Send Evangelical Church
10 Broadmead Road, Send,
GU23 7AD
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31st October 9.30am
Holy Trinity Church,
Chobham Road, Knaphill
GU21 2SX
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7th November 6.30pm
Monday, 18 October 2010
Outside Light Church Services - Coming Up
24th October 10.30am
Send Evangelical Church
10 Broadmead Road, Send,
GU23 7AD
7th November 6.30pm
Send Evangelical Church
10 Broadmead Road, Send,
GU23 7AD
7th November 6.30pm
Sunday, 17 October 2010
Old Woking and Knaphill - Chalk and Cheese
MARRAKESH
Marrakesh is one of those places you love or hate - or perhaps you start off hating it and end up loving it. Certainly it was a culture shock when my wife and I were there a couple of weeks ago. The first three days were like hell on a jet-ski, with unfamiliar smells, lots of donkey droppings, mopeds that swarmed around us like angry bees, dodgy tummy and people who seemed intent on parting us from our cash by hanging snakes around our neck, or trying, uninvited, to balance a monkey on our heads. Actually, by the end of our six days holiday there we ended up loving it - though we won't want to go back :o)
OLD WOKING
Even with all the Marrakesh-mayhem going on around me I felt an inexplicable anxiety, not about our immediate environment, but about Old Woking Outside Light that Tuesday night.
It seems that my anxiety wasn't misplaced, because that night there were several problems with kids getting on to the church roof, a fire extinguisher being let off (£100 down the drain), stones being thrown at a volunteer's car, another volunteer having her arm pulled (a problem because she has physical health issues), and a row of kids sitting across the car park exit to stop volunteers going home.
So, it was with great regret that this last Tuesday we decided not to open, and to pray instead at Paul's home. Jackie and I (and later Nick) went to the church at 7 to tell the kids it wouldn't be opening - which wasn't well received, especially by a half-dozen or so of the kids who repaid us by swearing, calling us foul names and by one of them running over my van bonnet, up onto its roof! Another tried to prize open the church door as an Elder was entering for a meeting. I'm afraid I called the Police, more to show that I would do that than to get them into any trouble.
On the upside, an older lad who who was last year's 'challenge', told the others to behave else we might not open again!. Other kids pleaded with us to open and not let in the rowdy ones - because they 'really enjoy coming'. Another warned me to move my van, because some of the others intended to 'terrorise' me. I didn't.
When we met later at Paul's, we determined that we WILL open next week and that we'll ban, for two weeks, the half a dozen or so kids who caused most of the trouble the previous week and this week. We'll also explain that if they misbehave like that in future, they'll be banned for a year. Hopefully this'll get their attention - but we suspect that we'll be in for a rough ride nevertheless. I think that one or two of us will be parking our cars away from the site and walking there.
This IS a spiritual battle we're involved in. Some of the kids are only 11 but they've attitudes that wouldn't be out of place in lads who are much older and who are extremely street-wise (in a bad way). But we also know something of the background of three of them - which isn't unlike that of Jon Venables. We very much doubt that they know how it feels to be loved. We really want them to experience the love of Jesus. We HAVE to believe that their lives will one day change.
We therefore need your prayers, especially for these kids. It would be a terrible thing if these kids were cast aside - even though they're unlikely to do much to help themselves.
We can't let Satan win. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE PRAY!!!
KNAPHILL
This Thursday just gone at The King's House was, in comparison to Old Woking, heaven. Most of the evening the kids chatted, played on the Wii, played cards, decorated their fingernails, chatted some more and ate Pizza. We're really starting to build relationships there. The worst thing that happened was some of the local 'hard men' who are in reality as hard as immature Cheddar, decided to throw some of the pizza at each other, outside of the building. At the end of the evening as we finished packing up, a half-dozen girls came in and apologised on behalf of the other kids. Then they added how much they appreciate us opening for them, and that they know that we're all volunteers and that we don't have to do anything for them. Wow! I can't tell you how thankful we all were to hear what they had to say.
