Church Planting in East Leeds From Small Begginings to Overflowing Impact
Called Like Joseph Prophetic Words from Catalyst Festival
Empowering Communities
Restoring Hope, One Community at a Time in The Middle East
Catalyst Magazine Catalyst Magazine
Multiplying Churches, Disciples Multiplying Churches, Disciples and Extending the Kingdom and Extending the Kingdom
Hello and Welcome
Catalyst Magazine: Issue 15
Catalyst Magazine is a termly connection point for our Catalyst family: sharing news and stories, upcoming events, and highlights from around the world. It’s a way of keeping connected as a movement, keeping us focused on what we’re called to and a place to celebrate all that God is doing.
This term’s Catalyst Magazine is packed full of inspiration, celebration and provocation as we stop to take a look at all that God is saying and doing in us and through us. Let’s be encouraged by all that is happening as we aim to train and send out 1,000 church planters over the coming years.
With love, Simon
Simon Holley Leads the CatalystTeam
New to Catalyst?
Not connected with a Catalyst church yet? Visit the About page on our website to find a church near you and get plugged in!
Catalyst is an apostolic movement, starting and strengthening churches that multiply disciples to see God’s Kingdom fill the Earth.
Giving to Catalyst
Our work around the world is supported by generous gifts from churches, families and individuals. To find more about giving to Catalyst, visit the About page on our website.
Called Liked Joseph
As Catalyst moves forward, Joseph’s story serves as an inspiration for our mission to unite, grow, and expand the church.
Welcome to the latest issue of the Catalyst Magazine which I hope will fuel your appetite for Jesus and His Kingdom. There is certainly so much to be thankful for as we continue to see His goodness across our global family.
Among the recent highlights was, of course, the relaunch of our Catalyst Festival this summer in the UK, which far exceeded so many of my expectations. The palpable sense of family, appetite for the Lord, and for Kingdom advance was remarkable.
From meeting one, I felt the Lord drop into my heart the phrase ‘just like I planted Joseph in Egypt, so I have planted Catalyst in Culture.’ Pondering this thought, I reflected that Joseph lived with a sense of prophetic destiny very early on in his life, yet his route to the promises was via the process of preparation, which included a prison and persecution! Catalyst has likewise been prepared by the Lord to inherit great promises – we carry a sense of His hand upon us, and we know that even in the challenges we face, God is at work in us and through us.
God was preparing Joseph to prosper, but learning how to steward his gift and live with godly integrity was fundamental to being eventually entrusted with the keys to Egypt.
As I pondered this word, the Lord showed me three keys for our family of churches from the story of Joseph. First, is the call to Unity. Joseph powerfully chooses to reconcile with the very brothers who first betrayed him. He chooses the path of redemption and it leads to great blessing. In the same way, this is a moment for us to celebrate
“Joseph lived with a sense of prophetic destiny very early on in his life, yet his route to the promises was via the process of preparation, that included a prison and persecution!”
others in the body of Christ who may come from different tribes, backgrounds, or expressions. There is only one body of Christ, but like a body, it has many parts. It’s time to honour the body in a profound and new way. Where there is unity, God commands a blessing.
Secondly, Joseph particularly favours his youngest brother Benjamin. He gave special attention to the youngest. Again, this is a season where God is calling our church family to invest in the next generation, to empower and champion them. God is raising up a powerful new voice across the nations from among the young. If you are part of Gen Z, we need you! If you are somewhat older like me,
let’s play our part in making sure our ceiling is their floor and launchpad. God promises a multi-generational family that will rejoice and serve the Lord together.
Lastly, Joseph acquired more and more territory in order to supply grain for the nations. He knew that famine would only be averted if he spread to the right and the left. We too have a commission from the Father to plant new churches in new cities and nations. The best way to alleviate spiritual famine is to extend the Kingdom! As we lean into the call to train 1000 church planters, we must put Isaiah’s apostolic request back on our lips: ‘Here I am Lord, send me!’
I pray as you read this newsletter, you
Catalyst Festival 2024
“God promises a multi-generational family that will rejoice and serve the Lord together.“
are inspired to believe God afresh and trust Him for all that is to come. The future is exciting!
Phil Wilthew Teaching pastor at King’s Arms since 2010, travels as a teaching prophet, and has written two books.
Prophetic words from Catalyst Festival 2024:
During the Catalyst Festival, we held a significant moment where prophetic words were shared. Simon Holley opened with a word on how many of us may feel discouraged, yet God is bringing His resurrecting power to bring the transformation and strength we need to remain steadfast in Him.
Another word spoke of a shaking that will rock the nations and stir the church, as God moves powerfully and unstoppably through His people.
