From the moment all 60 or so of us prayed together, I knew something was different about this team from Florida, or as we liked to call them, the Floridians. With the 36 of them came a powerful wave of God's presence. In our first moments of prayer, I could easily feel the overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit as He guided each prayer and hand-picked each word spoken. This presence was encouraging. It was empowering. But most of all, it was undeniable.
I would like to think that I met these Floridians with utter excitement and joy, and at first, I believe I did. However, if I'm being completely honest, I was soon overwhelmed by the sheer number of them! There were so many of them to meet, and simply learning all their names was a struggle. Luckily, though, as the week went on my heart for this team grew and my capacity to engage myself amongst them increased. By the end of their time here, I was so incredibly impressed by their attitudes and continued joy! My roommates and I had the privilege of hosting 5 girls and 1 leader from the group at our house here at the church. We were able to spend a few late nights sharing our stories with each other, allowing us glimpses into God's divine power and will in each of our lives. Unfortunately for us, just as we were getting to know everyone better, it was time for them to leave. However, I am beyond grateful for the time we did have and for the ministry we took part in together.
To say it simply, Brierley Hill was hit hard with the love of God last week. This team of Floridians really worked hard in order to bring the presence of God and the greatness of the Gospel to the community here. During the course of the week, their team was split up and divided among three different churches in the Brierley Hill area. Some worked with us here at CITC, while others worked at Williams Street church doing street evangelism and children's holiday clubs ( which can be compared to VBS back home) and others worked at Albion Street church doing holiday clubs. On the Fourth of July, the day after the team arrived, we were again all split up and divided amongst the three different churches. Each church was able to put on a community outreach event that day and all of them turned out to be quite successful!
I truly believe that the Florida team, along with myself, were really challenged to view success differently. Because we have all grown up in America, our view of success tends to be molded by quantity. We think the more the better. However, here in England, high quantity is hard to come by. A holiday club with only four kids in it, although normal for England, can be quite discouraging from an American's perspective. I think, though, that this change in thought in regards to success was pivotal this week. One of the pastors at Williams Street shared a story about Billy Graham at the prayer meeting we had Tuesday of last week. Billy had attended a three week conference in which at the end of it, he was the only one who made his way to the altar to accept Christ. Many people saw that conference as unsuccessful. God, on the other hand, had a completely different opinion. Billy Graham may have been the only one to accept Christ as his Lord and Savior at that conference, but because of that, many many more have come to the same acceptance since then.
One of the biggest opportunities of ministry we had this last week was with a local primary school called Peter's Hill. It was here that the Florida team was able to put on several assemblies over the course of two days that allowed them to share the Gospel with the children there. We were so incredibly blessed to have this opportunity in the first place! A year ago a team from Mississippi, which happened to include one of my current roommates, Jo Beth, spent time painting and gardening at Peter's Hill. Their act of service created a relationship between CITC and Peter's Hill and is largely responsible for the opportunity we were given this year. If you could, please be praying that this relationship continues and that more opportunities like this one keep coming up. Also, please pray that the seeds planted this week in the children's hearts and even in the hearts of the school faculty will take root and begin to grow mightily.
I know without a doubt that lives were touched last week. I can feel God moving fiercely in this community. Several children heard the name of Jesus, maybe even for the first time. Adults saw their children in a positive environment that was linked back to Christ and to the Church. People were approached on the street and shown simply that someone cares about them and told that someone loves them. Non-believers felt the presence of God and were over-whelmed by the movement of the Holy Spirit. Please, join me and CITC as we pray expectantly for the fruits of this last week's labor. Pray with us for the community of Brierley Hill. For the children, parents, youth, and even strangers who were in someway introduced to or touched by God through the service of the Florida team. Pray with us that hearts will be softened, lives will be changed, and God's Kingdom will be expanded.
{A little over 50 of us were sitting in the room, silencing our voices as we entered in to a time of prayer. The Holy Spirit was near to us, right there with us. Praises of God were being proclaimed. Requests of God were being spoken. After praying, a girl began to sing...
Our God is an awesome God He reigns from heaven above,
The rest of us joined in...
With wisdom power and love our God is an awesome God.
Our God is an awesome God He reigns from heaven above,
With wisdom power and love our God is an awesome God.
