Shepherds BushShepherd’s Bush is home to a diverse population of people from many countries around the world, including the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Europe. During this week, our team will learn about different cultures and religions, hear talks on God’s mission of renewal in this world, engage in extended times of prayer for the church-planting work in diverse, urban communities of London, and help with evangelism. This is an exciting opportunity for the gospel, and I hope you are as excited as I am at the opportunity to spread the good news about Jesus Christ to the people in London.
Please pray for our safety, but of much greater importance, pray for the Holy Spirit to be working in the hearts of the people we will meet.
You can also checkout another Blog on our trip by one our team members at: http://sciongo.blogspot.com |
Who We Are |
Our team is made up from Faithful Christian members of Atonement Presbyterian Church located in Silver Spring, MD.
Team Leaders: Gordon Bell and Rhonda Tildon Team: Kanisa Baker, Pam Baster, Chelsea Curtis, Josh King, Jaime King, Stephanie Link, Rand Huntzinger, Tom Scibek, Nancy Scibek and Austin Thompson |
Prayer Requests |
Please partner with us in prayer:
God's direction and peace, Courage, Safe Travel and Safety, Financial needs met. |
DaY 1 jULY 4TH 2017
A very happy 4th of July to our fellow Americans. We are pleased to say that we have hit the ground running here in Shepherd's Bush. Today the team went to visit Heston Church Hall in Hounslow. We were greeted by fellow Christian believers and taken to visit a Gurdwara and Mosque in Southall. Leaders in these to buildings shared with us about their faith, beliefs and answered our many questions.
We continued our day hearing testimonies from our brothers and sisters that have come to believe in Christ in the Southall area. It was a deeply moving time. Our hearts are full and touch to hear about the transforming power of Jesus Christ and the sacrifices these courage men and women have made to follow Jesus.
Please pray for the team to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and for God's love to flow through us as we share his love to the people we meet tomorrow. Please pray for well rested bodies as many of us are still overcoming jet lag. God bless you all for your prayers and encouragement.
We continued our day hearing testimonies from our brothers and sisters that have come to believe in Christ in the Southall area. It was a deeply moving time. Our hearts are full and touch to hear about the transforming power of Jesus Christ and the sacrifices these courage men and women have made to follow Jesus.
Please pray for the team to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and for God's love to flow through us as we share his love to the people we meet tomorrow. Please pray for well rested bodies as many of us are still overcoming jet lag. God bless you all for your prayers and encouragement.
Team Member thoughts
On Tuesday we had the opportunity to spend the day at New Life Masih Ghar, a predominately Southeast Asian focused church. We arrived in time for training, had lunch and then traveled to a Gurdwara and a Mosque. Afterwards we heard testimonies from people who had been former Buddhists, Sikh, Hindus and M*****. Their stories were full of uncertainty and challenges yet God was in control and brought them to the local church. The devotionals showed the commitment of the London churches to each and every person, a church family. This is something that is often missing in the individualized American culture. What will it take us to unite together to serve each other as Christ commanded? This is a thought that I will carry out of this day in Southhall London. Tuesday was so enlightening! Seeing a Guardawara and Mosque for the first time was exciting for me. Hearing from the young men who practice those religions was more than intriguing. I found my heart full with emotion in want for their salvation in the one true God. I prayed that our very presence as Christians would encourage them to think about their beliefs. The time with the other church and mission group was encouraging to me and I'm so glad we were able to be with them. Hearing some testimonies in the evening moved me to tears at many moments. God is moving here in London, in some very mighty ways! Yesterday, the fourth of July was the longest day of our trip. First, at 7:45 am, we went to the main church across town for praise and worship, and then we went as a group of thirty to a place of Sikh worship called a Gurdwara. Both men and women wore head scarves as a sign of respect. With this being my first mission trip I had no idea what to expect. The enemy planted so many doubts in my mind. I had the anxiety about traveling to a place I had never been before especially due to the recent acts of terrorism. I also carry so much stress and burdens from my daily life, I wondered if I would even be effective. But once I got there I saw how God had made a way for EVERYTHING. From our beautiful hotel, to the lovely church that provides a way to meet the needs of the surrounding community as well as a place to worship, and to all the arrangements He made for us to have incredible experiences of learning and sharing all orchestrated by the team. Leaning on His arms and the strength of my mission teammates I felt confident to participate in our outreach activities from passing out prayer blessing on the street corner to knocking on doors in the projects of south London. By God's grace, I've come a very long way in increased confidence to share the love of Christ and my testimony. |
Reaching out to people on the street is never a totally comfortable feeling. Who are they, how will they respond, what could happen to me? Yet, this is part of what God commands us to do. Talking to M****** on the street, listening to their stories, and talking apologetics with them takes time. London is a great place to meet people from all over the world and we have the opportunity to bring them the hope of Jesus. One man chatted with me for over two hours trying to convince me that I**** is the right way, while I was trying to convince him that Jesus was the way. It was a long time to chat, but maybe a seed was planted. So I am just waking up right now and am about to start the day. When we arrived, Marcus met us at Heathrow Airport, and we arrived at the church for lunch. Today, Thursday, July 6th, each group went to a different place in London. For the first time during the week, Tom and I were assigned to the same group. We visited a family who live in the estates of Roehampton, south of the city. The estates are similar to the projects. This fits in well for the family because the family has a heart for youth. He writes music and pastors a small church. His story at http://urbanministries.org.uk/ has allowed people around the world to learn about his church. His church site is http://newlifelondon.com I wasn't sure what to expect on this trip. Even though I was looking forward to what we might see God do, I was also preparing myself not to feel useful or even to be in the way. I've been blessed to see all the ways New City Church is working in Shepherds Bush and how the church is partnering with others reaching out to the community to make all the ministries more effective. I've been able to help in areas I never would have chosen to do myself (Street ministry) as well as practical ways where it can be easier to see actual results from labor in the short term (helping to weed and plant in a community garden which will provide free food for those who need it). I am encouraged by all that has been accomplished in the last few years since New City Church has been planted and hearing its vision for the future. Thursday in London was different. The outreach we did was for other groups to build collaborative relationships with others to advance the kingdom. |