One more prophetic word called us to prayer, worship, and intercession—to lay down our lives in building a house for God’s presence. We are entering a unique season where we will carry His presence even as the world shakes around us.
You can watch all the prophetic words shared during the festival at the link below.
PRAYER DAY GLOBAL
Everyone from any Catalyst church worldwide is invited to join Catalyst Global Prayer Day. Throughout the day, we’ll be hosting prayer calls across different time zones, so no matter where you are, you can join in and pray for what God is doing in various regions.
Stay connected during Catalyst Global Prayer Day by signing up to join a prayer call and receive hourly prayer requests via WhatsApp. Let’s unite in prayer, lifting up needs from across the Catalyst family. Whether you join a call or pray along with the requests, we’re believing for powerful things to happen as we seek God together!
Call 1
06:30 UK (GMT)
19:30 NZ (NZST)
call
be
Call 2
14:30 UK (GMT)
19:30 Pakistan (PKT)
20:00 India (IST) 20:15 Nepal (NPT) Call 3
This call will include Urdu, Arabic, Hindi and English interpretation
THURSDAY 14 NOV
16:30 UK (GMT)
19:30 Eastern Europe (EET) 19:30 Turkey (TRT) 19:30 Iraq (AST) Call 4
call will include Kurdish, Turkish and English interpretation
19:00 UK (GMT) 20:00 West Africa (WAT) 20:00 Spain (CET)
This call will include Spanish, French, Albanian and English interpretation
Sign up to join one of our global prayer calls and receive prayer points to follow throughout the day.
SIGN UP >
Discover What’s On
The Father’s Heart Conference
Friday and Saturday 22nd and 23rd November
The conference is open to all. There will be inspirational teaching, powerful prayer and worship and, most importantly, the opportunity to encounter the love of the Father in a fresh and deep way.
BOOK NOW >
UK Launch Day
Saturday 25th January
Hear from speakers like Dr. Harvey Kwiyani, Andréy Bondorenko, Abi Flavel, and Simon Holley as we kick off this two-year journey in church planting. The Train 1000 launch will happen at New Life Church, Milton Keynes.
BOOK NOW >
Amplify Prophetic School
Starting January 2025
A six-month online training programme for those exploring and growing in a recognised prophetic gift. Phil Wilthew and Charlene Frammingham will be leading the school, with some amazing guest speakers joining us.
BOOK NOW >
Hosting God’s Presence
Various Dates
During these day events, we want to welcome God, prioritise Him, and respond to Him when He draws near. Join us and taste and see what’s possible when God’s presence takes centre stage.
BOOK NOW >
Coaching Church Leadership Teams
Various Dates
Richard Wightman leads a six-month Catalyst training course designed to coach church leadership teams in practical skills, focusing on spiritual growth, leadership development, overcoming barriers, and much more.
BOOK NOW >
Apostolic Foundations Resources
Teaching Resources
Explore Catalyst Apostolic Foundations with your church, looking at the biblical foundations for every church.
ACCESS RESOURCES >
Love The Stranger
Podcast
Delve into the practical implications of Christ’s command of philoxenia (love of the stranger) for today’s Church. This podcast is brought to you by Welcome Churches, a UKwide network of refugee-welcoming churches.
LISTEN EPISODES >
Newday 2024
Over 159 young people gave their lives to Jesus on the first night, and more than 400 healings took place at Newday 2024. Here’s Rowena’s inspiring recap of what her young people experienced this year. Visions, healings, words of encouragement, growth of biblical knowledge, prophetic direction and people being filled with the Spirit would be on any youth leader’s bucket list. It’s funny how this can still catch even the more seasoned believers off-guard as we marvel at our miraculous maker. The One who is holy and worthy, yet loves to draw close. Many times I was undone during Big Top worship as I was reminded of the depth of His love, the One who crossed eternity for me, for you, for them – the young people.
“Carrying the ability to shape culture, change atmospheres and bring the Kingdom today, not just tomorrow.”
Rowena Armstrong Leads Christ Church Hailsham and founded a charity to train East African leaders.
‘Harvest is Plentiful’ Conference
In October, City Hope Church London hosted the ‘Harvest is Plentiful’ conference. Attendees gathered for worship, teaching, and ministry. The speakers shared their experience in outreach and church equipping, inspiring boldness among ordinary believers. As one delegate said, “That was an absolutely life-changing day!”
LISTEN MESSAGES >
What is God doing where you are?
