Shared Vision Fulfilled by Andy Fry
For some time, Tim and I had shared the idea and vision of having a tent on Butts Green in Alton.
This May saw the realisation of that as we came together for three days of outreach, facilitated by the new tent that Tim has purchased, we being very privileged to be the first to have use of it.
We had a very clear objective for the weekend - to make a bold statement of our presence in the town and to increase our profile as a church, making new contacts, doing them good (meeting a need) and taking the message.
We had a number of events over the weekend starting with a Jazz Evening on the Friday which was a great success. We had to constantly be flexible as some things went differently to what we had planned, but over the whole weekend we made contact with many new people and our objectives were clearly achieved. Also, I believe a key benefit for us as a congregation is that it was a time of growth and enrichment for us all.
Being there together, working as a team, praying together in that location and having the encouragement and help of some from outside Alton has all been very valuable. As well as from Tim, we received significant help over the weekend from Keith and Brenda Jeffery, Adrian Roles, the KC Puppet Team and five of the Students from the ‘Fire School’. A big “thank you” to all. We are now able to continue following up many of the contacts we made. We already had some relationship with several of the folks who came and that has been able to be deepened.
Having had a break in the Bus Ministry for a few months, we were also able to re-establish contact and our relationship with many of the young people we have worked with. On the Sunday evening we had about forty young people there for supper and a ‘Tough Talk’ video – all very spontaneous as we responded to what we saw happening and sensed God was doing. We are praying for wisdom in what we continue to do with these young people.
Overall, we look with faith for the fruit that we are expecting and we know the Lord desires us to have.
Thank you to all who have prayed and contributed to the facility of the tent which was such a great resource for us to use.
Article Date: 27th October 2003 |
