The first half term

I can hardly believe the first half term is over, it’s gone fast. Caleb and Jess are happy and settled in school and pre-school, thank you God! Rich and I have been busy trying to get started and begin to work out the first steps forward. Last week we had Danny and Vera from Novi Sad come to visit, it was great to spend some time with them and be inspired by their story. We were able to invite some of the local pastors we have met along to join with us and hear them speak and it was good to be able to share their experience. As we set out it is daunting at times not knowing quite where we are going but God has already given us opportunities to begin to build relationships. I pray that as these relationships develop we will know God in them and we will meet those God wants us to befriend.
A

Money!

To be honest Alison and I aren't keen on talking about money publicly!! ( our British reserve and that fact that money is one of things people think the church only talks about!!)

However we must just fill you in on our finances. As you will know we came to Harold Hill with only a house. When we accepted the post there is no funding as this is how Urban expression work and we fully understood that and are supportive of the logic behind it.

Since June God has done something amazing, we now have three streams of income, people who are personally supporting us, I've got twelve hours a week youth work and we have a money support group to whom some churches have made gifts and last week we hard that the Baptist Union is going to support with a half stipend grant. All this means when added up that we are going to be getting around the normal baptist ministers income, which is amazing and we are thankful to those who have supported and prayed for us. A God for being so so faithful.

Please continue to pray for the teams money and for us the house is wonderful, but the bills aren't small!

Do you have decaf'?

On reflection a rather stupid question, as i could see that there was just coffee and tea. Working in Harold Hill is going to mean asking what is important for us to keep being and what is important for us to change. I've started drinking on the local pub and once a week having breakfast in the cafe where i asked the above question. Our time and priority is to understand what living on Harold hill means, including no Decaf when out and about. Now this might be a small thing but it made me stand out like a sore thumb and we not here to stand up because of the coffee we drink! In the last week we have continued to fit in and are commitmented to spending the time to observing and understanding what people and life is like on the Hill, so we can ensure what ever shape the church is it fits those God has called us too.

"To the Jews i became a Jew and to those who don't drink decaf, well i stopping asking for it!" St Paul ( well mostly).

Please pray for us, and that we start to build up friendship which are firstly good friendships and secondly friendship which Jesus teaches about mission on Harold Hill.

R

changing the way you work!

It's one thing to have big ideas about church planting and meeting people when you're in a busy church and attending loads of meetings, it's another to put it into place when you start!!
the last couple of weeks has been about teaching me to have a different routine.

We trying to spend time reading the bible and praying together and Just asking God, where can we met people and learn about Harold hill, this week it's been say hi to some neighbours, people at the school gate and local church leaders.

pray for us, because we need grace to change the working habits of the last nine years, even if the desire is there to change, what is that proverb about a dog and new tricks!! ( not that I'm old!)

I guess this is what picking up your cross and carring it feels like when trying to get to know a new community and seeking that will of Jesus.

R.