From remarkable stories of buildings acquired to funding secured for staff, God is on the move. We hope you are encouraged to see how He is providing for His church:
River City Church Secures Significant Funding
“Eight years ago, our team planted River City Church in East Hull, in a fairly underprivileged part of the city. Finances have always required faith, and as the costs of a growing church have increased, we’ve struggled over the last few years to raise the funds we need. Recently, we’ve been given nearly £100,000 in funding to spend over a year! This came about through a chance encounter when two ladies from Northern Gas Networks came to us looking for a centre in Hull to invest in poor communities. They guided us through the funding bid, ensuring we’d be guaranteed
the support, and encouraged us to let them cover all our rent, utilities, and other community faith-based activities. We can even take on another 3–4 staff to make it all happen. We’re just waiting for a phone call to confirm the money is ours!”
Investing in Azerbaijani Church Planting
“We were able to help our church in Azerbaijan to purchase a building for their church. The leader has an apostolic gifting and we believe that the building will help to train more church planters and kingdom workers. The church is planting in 7 different places already and wants to plant also outside of Azerbaijan.”
Encourage others by telling your story. Email us at stories@ catalystnetwork.org You can also read more stories on our blog.
READ BLOG >
Building Returned to Believers in Syria
“Our Syrian church leader was handed a building in a significant city by the Syrian Free Army. This building was previously used as a church but was abandoned after the Turkish military and the Syrian Free Army invaded the area. There had been no church gatherings there until last year, when our pastor brought believers together to celebrate Easter. There are now 60 believing families in the area, and we need to renovate the former church building so it can be used again. The fact that it has been returned by the Islamic militia is an amazing development.”
A community of worshippers on a mission together s h p p e r s i w o r
The next section in the magazine will follow the theme of being worshippers and are based on Catalyst’s apostolic foundations.
My Walk with Jesus: Growing in Faith
A journey of being led by the Holy Spirit
In this issue’s devotional series, a believer from a persecuted nation shares her personal journey of faith, beginning from her early days in the church to the transformative experiences that shaped her life. She recounts a pivotal moment when she received the gift of prophecy.
We’re thankful for our Catalyst global family and the opportunity to learn from the wisdom and experiences of believers worldwide. To hear her message in full, click on the image above.
Share your story
What are you learning in your walk with Jesus? Share with us in video format (less than 5 minutes), in English or your native language. Send it to stories@catalystnetwork.org
“Although I hit rock bottom, God helped me get through this dark phase of my life and made me the person I am today.”
Diversity in Worship: A Glimpse of Heaven
Together in worship, the Catalyst family celebrated God’s goodness and the diversity within our church communities
One of the most beautiful images of the church in the Bible is found in Revelation 5, which describes a vision of people “from every tribe and language and people and nation” worshipping together before the One who redeemed them. This passage paints a picture of worship that is vibrant, rich, and alive with diversity.
At the Catalyst Festival this summer, we had the privilege of experiencing a small taste of this heavenly vision. Our Catalyst family came together to worship, a gathering filled with people from different nations, languages, and backgrounds, all united by their love for God.
One very special moment took place on Sunday night, when Fortune Obduh and the band led us in worship with the joyful sound of African praise. People danced, clapped, and sang, the Spirit filled the room, and led us to worship together as one family - God’s family.
“People danced, clapped, and sang, the Spirit filled the room, and led us to worship together as one family - God’s family.”
For those of us who have lived outside our home countries, moments like these carry a special significance. I have lived in the UK for ten years now, but there are times during worship or prayer when I find myself naturally slipping into my mother tongue. Language holds a piece of our identity, our heritage, and bringing it into worship feels like offering God a part of who we are at our core.
That night reminded me of the beauty of diversity in worship, of how God delights in the distinct expressions we each bring. Worship in different languages and cultural styles doesn’t divide us—it unites us, drawing us into a closer understanding of one another.
The experience on Sunday night wasn’t just a moment of joy; it was a prophetic picture of what is to come. A day will arrive when we all stand before God, a countless assembly of voices from every corner of the globe, worshipping in perfect unity. Until that day, moments like these are precious glimpses of heaven,
reminders that God’s kingdom is not bound by borders, languages, or cultural differences. It is a family, gathered together in love and praise.
Paula Marrett Communications at Catalyst and part of the leadership at CLC Herefordshire.
Multilingual worship at Catalyst Festival
A community of worshippers on a mission together c m o y m u n i t
The next section in the magazine will follow the theme of community and are based on Catalyst’s apostolic foundations.
What is the church?
Emmanuel Church Sheffield teaching on the Apostolic Foundations
In 2018 at the Catalyst Festival I plucked up the courage to share with my husband Dave that I thought God was asking us to move. Thankfully he had also heard God about us moving! Fast forward to September 2020 and Emmanuel Church Sheffield was planted during the height of Covid, and lockdown restrictions. Since planting, Emmanuel has continued to grow and flourish, gathering people from multiple church experiences, baptising people from un-churched backgrounds, as well as gathering people from the local community, and from other nations.
