Night Church

Tonight’s night church was very quiet to start but ended up very busy. For the first couple of hours it was quite quiet so this gave the team another opportunity to catch up with one another’s stories and this time was interesting.

For the last couple of hours I was speaking with a group of guys that were very negative and looked for opportunities to test the team on believe or non believe, true or false. This time was very challenging for us all and there was no way it was easy talking to them. All we can hope is that we done enough to sow some goods seeds and pray that they grow.

At the end of the day, we need to pray for Jesus to take control of their lives and bring then to a place of charm and peace. Unexpectedly no sooner these guys went after about one 1/2hrs two more guys came in very challenging to.

Thankfully one of the guys was actually interested to find answers to the why this and why that’s. During our hour or so chatting, we shared many stories and when the time to go came around it felt the night went well overall. Do not get me wrong, at times, it was hard but I think God without doubt had his way tonight.

Once again, it was good going out to serve Jesus. I am glad Jesus was able to use me tonight. The team was low on numbers tonight having just four of us for most of the night so we all need to pray that we get more help for next time.

Street Pastors

This weekend I am attending an introduction into street pastors held in Manchester. Tonight was a very interesting evening with a talk form the director of street pastors. Street pastors is more than just preaching the bible at people, it is much more than that.

On one occasion, we found that street pastors went round picking up litter in a community and the amazing thing was people came out of their houses to help yet before the street pastors started to clear up the area, locals never even thought about it.

Street pastors are bridge builders in the community, they earn the right to share the gospel and act and be like Jesus. People do not like to be preached to but they do like seeing the street pastors on the streets to help.

There are so many story’s to share about how street pastors work and where they work. There are many skills a street pastor needs to have, and not everyone can be a street pastor for a number of reasons. I will be sharing some of these stories over the coming weeks.

Over the coming weeks I will be updating this blog with a progress on how near Stoke On Trent are to getting street pastors. At this stage, I am in the process of organizing a meeting for church leaders to attend a talk by street pastors Manchester. If all goes to plan, we hope to have a solid date booked and held sometime before the end of March.

The Alpha Course

I will be running an Alpha course in Hanley City centre shortly after Easter. The dates for the course have yet to be confirmed but I will publicise them as soon as they are available.

If in the meantime you would like to take part in an Alpha course then there is one being held at Swan Bank Church in Burslem on Thursday nights. The course started two weeks ago but I am sure if you contact the church office on 01782 575129 you will still be able to come along.

If you ask yourself questions like:

What is the point of life?
Why do people suffer?
What happens when we die?
Is forgiveness possible?

Then the Alpha course is for you. It is also a very good course for people who are already Christians to find their path and relationship with Jesus again.

ECG 09 Conference

This Easter, come and be a part of a dynamic, innovative new conference that will inspire and empower you to transform your community and build God’s Kingdom. Packed with top-class teaching and a variety of worship encounters as well as opportunities to experience and contribute to local mission projects, ECG will challenge, envision and equip you to be a relevant and radical disciple of Jesus.

With... worship led by Y-Friday and Philippa Hanna in two very different main venues and with Martyn Atkins as Key Bible Teacher (General Secretary of the Methodist Church of Great Britain), a whole host of world-class speakers, Bible-teachers and specialist experts, prayer spaces, outstanding children’s, youth and sports programmes, fringe brimming with the best of Christian music, theatre and comedy talent and even more community-based mission activities on offer, ...ECG 09 is set to be better than ever! ECG is held within Llandudno Conference Centre (Venue Cymru).

Prices:

ECG09-Week TicketSite pass for the entire week at ECG09.£85.00

ECG09-Day TicketSite pass for the day at ECG09. (You need to specify which day)£20.00

ECG09-Weekend TicketSite pass for the weekend (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) at ECG09.£30.00

for more information visit www.ecgevent.org.uk

The Ultimate Event 2009

Acts lined up for The Ultimate Event are:

Kutless www.kutless.com

Superchick www.superchickonline.com

YFriday www.yfriday.co.uk

Bluetree www.myspace.com/bluetreeonline

The Band With no Name www.thebandwithnoname.com

Top Dog Promotions www.topdogpromotions.co.uk

Hoolio & Ad-Apt www.profile.myspace.com/index.cfmfuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=58009383

Prices:

Child Ticket (age 10 and under) This ticket is for children aged 10 and under...(Park & Concert). Available until 8th May. At the gate price £27.
£26.00

Concert Only (excludes park) Access to concert only, no access to theme park rides. Available until 8th May. At the gate price £19.
£18.00