This Thursday just gone at The King's House was, in comparison to Old Woking, heaven. Most of the evening the kids chatted, played on the Wii, played cards, decorated their fingernails, chatted some more and ate Pizza. We're really starting to build relationships there. The worst thing that happened was some of the local 'hard men' who are in reality as hard as immature Cheddar, decided to throw some of the pizza at each other, outside of the building. At the end of the evening as we finished packing up, a half-dozen girls came in and apologised on behalf of the other kids. Then they added how much they appreciate us opening for them, and that they know that we're all volunteers and that we don't have to do anything for them. Wow! I can't tell you how thankful we all were to hear what they had to say.
PRAYER NEEDS
We'd love you to pray, please, for the young people of both groups -
- For those who are badly behaved and for whom there isn't really much hope of a future outside of prison.
- For those in Old Woking who are sensible and who find their lives blighted by those around them (for example by our closure of the drop-in through no fault of theirs).
- For the volunteers in Old Woking - to tell you the truth I worry for our ladies in particular. They're brave but I really think we could do with some more men to help.
- For improved relationships, not only in Old Woking but also Knaphill - to build upon the foundations that are firmest in both places.
- For the volunteers in Knaphill - to give thanks for those we have and to ask God for more to help so that the load can be spread.
- For more of the Holy Spirit in all Outside Light ventures.
- For more wisdom, especially in challenging circumstances.
- For the two OUTSIDE LIGHT church services that are about to take place, the first at Send Church on the 24th and the next at Holy Trinity Church, Knaphill, on the 31st.
Love
John
God is good, God is faithful and God uses us all in our weakness!
Last night a small but perfectly formed team ventured onto the wet and dreary streets of Woking. It was a fairly quiet night but we had some significant conversations and the opportunity to pray for people.
Andy and I talked to a couple of muslim young men who questioned us intently and intensely on our faith and on occasions seemed 'hell bent' on tripping us up. It was an animated discussion and we parted company with a wave, smile and an encouragement for us to keep up the great work we are doing. A side note here is that many of the muslims we come across all approve of what we are doing and think its right that we should be telling people about our belief in Jesus! it would be great to spend a session sometime looking at how we can effectively reach out to this group.
We prayed for T who has just come out of prison and is an alcoholic. He wants to turn his life around and be able to support his wife and 3 children. He is 27 today!
George and Anrdew spent a long time talking to 2 separate men, one had lost his job and the other was wrestling with karma etc.
There were many other conversations which i havent noted and these were of equal value!
Thank you to a great team and I would ask you all to pray that everyone we talked to last night would be open to the Holy Spirit and that God would work in their lives.
We want everything we do to glorify the name of Jesus!
Same time, same place next week - please join us ;-)
Blessings!
Julie
Andy and I talked to a couple of muslim young men who questioned us intently and intensely on our faith and on occasions seemed 'hell bent' on tripping us up. It was an animated discussion and we parted company with a wave, smile and an encouragement for us to keep up the great work we are doing. A side note here is that many of the muslims we come across all approve of what we are doing and think its right that we should be telling people about our belief in Jesus! it would be great to spend a session sometime looking at how we can effectively reach out to this group.
We prayed for T who has just come out of prison and is an alcoholic. He wants to turn his life around and be able to support his wife and 3 children. He is 27 today!
George and Anrdew spent a long time talking to 2 separate men, one had lost his job and the other was wrestling with karma etc.
There were many other conversations which i havent noted and these were of equal value!
Thank you to a great team and I would ask you all to pray that everyone we talked to last night would be open to the Holy Spirit and that God would work in their lives.
We want everything we do to glorify the name of Jesus!
Same time, same place next week - please join us ;-)
Blessings!
Julie
Friday Reaching Out
God is good, God is faithful and God uses us all in our weakness!
Last night a small but perfectly formed team ventured onto the wet and dreary streets of Woking. It was a fairly quiet night but we had some significant conversations and the opportunity to pray for people.
Andy and I talked to a couple of muslim young men who questioned us intently and intensely on our faith and on occasions seemed 'hell bent' on tripping us up. It was an animated discussion and we parted company with a wave, smile and an encouragement for us to keep up the great work we are doing. A side note here is that many of the muslims we come across all approve of what we are doing and think its right that we should be telling people about our belief in Jesus! it would be great to spend a session sometime looking at how we can effectively reach out to this group.
