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5 days ago

Grace Extends in Hyde Heath

Most of our projects have one thing in common – a persistent person unwilling to give up. Here is an account of grace extending in Hyde Heath.

Philip Woodley would not tell you this himself. That’s why I’m going to. Keeping the work going at Hyde Heath has not been easy – far from it!

Some have questioned whether the work was needed or not. Some have queried whether it was a wise expenditure of time and resources. Fair questions.

Some wondered about the plan to construct a manse. Wasn’t that getting the cart before the horse? Would even the provision of accommodation be enough to help them attract a worker? Again, fair questions.

Some wondered why the services of Paul Barton were so doggedly pursued. Were we desperate? Could we not take no for an answer? Once more, fair questions.

Philip has never dodged questions. He has simply shown an unwillingness to answer them in the way some expect. He has shown – God knows – a remarkable spiritual determination to keep going for God’s glory.

Perhaps that’s why he gives thanks to God that the manse has not only been completed but that it is occupied by Paul Barton and his growing family.

Perhaps that’s why he rejoices that 32 were in attendance at this month’s Messy Church for children and their families.

Perhaps that’s why he is pleased that two people are considering the possibility of baptism and church membership.

Please give thanks to God for Philip’s unwavering commitment to the work at Hyde Heath. Please thank the Lord for the support his wife Heather continues to give him and the church.

Give thanks to God for Paul’s ministry in Hyde Heath as well as in nearby Chesham.

Please ask the Lord to give us more people with spiritual determination.

“For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:15 ... See MoreSee Less

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1 week ago

Grace Extends in Chelmondiston

There’s a lot of talk these days about ministry in hard places. One of the hardest places for ministry in 21st-century Britain – though seldom if ever mentioned in such discussions – is rural villages. Here is an account about how grace is extending in one such village - Chelmondiston.

If we’re honest most pastors are ‘affected’ by attendance at church services. If attendance is higher than usual, we feel encouraged. If numbers have dropped for some reason, we can feel a bit deflated. This is true regardless of church size or location.

For some of you if your Sunday attendance was 12 adults, you would be looking for an exit strategy. How can we continue like this? Is the work viable? These are legitimate questions requiring thoughtful consideration.

However, if you are ministering in a place like Chelmondiston on the Shotley Peninsula out from Ipswich, having 12 adults in attendance plus some little ones is a cause for encouragement.

Dave Kelland sent me a message recently to share that exact piece of news. Not only that, he told of how a spiritually mature lady was seeking membership in the church. These are massive encouragements in a village setting. Find that hard to believe? Let me suggest you ask someone serving in a village setting. They can tell you.

But though there are encouragements, challenges remain. Feelings of isolation. Looming financial concerns. Unwarranted criticism from naysayers. Unwise counsel from friends. These are all part and parcel of village ministry today. Please pray for Dave and the ongoing work in Chelmondiston. May grace indeed continue to extend in that village and beyond.

“For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:15 ... See MoreSee Less

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1 week ago

Grace extends in Govan

No two persons are the same. Every person is the same. Read this brief update about how grace is extending in Govan, Scotland.

Q: “How do you minister to people whose lives are so desperate and transient?”

A: “You mean you don’t?”

Ministering in one of the country’s most broken areas is challenging. But life without Christ is desperate and transient anywhere. If it is affluent and comfortable as well, that’s just a smokescreen. Wealth and social stability only mask the underlying spiritual problem that people have: they are alienated from God and facing judgment.

So, pray for Grace Baptist Church Govan, led by Dan Funke, with his wife, Monet. Pray that their Sunday service and Thursday drop-in would be well attended by those who are broken. Be it drugs, alcohol, relationship hurt, abuse, poverty or seeking asylum, Jesus is the real answer.

Life moves fast in Govan. People come and go. Pray that the gospel would come savingly into the lives of those who are passing-by. It is encouraging that Govan’s first convert was from Islam. May God encourage them that there is no condition so hopeless that Christ cannot save people from it.

Pray that nominal attenders at Govan would be stirred into life. Even as Dan’s progress is evident to all, pray that God will attend the preaching of the gospel with saving power and add to His church those who are being saved.

“For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:15 ... See MoreSee Less

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1 week ago

Grace extends in Halling

Advised to call it a day, sell the premises, and invest the proceeds in gospel work in a more strategic area, the friends at Halling bucked the trend and invested their money in revitalising the work in their ‘unstrategic’ village. Here is an account of how grace is extending in Halling.

Last Saturday at a meeting in Dunstable, Hezron Muwowo referred to the work at Halling in his sermon. He thanked the Lord for ‘turning a fire station into a chapel.’ It was a highpoint in the sermon for many – including me.

However, God has done something even more remarkable than that. Over the last several years, he has turned a village chapel into a vibrant church. Not content with merely surviving, they are intent on thriving to the glory of God.

Not only are they continuing to reach out to Halling. They have a weekly witness in Snodland at a market stall and a weekly worship service in another village – Ryarsh. They still can’t shake the desire to see something begun in Maidstone either.

Later this year (September-November) we will come alongside the church in Halling for three training days. It is hoped these days will serve as a taster for those desiring to receive training in evangelism, church planting, and church revitalisation particularly in village settings.

Please pray for the ongoing work in Halling and other unstrategic places as well.

“For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:15 ... See MoreSee Less

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