- HOPE '08 UPDATE
- Tim's ramblings
- Make a donation
- Trumpet Call in June
- Next Leaders' net gathering (March)
- Hope and Pray - Wolves' event
- Green Pastures UPDATE
- Owl & Pussy Cat resource
- STOP THE TRAFFIK UPDATE
- Dudley Focus For Men
- JOBS
HOPE '08 update
Please see www.thenet.org.uk for more HOPE information relating to The Black Country, and feel free to advertize your HOPE '08 events and activities on netnews too.
REMEMBER---please also register your activities for HOPE throughout the year so that we can compile a huge report at the end of '08 which will prove to be very effective when we show the collective and joined-up efforts of THE BODY OF CHRIST in our area to each-other, the media, local goverment and whoever else wants or needs to know.
You can access this via our web-site OR via www.faithsurvey.info
NEXT BLACK COUNTRY CHAPTER--- "DAY OFF HOPE"
Please also see below regarding HOPE AND PRAY-WOLVES, IN MAYMarch of HOPE
Easter March of HOPE, Wolverhampton
Saturday 22nd March
Churches across Wolverhampton will be holding an historic March of HOPE on Easter Saturday, the 22nd March.
But why let this remain just a Wolverhampton opportunity? Everyone is invited to join in, swell the crowd and make this a day to be remembered. If you are not already busy on Easter Saturday, come over to West Park, Wolverhampton and celebrate with believers from across the Black Country’s only city.
Details are as follows:
Gather between 10.30am and 10.45am at the Bath Road gate at West Park.
The march leaves promptly at 11.00am and makes its way to St Peter’s Square in the city Centre.
Once at St Peter’s Square there will be a united celebration featuring contributions from many different churches and denominations.
UCB radio station will be transmitting music especially for the march! So bring a portable DAB radio and assist in helping everyone join in.
Please also see below regarding HOPE AND PRAY-WOLVES, IN MAYDear Black Countryites,
We trust that you are well. We're almost into March already when the beautiful light nights really start to kick in.... it has certainly rolled around quickly again hasn't it?
We hope that 2008 is proving to be a very fruitful year for you all. We all need to be fruitful, it's part of our of nature when we come to know and walk with Jesus. yet, we all need to hear from Him, both for ourselves, and wider.
"Without prophetic revelation, THE PEOPLE wander around without genuine direction".
You don't need me to tell you that prophets did not die out in the first century, or that many of them are not recognized in their own town or time, but you may need me to remind you that they rarely ever brought (or bring) major revelation, direction or guidance to just one small part of The Body.We have been very blessed to have been able to receive some great people here over recent times, and we have often heard a consistent message.
They are giftings to the wider Church, and there are things that they bring that we have to hear TOGETHER, otherwise, like seed on bad soil, the words are just words, and they never grow to become what they were destined to be......words becoming flesh and coming to life all around us, and in our communities. When God speaks, it's because He wants us to hear.
When God speaks to The Church in The Black Country, He often does so as a region (as He did through Paul, John, James and Peter...and of course, through Jesus in Rev 2 & 3), it's because He wants us to hear......and to hear as a group of people in a region. Then, we must work out how we are to act on this.......and you don't need to be a rocket scientist to work that one out either!
This may mean nothing to you right now....it may mean everything. Please be open to what Jesus wants to say to you as "The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus".
We need more now than ever to hear from Jesus as a wider church, as congregations and groups, and even more as individuals. We are ALL called into communion and relationship with Jesus as THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH, and as such, we are all on the same level with there being, in reality, no CLERGY/LAIETY divide in The Kingdom of God.
In essence then, every single one of us should hear from Jesus personally. It's as simple as that. If you think you are excused, then think again. If you don't like the sense of personal responsibility to this, then adjust!
The future is all about the release of the Body Of Christ on earth, executing The Father's WILL here, thus bringing about transformation from inside out and reflecting what things look like in Heaven. Maybe it's time that some of us should stop thinking about getting off this planet and escaping to glory, and think about staying put and bringing some of that glory down here.....some of our neighbours and work colleagues might just want to join in! (And thankfully, this kind of theology is, in many sectors, a thing of the past).