We prayed for T who has just come out of prison and is an alcoholic. He wants to turn his life around and be able to support his wife and 3 children. He is 27 today!
George and Anrdew spent a long time talking to 2 separate men, one had lost his job and the other was wrestling with karma etc.
There were many other conversations which i havent noted and these were of equal value!
Thank you to a great team and I would ask you all to pray that everyone we talked to last night would be open to the Holy Spirit and that God would work in their lives.
We want everything we do to glorify the name of Jesus!
Same time, same place next week - please join us ;-)
Blessings!
Julie
Last night a small but perfectly formed team ventured onto the wet and dreary streets of Woking. It was a fairly quiet night but we had some significant conversations and the opportunity to pray for people.
Andy and I talked to a couple of muslim young men who questioned us intently and intensely on our faith and on occasions seemed 'hell bent' on tripping us up. It was an animated discussion and we parted company with a wave, smile and an encouragement for us to keep up the great work we are doing. A side note here is that many of the muslims we come across all approve of what we are doing and think its right that we should be telling people about our belief in Jesus! it would be great to spend a session sometime looking at how we can effectively reach out to this group.
We prayed for T who has just come out of prison and is an alcoholic. He wants to turn his life around and be able to support his wife and 3 children. He is 27 today!
George and Anrdew spent a long time talking to 2 separate men, one had lost his job and the other was wrestling with karma etc.
There were many other conversations which i havent noted and these were of equal value!
Thank you to a great team and I would ask you all to pray that everyone we talked to last night would be open to the Holy Spirit and that God would work in their lives.
We want everything we do to glorify the name of Jesus!
Same time, same place next week - please join us ;-)
Blessings!
Julie
Saturday, 25 September 2010
New Look Blog - and Latest News
This is Outside Light's new blogspot, we've moved it to this location so that all leaders will be able to post to it rather than have to send their content to me.
Tomorrow is the first of a series of church services in which Outside Light will be making a presentation. This one's at Calvary Church - which meets at Goldsworth Primary School at 10am next to Bridge Barn.
This is George's new video that'll get first showing tomorrow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
The couple who were about to be made homeless have moved into a semi-detached house that's owned by St Mary of Bethany Church. There's no doubt in our minds that this only came about because of God's intervention - starting with Nancy feeling that she should telephone St Mary of Bethany Church because she'd heard that they sometimes let property. She didn't know at that time that the house had become empty only a couple of weeks earlier.
The response from members of New Life Church to Phil's appeal for funds, was amazing. Others at New Life negotiated with the previous landlord's agent for a 'stay of execution' for a couple of weeks. It was only after the successful outcome of that negotiation that the other property was 'discovered' by Nancy. The paperwork for the new property was done and dusted in super-quick time so that it was possible for the couple to move in last Saturday - which was the day by which they had to move out! All glory to God.
Tuesday night at Old Woking
The drop-in restarted earlier this week, with a bbq that attracted 30 or so youngsters. This was generally a good evening although the youngsters were in high spirits ( a little too high on occasion ).
Thursday night at Knaphill
We started the new drop-in at The King's House two Thursdays ago - and couldn't have hoped for a better start. John Holland's vision and enthusiasm has really helped this off to a great start - with activities such as nail painting (provided by Trina, John's wife) and friendship bracelet making (with Mary). There was a small incident on the first night with one girl trying to take a policeman's hat. But the evening ended with another girl coming back after all the others had left, to apologise for their behaviour and to say thanks for putting on a 'great evening'.
Friday and Monday Nights
Hopefully Phil and George will update us shortly.
Tomorrow is the first of a series of church services in which Outside Light will be making a presentation. This one's at Calvary Church - which meets at Goldsworth Primary School at 10am next to Bridge Barn.
This is George's new video that'll get first showing tomorrow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
The couple who were about to be made homeless have moved into a semi-detached house that's owned by St Mary of Bethany Church. There's no doubt in our minds that this only came about because of God's intervention - starting with Nancy feeling that she should telephone St Mary of Bethany Church because she'd heard that they sometimes let property. She didn't know at that time that the house had become empty only a couple of weeks earlier.
