The Home Front
It's been ages since I did a blog. After all the excitement of Ethiopia, finding out our new appointment and the cell church conference my mind seemed to have so much to process that I couldn't seem to get it together for a blog.
I am grateful that life has not been flat and boring, since what for me was a momentous trip. This is not because anything particularly spectacular has happened but because I sense the Lord's hand is upon the future of Northallerton, our appointment to Pill and ministry opportunities I believe God will open up.
And even though there are only a few months left for us in Northallerton, there is I believe more that God has for us to do on this home front before we leave. So this blog is just a little update of where we are now.
Our little fellowship have to face the fact that as well as losing their "founding pastors" from July they will no longer have full time leadership. This is hard for them but they are showing some real backbone. They have responded with faith, and an openness to do what it takes to keep the flag flying. We love them.
Some in our fellowship have some health concerns so we had a healing service on Sunday and whilst we are believing for physical healing the whole process of reaching out in love for the needs of one another is deepening relationships.
The parents group I run at the school is growing and I really pray that this can be kept going. Just recently the Family Tracing Service was able to put one of the mums in touch with her Dad who she hasn't seen since she was a small child. The group were also really interested in my Ethiopia trip. I couldn't explain the pictures I showed them, without telling them the testimonies of the people they were seeing, so it was a brilliant opportunity to share faith in a natural way. A dad that has joined the group has SA connections and is interested in Alpha. The Kid's Alive club is also busier than it has ever been.
Alan continues to work in the town centre. He has so many contacts that it takes ages to walk from one end of the High Street to the other! He is planning to walk up it on Good Friday carrying a cross. A number of us have said we will go with him. The police are fine about it but there are still some daft "more than our jobs worth" restrictions to overcome from the council.
In the prison we just keep on with what we are doing. We are blessed at the moment with a Governor who really values Chaplaincy and often drops into our groups. He has recently started going to Church. We just tell the lads about Jesus and they listen, ask questions and some have come to faith. One lad not long ago had the courage to give his testimony in a chapel service which is fantastic.
If you want an easy life you don't decide to become a Church Planter. We have been planting for 13 years so we know that is true. This plant has had its fair share of difficulties and in the past conflicts. Yet God is keeping the promise he gave us from Genesis 26:22 "He named it Rehoboth, saying, "Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land."
God bless
Carol
It's been ages since I did a blog. After all the excitement of Ethiopia, finding out our new appointment and the cell church conference my mind seemed to have so much to process that I couldn't seem to get it together for a blog.
I am grateful that life has not been flat and boring, since what for me was a momentous trip. This is not because anything particularly spectacular has happened but because I sense the Lord's hand is upon the future of Northallerton, our appointment to Pill and ministry opportunities I believe God will open up.
And even though there are only a few months left for us in Northallerton, there is I believe more that God has for us to do on this home front before we leave. So this blog is just a little update of where we are now.
Our little fellowship have to face the fact that as well as losing their "founding pastors" from July they will no longer have full time leadership. This is hard for them but they are showing some real backbone. They have responded with faith, and an openness to do what it takes to keep the flag flying. We love them.
Some in our fellowship have some health concerns so we had a healing service on Sunday and whilst we are believing for physical healing the whole process of reaching out in love for the needs of one another is deepening relationships.
The parents group I run at the school is growing and I really pray that this can be kept going. Just recently the Family Tracing Service was able to put one of the mums in touch with her Dad who she hasn't seen since she was a small child. The group were also really interested in my Ethiopia trip. I couldn't explain the pictures I showed them, without telling them the testimonies of the people they were seeing, so it was a brilliant opportunity to share faith in a natural way. A dad that has joined the group has SA connections and is interested in Alpha. The Kid's Alive club is also busier than it has ever been.
Alan continues to work in the town centre. He has so many contacts that it takes ages to walk from one end of the High Street to the other! He is planning to walk up it on Good Friday carrying a cross. A number of us have said we will go with him. The police are fine about it but there are still some daft "more than our jobs worth" restrictions to overcome from the council.
In the prison we just keep on with what we are doing. We are blessed at the moment with a Governor who really values Chaplaincy and often drops into our groups. He has recently started going to Church. We just tell the lads about Jesus and they listen, ask questions and some have come to faith. One lad not long ago had the courage to give his testimony in a chapel service which is fantastic.
If you want an easy life you don't decide to become a Church Planter. We have been planting for 13 years so we know that is true. This plant has had its fair share of difficulties and in the past conflicts. Yet God is keeping the promise he gave us from Genesis 26:22 "He named it Rehoboth, saying, "Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land."
God bless
Carol
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