With so many different people among us, it’s been key to us to lay solid foundations, and teaching on
the Catalyst Apostolic Foundations has been key in helping with this. After bringing a large group of the church to the Catalyst Festival 2024, we launched our new teaching series called: ‘What is the Church’ and focussed on the three key foundations – being a community of worshippers on mission together.
At Emmanuel we talk a lot about our desire to build a healthy church family, and using the Foundations diagram brought this to life as we taught on how we want to pursue Jesus whole-heartly, how we are seeking to build unity, honour and generosity amongst us, and also how we are all called to share Jesus, the gospel and make disciples.
“There were some beautiful moments as the Holy Spirit moved and empowered us for the mission he is calling us on together.”
There were some beautiful moments as the Holy Spirit moved and empowered us for the mission he is calling us on together. During the talk on Mission we heard multiple stories from people in Emmanuel about how they were telling others about Jesus. From reading the Bible with a work colleague, asking the question – “have you ever had any faith of any kind” to a friend at a kids’ birthday party, to sharing Jesus
with young people from non-church backgrounds at our football ministry, you could feel faith rising in the room. At the end we all stood arms around each other’s shoulders as we prayed for the Holy Spirit to empower us, and to fill us with confidence to share the gospel with those around us and demonstrate the kingdom of God with everyone, everywhere, everyday.
We have more baptisms coming up in November, but we know there are many more people who need to hear about the good news of Jesus. Having recently moved into a much larger new venue and finding ourselves closer to a community in a more deprived area of Sheffield, we are keen to build relationships and learn how we can love and serve
this community well. We have so much to grow in, and the needs of Sheffield are huge, but we know Jesus’ heart is for many more people to encounter him and his life-transforming presence, know his peace and flourish in His purposes. We long for the communities of Sheffield to know this love, and we’re excited to see how the Holy Spirit leads us as we seek to love those around us.
Jude May
Part of the leadership team at Emmanuel Church Sheffield.
We believe the church is a: Community of
Have genuine love for one another
Have anointed leadership operating in team
Worshippers on
By grace follow Jesus as Saviour and Lord
Are devoted to God
Are people of the word and Spirit
Mission together
Declare and demonstrate the news of the Kingdom
Make healthy multiplying disciples
Catalyst Festival 2024
At the end of August, Catalyst held its first festival in over six years, bringing renewed faith, freedom, and fellowship. Here are some highlights and memorable moments:
Serving at Catalyst Festival: How I Experienced God in the Car Park Team
“Bacon or sausage on your roll?”… Those were the breakfast options for the volunteer servers at the 2024 Catalyst Festival. I went for both. Every morning. Which was a smart move since I was serving in the Car Park Team full-time.
By midday on Friday, cars were pouring onto the campsite like the rain the night before. The smiles and excitement on the young children’s faces in the cars made my time standing in the sun seem short.
“That joy was just one of my experiences of God while serving.”
On Sunday morning Simon Holley had a message to first generation Christians. He spoke about the reality of the spiritual opposition they face. If one of the friends I was serving with had not “randomly” offered to cover my shift, I would’ve missed a message that is still encouraging me as I type this. You can see God so clearly!
You can see Him just as clearly as in the generosity of the campers who continued to provide our team with food and drinks during our shifts. He was with me as I directed the day visitors to park in the field opposite the camp site. They had refreshing morning smiles of people who had obviously slept on comfortable beds. I suspect if they camp next time, their smiles potentially could be even more refreshing.
To put it plainly – I experienced God while serving full-time. Something I wondered much about leading up to the festival.
John Cornilious Gave his life to Christ in 2021, is inspired by John 14:1-4, and attends City Church, Newcastle.
Thank You Servers
A huge thank you to everyone who served at Catalyst Festival 2024! From the car park team welcoming our first arrivals, to the amazing kids’ and youth teams who poured energy and creativity into each session, and the photographers and videographers who captured so many powerful moments—your hard work brought this festival to life. We also want to thank those at the doors, the worship band, and the sound and media teams who all created spaces for worship, teaching, and encounters with God. Without each of you, this festival simply wouldn’t have been possible. After years apart, coming together was a true highlight for the Catalyst family, and Jesus met with His church in an unforgettable way.
Catch up on Catalyst Festival 2024:
Four of the key messages from Catalyst Festival 2024 are now available for you. Whether you want to catch up on what you missed, rewatch something that resonated with you, or share it with friends, you can access the content anytime!
Spanish Floods Prayer & Appeal
Catalyst’s Response to Spain’s Crisis
A devastating flood has hit Spain, badly affecting a Catalyst church in the region of Valencia. Catalyst Hub leader Richard Wightman updates us on the situation and outlines some practical ways we can get involved
Last week, flash flooding caused the death of more than 200 people in a number of regions, the worst of which hit Valencia in Southern Spain. Sadly the death toll is likely to rise as areas have been completely cut off from rescue attempts and as the Spanish Government sends police and their armed forces into the region to aid in the clean up operation, more bodies are likely to be recovered.
