Good News

October 14th, 2008

Turn on the tele, open the newspaper, and we are surrounded with gloom and doom.  We’d do best to follow Paul’s advice by filling our minds and concentrating on whatever is true, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, anything which is excellent or praiseworthy. And then the peace of God will be with us.

So how about us? 150 people turned up for last Saturday’s church without walls on Heo Green on a cold and wet afternoon; lots of people were prayed for, with many asking when are we going to do it again.  This event was instigated by our Zoe; fantastic.

Over 20 ladies, many of them who have never had previous contact with a church or Christian belief, are regularly coming along to the Alpha group at noon on Fridays at Wickbourne.  This is raw and vibrant.  You wouldn’t think that Nicky Gumbel would be very relevant, but life-changing discussions are taking place. There is also the Tuesday evening Alpha where about a dozen people gather each week.  Jabez and Just Dessets are full of life.

We have baptised 10 people already this year, and we hope to baptise some more people in four weeks time. Lives are changing, forgiveness is flowing.  I hear many stories of acts of love and kindness that take place, well out of the public gaze.  Many of you give time and energy in lots of ways to serve quite voluntarily; brilliant. 

More and more children and young people are coming to our midweek activities.  There are regularly 40 5-10 year olds at Wednesday Kickstart, 20 at Friday Kickstart, 40 15-18s for Fuel on a Wednesday and 55 11-14s for Ignite on a Thursday.

Our Launchpad breakfast club team give 20 children a lovely calm and happy start to each school day, and the after school clubs at Wickbourne are flourishing, with 20 at Art Attack and 30 at Replay.  Isn’t that great?

At the beginning of the financial year in April, the church leaders set what is known as a negative budget, in other words, we were set to spend £40,000 more than we thought we might receive by the end of the year, and that was before the credit crunch!  Latest figures this week indicate that through people’s generous giving, our income is much better than expected, and we are on line for covering all our costs. 

We continue to be able to help others around the world.  Just this week Ranjan Fernando in Sri Lanka emailed to thank Links and us for providing new toilets for families, improving the lives of many. 

Let us dwell on the good things which are happening, and enjoy the peace of God. 

David Thatcher
 

Filed under: Thought of the Week