- News: Views
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11 Nov
[08-12-08] Chocolate Traffic
Fancy working 80-100 hours a week for little pay? If so the chocolate trade is for you.[11-11-08] Update on our 08-09 Goals
We've been pursuing our strategic goals for 08-09 for over two months now, so I thought it would be good to update everyone on how they're going.[06-10-08] The Ten Commandments
This term we are looking at the Ten Commandments - barely 300 words long in English, yet they form the basis of our legal system, the foundations of our parliament and lie at the core of western civilisation.[01-10-08] Open Heaven at 15 Years Old: Growing Up
This summer, Open Heaven turned 15 years old.[26-09-08] Welcome to Loughborough
If you're a fresher (or even someone who's just thinking of coming along to Open Heaven for the first time) we'd like to give you a warm welcome.[15-09-08] To be Loved, to Love and to Serve
Here is a short account of what my last year has been like my aim is to encourage, motivate, and challenge us all, as we seek to be continually transformed into the likeness of our king, Jesus.[10-09-08] The Hidden Beauty of the Church
While walking around inside an old but still well used church building, I found myself in a kind of gatehouse with a dusty old staircase leading down from one end.[28-05-08] I Am the True Grapevine
Looking at a tree outside my office window the other day I realised how strong the trunk was and that the branches did little to support it.[12-02-08] Responding to the Call
We are embarking on a journey of adventure, into the unknown; a little nervous, anticipating many challenges but determined to position ourselves to be ever more used by God in establishing the Kingdom in every area of our personal and corporate lives.[27-11-07] Getting Closer...Part 2
For a while it's been everywhere.
Update on our 08-09 Goals
We've been pursuing our strategic goals for 08-09 for over two months now, so I thought it would be good to update everyone on how they're going.
1. Presence - A New Boldness
Last month, we had a welcome meal at our house for people who wanted to join the church. One of the things we do
at them is go round and hear a bit of everyone’s story – why they are there, their journey with God so far etc.
As we went round hearing the stories, a sense of awe and excitement was building. One person after another talked
about God’s direct intervention in getting hold of them, with a number talking in terms of having come to faith
in just the last few days and weeks.
As the stories came to an end, my spirit was whispering ‘this sounds like the start of a move of God’. I don’t believe what’s been happening in recent weeks is disconnected from our first goal of pushing into God’s presence. It’s also not a co-incidence that ‘Club Mission’ has got such favour at this time. The Union is providing a room for us to chat to people and pray with them at FND! As the team gather to pray and worship at the start of an evening, it is pushing into God’s presence that is the source of tremendous boldness to engage in the God-conversations and offer prayer for felt needs over the course of the night.
In order to pursue this goal of pushing into God’s presence together, we're asking everyone to study a 40 day devotional called ‘The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind’, which will be our theme for the whole of next term. We have made a bulk order in so we can sell them at Sunday gatherings at the bargain price of £6.50. Chris Ford and Vicky Wilson will be distributing them. We are aiming to start at the end of November as each study can take 2 or 3 days to complete!
2.Provision - A New Resource Centre
We've had an encouraging email through from the planning department about St. Peter's, allowing us to make the
key changes we need to in order for the sale to go through. So hopefully it’s only a matter of weeks before the
sale officially goes through. This will mean that Elim has purchased the building and our Joint Building Share
project can properly start.
3.Preparation - A New Church Plant.
Pete, Miri and the team are doing a visit before Christmas to finalise the exact location. A fortnightly France
cell has started for all those committed to going or supporting, so let Pete know if you want to join that.
Meanwhile, Pete has joined the leadership team and was commissioned at our last Joint Gathering.
All of which is really exciting, but let's keep pushing into these things in prayer.
Posted by: Ness Wilson on Tuesday Nov 11th, 2008
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