We have a church in Valencia called El Faro (The Lighthouse) and its leader, Paul Godfrey sent us some video and images of the disaster. He said “There are three major disaster zones, which cannot be reached with cars or lorries. Any help is either through the army or people walking aid in. The South of Valencia is one of those areas and has the greatest loss of life. People are looting what is left as they have not enough food or water. Some church members are uncontactable as they live in one of the three areas; over 300,000 homes are still without power or internet.”
The team at El Faro responded swiftly by forming a specialist team to serve the many members of
Catalyst Global Prayer Day
Thursday 14 November
Catalyst churches are uniting worldwide for a day of powerful prayer! We will be praying for this disaster and hope to have Paul join us from Valencia.
the church living within the disaster zones, to aid and support fellow brothers and sisters from other churches in these areas, enabling them to be a source of hope and light in their own communities for the sake of the gospel. They are also committed to relieving and assisting the general population in these devastated communities, working alongside other churches, NGOs, and Government organisations wherever possible.
Firstly, we ask our Catalyst family to stand with all those affected by this disaster and to join us in prayer: that supplies will reach those without food and water; that church members of El Faro will be able to safely deliver meals and food to affected areas on foot and by bike; giving thanks for the two medical corps from the USA who have arrived with technology to establish phone and data communication; that authorities will coordinate more effectively to provide lasting solutions for those
who have lost everything; and that this crisis will open doors for the spread of the gospel through the work of the church.
Secondly, for anyone wishing to send financial support for our Catalyst Hub to aid in the clean up and recovery of this area and other affected places across Spain, we are now taking donations through New Life Church Milton Keynes, that will administer our Hub’s crisis fund for the Spanish Floods.
Thank you so much for your support.
Richard Wightman
Part of the senior leadership team and Board of Catalyst and Newfrontiers.
DONATE NOW >
A community of worshippers on a mission together n i
s m i s
The next section in the magazine will follow the theme of mission and are based on Catalyst’s apostolic foundations.
Train 1000
Our goal to train and equip people to take the gospel to unreached places and spaces is now taking shape.
Since the launch at the recent Catalyst Festival (UK), we’ve seen an incredible response: people are signing up, events are springing to life, and congregations are embracing the vision of training 1000 church planters and teams. The faith within our community is growing—indeed, the tide is rising!
Our journey began in Lagos, Nigeria, at the Catalyst Festival - West Africa, where we officially launched Train 1000. This dynamic event drew together pastors and teams from across this expansive region, home to some of our most inspiring church planting leaders. We’ve witnessed incredible breakthroughs in nations like Togo and Benin, and
“What we’re doing is something only God can achieve. So, we need an army of prayers.”
we’re fervently praying that Train 1000 will amplify this momentum, empowering even more church planters to flourish.
One of the hallmarks of our movement is our rich history and collective experience in church planting. We envisioned a day when seasoned leaders could mentor the next generation—and that day is
here! We’re thrilled that nearly 50 experienced leaders are committed to joining us for Mentors Day in Bedford. Each mentor will guide a group of aspiring church planters, sharing invaluable insights and encouragement.
Train 1000 UK Launch Event 2025
Starting January 2025
A two-year programme for future church planters and those considering joining a church planting team.
Speakers:
Andréy Bondorenko
Leads a group of Newfrontiers churches in Ukraine and for over twenty years has been actively involved in serving the church in Russia.
Abi Flavell
Passionate church planter and has planted two churches in Hull (North UK), specially working among the working class and internationals.
Dr. Harvey Kwiyani
Malawian missiologist with over 20 years’ experience in Europe and North America. His work explores African Christianity and Theology.
Simon Holley
Leads the Catalyst Strategy Team and the leadership team at the King’s Arms Church in Bedford. Supports and teaches at churches around the world.
“We will have experienced mentors who will support the trainees with a coaching emphasis throughout the programme.”
Train 1000 is a two-year programme for future church planters and those considering being part of a church planting team. Train 1000 is for anyone asking God “What’s next? How do I stretch my faith? Can I plant a church or be part of a team that starts a church? What if I want to be involved in church planting in five to ten years time?”
There will be three Train 1000 events
throughout each year as a place to receive training, engage with the wider vision and equip one another. These events will be in person and online.
A vital part to Train 1000 is the mentoring programme. We will have experienced mentors who will support the trainees with a coaching emphasis throughout the programme.
