- Tim's ramblings
- HOPE '08 UPDATE
- Young Hope
- GENnet news
- Leaders' net news
- TOOLS WITH A MISSION
- Black Country Food bank news
- Amazing Testimony evening--Rwanda
- Zimbabwe prayer evening
- Organ for sale
- Education sector...please stand up!
- Come share new offices with us in Sedgley?
- Jobs/services (contract cleaning)
- Opening & Closing Offices - hours to suit
- Daily, weekly, fortnightly cleaning service tailored to your needs
- Competitative Rates
- For further information please contact:
David Read--01922 711091
07779089299 daveread_569@hotmail.com
In this issue:
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--- "YOUNG HOPE"
JULY 19th.......for more information, please contact cookie@thenet.org.uk AND SEE BELOW.....DATE FOR DIARIES---Saturday 29th November---- "More Hope" @ The Bethel Convention Centre, West Browmwich--------1800 - 1930hrs.
More Hope is our "Black Country Finale" in terms of larger events in 2008. We have stepped out in faith following the great regional turn-out at Open Hope in January at Wolves Civic, so please put the date in your diaries now, and let your church leaders know ahead of time as we have heard many stories of churches coming together on coaches.
We have booked one of the UK finest speakers of our generation, Malcolm Duncan of FAITHWORKS, and we will (God willing) also have a Cabinet Minister with us from No.10....seriously!
We are also in the process of planning a huge Civic Reception beforehand and inviting hundreds of dignitaries for all four boroughs to come and share the GOOD NEWS of Hope '08 in The Black Country.....please pray into this guys as it a mammoth task.
Your HOPEfully,
Tim.
Dear Black Countryites,
Hello again....trust that you are doing well. Here we are again, another week has passed us by, and another one is ahead. I am hoping to give you some inspiration to help you on your way today, and I genuinely hope that they will be fresh to you at this season in your life.
The word on my mind is ENCOURAGEMENT. It would be easy to try to encourage you with some words of wisdom (if I had some!), but i actually sense that I shoudl be encouraging you to encourage yourself. If that sounds strange, you may not have realized that this is probably one of THE KEYS to consistent Christian living. To be in the spacious place where you do not constantly look to others for your direction, inspiration or encouragement. We have in many ways been in a paradigm for decades (maybe even longer) where we look to others, especially Christian leaders, for our energy and experience.
We end up looking to these as our source, and they can end up replacing Christ as our source and foundation. This is extremely dangerous and needs exposing and constantly monitoring, even in a church like ours, especially in a church like ours where teh leaders are so excellent and competent. Only Jesus can satisfy, and only He has the ability to carry us. The Faith has been divinely designed to work that way, and no other.
The root of ENCOURAGEMENT can be beautifully exposed in a story where we find David returning from another tough battle only to find that his wives, children and community have been carried off by invading armies. Read it for yourselves guys, but there is a fantastic verse that I often quote, especially to myself when struggling.
" But David encouraged HIMSELF in The Lord his God".
Here, you will find that one of the roots of "encouragement" is TO CAUSE TO LEAN ON ONE'S FOUNDATIONS.
So, what are your foundations, and if you're unsure, look at where you go when under extreme stress or pressure. When a building is under stress, where does it lean? Where does the pressure DEPEND? It's great when we get pastoral support, and the shepherds in The Church are wonderfully gifted in helping people, but I long for the day when Christians do not constantly DEPEND on leaders, pastors or anyone OTHER THAN our only true foundation....Jesus.
I PRAY THAT WE CAN RELEASE PEOPLE as early as possible away from us, and onto Him...for everyone to realize that He is really great/dependable when we personally depend on Him alone. Read the Psalms, and there again you will find many times when David declares that his salvation is found (founded) in Him alone...exclusive and personal.
So sometimes, we need to release people into truth rather than tell them nice things...this is ultimately causing people to lean on their foundations, which is why John The Baptist is described as "exhorting the people " (encouraging) when he was rebuking them for their lack of understanding.
Be encouraged guys, and be strong. You can come to encourage yourself and be released from the need for habitual counselling from men. It's greatto be able to talk to people when under duress, but it's supernatural to be able to go direct to our source, Father and deliverer. Cut out the middle-man!
