SUNDAY, JUNE 28

Soon be back!

Steve's blog will return on Thursday 2nd July

Prayer meeting 1st July
Marriage Enrichment Seminar 4th July - pre-booking essential

 

THURSDAY, JUNE 25

Jury Service continues...

Steve Tibbert is on Jury Service for the time being - normal service will be resumed as soon as possible!

NewDay begins Fri 26th June
Alpha tonight
Phil Varley preaching at the morning meetings this Sunday and Martin Alley preaching at the 5.30 meeting

SUNDAY, JUNE 21

A citizen's duties...

Steve Tibbert is on Jury Service for the time being - normal service will be resumed as soon as possible!

Women's breakfast - Sat 27th June - now fully booked

THURSDAY, JUNE 18

While Steve's on Jury service...

Steve Tibbert is on Jury Service for the time being - normal service will be resumed as soon as possible

Half-night of prayer Fri 19th June.
Marriage Enrichment Seminar - Sat 4th July - pre-booking essential.

Alpha tonight:
Sun 21st June - Steve Tibbert preaching on the Old Testament Challenge.

SUNDAY, JUNE 14

Jury Service calls!

The next couple of weeks will definitely be different - I'm doing jury service! I'm intrigued to see how the justice system works, though losing up to 2 weeks of work time will have implications for the rest of life! While I hope that some of the time will be exciting, people who have been through this experience tell me that in reality you spend a lot of time sitting around waiting for things to happen... - not a strength of mine! And if anything interesting did unfold, I won't be able to share the details of any court case that I may hear - they have to remain confidential. So... the blog will continue to appear during this time, but will feature King's events rather my own news and comments.

I had a great time this morning at our Membership Morning, meeting those who are thinking of becoming members of our church. Telling the story of Kings and sharing our vision and values leads me to thank God for all He's done - and all He's yet to do with us! I hope you enjoyed hearing the next in our Old Testament Challenge series.

It was great to be at ChristChurch London this afternoon and see their progress, although it meant that I was unable to be at the baptismal service at King's. I consider it a real privilege to be able to visit other Newfrontiers churches from time to time and am glad to be able to share with you how encouraged I am by the life they show and the work that God is doing in them.

 

THURSDAY, JUNE 11

Church planting

Today I am spending a day with Newfrontiers leaders in Leicestershire, tomorrow will be final preparation for a busy weekend. This includes Saturday morning when I am hosting and speaking at an event for full-time church leaders who have a heart to plant churches in London. In the last 8 years Newfrontiers has planted 8 new churches in the capital - we realise that it is an important means of reaching those who would never travel out of their locality to find a church. It will be exciting to meet up, pray and discuss future church planting opportunities with those who come along. Please pray for those who God is drawing to this vital task and ask that He will bring many more to join them!

On Sunday, while the rest of the church will be continuing with the Old Testament Challenge series, I will be hosting our Membership Morning at Kings, and in the afternoon I am speaking at ChristChurch London. Meanwhile, there will be baptisms at our 5.30 meeting - please come along and hear their stories of how they came to faith and give them your support and prayers.

SUNDAY, JUNE 7

King's and further afield

Having just returned from a break with the family, this week I've been settling back into a schedule of meetings, including visits on Thursday to the elders at Bournemouth and at Cardiff, while Friday was set aside as preparation time for today's preaching. I'm pleased to tell you that Andy Davies - the pastor at the Newfrontiers church in Cardiff - has made good progress since Mick and I last visited and is feeling much better. That's great news!

I enjoyed hearing Andrew Wilson this evening. I'd like to recommend his book to you - it's called Incomparable - it's an excellent book and will excite you about the wonderful God that we worship! Copies are available from the Wesley Owen bookshops and any good Christian bookstore. If you like to take a book or two on holiday - this one is well worth considering!

In the coming week I have a day with our Elders here at King's. Among other things, we will be looking at some of the issues that I spoke about at the Vision Evening last Wednesday. Please pray for us!

I will also be meeting with Newfrontiers leaders this week and next Sunday morning (12th) I will be taking the Membership Morning here at King's. I always look forward to these! I get the chance to meet all those who are taking a further step towards us and possible greater involvement in King's, as well as sharing our vision and values with them. Then in the afternoon I'll be preaching at ChristChurch, London. This will give me the opportunity to see how God continues to bless that church!

 

THURSDAY, JUNE 4

Vision Night and beyond...

Each time we meet for one of our regular ‘Vision Nights' there is something new to report and consider! For those who missed last night - here are some of the highlights...

Our growth is still on the increase! We are seeing a 15% Sunday attendance growth on this time last year, with particularly high Sundays being Easter Sunday (30% up on 2008) and last week's late May Bank Holiday (20% up on 08). Easter Sunday was particularly notable with 1093 people attending over the three meetings and we had 33 responses (3 first time commitments, 10 baptism requests, 11 signing up for Alpha and 9 Like To Know More forms handed in). On the topic of LTKM forms - we have received a total of 142 in the period from Jan to May 09. That's a 77% increase on the same period last year!

The extra space we have made with the creation of our third meeting is obviously being effective in reaching more people. As we move towards 2000 attending our meetings Sunday by Sunday we need to re-examine the outworking of our vision. It would be possible to reach the stage where we are holding 6 meetings each Sunday and we could also continue to seek for a 1000-seater facility in the area. Such growth would demand that we carefully examine how we develop and expand our excellent staff and leadership team. It would also necessarily impact our budget, which we also looked at last night. We proceed in all this things, with faith - confident in our God, who gave us this work to do!

All this is amazing and exciting! Please continue to pray that God will speak and show us the way to follow.

Meanwhile, we have some important things happening this weekend! This Saturday (6th June) is Newfrontiers China Day here at King's. We want to support our Chinese brothers and sisters in Christ and those who work among them to make Jesus known, both in the UK and wherever communities of Chinese people are found. Ian & Angela Moor are overseeing this day and would be glad to see you at 10am at King's on Saturday.

This Sunday morning (7th) I will be continuing with the Old Testament Challenge series which many of you are appreciating. Sunday evening we will be taking a break from the series - we have a guest preacher. Andrew Wilson is a gifted writer and speaker and part of the leadership at the Newfrontiers church at Eastbourne. Come along morning and evening if you can!