Mark your calendars for January 25th, as we kick off the Train 1000 two-year course in Milton Keynes, UK. We have an incredible lineup of speakers, including Dr. Harvey Kwiyani, Andréy Bondorenko, Abi Flavell, and Simon Holley. This is a unique opportunity to learn from some of the most influential voices in church planting today. We’re especially excited to welcome both Harvey and Andréy. Andréy leads the “Nations” family of churches, an apostolic sphere within Newfrontiers. Originally from Ukraine,
he has a remarkable story as a leader and church planter, extending his impact across Europe and even to India.
Harvey is a Malawian-born missiologist and theologian who has lived, worked and studied in Europe and North America for the past 20 years. He has researched African Christianity and African theology for his PhD, and taught African theology at Liverpool Hope University.
Harvey is also founder and executive director of Missio Africanus, a mission organisation established in 2014 as a learning community focused on releasing the missional potential of African and other minority ethnic Christians living in the UK.
As we embark on this exciting journey, we invite you to ride the wave with us. The tide is rising, and together, we can make a profound impact!
Catalyst Festival in Nigeria
This month, we talked with Martin Tibbert and he shared how Catalyst’s story of church planting is rooted in the legacy of Newfrontiers, the movement from which we emerged.
In the past decade, Catalyst has seen over 300 new churches planted across the globe. It’s inspiring to see our brothers and sisters stepping into new cities and nations, building communities that bring glory to Jesus!
Martin also reflected on his own journey with church planting in Bedford, alongside his wife and children. It was a journey of faith like no other, one that took him from the comfort of a large church to a place of growth and stretching by God. His daughters, now adults, speak about how this experience profoundly impacted their own faith.
“There’s a pushback against the consumerism that often fills our churches, and more people are seeking to be involved.”
In our conversation, Martin shared the vision behind Train 1000 that we’re now moving into a phase of equipping and preparing the next generation.
Train 1000 is your invitation to play a role in this mission to see more churches planted and God’s Kingdom advancing in the UK and beyond.
Train 1000 launched in Nigeria
Global
Mission From Small Beginnings to Overflowing Impact
Living Hope Church’s Journey to Bring God’s Light to East Leeds
Having moved over to Crossgates, East Leeds in late July, Living Hope Church was officially birthed on 1st September of this year in our home. Led to the theme of banquet, as a church full of young families we played prophetically along this focus and asked God to fill us to overflowing with his presence and power so that, out of that overflow, our lives would bring him glory. God gave us four amazing families in addition to our own to be part of our launch team, making up 10 adults and 12 children. We’ve been so blessed to have new people come and join us nearly every week since we began, some exploring faith, some Christians in need of a spiritual home. We praise God for these encouragements at such an early stage of church life. This term we are spending time on our church values: to know, to show, to grow, to sow and to go (for a fuller explanation of these please visit our website www.livinghopechurch.uk) One of the things God has spoken to us about as a church is being visible (Matthew 5:14-16) so we
“We have a rhythm where we regularly go out and spend time as church in the community, inviting newly-made friends along and making connections wherever that is.”
have a rhythm where we regularly go out and spend time as church in the community, inviting newlymade friends along and making connections wherever that is. Recently we took our church banner and some easy-win activities down to our local park and had some great faith conversations with local parents and grandparents whilst their children decorated biscuits, covered themselves in glow in the
dark tattoo transfers(!) and took part in a treasure hunt of gold stones that we’d decorated In Living Hope Kids with the message ‘You are God’s special treasure’ for them to take home as a reminder or rehide for someone else to find.
lady, delivery drivers, our neighbours, our friends, our church family and so on. This year we plan to put stickers on to help people understand the motivation for our generosity; that ‘We love because he first loved us.’ Please pray for good conversations and that God would be so glorified as we do this.
The last few years in our family we have rebranded the month of November as ‘Lovember’ and this year we are going to be expanding this opportunity church-wide. Born out of the surprise November lockdown of 2020, we’ve used Lovember to be intentional in showing generosity and lovingkindness to people our lives intersect with. We bake, we package up chocolates, we write cards and we share them with teachers, shop keepers, the lolly pop
A chapter of scripture that God keeps giving us as a church is Zechariah 4. Verse 6 reminds us ‘ “Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit” says the Lord Almighty,’ and verse 10 ‘Who dares despise the day of small things?’ Our prayer is “Come Lord Jesus by your Spirit and take our ‘small things’ and make them so much more for your glory.”
Jack and Mez Carter Leaders of Living Hope Church, joining four families to plant a new church in East Leeds.