The response from members of New Life Church to Phil's appeal for funds, was amazing. Others at New Life negotiated with the previous landlord's agent for a 'stay of execution' for a couple of weeks. It was only after the successful outcome of that negotiation that the other property was 'discovered' by Nancy. The paperwork for the new property was done and dusted in super-quick time so that it was possible for the couple to move in last Saturday - which was the day by which they had to move out! All glory to God.
Tuesday night at Old Woking
The drop-in restarted earlier this week, with a bbq that attracted 30 or so youngsters. This was generally a good evening although the youngsters were in high spirits ( a little too high on occasion ).
Thursday night at Knaphill
We started the new drop-in at The King's House two Thursdays ago - and couldn't have hoped for a better start. John Holland's vision and enthusiasm has really helped this off to a great start - with activities such as nail painting (provided by Trina, John's wife) and friendship bracelet making (with Mary). There was a small incident on the first night with one girl trying to take a policeman's hat. But the evening ended with another girl coming back after all the others had left, to apologise for their behaviour and to say thanks for putting on a 'great evening'.
Friday and Monday Nights
Hopefully Phil and George will update us shortly.
Thursday, 9 September 2010
What can I say?
Humble apologies for the length of time we've been off-line. The youth teams did have a quiet August but in truth by the end of July we needed the rest. :o) That's not to say that all of the Outside Light Team rested - far from it!
During August the Friday night team has been going to the town centre between 8pm and 12 of a Friday night. They've taken drinks and sweets and met with clubbers/drinkers/revellers, as you might expect, and also with some people who are homeless and others who have massive problems with drugs and alcoholism. They've prayed with people, chatted to them, answered questions, valued them.
Coming from this a small Bible group has started on a Monday night, meeting at New Life Church. Phil will write more about this in due course, but he's been busy trying to help one particular couple who are threatened with imminent homelessness. (It's complicated).
Both Old Woking and Knaphill drop-ins will be starting up again next week, Nick and Paul will be leading the Old Woking group based at New Life Church. John Holland is heading-up the new Thursday evening drop-in which is to be based at The King's House. Tonight several of us walked around Knaphill handing out leaflets promoting the new Thursday drop-in and we met around eight or so of the kids who are well-known to us and are looking forward to the free pizza. Free pizza's always guaranteed to get their attention. Thing is though, they saw us walking toward them in the park and while we were still 20 yards away they were shouting hi to us and were really chatty and pleased to see us.
We're hoping to be able to provide activities for them so we're really, really praying for Christians with skills such as nail painting, crafts, smoothie-making etc etc, anything that'll be interesting to the young people, to make some occasional time available on either or both Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
There's a need for young people to have positive contact with adults. It's rewarding when there's trust built. Anyone who does this for the first time might well have their perception of young people challenged. If you're thinking of coming along, you'll find it's worth it just for that experience.
Prayer-needs:
During August the Friday night team has been going to the town centre between 8pm and 12 of a Friday night. They've taken drinks and sweets and met with clubbers/drinkers/revellers, as you might expect, and also with some people who are homeless and others who have massive problems with drugs and alcoholism. They've prayed with people, chatted to them, answered questions, valued them.
Coming from this a small Bible group has started on a Monday night, meeting at New Life Church. Phil will write more about this in due course, but he's been busy trying to help one particular couple who are threatened with imminent homelessness. (It's complicated).
Both Old Woking and Knaphill drop-ins will be starting up again next week, Nick and Paul will be leading the Old Woking group based at New Life Church. John Holland is heading-up the new Thursday evening drop-in which is to be based at The King's House. Tonight several of us walked around Knaphill handing out leaflets promoting the new Thursday drop-in and we met around eight or so of the kids who are well-known to us and are looking forward to the free pizza. Free pizza's always guaranteed to get their attention. Thing is though, they saw us walking toward them in the park and while we were still 20 yards away they were shouting hi to us and were really chatty and pleased to see us.