Much love,
Tim.
Young Hope
Dear Youth Leader/Worker/Helper etc
Young Hope is now only weeks away. We’re really excited about all that’s been planned and are eager to see as many Christians in the Black Country coming together in unity to demonstrate the true message of Hope 2008 on the Chapel Street Estate in Brierley Hill.
Details about the dayYoung Hope is a “no charge” activity so it won’t cost the delegates any money to take part. The date of event is Saturday 19th July. The day will start at 8am. Delegates will need to meet at the Brierley Hill Project building (aka South Street Baptist Church) on South Street in Brierley Hill at 8am prompt where they will be put into work teams and given instructions about the day as well as health and safety advice.
The activities they will be involved in will range from litter-picking and gardening around the local area in the morning, to participating in sports activities with local children/teenagers, modelling balloons and face-painting or helping with arts and crafts in the afternoon. We are expecting many local residents and their families to join us on the afternoon for a free BBQ, inflatables and other activities on the large sports field next to the Church. Everyone will be given a team leader who will give them clear instructions and lots of support on all of the activities so no-one will feel like they’ve been thrown in at the deep end.
The only requirement of delegates is enthusiasm and a willingness to muck in and have fun! They will also be required to wear old clothes that they don’t mind getting dirty, sensible shoes/trainers (no open toes) and to bring a packed lunch with them.
Details about the eveningAfter the days’ activities are complete, we will gather for a large debrief of the day which will involve prayer, worship and some thoughts on the future of the area, all accompanied by lots of delicious pizza sponsored by Dominoes! The day will end at 9:30pm.
Parental ConsentThe day is open to anyone who considers themselves young at heart, young in spirit or young in years. This could range from those in their teens to those in their 40s! However, if any participants are under 18, they will need to fill in a parental consent form. We have attached a form in case you need it, but if you have your own that is fine. It is the responsibility of the youth leader involved to look after there young people and the consent forms, however if you or some of your team are not attending but your young people still want to be involved in this day please explain this to Linsey when you book in. (When the young people are out in the different jobs or tasks we will assign a team leader to look after them)
Booking Confirmation
In order to help us plan the teams and activities, we need people to book in to the event if they wish to take part. Delegates can do so through their youth leaders (which is the easiest and better option for us) or they can book in directly with us. Please send the names of any people in your youth group/Church that want to take part by email to:
Linsey Pearson
smethills@hotmail.com
If you require further details, please call Linsey on 07738 728098.
Hi Guys,
Hope your all well?
Here is the latest news from GENnet.
The weekend away in May was amazing, we are in the process of getting some words given on the weekend transcribed, and also some thoughts from people that attended put together, so hopefully you will be able to get a sense of the weekend and what God was saying to us ALL.
One of our desirers is that people don’t feel that they have missed out if they couldn’t come, hopefully the people that were there are disseminating the heart of what happened and when these words etc are finalised it will be great for you to look through them all.
We also have a few plans to continue the momentum gained, please check out the section on GEN nights below!!!
Love Cookie
On Behalf of the GENnet Team
=================================
GEN Nights
Following the last weekend away, we asked you guys what you would like to do in terms of gathering a momentum to the next weekend in November and picking up a regular rhythm for those who want to connect more.
Well, the team have met to pray and feel that we need to respond to what God was evidently saying to us recently, especially after the weekend away, and to honour the hunger in many of your heart's to build on this. A number of you have e-mailed in asking us to find ways to gather and connect, so we have planned three Thursday evenings over the summer where we can hopefully create some space to do this.
We have set aside these dates and times for ALL who just want to come together without any "meeting" agenda, and the first will be a simple "curry night" near the centre of our area, Sedgley. Then, we can play it by ear, and catch a sense of what you guys who turn up actually want as we will have access to a new centre in Sedgley shortly too, and we want this to be genuinely people-centred and led.
SO, here are the proposed dates---Thursdays-----10th July......14th August......4th September......let's say from 7.45-10ish as a starter.