Restoring Hope, One Community at a Time
Empowering Communities in Middle East with Love and Support
It was wonderful to be part of the Catalyst Festival and to connect with our wider global family. Our fantastic team of local staff worked hard over the summer to keep all our projects running. We continue to visit the local orphanages weekly and recently took a new group of children swimming, teaching them how to swim. Our community centre for refugees and IDPs is open five days a week, bringing hope to the community. This is especially meaningful in the long summer without school, as it provides a rare opportunity for teenage girls in the community to leave their homes to socialise, play sports, and more. Our apprenticeship programme
and coffee shop are also flourishing. Some of our young apprentices have gone through highly traumatic experiences in recent months, and while we grieve with them, we feel privileged to journey alongside and support them through these challenges.
As we shared at the festival, we are currently looking for more individuals and churches to partner with us in our work with orphans and refugees in Middle East. Our opportunities to share love and make an impact in these communities are constantly expanding, and we have faith to step into all that God is calling us to do. As a UK charity with a dedicated team
of trustees, we need to see an increase in regular monthly giving to continue our work and expand our reach. To give an idea, this year’s budget shows we need around £10,000 a month to carry out all of our current projects, yet we currently have around £3,000 in regular monthly commitments. For instance, we are limited in how many young people in the refugee communities we can support with scholarships, as the income for our other projects isn’t fully guaranteed. We’re inviting individuals and churches to consider how they can help by committing to a monthly gift to help restore hope in these communities.
We love partnering with individuals and churches, so if you’d like to connect more, please reach out. You can visit our website to set up a regular monthly gift and follow us on social media for updates on our work.
Could you support this charity?
Hope for Communities is a charity working in the Middle East. Their vision is to see hope restored to communities where this has been lost due to war, displacement or poverty. They are passionate about bringing long lasting change through our projects – enabling and empowering the community in order to really restore hope.
Alexis, Sharo and family Founders of Hope for Communities: Sharo, a Kurdish nurse from Northern Iraq, and Alexis, a UK doctor
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We are a Global Family
Mission With a majority of our churches located outside the UK, we want to spotlight and celebrate stories and articles representing the diverse voices and experiences within our international family in Catalyst Magazine. If you are fluent in another language and would like to help translate our content, we would love to hear from you. Reach out to us at stories@catalystnetwork.org
Bringing Faith to Life in School
How One Person’s Faith is Transforming a School Community
Because I love Jesus and He’s done so much for me, I want to live my life fully for Him. Over two decades ago, God opened the door for me to work in a school. The opportunity was truly handed to me—I initially went for just one week, and now I’ve been there for 21 years! Looking back, I see so clearly how God has used me so powerfully in that place. It’s honestly amazing.
The school is Anglican, and in the early days, worship was quite formal. But over time, I started to change things up a bit. For instance, there was one class that was all over the place, and the headteacher just didn’t know what to do with them. I suggested, “How about someone prays for them every day?” She was open to the idea and asked if I’d go and pray with them that day. So I did, and after a while, I invited the children to start praying for each other. The headteacher was so moved by it.
Now, it’s become part of our school culture. After assembly, our headteacher will ask, “Who would like to pray?” She can choose any child,
from reception to Year 6, and they’re ready to pray. It started out small, but over time, it grew and grew.
About six months ago, I even saw two boys from one of my early classes coming along to our church— the first fruits of all those seeds planted in the school.
I truly believe God can use anyone. If I wasn’t in this school, He would use me somewhere else, because there’s a whole world out there that needs Jesus. We can’t just sit back and hope someone else will reach them. Sometimes, it means getting a little uncomfortable, stepping out in faith.
LISTEN AUDIO > Denise Brown Brings years of experience sharing the gospel wherever God leads her
Treasure in Heaven
Why Radical Generosity is Our Biblical Mandate
Do you ever read certain parts of the Bible and think about the friend who really needs to take that verse on board? Or silently nudge the family member sitting next to you during the part of the preach you know they need to hear?
When I read James writing to Christians about living “in luxury and in self-indulgence” (James 5:5) it’s easy for me to think he is aiming that warning at the super-rich, those with yachts and six-figure bank balances. But if I take a proper, honest look at my bank statements to see what I’ve spent my money on over the last few months, it turns out that I can’t be so confident that James isn’t actually writing about me!
Materialism is all around us, and followers of Jesus aren’t immune. Over the last few years, I’ve repeatedly heard the very gentle, very clear whisper of the Holy Spirit asking me: “Is it ever ok for you to have way more than you need when some people in your community don’t have the essentials they need?” I’m pretty sure it’s a rhetorical question. The answer is obvious. But it takes a shift in mind-set to jolt us out of a culture that tells us what we earn, what we can afford, and what we own, matters. Biblically, it doesn’t. Biblically, what matters is godliness, contentment, love, and faith.
If you’re reading this at home, take a look around. How much of what you own is essential? I’m writing this in the living room in my flat and I’ve just quickly scanned the room – the first five things my eyes landed on were my dining table, my smartphone, two sofas, the TV, and a plant. I may not be able to justify why I need these things, but none of them feels like a luxury.
