Hey Church,
What an incredible month May was as we dreamed and declared about the church we see! Sitting in the office and reading the stacks and stacks of cards, and seeing so many beautiful people give and pledge towards making this dream a reality has been such a joy as we see the army of God get into formation to advance the Kingdom of Light here in our region and beyond.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your devotion, generosity, and willingness to be a part of the journey. We can’t imagine a better group of people to build the kingdom and lift Jesus up over this city with!
July is heading rapidly towards us, and as many of you would know, Lo and I are on sabbatical from then until October 1st. It was such a joy to showcase the leadership team on Sunday, and if you missed it, you can see them all here. We are so confident in the strength of the team; our Trustees, Elders, Ministry Pastors, Group and Team leaders, and we have full confidence in their ability to push on with all God is doing whilst we are away, as they embody Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:58;
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.”
And that has been the case since we began this journey in 2020. Five years ago, in the midst of real trial and hardship for our church, I wrote this below, when I couldn’t fully see it physically, but saw it so clearly in my spirit. I shared it at the start of May, and by the grace of God, we may not see this yet in its entirety, but we are beginning to see this more and more, and I am so encouraged by it!
What an incredible month May was as we dreamed and declared about the church we see! Sitting in the office and reading the stacks and stacks of cards, and seeing so many beautiful people give and pledge towards making this dream a reality has been such a joy as we see the army of God get into formation to advance the Kingdom of Light here in our region and beyond.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your devotion, generosity, and willingness to be a part of the journey. We can’t imagine a better group of people to build the kingdom and lift Jesus up over this city with!
July is heading rapidly towards us, and as many of you would know, Lo and I are on sabbatical from then until October 1st. It was such a joy to showcase the leadership team on Sunday, and if you missed it, you can see them all here. We are so confident in the strength of the team; our Trustees, Elders, Ministry Pastors, Group and Team leaders, and we have full confidence in their ability to push on with all God is doing whilst we are away, as they embody Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:58;
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.”
And that has been the case since we began this journey in 2020. Five years ago, in the midst of real trial and hardship for our church, I wrote this below, when I couldn’t fully see it physically, but saw it so clearly in my spirit. I shared it at the start of May, and by the grace of God, we may not see this yet in its entirety, but we are beginning to see this more and more, and I am so encouraged by it!
The church I see is a church that is saturated in and built on prayer. Heavy with the weight of his glory.
A church that would be urged to pray on evenings and in the night even when other plans have been made.
A church that isn’t comfortable anymore with being comfortable, but will do whatever it takes to believe for an impartation of the Holy Spirit into people and elevate the name of Jesus in our city.
A church that is so selfless in their giving; emotionally, physically and financially, that people look on and marvel at the wonder of their love for God and one another that they can’t help but be drawn to what they are a part of.
I see a church so entrenched in the community that the community would really feel the effects should we ever need to change the way we operate.
I see many of them free from the spiritual and financial poverty that has kept them bound for generations, and freed in order to free others.
I see the older generation adopting the younger one, sharing wisdom, food, finance and prayer for them on a daily basis.
I see the younger generation turning away from a culture of wanting to be known, seen and elevated, rather being faithful in their unique calling and making the ‘good old days’ seem like a drop in the ocean in comparison to the move of God they see in their lifetime.
I see kids laying hands on adults and them being healed.
I see teenagers hosting revivals across schools with a burning passion to see people come to know true hope in the person of Jesus.
I see the single and lonely cared for and adopted into families. I see people with very little blood family sat with big families around the dinner table at Christmas and throughout the year.
I see universities over the next few years studying the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Sheffield and South Yorkshire.
And I see people smiling. Smiling because of what God has done for them, in them and for God is leading them into.
This is the church I see. How about you?
We love you church. Let’s make Jesus known together.
Until the whole world knows!
A church that would be urged to pray on evenings and in the night even when other plans have been made.
A church that isn’t comfortable anymore with being comfortable, but will do whatever it takes to believe for an impartation of the Holy Spirit into people and elevate the name of Jesus in our city.
A church that is so selfless in their giving; emotionally, physically and financially, that people look on and marvel at the wonder of their love for God and one another that they can’t help but be drawn to what they are a part of.
I see a church so entrenched in the community that the community would really feel the effects should we ever need to change the way we operate.
I see many of them free from the spiritual and financial poverty that has kept them bound for generations, and freed in order to free others.
I see the older generation adopting the younger one, sharing wisdom, food, finance and prayer for them on a daily basis.
I see the younger generation turning away from a culture of wanting to be known, seen and elevated, rather being faithful in their unique calling and making the ‘good old days’ seem like a drop in the ocean in comparison to the move of God they see in their lifetime.
I see kids laying hands on adults and them being healed.
I see teenagers hosting revivals across schools with a burning passion to see people come to know true hope in the person of Jesus.
I see the single and lonely cared for and adopted into families. I see people with very little blood family sat with big families around the dinner table at Christmas and throughout the year.
I see universities over the next few years studying the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Sheffield and South Yorkshire.
And I see people smiling. Smiling because of what God has done for them, in them and for God is leading them into.
This is the church I see. How about you?
We love you church. Let’s make Jesus known together.
Until the whole world knows!