Dear Friends
Here is one last CHURCH PLANTERS NEWS for 2003. I wish you every blessing – and pray that God will use you to share the story of Jesus with those whose hearts may be a little more open during this season. God has blessed your efforts this year to touch lost people for him. Trust in him.
Enjoy his love for you and rejoice in the assurance that Jesus came to this earth for you – and for those in your community. Pray for each other
– and call or write today to encourage another church planter! Be courageous for God.
Christian regards
Peter Roennfeldt
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CHURCH PLANTING NEWS – 19 Dec 03
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In this NEWS –
# NEW CHURCH IN MILTON KEYNES (South England) # ON ‘TRACK’ IN BRADFORD # SPOTTER PLANS ‘OPEN HOUSE’
# RESOURCE – ‘Celebrate Recovery’ : Message from Ron Gladden # CHURCH PLANTERS GETTING MARRIED! CONGRATULATIONS!
# COTTAGE BECK CAFE CHURCH – BIBLE READING STARTS!
# GYM FELLOWSHIP – ANOTHER COMMUNITY CENTRE OPENING!
# UNCHURCHED FRIEND – ON A JOURNEY
# IAN HAMILTON RECOMMENDS
NEW CHURCH IN MILTON KEYNES (South England)
“Just a note to let you know that this coming Sabbath (20 Dec) we will be launching a new church plant in West Bletchley Milton Keynes,”
reports pastor and planter, Colin Stewart. “Its been a long road but all worth it. We have planned a community based church with a emphasis on outreach and worship.”
ON ‘TRACK’ IN BRADFORD
A new church plant called TRACK will be launched in Bradford on January 3. “When we returned from Finland we spoke with some of the university students who attend church and they were really enthusiastic and encouraging about what we were planning,” says Pauline Allcock. This church plant will aim to reach the 16-35 age group. “The TRACK is designed to be both an in-reach and out-reach initiative … TRACK is an acronym for Teaching, Reaching and Advancing Christ’s Kingdom.”
SPOTTER PLANS ‘OPEN HOUSE’
One of the spotters (people who watch the streets around their houses for people moving in) for the ‘Welcome to Your New Home’ project in Llandrindod Wells (Wales) has initiated an ‘open house’ for Christmas Day.
The response has been great and surprising. The team discovered that it is not only the old and the single who can be lonely at Christmas – but there are also couples who feel the need of friendship at Christmas. One family is also coming because they want to be part of the project. Town councillors and local residents have praised the initiative.
RESOURCE – ‘Celebrate Recovery’ : Message from Ron Gladden
Saddleback’s alcohol recovery program is their number one outreach program and is available at http://www.celebraterecovery.com/CR.jsp. Celebrate Recovery was developed by John Baker, a recovering alcoholic, and is based upon a sermon series on the Beatitudes, once preached by Rick Warren. In 12 years, almost 6,000 people have come through the program at Saddleback, many of them remaining as members of the church. If you’re interested in bringing more lost people into your church, you’ll want to read this interview with Celebrate Recovery(r)’s John Baker. [more <http://www.pastors.com/RWMT/default.asp?id=132&artid=663&expand=1> ]
CHURCH PLANTERS GETTING MARRIED! CONGRATULATIONS!
Rose Lewis (London) & Ismael Gomez (from Spain – adopted by
Manchester) will be married at Mount Sinai on 16 January 2004 by David Cox and Aris Vonzalides. Rose and Gomez met at the Church Planters X-Change at Toivonlinen, Finland, August 2003. Rose says that they will be “coming down from the Mountain with a personal set of commandments for Ministry and Marriage and the beginning of a life together.” Rose asks for church planters to pray for them, their marriage and ministry – and rejoice with them on January 16th. “There´s something special about Church Planters’
prayers I think!” says Rose.
COTTAGE BECK CAFE CHURCH – BIBLE READING STARTS!
This last weekend Cottage Beck Cafe Church planters held their first Saturday afternoon Bible reading for unchurched people at the Cafe.
At 15.00 the “core” group – Bryan & Isobel, Andrew and Eija, Sue, and Michael shared a worship time and communion together in the lounge and then at 16.00 they prepared for a Bible reading time for unchurched people in the Cafe. “It was our goal at the start of the year to be doing this by the end of the year, and we have just made it!” say Bryan and Isobel Webster. “Praise the Lord, and thank you for your prayers.”
GYM FELLOWSHIP – ANOTHER COMMUNITY CENTRE OPENING!
Laverne has met new friends and another community centre is open for health sessions – and lots of other stuff like birthday parties, small groups, etc etc – for women There is a huge hall – absolutely free!
We cannot share all details because of sensitivities – however, this is very exciting opening. You will catch some of Laverne’s excitement from her email. She says, “Talk about ‘God is alive’! He isn’t just alive
– he’s alive and kicking. I love it, love it, love it. Oh its by no means an easy road but I’d do anything for him. Anything. He’s done so much for me. (Ok maybe I talk like Peter. But I’d get there in the end.)” Laverne says – “Pray for me people. Lots a stuff happening and I’m just walking like a blind person trusting wherever God leads.”
UNCHURCHED FRIEND – ON A JOURNEY
One of Laverne’s unchurched friends said she needed to see original writings of the Bible ‘cos she felt that the KJV was written by Shakespeare – and Jesus was too bizarre to believe in.’ She indicated a greated fascination with other world religions.
“Then on Sunday I’m cleaning out my bedroom and came across a book entitled ‘Good News’,” says Laverne. “For some reason I opened it – and came directly onto a chapter about the Dead Sea Scrolls and Codex Sinaticus (one of the earliest manuscripts of the Bible. I read in awe.
But even more amazing was the fact that the Codex Sinaticus was found in St Catherine’s monastery on Mount Sinai – exactly where my friend and I will be going in January.” Laverne’s friend has been fascinated with the Codex Sinaticus story – and also “joined our 2 small groups last night for a social.” “We were just on the phone,” says Laverne.
IAN HAMILTON RECOMMENDS –
First – a book just published (Monarch Books) by Martin Robinson & Dwight Smith: ‘Invading Secular Space – Strategies for Tomorrow’s
Church.’ Second – a book by Michael Frost & Alan Hirsch: ‘Shaping of
things to come – Innovation & Mission for the 21st Century Church.’