Adult Early Bird Ticket (to 3rd April) Early Bird Tickets Including a full day at the park and the evening concert. Price afterwards £33.
£31.00

Disabled Visitor (Park & Concert) Those who are able to provide a blue/orange badge (or similar) as documentary proof of disability will be eligible for discounted admission for themselves and a helper.
£23.00

Group Ticket Package 16 or more tickets (to 3rd April) Special discounted tickets available for groups of 16 or more for Park & Concert combined.
£29.50

Group Tickets Concert only 16 or more people. Special discounted concert only tickets available for groups of 16 or more. (No entry to theme park rides - concert entry only). Available until 8th May. At the gate price £19.
£17.50

Adult Ticket with Fast Track Pass Early Bird Tickets available until 3rd April - Including a full day at the park and the evening concert. Also an Alton Towers Fast Track Pass giving quick access to 3 top rides. Air, Nemesis and Oblivion
£39.00

Group Discount Tickets for 16 or more people including Fast Track Pass Special discounted tickets avaialable for groups of 16 or more for Park & Concert combined. Also an Alton Towers Fast Track Pass giving quick access to 3 top rides. Air, Nemesis and Oblivion
£37.50

Child Ticket & Fast Track Pass (10 and under) This ticket is for children aged 10 and under...(Park & Concert). Also an Alton Towers Fast Track Pass giving quick access to 3 top rides. Air, Nemesis and Oblivion
£34.00

Coach Ticket Package 45 or more tickets (to 3rd April) Special discounted tickets available for groups of 45 or more for Park & Concert combined.
£28.50

Water Park Ticket Water Park Tickets Include a full day in the Alton Towers Water Park and the evening concert.
£27.00

To Book Tickets and to find out more information visit http://www.ultimateevents.org.uk/booktickets.aspx

Night Church

Tonight was a very special night in many ways. Night Church tonight led into my birthday and it was great to be out serving God again. It was good to grow older doing something good and being at Night Church was a big blessing for me.

Tonight we were so blessed with the team we had. There were thirteen people of, ten men and three women. It was quite a quiet night in Hanley tonight. However, it gave the team an opportunity for the team to talk and catch up with one another. A few groups of us went out on prayer walks throughout the night and the prayer room had some good use to.

William and Marg led communion for the team and this was the first time since I joined the Night Church team that we have had communion and it was a real blessing. It was good to share communion with the team and I feel we were encouraged by sharing this together.
As always, the team pulled together well tonight and it was a real peaceful night. The folk that came in were great. There were some good chats going on and it was good to see one of the girls from the women’s project come in for coffee and a chat again. It was the third week running that she has been in and it is good to see folk come back repeatedly.

Throughout the night, we even had time for a little singsong with the worship music I put up on the projector screen. It is amazing how each week is different and how God works among us. Without doubt, God has some good plans for the City and the connections we are making with the police and door staff. The word is spreading about Night Church and I am encouraged that Night Church as well and truly established its place in the City.

Addictions

So many people have additions these days. Drink and drugs are becoming more and more part of people lives. Addictions do not just affect the addict but their families and friends too. One of the biggest problems with addictions is that once you start it is much harder to stop. It becomes a habit and no matter how much you want to stop the drug just keeps pulling you back.

Addicts to some appear to be scum to some folk. With some people, addicts are looked at as if they are thefts, are violent, or people that you should not hang out with when often this is not the case. Why? Are they asking you to join them in their addictions? I think you will find that they are very descent people deep down but you cannot see this from face value. My attempting to try to help them you will find this out for yourself.

I was once an alcoholic and a drug addict but many years ago. Therefore, I know very well how easy it is to fall into the trap. I know how hard it is to get out of it and I know how easy it is to fall back on it if you do not have the right support and help. So anyone who knows me we know that I am a descent person. I go out of my way to help those in need and I decided to do something about it.
I decided that I was going to train to become a counsellor so I could help addicts more and on the 22nd of October 2007, I completed and passed a Foundational Drugs Counselling Course. This course gave me more of an insight to drugs but I needed more so in April 2008, I completed and on the 2nd of October 2008, I passed level two of the Christian Counselling course. I am waiting a start date for the final level three course.

While I was undertaking these two courses, I spent my time on a voluntary basis walking the streets finding addicts. I talked with them and I listened to them. I use to get them into either counselling or into a hospital depending on the situation at the time and give as much support and guidance that I could give. I would visit them before or after their counselling sessions and I would visit them in hospital on a daily basis. I would also go with them to help sort out accommodation, paying bills and getting food and clothing for them. I found by caring for them in this way it helped them during their recovery process.