The first one can be an informal entree at ESSENCE at the top of Dudley St, Sedgley.....a fine Indian that also serves quite a few English dishes for the traditionalists in our generation. Please let us know if you want to come along so that we can book a table or two, and the idea of this will be to chat through some of the stuff we heard on the weekend, and what we sense we need to do in this generation together....if you weren't at the last weekend, you'll soon pick it up....we'd love to see whoever wants more.....honest!
Numbers are not the issue....age is secondary.........it's far more about HEART!
Just e-mail me or Tim Fellows (anna@thenet.org.uk) before the 8th July, and let us know your thoughts or ideas if you would like us to help you guys connect in other ways too if this is on your heart.
We have picked a central location as we'd love to see people from all four boroughs and Sedgley should mean no more than a 20 minute journey for most of us.
===============================================Weekend Away – Nov 14th – 16th
Great News!!!!
We have already got over 50 people booked in for this weekend way in November.
We have now extended the numbers at Kings Park to 80 so there are some spaces free, please let me know ASAP if you want to come so that I can confirm numbers with the centre and hopefully get it all sorted before the summer.
The costs will be £111 per adult and different prices for children depending on there age.....We know this is expensive but the cost of living is rising guys, and so do the costs of weekends away! The Net never makes any profits on any of these weekends (we assure you!) so we are doing our very best to find the best venues, locations and prices for all of us.
To book in please press reply to this e-mail or phone me on 07977 235854
Leaders' Net News
Hello,
The summer is almost here and it is just six weeks until we gather again for our July date for Leaders Net. This is a chance to hear Adrian Lowe, from the core vision team, and visit the lovely city of Wolverhampton.
Please find attached a job advert for Tearfund; please let your church members know they have a vacancy.Leaders Net.
Tuesday 29th July 2008. 9.30am for coffee.
St Phillips Church,Wolverhampton.
For a map go to: - http://www.multimap.com/maps/?&t=l&map=52.5707337688788,-2.15634997077324|16|4&loc=GB:52.5707337688788:-2.15634997077324:16
See the church website for directions: - http://www.pennfieldsparish.co.uk/4559.html
There is plenty of parking in the streets around the church, please park responsibly being mindful of the neighbours of the church, and if you continue around the corner of Church Road there is a derelict pub which you can use to park your car in.
More details to follow about the structure of the morning so watch for further reminders. Why not put the date in your diary and hit the reply button now to let John know you are coming. This will be a significant morning for the Leaders Net group and you will not want to miss it.
Adrian & John ( 01384 370365 adrian@thenet.org.uk admin@thenet.org.uk )
TOOLS WITH A MISSION.
Tools with a Mission (TWAM) is a Christian organisation which supplies people with tools all over the world. Over the past twenty-four years, it has collected, refurbished and sent hundreds of tons of tools to needy people. This has enabled men and women to start up small industries, meet the needs of their families, become independent and develop a sense of self-worth.
The needs of the Majority World are still immense. Recently TWAM has branched out into manufacturing water collection tanks in Africa, simple water pumps and educational materials. Its latest project is the Scholar Plan. This invites people to fill plastic folders, which TWAM supplies, with pens, paper, rubbers and other simple educational materials. These can then be sent to pupils in countries like Uganda. Fred Stainthorpe (Tel 01902-417065, email fredand john@hotmail.com) would be glad to supply interested readers of NET News with further details and would be willing to collect any tools which people might have. Any tools except garden tools are acceptable.
BLACK COUNTRY FOOD BANK NEWS UPDATE
Hello Everyone
Wow!, it's June already, we survived the half-term holiday and the school summer holidays are only six weeks away!!
What's she going on about school holidays for, I hear you ask?
Well.... busy and generous as all our supporters have been, I'm trying to make sure we have enough food in stock as we head to the summer.
Last year, the shool holidays were one of our busiest periods.
Our shopping lists are attached for you to distribute to all your contacts.
So, how many people have we fed?
In May we fed.......78 people
This first week of June.....25 people
That's about 273 people for the year so far.
Your generous collecting and donations have meant
a deposit of 2274.14Kg into the Bank and 1966.23Kg has been withdrawn so far this year, the figure for food going out will be higher but we haven't processed all the vouchers for May as I type.
The distribution point at
The Brierley Hill Project, South Street, Brierley Hill DY5 2RR
is now open and raring to go, Mondays 10:00am - 12:00noon
They fed their first client this week,brilliant!
