Dear Friends
There has been a strong and positive response to the suggestion that we dedicate a special time to fast and pray for each other. Betina Wiik writes, “I think it´s a good idea to dedicate a time to pray and fast for unity amongst us and for outpouring of God’s Spirit.” Laverne Byng is suggesting that we dedicate Friday November 21 as a day of prayer.
November 21 is a ‘night of power’ in Ramadan (the Muslim fast). Thousands of Christians around the world are dedicating that night (Fri 21st Nov) to prayer and fasting – and praying that many will have visions of Jesus that evening.
We invite all church planters to dedicate time on Friday and Sabbath (21 & 22 November) for special prayer – prayer for the outpouring of God’s Spirit upon all church planters and plants; and, prayer for specific people who do not know Jesus as their Saviour.
We need to all be praying for the Club 39 team, family and friends – following the sad passing away of one of their leaders. Also, Ian Hamilton and Patrick Johnson request specific prayer for their ministries. And, we will continue to pray for our friends Michael and Sue.
You will be very encouraged by the stories in this NEWS. I thank God for what he is doing through each of you.
Christian regards
Peter Roennfeldt
——————————————-
CHURCH PLANTING NEWS – 07 Nov 03
——————————————-
In this NEWS –
# TRAGEDY IN CLUB 39 – PRAYER SUPPORT NEEDED!
# CafeCHURCH CELEBRATES 5 YEARS!
# CHURCH PLANTING CONFERENCE IN MORAVIAN & SLEZSIAN CONFERENCE # ‘ALPHA’ – SECOND VILLAGE CHURCH TOUCHING THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS # Blue Cafe – LEADERS KEEP FOCUSED!
# BLACKBURN (North England) CHURCH PLANT – JUST THE BEGINNINGS!
# ‘TOTAL SEMINAR’ – MAKING AN IMPACT IN OSLO!
# TRAINING EVENTS IN BRITAIN –
# NEW PLANT DEDICATED IN ISRAEL
# ANOTHER PLANT IN ISRAEL
# FISHPOOL ‘HOLY SPIRIT WEEKEND’
# ‘GYM FELLOWSHIP’ – ENCOURAGEMENT!
# TILBURG CHURCH PLANT – ATTENDANCE OF 120 LAST SABBATH # CRM-UK Alpha Report 2 & Prayer Support!
# LEARNING FROM OUR MUSLIM FRIENDS
TRAGEDY IN CLUB 39 – PRAYER SUPPORT NEEDED!
On Wednesday (5 Nov 03) one of the leaders of Club 39 (Sweden) passed away in his sleep. He was only 28 years old. Club 39 leader & church planter Daniel Lamberth says that the team is in shock and grieving with the family and friends. It is planned that a special opportunity is given to the teens of the Club to be able to talk through their feelings and confusion over this tragic loss.
“Club 39 has started to grow – with 40 youth last Tuesday,” says Daniel. Daniel also said that their fellow leader will be greatly missed.
“He was the friend of everybody, always in a good mood. He has been serving in Club 39 most humbly. Without him we would never be where we are today.”
Please pray for the family, Daniel Lamberth and his fellows team members, and the teens of Club 39.
CafeCHURCH CELEBRATES 5 YEARS!
“We are celebrating our 5 year anniversary on Saturday evening (8 Nov 03),” says church planter Betina Wiik. We congratulate CafeChurch – and pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to richly bless all involved in their commitment to reach lost people with the gospel. CafeChurch has has an enormously positive influence upon so many – and some church planters may wish to send a message of greeting to Betina.
CHURCH PLANTING CONFERENCE IN MORAVIAN & SLEZSIAN CONFERENCE
About 250 members and pastors came to the historic Moravian town of Kromeriz last weekend to hear reports of new church plants and receive training from Peter Roennfeldt to plant creative churches to reach lost people. The weekend was organised by Petr Pimek and encouraged by the
conference president, Jan Dymacek.
‘ALPHA’ – SECOND VILLAGE CHURCH TOUCHING THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS
Each week 300 people attend the ministries of ‘Alpha’ in the village of Zabreh. “While in the Czech Republic this last weekend I visited the facilities of ‘Alpha’ and met with their excited leaders,” says Peter Roennfeldt.
Martin Vesely explains that although he pastors a church of 45 attenders in this village – this long established and good church has not proved to be effective, in recent times, in reaching new people. After a careful study of church planting principles and a lot of planning – a second church (a new church plant) is being established in this village.
It started in Oct 2002. A member was impressed to offer the use of a large, second level office space in the village centre. Community initiatives in this ‘Alpha’ centre include language classes, exercise programmes for parents and children, Bible classes, music groups, etc.
Unchurched people are involved in planning activities and as teachers – and all attendees are involved in presenting community concerts, sports programmes, a children’s club (Archa), and music groups. “An advertised weekly worship service (‘Nova Sance’) is attracting friends – and last Sabbath over 50 people were present,” says Martin. “Regular monthly activities such as sking in the mountains gives opportunities to build friendships. About 18 unchurched friends spent some days on the Adriatic coast with us this summer – and we baptised two friends.”