I pray that these ramblings will challenge and provoke you to seek Him more than ever over this year of HOPE. The Black Country doesn't need many more good ideas, mission statements, programs or i-manuals or e-manuals....as someone has already said very well, we need EMMANUEL!
We need Him......Jesus........God WITH us. The Hope of glory IS Christ in you!
He came to be with us.....and our prayer all through this year is very simple;
"JESUS....we want to receive more and more of you Lord. Vast numbers of people in our communities have still never really heard your story, and we know that your Will is that none should perish. Help us to receive you and your beautiful Spirit, and help us to position ourselves to be be ultra-receptive with no barriers". LET IT BE!
I close these ramblings with a statement I heard on a CD by Bill Johnson** recently(as recommended by our friends at Revival Fires in Dudley) that shook me to the core. I pray that you too will have reason to repent (to change your thinking/persepctive on reality), as you consider how utterly awesome Jesus really is, and how passionate He is about reaching you, your family, your friends and your enemies. He said,
"Jesus is living inside so many of us, yet He is imprisoned by our THINKING".
Guys, let's let Him loose on The Black Country. Let us repent and remain open and flexible, for The Kingdom is truly at hand, OR WITHIN REACH.
Much love,
Tim
On behalf of The Net Core Vision Team.
**Bill Johnson will be in our area in November 2008 and we will send details out as soon as we get them from Revival Fires in Dudley....
Here are some things coming up in the first few months of 2007;
February
March
6th (Thursday)--Sector/Business Net at The Quality Hotel Dudley---0700-0900hrs;
18th--Leaders' Net at xxxxx with Jonathan Oloyede--0930-1300hrs (then lunch);April
6th (Wednesday)--Sector/Business Net at The Quality Hotel Dudley---0700-0900hrs;
MAKE A DONATION
Many have asked us over the years how The Net is funded. Essentially, we have been financed by ordinary people and a few handfulls of church congregations. But we sense that things have been changing again recently, and we want to give you opportunity to SOW into what God is doing with us TOGETHER in our region................
You can do this in various ways;
1)you can now make one-off donations on-line with credit/debit cards;
2)you can download standing order and GIFT AID forms there too.If you do not see God at work in what we're about, or in our vision, then please ignore this, but if you recognize His hand on our vision, strategy and activity, you can now be part of what is happening by sowing into US....yes, "US".
This is your opportunity to respond, both now, and in future as this will regularly feature on our web-site as we are not a government-funded organization, but a Kingdom Body depending on The Body to produce the necessary funding and resources to keep the synergy in motion..........as and when and how you sense such leading........
TRUMPET CALL VII
DearBlack Country,
It is good to be able to be in touch again as we begin to plan ahead for Trumpet Call VII.
Trumpet Call on 21st June will be the seventh stage of an amazing journey that God is leading us on based on Numbers 10:9 “When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies”. From blowing a trumpet to lift the oppression and awaken the sleeping giant in the nation, to releasing the message of grace, praying for the church to arise, launching Redeeming our Communities, then launching the year of prayer for Hope08 and praying for the release of the Gospel and the vision of WPC, God continues to lead us.
As you will have seen from the brochures (available from many sources, including The Net office-Ed), we are looking for the largest prayer journey on the longest day to give a massive prayer push in the middle of Hope08. Leaders from the rest of this family of nations will be welcomed as we formally launch the new Prayer Forum website (Prayer Forum of British Isles and Ireland).
We would be blessed and honoured to have you standing with us on the day as we seek God’s heart for our nation and ask for His kingdom to come and for His will to be done.
We look forward to standing with you for our nations.Yours in Christ Jesus
Ian Cole
World Prayer Centre, Cornerstone House
5 Ethel Street, Birmingham, B2 4BG, UKOffice: 0121 633 7393
**WE WILL HAVE IAN WITH US AT OUR SECTOR/BUSINESS NET BREAKFAST IN MAY 2008....
Leaders Net at Sandwell Christian Centre.
