This outreach venture aims to bring spiritual values to the forefront of residents in the West Midlands. OAC Ministries (Open Air Campaigners) and OM Lifehope are uniting from Saturday the 4th to Sunday the 12th of July for this creative evangelism training and outreach event. It offers an opportunity to participate in a multi-national team of up to 100 led by experienced evangelists, and working with about 10 churches.
8am Monday! Just a quickie! Saturday finished well with a great curry, debrief and closing celebration. Hamish had a further meeting with a contact from Friday’s open air. Two and a half hours later after deep discussions the guy trusted the Lord! Feedback from team members indicate that this week for many was a life changing time. I know my German team got so much from the week and are looking to get some of the Black Country teens over to Germany for a mission trip! Today the German and US teams get their flights home so do pray for them on their return journey. Bless you all for your prayers. I’m going to get some breakfast and have a day off!
Filled in feedback forms. Best 3 bits of mission?
Brilliant team (varied but complementary)
Brilliant Hosts (ditto – quite complimentary too – obviously very discerning).
Hardest bits?
Not enough time to do more than scratch the surface.
(but nevertheless quite a lot of significant firsts have been acheived in our lives and the lives of many people we have talked to).
“Healing on the streets” which we initiated in our area was seriously challenging but (incidentally????) allowed some very important ministry which was otherwise highly unlikely to occur.
A dozen or so we had met on the local street came to the church barbecue this evening and stayed to watch “Indescribable” (with amazing pics of deep space and tiniest things), to play games and to talk. Our (ex) Army Captain shared some of his experience with a group of 6 or 8 (Respect!) and with others throughout.
Yorke’s friend from Tuesday was there in great spirits with a friend or 2.
Sunday we share Jesus’ sending out the 12 and then 72 to say God’s kingdom is at hand and to prove it, ie to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.
The Scripture records the reporting back from the missions.
About 12 of us have been active this week and will report to the church in the service.
There will be about 72 others in church………………..!
Report back next year?
After a week of favourable weather the rain has at last closed in. However as I type at 11.20am the rain has just stopped! Guess what time the open air starts? You got it … 11.30 in Walsall! God has been so faithful. Our team is currently rehearsing a puppet routine for tomorrow’s services. Then we will be out leafleting and prayer walking. Tonight we will all assemble back at Smethwick for a curry, a debrief, and a closing celebration and testimony time. It has been a great week. God has blessed us, people have been saved, many counselled, talked to and prayed with, and team members launched out into new areas of ministry. The churches have been so hospitable and the folks at Smethwick Gospel Hall so generous in their letting us base ourselves in their superb new church. Tonight could be a late one so this will be my last report till sometime next week when I will doubtless add a few last thoughts. Thanks to all of you who have prayed for us and checked in on the Blog! From me in Upper Gornel, over and out!
Very encouraging start to the day! Mike Getley shared a very moving devotion on pursuing the call and believing God for more than we can think! Karen shared of an encounter last night with a cleaner at the church which resulted in the lady trusting Christ. Another spoke of an old man contacted on the doors for whom we have been able to get together a support package as he was in considerable need. Open airs went really well in Dudley with lots of conversations. 2 of the guys preached for the first time and did really well. The sun shone again and it made a real difference to the mood of the crowds. Tonight at a youth event in Dudley 6 young people indicated a profession of faith PTL! 10.30, tired, bedtime!
Thursday and the week is flying by. Peter Green led the devotions at the start of the day and then it was down to business and workshops. The sketchboard preachers are progressing well and anticipating their open air debut’s today and tomorrow. The kids workers are lapping up all that Dawn & Mike Getley can give them, whilst those interested in personal witnessing learnt more about Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus. Reports from yesterday were greatly encouraging, not least the 15 that professed faith in Christ at an evening meeting in Stourbridge. Pray please for strength as some are feeling the pace. Pray for continued fine weather as we approach the weekend. Saturday is not looking too promising and we have a number of events planned for the open air. Thanks for your prayers to date!
The Old Hill team did Bible stories for a childrens club and primary school where rapt attention was universal. (There are some great stories in the Bible!).
The fire engine at the club (planned rather than functional!) was great fun but hopefully (and prayerfully) the stories will linger longer. The quiet smiles of recognition on the faces of the children whose homes we happened to visit on our door to door invitation run for Saturday’s barbecue bore testimony to the impact of those action packed and (apparently) “scratch where they itch” stories.
