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- Apr 25, 2006
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- 17,520
15 February 2008
A week of Lent Reflections taken from "Hope in Word, Hope in Action" - storiesofhope.org.uk
Word on the Web
Hope is... for everyone
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Thessalonians 2:8
My challenge in ministry
Flaxley Road estate is one of the most deprived areas in North Yorkshire. I work with the local primary school, seeking to address various aspects of poverty (broken relationships; poor parenting) and resulting problems, such as money problems and addiction. Evangelism here begins with building consistent, loving relationships -making opportunities to share Christian faith through family and children's activities. We are exploring ways to bring real, concrete change to people's lives, and hope to bring people together in small groups to explore Christian faith.
A reflection for Lent
It is very easy to categorise people - referring to 'them' on the estate, or 'they' as in the unchurched. We forget that these are people like us; people God loves, like us; people Jesus came and gave his life for, like us.
As we allow God's love to work in us, taking risky steps to know and become known by those we wouldn't normally rub shoulders with, we begin a voyage of discovery. The 'unknown' become known and liked and we, the giver, find ourselves receivers of God's goodness from where we least expected it. 'They' are in fact 'us'.
Heavenly Father, give us strength to overcome our fears and the barriers of difference; help us to build deep and sincere relationships where your love is central. May we, in our evangelism, be the message of God's love, as much as we are bearers of it. Amen.
A week of Lent Reflections taken from "Hope in Word, Hope in Action" - storiesofhope.org.uk
Word on the Web
Hope is... for everyone
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Thessalonians 2:8
My challenge in ministry
Flaxley Road estate is one of the most deprived areas in North Yorkshire. I work with the local primary school, seeking to address various aspects of poverty (broken relationships; poor parenting) and resulting problems, such as money problems and addiction. Evangelism here begins with building consistent, loving relationships -making opportunities to share Christian faith through family and children's activities. We are exploring ways to bring real, concrete change to people's lives, and hope to bring people together in small groups to explore Christian faith.
A reflection for Lent
It is very easy to categorise people - referring to 'them' on the estate, or 'they' as in the unchurched. We forget that these are people like us; people God loves, like us; people Jesus came and gave his life for, like us.
As we allow God's love to work in us, taking risky steps to know and become known by those we wouldn't normally rub shoulders with, we begin a voyage of discovery. The 'unknown' become known and liked and we, the giver, find ourselves receivers of God's goodness from where we least expected it. 'They' are in fact 'us'.
Heavenly Father, give us strength to overcome our fears and the barriers of difference; help us to build deep and sincere relationships where your love is central. May we, in our evangelism, be the message of God's love, as much as we are bearers of it. Amen.
