July 20, 2008
The barbecue gathering took place yesterday at Stuart and Jenny Boydell’s home. The core members (& families) got together to enjoy food, conversation, and community. Praise that people seemed to really enjoy themselves and each other. Pray that God would bring out those people in members’ extended networks who (1) would be interested in The River, (2) might be timid or hesitant to attend gatherings or meet christians, and/or (3) God is drawing to himself by way of this core community now forming.
June 27, 2008
It’s really exciting planting a church. It’s even more exciting planting a church out of skeptical non-Christians. Really, how many chances do we really get to read the Bible with out non-Christian friends and talk about Jesus? Well, that’s exactly what is happening at theriver. Our non-Christian friends in our Core Group are reading their Bibles - most of them for the very first time. And as a Core Group we are beginning to read through the Gospel according to Luke. Please be praying for these guys as they continue reading. Pray that they will see the grace and mercy of Jesus and not get worn out trying to figure out all the strange things that go on (which we are all so used to that we don’t think twice about).
Also, be praying that by reading Luke more questions would come up and we would be able to really get to the heart of the Gospel. Thanks so much for your faithful support!
June 27, 2008
Just a quick note to ask everyone to be praying for the Core Group while Melissa and I are away. Pray that everyone would continue being faithful in showing up - both the Christians and the non-Christians.
June 27, 2008
As you all know, Melissa and I are in now in the States preparing for our wedding (July 19th). Things are going well and several people have mentioned how not-stressed we are. Things are going just fine and we’re set on schedule. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!
June 11, 2008
As many of you know Melissa and I are heading back to the States for the Summer. Please be praying for theriver in our absence. The Core Group will be reading through Luke’s Gospel and discussing the different aspects of Jesus’ life and character. We hope that this will be an excellent time to build relationships with those who are not yet Christians, as well as introducing them to the Jesus of the Bible, answer their questions, and expose them to understanding the Bible’s relevance for today. Please be praying for the few Christians in the Core Group as they will be leading these talks. And please be praying that everyone would be excited and enjoy their time reading through the Gospel.
June 3, 2008
For all who haven’t heard: godforsaken - theriver’s Jazz & Blues night went off with success. Around 50 people showed up (not bad for a Tuesday evening) and of those 10 people indicated that they were interested in learning more, and possibly even being involved in the formation of theriver as a church. What an answer to prayer this is! And I know for a fact, that several of those who are interested are unbelivers! Isn’t that great news! Pray that their interest would not wane, but instead they would have a real hunger to learn more about Jesus.
May 18, 2008
It’s here! godforsaken Warrington is taking places THIS Tuesday. Please be praying that many people would show up - Christians and non-Christians alike. Pray that everything would go smoothly and that people would sincerely find an interested in theriver and our ministry. But also please be praying that God would speak through preaching of his word (all 5 minutes of it this time). Pray that people would find an interest in learning more about Jesus, and pray that if it is God’s will that he would would call some to himself through the power of the Gospel.
May 18, 2008
I’ve always been a fairly stable person. I’m not really dramatic. I’m definitely not bi-polar. My highs aren’t that high; my lows aren’t that low. But there is something about planting a church that makes a person feel a bit unstable. Maybe it’s because you work so many hours and put so much prayer into something that seeming has no fruit at all - so when something does go right it all seems worth it; it brings great excitement and satisfaction. Then, of course, something happens - someone lets you down and there you go again. Low low.
So one would think theriver would be going through a pretty high high right now. Our Core Group is growing every week. We’re putting on our first event on Tuesday. Lots of people are interested in what we’re doing. But funny enough this week has been rather discouraging despite all the blessings we have received. Please be praying for theriver’s administration - that we would not be discouraged, but be really excited about what God is doing in Warrington. Pray for our hearts that we might see the miracles that Jesus is working even today in the changing of the hearts of sinful men and women. And pray that despite discouraging times, that we would really find our rest and our joy in Jesus rather than our circumstances.
May 11, 2008
Many of you will know of our frustrations in trying to put together our very first evangelistic event - a Jazz & Blues evening. This evening was originally scheduled for January 31st. Well, nearly four months later we now have a date!
godforsaken will be Tuesday 20th of May at The Agency Bar & Grill in town centre Warrington. We hope to fill the room with many, many non-Christians. Please be praying that the evening would go well, that many people would come and bring their non-Christian mates.
