Go and make disciples of all nations...

I don't know about you but when I read the passage where Jesus commands us to go into all the nations I get images of Christians donning their rucksacks, packing up home and venturing off to the four corners. I do not think this is what Jesus had in mind, what is a nation - A nation is a human cultural and social community (according to Wikipedia!!). If this is the case then we have nations surrounding us here in sunny Woking in the bucket load...

Last night was Outside Light in Old Woking. My day leading up to this had been somewhat strange and as I settle into my new role one of the challenges I am facing is being able to switch off, knowing when work stops and rest starts, trying to find those quiet moments to re-charge. In all honesty I felt really tired, arriving at Old Woking was encouraging, not in ways you might expect. Everyone was feeling awful, tired, family issues, work obstacles, illness and so on. We had prayed the night before for a big night, we were expecting more from God we just hoped it would be someone else doing it! As we have learnt before, these are usually the best nights, when we are at our weakest God is at his strongest.

We decided to visit the young lad's family, the lad that is in prison. We approached the house and were once again welcomed in. We had been speaking with the prison about arranging an official visit, this option was only open to official ministers. Tonight we wanted to talk to the family about visiting and see how the young lad was.

We spent the next hour in a God ordained, Holy Spirit filled, Jesus centred meeting of people. This gypsy/traveller family were so open and welcoming and it was fascinating to hear about their backgrounds, their stories, their lives. The Mum has a strong background of knowing Jesus personally herself although this was some 20 years ago, when she spoke of it there was a tenderness and from my part you could see Jesus in her albeit tucked away. She had been a committed Christian, however another family had treated them appaulingly, death threats, accusations and all the hallmarks of Satan's handiwork. Unfortunately this had created unforgiveness and eventually this kept her away from the church, if your reading this please pray with all your might and wrestle with the Lord for him to bring his daughter back. The young lads sister was there and she kept saying "this is really nice, I am really enjoying talking to yous, keep praying for us". We prayed for them at the end and it was a touching moment, my heart was so touched for this family by God when I was praying and all through the night. The sister went off and brought back a leather bookmark that she wanted to give us, it was a real token of how touched she had been. This was a present bound for her brother but she wanted to give it to us. They have talked about coming to church, keep praying.

Before we go out each evening we pray and talk through the plan. Two of the young girls who we usually meet, arrived at the church and wanted to join us. We asked them to wait in the lounge as we didn't want them to know the initmate details of those we were praying for, however halfway through they entered the room and sat there praying with us. We prayed for them. The room was full of the Holy Spirit and it was a special moment. One of the girls said to me afterwards, "did you pray for me because you love me". My answer is not important, God is touching their hearts.

Nancy and Helen had some special moments with some of the young people on the rec, some persecution too. There is a sense of deepening relationships and a bonding between us on the team as we go out to serve, I felt so much unity in our struggles and supporting each other. Helen and Nancy had some one on one time with some of the girls and the difference in their mood when they came back was tangible.

I hope as you read this you don't feel that we are parading good deeds before men, announcing our news with trumpets. We really want to encourage people, more than anything, that God is moving and he is using us ordinary, sin filled, jars of clay to do his work and it is amazing and inspiring. We want you to share in that, come and join us. Take that plunge...