Update

Prayer and news update April 2008

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We are most grateful to Ian Field for his ministry over recent years, and wish him God's blessing as he takes up his new ministry in Buckinghamshire.

Clearly Ian's move marks a moment of change for us all in EE. Change is part of God's plan for His Church - where there is life there is growth, and God longs for the Church to grow. We are excited about the unfolding developments here in the UK. Outlined below are some of the exciting developments we are looking forward to in the months ahead. We value and cherish your support in prayer and the fellowship that is so effective in helping fulfill the Great Commission.

 Xee - Sharing Your Faith Starts Here

This is a brilliant new resource, aimed to help Christians in their 20s and 30s to communicate their faith in a relevant and relaxed style with their contacts and friends. The new materials are being launched in Europe on the first weekend in May, and we shall be introducing this material here in the UK in the months to come - watch this space! If you would like to see a taster we encourage you to log onto the xee website as follows: www.xee.info

One Day Workshops

These can be a very real help to local churches wanting a short refresher course on the basics of 'how to' in sharing your faith. We encourage you to think about hosting one in your town or church. Here are some examples of what has happened:

·          Tooting: we had two churches who were very local to one another, but had never met, co-hosting the day. However when it started it became apparent that one Fellowship was mostly Black, and the other mostly South African and there was the potential for real awkwardness and tension. As the day progressed and we focused together on the call to share our faith, and the truth and power of the gospel, there was a wonderful coming together of the two groups. There was laughter and fellowship and the promise of future cooperation. Isn’t it wonderful that the gospel of reconciliation with God brings reconciliation with each other?

 ·          Northern Ireland: we had two workshops, one in Garvagh and the other in Newtownards. These were fantastic days where people traveled from all over Northern Ireland to participate and be involved in sharing their faith. Over recent years EE had been fairly quiet in N.I. and it is encouraging to see the passion and commitment of the believers there to see God move in the future.

·          Newton Abbot in Devon: two churches came together and by the end of the day were enthusiastic about reaching out to their communities and finding new ways to share the gospel.

·          Polesworth: in the Midlands we held our workshop on a Sunday, incorporating the teaching with the worship and a fellowship lunch, and it was thrilling to see how new ideas and possibilities for reaching out with love and truth could be accomplished.

·          Sudbury: We were delighted to be invited to East Anglia, where the local Churches Together were planning and preparing for mission, and we had about a dozen churches represented on the day.

·          Calne: Another aspect of the training day is that it is flexible, as shown by the Men Only workshop we held in, despite terrible rain and flooding, we had 15 men from 3 different churches, sharing and laughing and learning together. 

           Colne: this is where we conducted the first of the ‘new look’ one day workshops, and were amazed at the appreciation expressed that we were trying to meet the needs of the ‘North’, as there is often the perception that ‘national’ events only take place in London, or at best Birmingham. It is vital that we recognize that EE(GB) is for all of the United Kingdom, not just a part, and that through the activities and involvement of the Board members, that EE seeks to be a nationwide ministry.

·          Teen Challenge: We have a continuing ministry with this charity who do phenomenal work among young people who have come to the end of the line, either through drink, drugs, violence or prostitution. Through a loving and firm regime in residential houses, they see lives transformed. We are delighted that there is an ongoing relationship of training and support from EE to Teen Challenge. Revd Bryan Alexander (our deputy chairman) is involved in running the EE programme for Teen Challenge, please pray for him and also Ron Williams who is the Principal of the training centre in Wales. 

We hope this sample has whetted your appetite to explore the possibility of your holding one of these workshops in your own church!

The Leaders Training Course: This year we ran a small ‘LTC’ in Princes Risborough. It was an excellent time of learning, and during one of the evening visits a lady came to place her faith in Christ for the first time - wonderful! We are planning another such course for September.

POINTS for prayer and praise:

           Join with us in praising God for the new materials about to be launched! Please pray for all those involved in the launch process, and for the members of the UK Board, that they would have wisdom to know how to move things forward effectively and well.

·          Please pray for Helen Bamber, who is working hard at revising and adapting the Kids EE materials, and as she pioneers these resources this coming summer.

·          Please continue to pray for Revd Bryan Alexander, as he develops and delivers the EE ministry in Wales.

·          We praise God for Jim Mason, our administrator. He continues to maximize the usefulness of your giving, and streamline all the ‘behind the scenes’ things that keep EE running smoothly. What a star!

           Please pray for Ian Field as he begins his new ministry in a Bpatist Church in Buckinghamshire, and for the family as they move home and settle into a new community.

           Please pray that God would continue to open doors for this ministry across the UK and Ireland, that He will raise up supporters for the ministry of EE, as we seek to equip God’s church to share the best news ever. 

Thank you!

These are exciting days and I would personally like to thank you for your support for the ministry of Evangelism Explosion in the UK. If we can be of help and support to you and to the ministry of your church, then please lift the phone or send us an e-mail, we shall be delighted to help in any way we can.  

With my warmest appreciation and Christian greetings

Revd Richard Zair

Executive Director, EE (UK)