Closer

This past thursday I went to a CAP conference called Closer with Anne.  It's just a time where all of the center managers and execs of north or of the south respectively come to get encouraged and energized.  It was amazing to see how many people have a heart to help people and inspire them to know Jesus. AND three of my favorite people came with us to share their story: Barry, Trish, and Freda. 


This is Jon Kirby: Founder of CAP

This is Barry. He came from a hard life of drugs, negativity, and prison. With CAP light was brought into his life, and he is now a believer!!! His rough demeanor has now been changed to someone who wants to show the world how Jesus changed his life: unbelievable will power this man has!





This is Trish. CAP has completely changed the innerworkings of her household.  Her husband, and daughters are now coming to church and on their way to become sold out believers in Jesus!!! She found out about us on the TV and has been coming to MCC ever since!!



This is Freda. She has one of the most incredible stories I have ever heard. Her bravery and compassion inspire me! She is a mom to five daughters and currently looks after her grandson. After some medical issues with one of her daughters, she now has custody of her grandson, Steven.  I first met her in May, and you could tell that she had no idea she could lay all of those burdens on the Lord.  At a discovery break with CAP she made a commitment to Christ, and is now walking with Him in her struggles.  She is an amazing testimony of bravery.

Cap is amazing. Please continue to pray for this organization, and how its spreading to places like: Norway, New Zealand, and Australia.  Praise the Lord!!!

Nehemiah and God's power

Hello all.
My apologies for the length of the time between the posts.  Life has gotten a lot busier these last few days, but I'm loving it!!! Here is a quick update! Tomorrow I begin at Archibald.  This is such an amazing opportunity, and God has really humbled me, and already shown His power - we have 56 kids signed up for BLAST (after school club).

I am also doing Mark Driscoll's sermon series on Nehemiah: Building a City within a City.  I've been truly inspired by Nehemiah's courage, and true burden for His city.  I desire the same burden for my city.  I'm burdened for Middlesbrough, definately, but I think it's such a challenge for everyone.  Do you pray expecting big things from God? Are you burdened for your city? Or are you blinded by the normalcy that is our broken society? I'm still working through answering these questions.

These past few days have been pretty incredible as far as God speaking straight to my heart.  I know that I need more of God, I want to go where He wants me to go, and I desire to see His name known throughout the nations.  Please continue to pray that His purpose is made evident in my life, and in these next few weeks as my schedule will continue to get busier!!!

I will be updating soon, please continue to pray for Archibald and all the kids we will get to teach!

"I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living; Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalms 27:13-14

Greater things have yet to come...

God is truly amazing!!

Along with the ministries listed in my last post, I will be going back to Archibald Primary School every monday to help with Religious Education classes on Christianity, and do assemblies.  I'm very excited about this opportunity, but need to definately soak it in prayer.  This last May was amazing there, and I really want to connect to the non-Christian teachers and reconnect with the kids.

CAP update: please continue to pray for June.  She is still very burdened, but is so close to giving it all to Jesus.  She is reading a book, "what on earth am I here for," so please pray that God is revealed to her through this book.  Also met with James and Joyce.  Our guys from May cleaned up their garden, and they started coming to church.  James doesn't really like the idea of church, but with Americans there he said he would come.  They went on a CAP holiday and met some amazing friends, which I think was a complete God thing.  Please continue to pray that they will come to church, and connect with the family of MCC.

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

The Lord is my portion

The Lord is my portion... I have sort of struggled with this term for a while, but I recently read Lamentations in my quiet time, and God just spoke straight to my heart.  In the midst of trials, confusion, and finding purpose, the writers focus is the Lords love. That is what gives hope.

I have loved every minute that I have been here, and God is constantly affirming my decision to surrender to the call of the uncomfortable.  I'm finding challenges every day that point me closer to the Father.  I have had to come to terms with the fact that I'm no longer at UMHB, but I'm serving God with everything I have - He is my portion.

Newest updates: God has opened the door for me to go to Istanbul, Turkey for a week with some families from our church to do some kids rallies at a conference.  It is a divine appointment, that I'm completely thrilled about!!! It is the week of November 14th!!! Also, at CAP this past Thursday we visited three families and one guy became a Christian while filling out a form - PRAISE GOD!!!

