking-out spiritual support/prayer warrior turned up. And when we were out on the field, Helen phoned her husband Rob, who also came out and cooked our burgers. By the end of the evening we were a small army and the fellowship was great. Shirley, and then Malcolm, Sam's dad also joined us for the prayers at the beginning of the evening. He brought along his bbq in case we needed it. I felt we were truly blessed.

My first trips back home and to the shop were just niggly things forgotten, and rearranging one of our cars out of the way of a neighbour.

When I got back Michelle and Helen had visited the neighbour overlooking the field and explained that we were the local churches reaching out the young people. The lady who answered the door seemed to change her attitude to one of support.

Trip 4 turned out to be very interesting. Although I'd bought some large bottles of drink earlier this evening they were nowhere to be found when they were needed. They weren't in my car or in any of the bags so I asked the kids if they were desperate for a drink and they said they were, so I went home for them, but they weren't there. So I bought some more from the shop, and some cheese slices by popular request. George said that when I'd gone, the kids apparently said they were quite touched that I'd gone to get them drink because they'd said they were thirsty, and they started asking questions.

When I got back to the field the kids were enjoying their burgers. 'Why are you doing this for us?' one lad asked George. 'Because we're Christians wanting to start a little youth group meeting out here' he replied. Then, he took out of his rucksack some foot-long fake dollar currency bills with the Ten Commandments printed on them and handed them out. 'Look, we don't just give you food, you get money too.' What happened next will stay with me for a long time. The kids, who has been in little groups, formed one circle with George and asked him questions. 'What, I can't look at a girl and go, "pwhorr!"' George explained there's nothing wrong with appreciating beauty, it's lust that gets the thumbs down. 'Looking at this list and what we get up to on a Friday night, we're never going to get into Heaven'. 'Do you believe in Jesus?' 'George gave me a coin last week with the Ten Commandments on' piped up the youngest lad, etc etc etc, the questions and comments came thick and fast. It was great. There was no nastiness, no mickey taking and George truly had the Holy Spirit working in him.

After the burgers, George and Ollie were invited for another game with the ball. There was now friendship in the group. Throughout the time of interaction, Helen and Michelle were near the edge of the field praying! God was there with us, the atmosphere was electric with His presence.

It seems to me that even when everything seems to be working against us, when we're working for Him, when we pray and when we feel it's right, if we then push on regardless, God honours us. It would have been SO easy to cancel this evening and we thought about it. George was all for carrying on though, and earlier in the day I texted George and said 'prepare to be amazed'. The reason: as everything built up against us I felt ever more convinced that the devil truly hated what we were doing because he could see the way the evening was going to work out.

Last week, Nancy had three similar experiences that made her feel exhausted before the Old Woking bbq. Read George's blog below and you'll see that she had 5 or 6 kids sitting around her by the end of that evening, asking questions about God. I can tell you that she felt blessed by the end of that evening.

Without our Lord we'd be nothing. With Him we can join in His victory.

I'd love to encourage anyone who is reading this to do something different. Do it for God. Watch Him work. Whatever's on your heart, it's probably there because He put it there. Don't ignore it. If you do, you're missing one of the greatest privileges possible - witnessing Our Lord's grace working in those around you. I can't really describe the feeling that I get following an evening like this one. But it's a feeling any of us can have. All we have to do is GO.

With a little faith, you CAN.
(15th July footnote - just remembered I hadn't purchased the drinks at all. I'd gone to collect some kit from Phil who had got himself out of bed and wondered up to the church. I was early so went across to Sainsbury's to buy some fizz and bbq charcoal. But by the time I'd done this there was a queue of about 20, and no charcoal so I put the drinks back. In other words, I'm really losing it but God used that situation to His advantage because George noted the kids' reaction when I went for the drink, and decided to use the tracts this week, instead of in a few weeks' time as he'd intended.)