With guest speaker Dr Jonathan Oloyede.
Jonathan Oloyede is one of the Senior Pastors of Glory House, a multicultural Church in East London. He has been instrumental in drawing together the churches of London to pray for the City. The last event saw the gathering of 12,000 believers to pray together for their City and beyond. Jonathan will inspire us in preparation for our joining together in prayer across the Black Country on May 11th 2008.
Tuesday March 18th 2008 at 9.30am for coffee.
Sandwell Christian Centre, Langley Crescent, Oldbury, West Midlands. B68 8RE.
Directions available on request
HOPE AND PRAY – Wolverhampton
Believers from the Wolverhampton area will be meeting at the Civic Hall on Sunday 11th May between 5pm and 8pm as part of our Black Country HOPE 2008 initiative and the Global Day of Prayer. Following on from our January launch event and the Easter March coming up soon, we sense a growing momentum and desire to work together in our city.
Why not join us and be part of this historic moment for our city, region and nation?
Regards
TONY WASTALL (Wolverhampton Ministers' Net)
Green Pastures UPDATE (from Jolyon-Sector/Business Net )
Green Pastures - Housing the Homeless, breathing life into hopelessness...
I have visited Green Pastures a couple of weeks back and feel confident that we will be forming deeper links with them in coming months. The next step is to form a task force which will visit Green Pastures and begin to forge the relationship.
In the meantime, we continue to house homeless people ad hoc in the borough through the good offices of Terry Lane from Amblecote Christian Centre and the generosity of your good selves. We now have a small fund used for deposits to secure housing for people.
I will keep you updated with news as it develops.
Green Pastures have a beautiful 'HEART' and a vision and purpose to build on their national presence. Amen.
Here are some brief details from Green Pastures about some of the project work they are involved in:
Stoke-on-Trent model
This is particular to the North Staffordshire Chaplaincy who are our Partners. Their tenant base is composed of ex-offenders. This scheme is proven to drastically reduce re-offending rates. They are experienced in this work and now have 50 persons housed. As our Partners they are responsible for ensuring that all Housing Benefit applications are submitted and processed and the rent paid to us to cover the cost of the property purchased for them. We prepare all documents in relation to this and also give advice and support in the area of Housing Benefit, and in the care of tenants who have more chaotic life styles. We relate on a continuous basis as friends and co-workers.
London Model
Dartford is the location of our property under the London Partnership which is linked to ASLAN the homeless outreach of All Souls Langham Place, C of E Church. This is a unique partnership as it preceded our Partner Document and Partner Application and Information Sheet set up. In this property one of the tenants who is a professional man who came upon difficult times, assists us with Housing Benefit Application. We went to Dartford at commencement of the tenancies and took him to the local Housing Benefit Office made connections there and trained him in filling in the HB application form and relevant paperwork for the tenants, he is supervised by our partner Tim Aldeburgh in London. This is working well at present. We are still looking for a church connection in the area to support the tenants at closer quarters
Wigan Model
We began in Wigan before Partnerships were established but have expanded our work there and now link with the Key Workers Project. They look after the alcoholics and drug addicts on the street and connect with other homeless people; they feed tenants into our properties as also does the Homeless Officer who works with us. We attend the Homeless Forum Wigan on a regular basis. We have a main link person in Wigan, Joan Timpany a long time friend of Pastor Peter and his wife who helped run the Christian Camp in Bonsall, Derbyshire for many years, still sits on the board their and is involved now with the Key Workers Project after retiring from working in Local Government in Wigan.
Wakefield Model
Our Partners are CAP – Community Awareness Programme. They have a Drop-in in the centre of Wakefield which serves the needy of the community. They supply clothes and shoes, toiletries to individuals. They provide meals on a daily basis. They provide washing machine and shower facilities. Now they have two properties to have as accommodation for a few of the many homeless in Wigan. They, as in Stoke are responsible for accessing Housing Benefit for tenants and caring for their wellbeing. We visited them on the purchase of their first house and attended the local Housing Benefit office engaging with the local staff and explaining the nature of our work. This made a connection which can now be developed.
together...
jolyon
A special Interactive event for children and young people
What would it be like if you had to walk two miles
to collect water every day?What happens if you can’t read or write?