I'll be updating our web page to keep you up to date as well, I got some photos of the volunteers in their beautiful cafe, very nice....
On the subject of premises....
Food Bank really needs new premises, has anyone got any contacts?
We could do with a factory unit or light industrial premises with office space.
We don't have pots of money and the light units the council have are approx £7000 pa. and quite honestly I'm sure we'd all rather the money was spent on food and feeding people if at all possible.
Could you all please keep your eyes and ears open on our behalf.
Ok, that's about it for this update
Once again thank you all for your support
May God Bless Ya all
regards
Wendy & the Food Bank team
AMAZING TESTIMONY--traumatised genocide victims in Rwanda
A Rwandan genocide survivor who was buried alive for 14 hours and later forgave the killers who wiped out her entire family is due to give her story in Halesowen.
Pastor Frida Gashumba (28) has specifically included a visit to the town during her UK and Scotland month's tour now in progress.
On Friday, 4th July at 7.30 p.m, at an open meeting at Zion Christian Centre, Little Cornbow, she will share her amazing testimony how she was rescued from the grave, trapped under the dead bodies of her family.
During the genocide of 1994, Frida and a group of 15 people were seeking refuge from the Hutus when they were discovered and rounded up for execution.
Most of the group consisted of Frida's family: her mum, her twin sister, three brothers, two cousins, four aunties, her grandad and grandmother, and two children belonging to a neighbour.
They were made to kneel, lined up in a pit, before being systematically slaughtered by having their skulls smashed in with a club, or being decapitated with a machete.They were offered a quicker death by paying for the cost of a bullet, but at the equivalent of £5, it was more money than they could afford.
When Frida was hit at the back of the head, she lurched forward and lost consciousness - presumed dead by her captors. And then death slowly moved down the line of family members. The first few victims suffered the worst, only as the killers continued down the line did the blows become more accurate and effective.
Her father, meanwhile, had been hiding on the roof of a nearby house where, under the scorching dehydrating blaze of the African sun, he watched all the unfolding horror.
Then, with his natural desire to live drained from his heart, he came down to his family's murderers saying:"You may as well kill me. You've killed my wife and family already." And they happily obliged.
Frida, who will be signing copies of her new book, "Frida - Chosen to Die, Destined to Live" will relate how she came to the point of being able to forgive the killers of her family.
She says: "In my own natural strength, I could not forgive the people who massacred my family. After everything that happened to me, I could not see the value of loving - until Jesus Christ came into my life and enabled me to forgive others".
Today, Frida is a co-pastor with her husband, Steven, of Rwanda for Jesus Ministries and gives God the ultimate credit for not just saving her life but also turning her into a new person.
"I keep telling everyone - including my fellow Rwandese - that they too can enjoy hope and new life, by accepting God's underserved love and forgiveness through Jesus' death on the cross."
Among the large number of people expected to attend the meeting, will be many friends from The Flame Community Church, Blackheath, which is Frida's "home church" in the UK.
She is no stranger to the area, as she gave birth to her first son Maxwell (4) at Dudley Road Hospital Birmingham and had her second son in Rwanda last autumn.
Alan Silver, senior pastor at The Flame, said: "We are all looking forward to seeing Frida again and pleased that she has been able to secure a bigger venue to share her amazing testimony. She carries a tremendous lesson of the forgiveness of Christ to the Church and to the world in general.
"All of us have been impacted and inspired by her amazing ability to forgive the Hutu neighbours who killed her entire family," he added.
During the meeting, there will be opportunity for donations to be made towards Frida's travel costs and her work among the needy, traumatised genocide victims in Rwanda.
Zimbabwe Prayer evening
A 3 year old girl was held prone in the air before her father and dropped to the ground and killed so as to 'remind' the father not to vote incorrectly at the coming elections...
The MDC party deputy leader is in prison possibly facing a death sentence for simply producing a strategic paper regarding the approach to elections and for stating on radio what he and the whole world knows about the votes counted after the last round of elections in Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile we stand by. And yes I do know that Zimbabwe is only one example of such injustice and terror. However, I feel led by the Spirit to call a prayer meeting to support the suffering people of Zimbabwe as they approach the next elections on 27th June.