Lunchtime for us was Dudley by the fountain and some old favourite message outlines with up to date application and content were used by preachers old and new. One message “10 minutes to live” held me spellbound. Some profess never to have met a humble evangelist; well this one is, par excellence, – a truly great grandad (not mine though!).
Great fish and chips at the vicarage with time to talk and pray over the programme past and future. Great to hear of and to see local people re-envisioned to serve.
Holy Trinity Church, Old Hill Team
Alan Jenner (alias ‘paintingman’), our team leader (alias ‘captain’) did a sketchboard story with the children at a local school together with the regular team from Holy Trinity who do a Bible story every second week. There was a freshness in the air – the children clearly loved these regular sessions and Alan was able to build on what had gone before. With sounds and smells and colour, the story of Jesus calming the storm came alive. Alan was given the liberty to pray – it was total silence – awesome peace. We left the school with a joy in our heart and a sense that the theme “trust Jesus” had found a place in many of the hearts of the children.
From about 16h00 to 20h00 all 5 of the team went out in twos – a team member with a parish member – going door to door. We were simply inviting the local people to a fun evening for the family on Saturday evening. It was a great joy for all of us!! The people were friendly and grateful to receive what we had to offer them.
‘Thank you Lord’ for open hearts and for all the prayers (locally and the OAC and OM prayer supporters) as well as the hardwork that the local people are investing the Kingdom of God in the Black Country.
We have had a good day! Our team continues to build each other up! We are so so grateful!!!
Wednesday morning followed a similar pattern to yesterday with devotions and a word from Brent Geiner (OM). Then it was down to work with workshops before gathering together for a feedback time on yesterday’s open airs. Teams today went to West Bromwich and Dudley. I was with the Dudley team and we had a great time. Crowds were not big particularly later in the afternoon but it was surprising how many were engaged in personal conversations. Many Asians were deep in conversation, backslidden Christians challenged to come back home, whilst others experiencing problems or ill health were prayed for. As we stood in the market place and shared and then prayed it was such a blessing that so many of the team had been used. It was also noticeable that there was an increased boldness today as everyone grew in confidence. God is good! Our evening cabaret and dinner went well at St Paul’s Gornel with illusion from myself and testimonies from the 3 German teens.
11.30 am Tuesday, training done for the day, teams allocated, all set up to go share the message, step outside, Our God rains!
Double take to reassess!!! The mature know to go and leave the weather to God.
Sure enough by the time we reach Walsall the sun is shining (but not too hot) – Perfect! (Thank you to those who prayed).
Seasoned campaigners share the message and all the rest of us engage in conversations afterwards. How many???? possibly hundreds of conversations of different lengths includings blessings and some prayers.
One couple had been in Britain since 1960’s but only just learning about Jesus’ healing ministry (through film on TV??) received brief prayer for the man’s back which seemed set to be painful indefinitely. Please pray for him to experience God’s healing power.
Tuesday started off with worship led by Jon Bonner and a word from Steve Gurnett. The whole group was then streamed into sketchboard preaching, children’s ministry, and personal work. With rain pouring down and with our packed lunches at the ready we headed in 2 groups to Walsall and West Bromwich respectively. We got soaked walking from the cars to the open air site and it was still raining whilst we put up the board. Then the sun came out and it was superb for the open airs. Apart from the sketchboard the West Brom group had a couple of Americans who are associated with Dance Link. They performed 2 dances which were great! Many conversations resulted from the 4 meetings that we held and I hope to be able to report more fully when we have the feedback sessions. My group then headed back to Gornel to conduct 2 evening sessions for kids and parents and then for teens. These went really well. The kids meeting began with a tea (I ate too many sausages) followed by parachute games, memory work, illusion and a story. The teens group were great to be with and really engaged with us and the message. The German team went down so well as they shared in the games and then gave testimony! Tired now (10pm) it’s been a long day! Praise God for all that he has done!
We hope that the Black Country is not as wet and windy as London this afternoon so that you will all have been able to be out and about with sketchboards, have good conversations and make contacts.
We pray daily that God Himself will bless this exceptional outreach opportunity and that beleivers will be added……
Blessings on all.
Praise the Lord! We’re praying for you. God bless you.
Many thanks for your prayers!!!
On Tuesday I met a man who was in a wheel chair. When I asked him how I can pray for him showed me the tatoo that he had on his head … it said “666 go to Hell”. Please do pray for him! I was able to get his address and hope to send him some literature.