Tuesday 8 July 2008

Treasure in a Field

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and brought that field" - Matt 13:44 I get double honour tonight, the privilege of writing alongside John D and visiting the Gloster Road Project for the first time. It's funny, John and I were talking in the car before the visit that being a Christian was like the above parable, Jesus is worth so much more than anything we have here on earth that we should give up everything for the joy it is to know him. It wasn't until I got to the field tonight where the team do some of their work that I saw all the people that God counts as treasure in his field. There is an abundance of treasure in the field not far from Gloster Road. The team had planned in a barbecue with burgers, sausages, a few onions and some tomato sauce, most of which ended up on Johns shirt! Once the nearly 40ft (ok a metre) barbecue was brought from the van it wasn't long before the area was teaming with young people interested in what was happening. I really want to get across to you what a focal point these humble Christians are in this area, Nancy one of the team was sitting on the floor with 5 or 6 young people all sitting round her, it was a real picture of the trust that they had built up. Phil quickly set up a game of football, Helen (Kings House Coffee Shop and new addition to the team) Nick and Vicky set up the cooking and the fragrance of the barbecue hung on the air (OK OK its not a novel I know!!). The clouds had looked threatening before we set off, however we felt safe once we saw the most glorious rainbow that went from one side of the estate to another. It was a real lift to the team, a symbol of God's promises and that he was very much with us this evening. We all had that pot of gold with us and wanted to share it with these young people. I had a conversation with a young lad who was so humble and accepting. I went through the ten commandments with him and when I asked if he had ever stole anything he said "Yeah course I have, from that shop over there and I got barred for it...", wonderful! I explained the gospel to him and he listened attentively, please pray he understands and we get more opportunities to talk to him. We gave out loads of coin gospel tracts, there were about 45 taken in all. A group of young girls took a few different booklets and were asking lots of questions. Phil managed to talk to a new lad who had a young baby with him and unfortunately appeared to be smoking weed and had recently split from his girlfriend. Some of these people are in so much need, a touch from Jesus would truly transform their lives. There must have been 60+ young people around, they polished of around 80 burgers and sausages, with the odd one or two slipping my way! I have come away full of joy, blessed and burdened all at the same time. The burden is there is so much need here and not enough people to help, we could have had more conversations, more time, more prayer, more tracts given. This project needs people who are prepared to give up their treasure for the kingdom, Jesus said the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, therefore pray for more. We are praying. Could God be laying something on your heart? Are you looking for an adventure? I highly recommend it.....

George

Knaphill/Brookwood on Monday

Monday - started with prayer, then George, Sam, Helen and Phil went ahead while I changed my shoes and made myself 'comfortable'. I needed to get some drinks and crisps so they went ahead. My feet hurt and I thought I was being clever because I had the perfect excuse to drive to the shop and then up to the field. How wrong I was. When I got outside, George had parked his car behind mine so that I couldn't get out of the driveway, so I ended up walking to the shop and then to the field with a bag of drinks and crisps into the bargain. :o)

This week there were only six or seven young people, but there was a quality of conversation that we hadn't had before. Helen took about three minutes before she shared the Gospel. Seeds were sown, questions asked! Football was played with some lads, then Helen and George wondered off to see some college girls sat down on the other side of the field, to tell them about the intended bbq on Monday. They were pleased and welcoming. So far these conversations have all been welcomed. I had wrongly thought that most kids would tell us where to go, but so far it's not happened even once!

There had been a few young people that George had met with earlier, who were on their way to a 'party' in Woking Park. Sadly there was the feeling that there was going to be a lot of alcohol involved.

Next week we're planning a bbq on Alexandra Gardens Rec. Last week we promised them a bbq in a couple of weeks. At the moment we don't have a bbq to do it on, so it'll be interesting. You'll read in George's contribution to the blog - above - that this week we had a large piece of bbq kit borrowed from someone very kind in Ripley, but unfortunately they've their own party on Monday. We're trusting God to provide but if anyone has a large bbq or an idea where we can get hold of one then that would be wonderful.

Can't let this report go by without adding in what Sam said by email, 'John last night was awesome especially as i feel it was the first time we managed to get into real conversation about what we believe in....SAM" For those who don't know, Sam's at The Winston Churchill School, a young Christian but already maturing in a way that makes me wonder what I did with the last forty odd years of my life. With that one comment he's blown me away. On Sunday at Holy Trinity Church, Knaphill we talked of 'encouragement'. I'd like Sam to know that he's an encouragement to me and I hope an encouragement to others who might be wondering how to share their faith but perhaps are a little reluctant about doing it because of fear of rejection, fear of being thought foolish, or just fear. If you're frightened, don't be. Really. Don't be.

Lots of love
John