Habits start because of many reasons. Sometimes there is a problem a person has not dealt with or is struggling to come to terms with. Sometimes it is because they feel alone. People do not wake up and say I want to be an addict. Addictions start because of brokenness and emptiness. Breaking the addiction leads to fulfilment.

Addiction is not self-afflicted.

Street Pastors

Jesus went to the people.

STREET
PASTORS
Making a positive difference in the lives of young people

The Church in action . . .on the streets

Street Pastors is an inter-denominational Church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen and dialogue. It was pioneered in London in January 2003 by Rev Les Isaac, Director of the Ascension Trust, and has seen some remarkable results, including drops in crime in areas where teams have been working. Each city project is set up by Ascension Trust and run by a local coordinator with support from Ascension Trust and local churches and community groups. To be a Street Pastor you need to be over 18 (no upper age limit), a church member and able to commit to a 12 session training course in three groups of four Saturdays over a year. The course includes subjects such as counselling skills, drugs awareness, sociology,
knowing your community, role and responsibility, and street safety. Each Street Pastor team consists of at least three groups of four, each of which will work
a minimum of one night a month, usually from 10pm to around 4am.

WHAT IS A STREET PASTOR?
A Street Pastor is a Church leader/minister or member with a concern for society - in particular young people who feel themselves to be excluded and marginalised - and who is willing to engage people where they are, in terms of their thinking (i.e. their perspective of life) and location (i.e. where they hang out - be it on the streets, in the pubs and clubs or at parties etc). Street Pastors will also be willing to work with fellow activists, church and community leaders, and with agencies and projects, both statutory and voluntary, to look at collaborative ways of working on issues affecting youth, and initiatives that will build trust between them and the Street Pastors. As the Street Pastor gets to know people in the community he/she will find out their needs are and what can be done to help. A presence of Street Pastors will earn credibility in the community, so that people know that the Church is there for them in a practical way. The role is not about preaching heaven and hell, but one of listening, caring and helping - working in an unconditional way.

“As a member of the Christian Police Association and a serving officer I not only believe this will assist the police in tackling this problem but will demonstrate real Christian concern and practical support for those who find themselves involved in gangs and gun crime.”

Chief Supt. Neil Wain, Greater Manchester Police

“The Council of Black Led Churches (“CBLC”) supports the Street Pastors Initiative. It is engaging the Church in a practical way to serve their community where a number of issues are.”

Bishop Derek Webley, CBLC

“To believe in change asks of us to embody what we hope for. Street Pastors rise to that challenge”.

Marijke Hoek, Network

“There are many young people who feel excluded by society. Street Pastors takes practical hope to the pavement for these individuals.”

Joel Edwards, General Director, Evangelical Alliance UK

Night Church

I have such a passion for Night Church.

There are far too many people in this country who have problems that they are fighting to deal with, understand or are trying to find the strength to let go. Just to name a few there are folk who are struggling with Addictions, a Relationships breakdown, or even a bereavements they are struggling to come to terms with. Every week i go to night church to serve the lord and i guarantee during my time there i will speak to at least one person who is struggling with one of these.

“Why” is a word that is said to me so many times throughout the evening and night. Why this and why that. Why can’t i? Why does it happen to me? There are so many stories i listen to that all involve the word why. In my opinion the word “why” is said so much because people want answers. I ask myself can i give the answers to their questions and the real answer has to be and is NO. But God can. All i can do is listen and comfort but more than this, i must let God use me and work in me though the power of the Holy Spirit to help these folk.

But do i really need to have the answers? NO “Why?” because i don’t need to know them all. I don’t have all the answers and i will never have all the answers. I would be foolish to think otherwise. Yet at night church i am called to serve God. Serving God isn’t about knowing all the answers or even having solutions to folk in their time of need. But we need to be Christians and have wisdom and knowledge.

Just take a look at Galatians 5:22-23 NIV. The Fruit of the Spirit are visible growth in our saviour Jesus. We are called to act and follow these words of wisdom. See the “Fruit of the Spirit” is a biblical term that sums up the attributes of true Christian life. "Fruit of the Spirit" is a biblical term that sums up the nine visible attributes of a true Christian life. These attributes are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

I believe by applying these Fruits in to my life i will truly walk in the Spirit. And this then gives me the ability to sow good seeds rather than just give answers. After all God is greater than I. By sowing a good seed in the long run is better than words in the short term. In Matthew 13:23 NIV Jesus tells us that the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

So i believe to serve God in this mission we must live as Christians first. We must be in touch with the spirit. Our God is the greatest counsellor there is and he is there for each of us and therefore we are never alone.