How do you build your own home?
Give your children a unique opportunity to take part in an
‘Our World’ event and learn more about some of the
practical issues that children in other counties
deal with every day.‘Our World’
Introduces children to a better understanding
of the world they live in.The event happened where you are.
For details of how to get involved, please contact: Georgina Varney at:
owlandpussycat@blueyonder.co.uk
Tel:01384 346562
P.O. Box 15, Dudley. DY1 1YQFor details about ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’ Project, sponsored by
Flame Trust, visit our website www.owlandpussycat.orgFlame Trust Registered Charity No 1008435
"STOP THE TRAFFIK" UPDATE
Your text message, your signed postcard, your freedom wall, your facebook sign up, your web sign up, your hand raised and commitment ALL COUNT.
THANK YOU!
OUR VOICES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WILL BE HEARD. THE MILLION MATTERS.
Your million signatures will make a difference to what can be done to:
1PREVENT THE SALE OF PEOPLE
2PROTECT THE VICTIMS
3PROSECUTE THE TRAFFICKERS
STOP THE TRAFFIK is taking over a million declarations to the UNITED NATIONS on 13 February 2008.
We are taking a STOP THE TRAFFIK team to participate in the UN conference.
WHAT WILL WE DO WHEN WE ARE THERE?
1We will present our global declaration at the opening ceremony of the first GLOBAL UN GIFT (Global Initiative to Fight Trafficking) conference.
2We are leading the youth forum and bringing young people from around the world to present:
You’re never too young to be trafficked and your never too young to join the fight to combat trafficking.
3We will launch the STOP THE TRAFFIK Global Fund (more details to follow in March)
The million is the beginning of so much more.
We will be in touch after the event with photos, news of what happened and WHAT’S NEXT …FREEDOM DAY 2 COMING UP IN NOVEMBER …
A CHOCOLATE CAMPAIGN FOR EASTER …
HOW CAN YOU BE PART OF THE STOP THE TRAFFIK GLOBAL FUND AND OTHER EVENTS IN 2008YOU ARE PART OF A MILLION—YOU MADE IT COUNT
THANK YOU!
STOP THE TRAFFIK Coordinating Team
Enquiries: info@stopthetraffik.org
1 Kennington Road, London SE1 7QP
+44 (0)20 7921 4258
Advance notice of nextevent
‘My Football, My Family and My Faith’ with Derek ‘Chopper’ Jefferson
Derek Jefferson, a former Wolves player, will tell his life story on Monday 3rd March in Dudley, following a two-course carvery meal. The evening will be hosted by:
Dudley Focus for Men.Derek played football at the top level for Ipswich Town, Wolves and Hereford, but while playing for Wolves he lost his two year old daughter. He decided there could not be a loving God and tried to fill his emptiness by drinking heavily and living an excessive lifestyle. Just after his marriage broke down he attended a Church service and that night he found a peace he had not known before.
After 5 years as Reserve Team Manager at Birmingham City he felt God wanted him to use his football skills to help reach young people with the Christian message. Through his organisation called Sports Pursuits he helps youngsters to enjoy sport and improve their skills. He also shows them how being a Christian can help them to enjoy it even more.
See http://www.sportspursuits.org/about.htmThe venue is The Lodge, Wellington Road, Dudley, at 7.00 for 7.30 p.m.
Tickets for this event, costing £13.50, are available from Mike Beardsmore (office hours) on (01384) 242008, or David Brown (outside office hours) on (01902) 656996. Email: mike@ckconsulting.co.uk or browndavid@blueyonder.co.uk.
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The next event of Dudley Focus for Men is:
Monday 7th April – JOINT EVENT WITH JMs LADIES GROUP - Paul Jones & Fiona
Hendley Jones @ The Mill Theatre: an evening of testimony and song with Paul, a Radio 2 presenter and ex-frontman with Manfred Mann, and Fiona, an accomplished actress/singer.