The Christians in Macedonia understood this so much better than I do. The apostle Paul writes about them in his second letter to the Corinthians, mentioning they were in the middle of “a very severe trial” but the two things they possessed – “their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty” – when added together amounted to an overflowing “wealth of generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:1-2). That was counter-cultural in Paul’s day, and it’s just as radical in ours. Without even thinking about it, I find myself justifying what I have. “I’m
Natalie Williams Chief Executive at Jubilee+
not rich,” I tell myself, but it depends who I’m comparing myself to. “I’m comfortable, sure, but I’m generous too. And it’s not about what you’ve got, but what you do with it.” Yes, but a lot of what I do with it would be called “luxury and self-indulgence” by James, I’m pretty sure.
Lately I’ve been praying some dangerous prayers, offering
“Materialism is all around us, and followers of Jesus aren’t immune.”
I’m the same: the Macedonians gave not according to their means, but beyond their means. I can think of a few occasions where my ‘wise’ counsel to new believers has been to save rather than to give!
Jesus spoke a lot about money, calling us to live very radically with our ‘stuff’. He didn’t just tell the rich young ruler to sell his possessions and give to those in poverty. Jesus said that to His disciples too (Luke 12:33), telling them not to be foolish, nor anxious, but to invest in things of eternal worth. It might make us uncomfortable, but what a wonderful adventure we’re called to, where we get to build up “a treasure in heaven that will never fail”, glorifying God and doing God to those in need at the same time.
everything I have up to God, while at the same time knowing He needs to prise my fingers off some of my earthly treasures. The Macedonians begged earnestly that they might play their part in relieving the poverty of others. I’m more likely to beg God earnestly to let me keep what I have! It’s easy to defend myself, though, and many of my Christian friends will help me to feel better.
Jubilee + equips UK churches to change the lives of those living in poverty in their communities.
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The Raw Disciple Newsletter
Simon Holley has launched a new newsletter called The Raw Disciple. This resource is packed with tools, training, and updates for anyone passionate about becoming - and helping others become - disciples who multiply.
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Church Planting in Herrnhut
Our Family’s Move to Germany
We were expecting God to speak to us at the Catalyst Leaders conference 2023 - but not like that.
For about a year, Sara and I had been praying into our connection with Herrnhut in East Germany. We’d been involved over the years, and it was on our hearts, so we had visited a few times recently and planned to go again. The charismatic church of around 150 (the ‘Jesus Haus’) meets in the centre of town, just down the road from the Moravian church famous for the revival in the 1700s.
When Phil Wilthrew spoke publicly at the conference about the significance for Germany for some people there, we knew this was for us (we were due to fly two days later). We grabbed him afterwards, and he prayed over us with his team. They prophesied that we would ‘meet a doormaker whose name begins with H - who is a person of significance in the town. Tie down your tent next to their tent.’
Two days later, we flew out as scheduled and bumped into one of the church elders, David Haupt. They invited us for dinner, and during the evening, he told us about his history
in Dresden as an architect. One time, they took on a school build, and his role was to make doors every day. He explained that he and his wife moved back to Herrnhut to make the church a place of open doors and to make new doors for people who want to come here.
We knew this was God and spent a year praying into our next steps. On June 30th, 2024, we left Christchurch Hailsham, where I had been a member for 20 years and an elder for 3, and took our family of three children to Herrnhut to explore what we believe God is calling us to do. Sara and I are now settling our children into school and looking to serve the Jesus Haus as volunteers for the next 12 months.
We would love to have you pray and journey with us. If you want to know more, please drop me a line at tbmsimmons@gmail.com.
Thomas Simmons and family
Sputnik Saturdays
Sputnik Saturdays are an in-person gathering in Birmingham, for all members of the Sputnik network to come together, share work, break bread, pray together and have meaningful chat.
It takes place three times a year. Here are the dates for 2025:
25 January
7 June
25 October
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Get to know our Apostolic Hubs:
Andy Johnston’s Hub Team
Connecting churches from across the UK, Europe and New Zealand, working into dozens of nations around the world, and hosts of the annual Resonate Global Conference.
A Worldwide Family
Catalyst is a movement of churches building communities that raise disciples who change the world. With our roots in Newfrontiers, we are a family of 800+ churches connected together through genuine relationship and served by a number of apostolic teams who aim to equip churches to raise pioneering disciples that see God's kingdom fill the earth.
Send it our way at stories@catalystnetwork.org and it could become a feature in the next Catalyst Magazine.
TEAM LEADER
Phil Wilthew
TEAM Simon Holley
Rob
Davey
Charlenne Frammingham
Wendy Mann Duncan Hanton
Sarah Brown