Our God is an awesome God He reigns from heaven above,
With wisdom power and love our God is an awesome God.
Amen.}
Let us together praise God for He is awesome and He is mighty.
Until next time,
Cheers!
I would like to think that I met these Floridians with utter excitement and joy, and at first, I believe I did. However, if I'm being completely honest, I was soon overwhelmed by the sheer number of them! There were so many of them to meet, and simply learning all their names was a struggle. Luckily, though, as the week went on my heart for this team grew and my capacity to engage myself amongst them increased. By the end of their time here, I was so incredibly impressed by their attitudes and continued joy! My roommates and I had the privilege of hosting 5 girls and 1 leader from the group at our house here at the church. We were able to spend a few late nights sharing our stories with each other, allowing us glimpses into God's divine power and will in each of our lives. Unfortunately for us, just as we were getting to know everyone better, it was time for them to leave. However, I am beyond grateful for the time we did have and for the ministry we took part in together.
To say it simply, Brierley Hill was hit hard with the love of God last week. This team of Floridians really worked hard in order to bring the presence of God and the greatness of the Gospel to the community here. During the course of the week, their team was split up and divided among three different churches in the Brierley Hill area. Some worked with us here at CITC, while others worked at Williams Street church doing street evangelism and children's holiday clubs ( which can be compared to VBS back home) and others worked at Albion Street church doing holiday clubs. On the Fourth of July, the day after the team arrived, we were again all split up and divided amongst the three different churches. Each church was able to put on a community outreach event that day and all of them turned out to be quite successful!
I truly believe that the Florida team, along with myself, were really challenged to view success differently. Because we have all grown up in America, our view of success tends to be molded by quantity. We think the more the better. However, here in England, high quantity is hard to come by. A holiday club with only four kids in it, although normal for England, can be quite discouraging from an American's perspective. I think, though, that this change in thought in regards to success was pivotal this week. One of the pastors at Williams Street shared a story about Billy Graham at the prayer meeting we had Tuesday of last week. Billy had attended a three week conference in which at the end of it, he was the only one who made his way to the altar to accept Christ. Many people saw that conference as unsuccessful. God, on the other hand, had a completely different opinion. Billy Graham may have been the only one to accept Christ as his Lord and Savior at that conference, but because of that, many many more have come to the same acceptance since then.
One of the biggest opportunities of ministry we had this last week was with a local primary school called Peter's Hill. It was here that the Florida team was able to put on several assemblies over the course of two days that allowed them to share the Gospel with the children there. We were so incredibly blessed to have this opportunity in the first place! A year ago a team from Mississippi, which happened to include one of my current roommates, Jo Beth, spent time painting and gardening at Peter's Hill. Their act of service created a relationship between CITC and Peter's Hill and is largely responsible for the opportunity we were given this year. If you could, please be praying that this relationship continues and that more opportunities like this one keep coming up. Also, please pray that the seeds planted this week in the children's hearts and even in the hearts of the school faculty will take root and begin to grow mightily.
I know without a doubt that lives were touched last week. I can feel God moving fiercely in this community. Several children heard the name of Jesus, maybe even for the first time. Adults saw their children in a positive environment that was linked back to Christ and to the Church. People were approached on the street and shown simply that someone cares about them and told that someone loves them. Non-believers felt the presence of God and were over-whelmed by the movement of the Holy Spirit. Please, join me and CITC as we pray expectantly for the fruits of this last week's labor. Pray with us for the community of Brierley Hill. For the children, parents, youth, and even strangers who were in someway introduced to or touched by God through the service of the Florida team. Pray with us that hearts will be softened, lives will be changed, and God's Kingdom will be expanded.
{A little over 50 of us were sitting in the room, silencing our voices as we entered in to a time of prayer. The Holy Spirit was near to us, right there with us. Praises of God were being proclaimed. Requests of God were being spoken. After praying, a girl began to sing...
Our God is an awesome God He reigns from heaven above,
The rest of us joined in...
With wisdom power and love our God is an awesome God.
Our God is an awesome God He reigns from heaven above,
With wisdom power and love our God is an awesome God.
Our God is an awesome God He reigns from heaven above,
With wisdom power and love our God is an awesome God.
Amen.}
Let us together praise God for He is awesome and He is mighty.
Until next time,
Cheers!