The purpose of the prayer meeting will be to pray in every imaginable way for any and each aspect regarding Zimbabwe that we feel led to pray; to push back the darkness and to bring healing, reconciliation, peace and justice, freedom, safety and stability.
These things take time of course, but we can take our place in prayer and join our many brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe who will also be praying.
We are honoured to have with us Blessing Manyara who is joining us simply to pray but will also share something of the story of his own parents who were subject to severe political violence simply for not attending a Zanu PF rally and this was actually several months ago before things got much worse.
I hope also to have an old friend of mine present who has ministered in and planted churches in Zimbabwe who can share a few brief points, but most of the evening we will direct in prayer.
The articles attached to this e-mail should set the scene. There are hundreds of links on the BBC website.
If you feel moved to join us and act together in prayer then we humbly invite you to come along to the Chawn Hill Church offices at 7pm for a 7.30pm start on the evening of Thursday 26th June until 10pm. Coffee and tea will be served prior to 7.30pm.
The prayer room is on the top floor of the building, the address of which is Montfort House, 168 Lower high Street, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY8 1TT.
The room will hold around 30 people so please could I ask you to respond via my e-mail without delay, to register your attendance and I will advise you whether we still have capacity or not. Some who are attending have begun a fast specifically focused on this prayer time which will be broken the following day. If you feel moved to do so - even for a day - know that there are others standing with you.
So, if you connect with this situation in Zimbabwe on any level, then here this call: come on all you pray-ers and all who are moved by this - come and join us in the power of agreement and prayer in Jesus' name.
together...
jolyon
ORGAN FOR SALE
WILLIAM STREET CHURCH (Waterfront Christian Fellowship) BRIERLEY HILL
Have an Organ in excellent condition, free to anyone who can use it and are prepared to transport it.
Hand made by Longstaff and Jones of Dudley it is a work of fine craftsmanship.
72" High; 74" wide; 22" deep Two Keyboard, Electrically powered.
To arrange to view , please contact Dr. Tony Stone
01384 392566
Education Sector...is this you or someone you know??
Hi guys,
We hope that you're doing well. We had a great sector breakfast again this morning and as part of the recent speed up in understanding the revelation we believe God is showing us TOGETHER as we journey, I thought that I would contact you all again as a group regarding the next one on 2nd July as we plan to place a focus on EDUCATION over the next quarter.
We have asked a few people from EDUCATION to come and share their hearts with us, and if you are free, please come along though we realize that Wednesday mornings are not ideal...........................................but hold on!
We then plan to take the August breakfast as an opportunity to draw others as it is the main holiday so far more of you may be able to access this specific space...our heart would then be to release whoever feels drawn to go and create their own EDUCATION network, much like what has happened with the SOCIAL ACTION/ENTREPRENEURS...hence, your help in identifying other people and letting them know would be great.
We appreciate that you are very busy people, so please don't feel constrained in any way....this has to be a work of The Spirit so we trust Him to enable people to see the vision and to prepare people for these times ahead.
We must see something turn in this generation for the sake of His Kingdom....please be open to His promptings, and let us know if you want to be involved in any way, and your ideas, impressions and suggestions are most welcome. This is your sector, and we simply want to help you OPEN THE GATES (Isaiah 26:2-4).
Warm regards,
Tim.
NB-------let us know if you want to connect to others in EDUCATION...teachers/lecturers/assistants/governors/Heads/students/parents/you have a heart for this sector/etc/etc.....e-mail us .
Office space in Sedgley---NOW ready to occupy!
As many of you may know, The Net began to share an office with our Financial Services company located in Sedgley just over 10 years ago. We will shortly be moving up the road to the old Tipton St Methodist Chapel, still in Sedgley. This is currently being fully re-furbished and will be ready to occupy in mid/late July (Ed--yes we know that this has changed a few times thankyou!)
There will be an large open-plan, first floor self-contained office suite available for rent, and 3 or 4 offices on the ground floor too, all with car parking spaces, so if you are a Christian organization or business looking to re-locate and come share with us, please get in touch via 01902 885651 or call Tim on 07976 297868.
DGR Services
Contract Cleaning Company
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