I thought it would be a good idea to just list the things I'll be doing and give a brief description of them so you can be praying for them each day!
~MCC and Acklam Kids every other Sunday respectively
~Christians Against Poverty: debt counseling with Christ at the center Tuesdays-Thursdays
~Ignite: Youth Club every Saturday night
~Lifegroups: Mondays and Wednesday nights- great time of Bible Study and Fellowship
~Toddlers: Wednesday mornings. Great time to connect with moms around the community
~Girls Cluster: Youth girls bible study once a month (can't wait to start teaching and feeding into these girls!)
~Youth Alpha: Thursday nights, basics of Christianity course essentially
~Whinneybanks: this can include possible kids club and any help with the Roseberry Pub
~Archibald Primary School: hopefully I'll be able to do some assemblies or sessions with the kids at this school
~Beloved: Women's Conference in October. Helping plan and prepare for this event!
~Visiting and encouraging MCC families - very excited about this opportunity to share my story!!!

Thank you for your continued prayers - God is affirming my heart for this place, and for His ministry!

"I remember my affliction and my wandering... Yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."" Lamentations 3:19-24

First Day of CAP

CAP: Christians Against Poverty... aka: you're in debt, we'll help you, and lead you to Jesus. Brilliant right?

Well, two days a week I will be working with my pastor's wife Anne who is the center manager for CAP in Middlesbrough.  I've worked with CAP before, and have seen it change peoples lives tremendously.  Today I went on two visits - one a first-timer and one to see an already established client. 
   I love going on first time visits because you can be so bold with them about why Christians Against Poverty is not the regular debt collecter, but someone who cares about your heart and wants to show the love of God.  This was a dad, mom, and son who is seven.  They have had loads of debt and were almost paying the same amount on TV/internet that they were on food... it was crazy - they were at the end of their rope.  It was so brilliant to see the dad especially be so skeptical because of his "rip offs" he has had at first, and then by the end of the visit was absolutely raving about CAP.  You could see the weight just lift off of them, and they knew that soon they would be able to provide a better life for their son.  None of them are Christians, have never been to church, and I have total confidence the Holy Spirit is already working on their hearts. 
   Visit #2 was with a lady who I had met in May, and many of you at FSBC who heard my talk during the summer heard her testimony. She was carrying the weight of her family, her families decisions/consequences, and raising her grandson all on her own - and this last week at a holiday for CAP she made Jesus the Lord of her life!!!!! I want to jump up and down right now because it's so exciting to see someone who truly knows the freedom we have in Christ.

Ended the day with a prayer meeting and worship time with my friends - brilliant!

PRAISE GOD!!!!

I've decided to sort of write out some prayer requests at the end of my blogs and a verse God has laid on my heart:
-For CAP and my service to them and Anne these next few months
-Family we met today that are not Christians
-The Roseberry Pub in Whineybanks
-the Youth of MCC that they will catch the passion of the 18-30's and really engage in it

"Because your love is better than life. My lips will glorify You" Psalms 63:3

Pigeons and breathtaking views

So I have finally settled in.  Still adjusting to the fact that I'm not at UMHB, or studying right now.  I've got most of my stuff lined up for what I'll be doing, and I will fill you all in next week.

I just wanted to show you a few things I have been up to.  The picture above is a closed down pub in Winneybanks, called Roseberry, and the church is looking into buying.  They had a viewing on Thursday and we went in and the first thing you see is loads of dead pigeons, and you can barely breath because of the smell!!! I walked around, trying not to step on the pigeons while watching out for the loads of live ones flying about. (Chris, Jacob, Dan, and myself had two close encounters with these live pigeons even... funniest two minutes ever!)  We then went around the estate asking people what they thought about it opening up again as something positive for the community and they were SO supportive!!! What a great opportunity to impact a community that doesn't have much for kids or families to do.  We shall see what the outcome is soon. First step, getting all of the pigeons out!!!

Now on to the breathtaking views: today Chris and Beth took me and Helen to Lord's stones which I went to in 2008.  Amazes me that God's creation is this beautiful!!

Hello Middlesbrough!!

I'm finally here... Almost a year of praying about this and i'm here.  God provided everything I needed (even the finances the day i left) and I'm blown away by the amount of support, prayers, and encouragement i have had.  I'm so blessed to have so many great people in my life that are excited about what God is going to do!!

I am thoroughly exhuasted, but wanted to share one quick story before I head to bed (for a while).  When I left my family, got through security, and found my gate, I decided I needed to eat because me and airplane food do not mix.  I was already praying that God would open doors for me to converse with people in the airport, and he answered that prayer within 30 minutes of arriving.  I sat next to a man named Rick, didn't know his story, but felt like i needed to talk to him.  We talked about the chinese food we were eating, and when he asked what i was doing going to the UK - i began to tell him about God and His leadership in my life.  It was amazing!!! His daughter works with troubled youth in south carolina, and although he didn't say he was a Christian - i know that that was a divine appointment today. 

God is already showing off and I can't wait to see what He will do!! I'm so ready to serve him wholeheartedly! More updates to come...

Colossians 1:28-29