God bless
Yorke
Training today, well what can one say, much that’s familiar but fleshed out by lots of personal stories and a number of different individuals’ preferred ways of sharing age old but ever relevant truths.
Catering and Hospitality continues to be excellent including practical help with servicing and making equipment.
Monday update! Today started with a trek through the early morning traffic which delayed several of us but after a delayed time it was great to share the events of Sunday and pray together. One team of Americans engaged a group of teens in a local park and taught them ‘ultimate frisbee’. A great time ensued with the request for a further get together on Tuesday night. Pray that it will lead to a real opportunity for the gospel. Others shared of Tamil services (with great food) and fun days for families. One group shared in a service which included some infant baptisms. 160 non church attenders turned up! Everyone is buzzing and the week is off to a great start. Today (Monday) was training day and everyone has been eager to learn. There are sketchboards everywhere and small groups scattered about learning and sharing ideas for the Gospel. The evening was a time for much sharing of ideas by OAC and OM evangelists and a great time was had by all. Thanks to the ladies of Smethwick Gospel Hall for their catering during the day. What a lovely bunch of ladies! Everyone will sleep well tonight as will I. Good night and I will report again tomorrow!
To God be the glory, great things He is doing !
At Stourbridge carnival yesterday there was a real Christian presence in the area, providing refreshments, stalls and a friendly puppeteer added to the colour.
At Brierley Hill in the evening the team’s testimonies were well received. During the afternoon the sketchboard immediately drew in the younger generation.
This has already built expectancy for what is to come . . . .
Well we’ve had a full day and got to know our small teams in our various host churches.
We have a great team here in Old Hill, A HUGE congregation for the triple Christening this morning. “A REAL celebration” was one comment and the team acted out “the story of Fred” (4 crosses sketchboard talk) during the service.
After the service a gazinta box went around the car park to illustrate the message that we can be “in Christ” if we choose to have Christ in us.
After our afternoon condensing our stories we were able to share them (and some plans for the week) with those gathered for the evening communion service.
Up early tomorrow for 9am at Smethwick Gospel Hall for Worship and then training sessions all day.
Sunday has been a very good day. All the teams were working in their host churches. Until I meet up with everyone tomorrow I will not know how things have gone. Suffice to say that the Gornal teams at the Methodist church and St Paul’s have had a good time with the ministry being gretaly appreciated. Tomorrow is a full training day and will be a long one for all concerned. Pray that all will be eager to learn and that tiredness will not prevail as the day wears on. Do pray for all the practical aspects such as catering as the army marches on its stomach!!
Smethwick Gospel Hall is a beautiful purpose built church courtesy of the developers of a new shopping complex that demolished there old and diliapidated building. It was here that the team for ‘Shine your light’ assembled on Saturday afternoon and this will be the training base for the week. Team members have come from America, Germany, Spain, Australia, and all points round the UK. After a superb tea, graciously provided by the ladies of the church, we held our welcome meeting during which we prayed for the areas and churches in which we would work. The variety of opportunities is quite amazing and range from special church based activities, including BBQ’s and family fun days, to taking over local restaurants for evangelistic meals followed by ‘Gospel Magic’ presentations. By 9.30 all the teams had left for their respective hosts for a good night’s rest. Sunday will be spent with our host churches before all joining together for the training day on Monday. Please pray for Geoff Beckingham as he heads up the training and for all those who will be doing the lecturing.
Well, this is a whole new experience for me – I’m not sure I know how to blog or even if I’m writing in the right bit!!? But I’m busy getting ready for Reach the City too – printing off handouts for the training sessions on children’s work – you might even find Horace there – he’s my puppet and usually gets involved somewhere along the line -well -that’s all I can think of right now.
I am speaking at a Christian Endeavour Convention over the weekend and so will not be joining until Sunday evening, but looking forward to a great week. All day Monday and each morning we will be training the teams in skills they can use during the week and when they return home in communicating the good news of Jesus. Each lunchtime we will be going out to various town centres to proclaim the good news and then the teams will be going out to 14 churches to take part in activities planned by them. Come back to see what God does!
We are all set for a fantastic week in the Black Country. The team will gather on Saturday though the American contingent arrive Friday! Internet connection permitting I will be blogging daily to update you all so keep on coming back for all the latest prayer and praise items!