We're hoping to be able to provide activities for them so we're really, really praying for Christians with skills such as nail painting, crafts, smoothie-making etc etc, anything that'll be interesting to the young people, to make some occasional time available on either or both Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
There's a need for young people to have positive contact with adults. It's rewarding when there's trust built. Anyone who does this for the first time might well have their perception of young people challenged. If you're thinking of coming along, you'll find it's worth it just for that experience.
Prayer-needs:
- A young woman and her younger brother (well-known to us at Outside Light) who's mother has been diagnosed with bowel and liver cancer. The boy hasn't been to school because there wasn't the money to buy uniform. Nick will be sorting something out there in the next couple of days on behalf of Outside Light.
- The couple who will be homeless on the 18th of this month who need nothing short of a miracle to help them.
- The re-start of both the drop-in's at Old Woking and Knaphill. Please especially pray for John Holland who's taking this on as leader for the first time. And give thanks for his enthusiasm and sense of fun too.
- Phil and the time and effort he's putting into Friday nights and to the young couple who are about to become homeless.
- The Friday night team - which goes out faithfully every week
- Christians to come forward on an occasional basis on Tuesdays/Thursdays, and share any skills with young people.
- The young people we meet, their growth, relationships and most of all the change in their lives that can come from only one source.
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Hot Stuff
Things are hotting up not just in the weather but outside on the streets. Outside Light is continuing its outreach in the streets of Woking. One of the problems in the summer is the ground gets a little harder, this is certainly true spiritually too, people have hearts that are hard to the good news of Jesus Christ.
Friday night we continue to venture out into the heart of Woking between 10.00pm and 12.00am every week, giving out tea & coffee, sweets, helping people and sharing the good news of Christ. There is always a steady stream of people to talk to and conversations to be had. We have seen a real breakthrough with a group of people who are now regularly coming to a bible study on another evening. A homeless guy has given his life to Christ and is now starting that journey of recovery and we would love your prayers for him and his addictions. We have also met a young woman who is going to begin a bible study course in August and is keen to learn more about Jesus. It is safe to say we meet lots of other people who seem un-interested, who are sometimes argumentative, we are always fully aware, as Paul wrote in Corinthians, that to some we will be the aroma of life and to others the aroma of death, but we rejoice in stepping out for Christ.
The team that ventures out in Knaphill have now moved their day to Thursday evening and are looking to open up a drop-in centre in the Kings House coffee shop Knaphill, some new volunteers will be joining this team and John Holland has now begun heading up the group and has some great ideas and passion.
Tuesday nights are potentially looking to help another group in Old Woking towards the end of the summer to get a group going in Westfield, it is so encouraging to see where God is leading and what he wants to do across Woking.
It is a race and we are in it for the long haul, this is not a sprint but a marathon. There are times when we are running up-hill and wondering when the end is going to come. There are glorious days when we are running down hill wind in our face revelling in the opportunity. There are times when it is just steady and plodding along.
One thing we know is we are not giving up 'till we CROSS that finish line into the arms of our Lord and Saviour arms stretched out wide his scarred hands wrapping around us welcoming us home. In the meantime keep pressing on!
We really need more workers too for all the opportunities that are opening up at the moment, will you join us, do you know someone who could or would benefit, do you know someone who could do with a visit? Please drop us a line.... info@outsidelight.org. You could join us just to make a cup of tea for the volunteers - or to help clear up after a busy night. You could join us and pray, but not take part in the various activities. If we were a football team we'd have a trainer, physio, manager, striker, defender and mid-fielders. There's be someone to launder the kit, someone else to cut the grass on the football field and so on. If you're a grass-cutter then come along. If you're a tea-maker, we love drinking tea (or coffee in my case). You might not be able to make it every week. Fine! if we had loads of people prepared to help out then we could all take it in turns and ease the pressure on the few who turn up every week - sometimes two or three times a week.
We need all kinds of people to help. This is the Lord's work and he's given you gifts to use for his glory - so this is an opportunity for you to use them - and to walk with God and see him at work, close-up.
We need all kinds of people to help. This is the Lord's work and he's given you gifts to use for his glory - so this is an opportunity for you to use them - and to walk with God and see him at work, close-up.
Blessings
George
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