Blue Cafe – LEADERS KEEP FOCUSED!
With one day to go there were only 26 bookings for the Saturday evening October Café – but, most were those actually working in the Café and only about four were non church attendee’s. The leaders had to ask ‘why we are doing the Café.’ “The main objective of the Café is to introduce people from the community or those not attending church, to a safe, less ‘full-on’ Christian environment,” says Blue leader Murray Harvey. “We didn’t see that the Café was going to meet those objectives if we had run the evening on the booking we had.” It was decided to cancel
the October Café – and seriously regroup for November.
BLACKBURN (North England) CHURCH PLANT – JUST THE BEGINNINGS!
“We are beginning to get into the first plant out of the Blackburn church,” writes church planter Peter Jeynes. “The group will be meeting on Wednesdays as a home group and will consist of a few pensioners.
I rather think that cups of tea will figure heavily on the agenda – but the gospel will be central.”
‘TOTAL SEMINAR’ – MAKING AN IMPACT IN OSLO!
“Although I’m not planting a new church,” writes Patrick Johnson
– pastor of Ulrud church (Oslo, Norway), “I’m attempting to refocus one.
After many weeks of prayer and preparation we started a seminar series called ‘Total Seminar’. We have been meeting twice per week, and each night there are 3 short (25mins) talks on mental, physical and spiritual health. I do all of the ones on spiritual health, and we have doctors and specialists do the others. The number of visitors is increasing all the time. We started with 29 and yesterday we had 48! People bring their friends and they in turn bring their neighbours and friends. The comment we have heard most often is, ‘I have to bring my friend/neighbour to this!’
God is blessing us.”
TRAINING EVENTS IN BRITAIN –
# Training for the leaders of New Church Incubators (support groups for church plants and planters) will be conducted in Watford on 23 & 24 November 2003. Ian Hamilton of Church Resource Ministries (UK) will be the teacher. This event is open to church planting directors in other countries as well. For more details and costs – contact David Cox.
<INTERNET:[email protected]>
# There will be a UK Church Planters X-Change at the end of January (30 Jan – 1 Feb 2004). For registration and programme details and contact David Cox. <INTERNET:[email protected]>
NEW PLANT DEDICATED IN ISRAEL
Leader and planting coordinator for Israel, Richard Elofer writes of his joy in dedicating a new congregation last Shabbat – November 2.
“This new congregation is in Ramat Gan, near of Tel Aviv,” writes Richard.
“The location of this kehila is very good, in the central part of Ramat Gan, just in front of the city hall.”
ANOTHER PLANT IN ISRAEL
“I was in the Jordan river where 8 people maDe a new covenant with G-d,” writes Richard Elofer. “There was a sabra (Jew born in Israel) who said to me, I am going every Shabbat to the kehila (congregation) of Tel Aviv while I am living in Natanya. If you want I am ready to open my home and to start a home kehila with people from Natanya.” Praise G-d.
FISHPOOL ‘HOLY SPIRIT WEEKEND’
“We had our ‘Holy Spirit Weekend’ at Aberdaron recently – and it attracted 40 people,” writes Fishpool church planter, Peter Jeynes. Some good relationships were made with some of the unchurched people as well.
“One lady now wants to have her wedding at Fishpool, her boyfriend came to Alpha and thoroughly enjoyed it,” says Peter.
‘GYM FELLOWSHIP’ – ENCOURAGEMENT!
“Many are not attending classes till the end of November because of their fast,” reports Laverne. “I will have only the Sikh women at class but it will be a time to focus on ministering to them. God showed me this weekend, that the its not going to happen in mixed groups but more one-to-one.”
TILBURG CHURCH PLANT – ATTENDANCE OF 120 LAST SABBATH
The Tilburg church plant (the Netherlands) started among the Antillian people with 30 members from the church in Eindhoven. “Last Sabbath we had a church service with 120 people,” writes planter and pastor, Paul Daniels. “We feel the blessings of the Lord.” There are lessons for members on different levels – including teaching the leaders of this church and small group leaders.
CRM-UK Alpha Report 2 & Prayer Support!
We have been following (and praying for) an ‘Alpha’ group that Ian Hamilton (CRM-UK) is working with. This week Ian writes – “12 from my group booked in for the Alpha weekend away (with focus is on the Holy
Spirit) – 2 are non-Christians and 3-4 think they are! Would appreciate prayer for God to break through in these folk.”
LEARNING FROM OUR MUSLIM BROTHERS & SISTERS
Islam has experienced plenty of bad press lately. Part of the response of Muslim leaders has been the development of an ‘Islam Awareness Week’. One feature is to invite non-Muslims to share in a one day fast during Ramadan so as to better understand the experience of being a Muslim.
As a church planters – what experience could you invite your community to share and enjoy? And, are you involving in the experiences of your community?