Archive for the ‘General News’ Category

Looking forward to a few days away attending at The Association of Evangelists Conference – Whitemoor Lakes Centre – Staffordshire

Anna is now into her 2nd week at GLO Zambia and is doing extremely well. While there have been a number of challenges along the way, God has given her strength and has been working in her life. Please continue to pray for her in every adventure she faces, that God will use this time to encourage her and that this experience will draw her closer to Jesus.

FirstServe is a unique discipleship and missions programme, primarily for 18-25 year-olds on a gap year, or those with a shorter time available.

Gordon is part of the FistServe Steering Group.

FirstServe MISSION Weekend!

Time is running out to apply for the FirstServe MISSION Weekend! If you fancy a weekend of >meeting new people<, getting >closer to God< and exploring the possibility of >serving Him overseas< - then this weekend is for you! For more information, contact Hannah...hannah@first-serve.org.uk or visit our website: www.first-serve.org.uk (Application closes Friday 30th January) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgJdVNYBTNI

Great crowd last night at Stubbington Snooker Centre for January’s men’s outreach ‘The Net’.

After a few long frames of snooker, we moved into the function room where Tim Hancock shared a talk in the series ‘Objections to the Christian Faith’. Tim’s topic was, ‘I’m Perfectly OK Without God’.

Please pray for the many ‘unChurched’ men who came along.

Following the tragic events of last week in Paris, it has been good to share some good news this week with one thousand pupils in three schools (two junior and one senior school).
The theme for the assemblies was the national motto of France : Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité (Liberty, Equality & Fraternity).

The Christian faith emphasises these important values of ‘Liberty, Equality & Fraternity’ and the story of the Good Samaritan perfectly illustrates them.
In the junior schools it was good to also to teach the children a Christian song based on these essential principles.

Noah’s Ark Parent & Carer Group continues to ‘pack’ them in! Over 70 parents and children squeezed into Duncan Road Church, Southampton this week. Please pray for wisdom for Penny that she will know how to handle this large number.

Penny would also value your prayers regarding what she should do with those contacts that are having to be turned away – please pray for wisdom.

The Bible: Lamentations chapter 3 verses 22-24 (NASB):

“The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

“Maker of the sun,
He is made under the sun.
In the Father he remains,
From his mother he goes forth.
Creator of heaven and earth,
He was born on earth under heaven.
Unspeakably wise,
He is wisely speechless.
Filling the world,
He lies in a manger.
Ruler of the stars,
He nurses at his mother’s bosom.
He is both great in the nature of God,
And small in the form of a servant.”

Saint Augustine.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John’s gospel chapter 1 verse 14.

Christmas brings lots and lots of opportunities. Today it was good to play Father Christmas at Noah’s Ark Carer & Toddler Group. Great to see the building full to overflowing with parents and babies!

There are of course 3 stages in life! When you believe in Father Christmas. When you play Father Christmas and when you look like Father Christmas!

Christmas also provides many preaching opportunities in Residential Homes, Children & Youth Clubs and of course Churches.
Please pray for the many Christmas (gospel) booklets that have been taken at the end of services.

The sun shone, the people sang and the good news was shared!

Carol singing at Locks Heath Centre Fareham organised by the Western Wards Church Network

It was good to lead the time together and to be able to link the various carols with stories, poems, monologues and of course good news from the Bible!

Third of kids don’t know Christmas is about Jesus

The Christian Institute reports:

A third of children aged between ten and 13 do not know that Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ, a survey of 2,000 families has found.

The poll also found that only ten per cent of adults can correctly state four facts about Jesus’ birth and half of those surveyed say it is not relevant to their Christmas celebrations.

Christmas Starts With Christ, the group which commissioned the survey, said one problem was how schools discussed the festival.

Misguided

Francis Goodwin, from the group, said: “Britain is fast becoming one of the world’s most secular countries.

“As nations get richer, they think they no longer need God”.

He also said there is a “problem with political correctness in schools” which think “they should not focus on the Christian roots of Christmas because of inclusivity”.

“But it is misguided. People of other faiths are not offended”, he commented.

Values

Last year a survey of 2,000 people showed that 12 per cent of Londoners think the Bible features Father Christmas.

It also showed that seven per cent of the public think Christmas trees are in the Bible, a proportion which nearly doubles among 18 to 35-year-olds.

Colin Hart, Director of The Christian Institute, said at the time: “This poll shows a worrying lack of knowledge about our country’s Christian heritage that has shaped our history, institutions and laws, even who we are and our values.”

Praise God for many opportunities to share the real message of Jesus in Hampshire schools this Christmas!