I sometimes have the opportunity to visit Mattersey for Friday morning chapel at 8am. I highly recommend it if you can go! They have Chapel every morning but for the Friday chapel they share testimonies from the week’s outreaches. Here are some of the testimonies from 4 students on one Friday a few months ago:
“The foodbank leaders’s love for the people is amazing, and their prayers are being answered. I’ve been alongside a man called Steven for 10 months, and through our friendship, I brought him to Darren for an interview at Mattersey, where he was accepted as a student! So, reach out and spread Jesus - get out there!”
“For those who aren’t doing it, just do it, I love it. It has proper changed me! Its amazing and the team there are absolutely amazing. God bless them” A student who had been to the Ark that week.
“I had a chance to go this week but I felt really discouraged looking at their addiction as I was there. I felt discouraged because just a few days ago, I was in a similar mess. So I asked “Lord what can I do?” And he said: “Son if you do it for the right reason its good, and I am with you.”
“That’s my first time doing outreach this week. That was me a year ago and to see how broken and lost they are, you don’t realise it when you are in addiction. And what Mattersey is doing, looking in the corners, on the streets, for the homeless, is amazing! I want to encourage you to come, lets go and find the lost and bring them to Jesus.”
After an inspiring time hearing testimonies, Julie Jones shared that they were invited to share the gospel in another location, and a Mattersey team was visiting a women’s prison later that day. She beautifully summed up the session with Acts 3, where Peter says, “Look at us” before healing the lame beggar. She encouraged the students to have humble, Godly confidence, reminding them they carry Christ as temples of the Holy Spirit, offering what the lost truly need.
Keep going, you are doing an amazing work!
Rory
OUR TEAM FOCUS: 2024
Achieve our heart’s desire to change lives and transform hearts.
Stewardship
Everything we do we want to do diligently, as though we are doing it for God himself.
A question we can ask: What would I do if I owned the place?
Faith
We want to encourage each other to grow in faith in Christ, showing proper respect, value and love to those who do not share our faith.
A question we can ask: What does love require of me?
We want to be in step with what God is calling us to do each day. We are dependent upon his provision and guidance. Jesus said he could only do what he saw the father doing and it Is the same for us.
A question we can ask: What do I need to do differently?
1,667 Partners Investors
£47.6m currently invested
1,534 Residents
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:58
OUR CULTURE
OUR CULTURE
Our first role is, and always will be, to serve. We want to lead passionately and strategically, but first and foremost we want to serve the men and women who we house and partner with, and our goal will always be to give people the opportunity to know Christ for themselves. In all that we do we want people to look at us and say “those guys are a gift to the Spirit.”
Our first role is, and always will be, to serve. We want to lead passionately and strategically, but first and foremost we want to serve the men and women who we house and partner with, and our goal will always be to give people the opportunity to know Christ for themselves.
TRUSTING TOGETHER WORKING HARD STAYING HUMBLE
TRUSTING TOGETHER
WORKING HARD STAYING HUMBLE
We aim to remain Kingdom focused and prayerful in every decision. To serve Jesus, we have to know who we are in Him first. We work together, as part of God’s family; we work hard, knowing that we are ultimately working for Him; and we stay humble, because it’s not about any one of us - but about serving Jesus.
We aim to remain Kingdom -focused and prayerful in every decision. To serve Jesus, we have to know who we are in Him first. We work together, as part of God’s family; we work hard, knowing that we are ultimately working for Him; and we stay humble, because it’s not about any one of usbut about serving Jesus.
That means our work is based on love, compassion, patience and integrity, which flows out of that foundational identity of being a child of God.
That means our work is based on love, compassion, patience and integrity, which flows out of that foundational identity of how God sees us.
RELEASING PEOPLE INTO MINISTRY WORKING AS A TEAM LISTENING, CONSIDERING, RESPONDING
We know our purpose; focusing on goals and details with flexibility.
We know our purpose; focusing on goals and details with flexibility. We don’t have all the answers in advance - but we take initiative to think outside the box, proactively including and seeking the feedback of our team members.
Romans 8:19
We don’t have all the answers in advance - but we take initiative to think outside the box, proactively including and seeking the feedback of our team members.
That means we hold our heads up and see beyond what is in front of us: We aim high in faith whilst being good stewards. Sharing with others to improve and encourage.
That means our work is based on love, compassion, patience and integrity, which flows out of that foundational identity of how God sees us.
Ephesians 3:20-21.
RELEASING PEOPLE INTO MINISTRY WORKING AS A TEAM LISTENING, CONSIDERING, RESPONDING
We want everyone to be in the will of God and use their God given talents as best they can. Whilst always remembering that we are entitled to make mistakes.
1 Peter 4:10, Ephesians 4:32.
We want everyone to be in the will of God and use their God given talents as best they can. Whilst always remembering that we are entitled to make mistakes.
That means we continually look to care for and serve our partners, investors, residents and each other, which allows us to withness lives being transformed. John 13:34-35.
That means we continually look to care for and serve our partners, investors, residents and each other, which allows us to witness lives being transformed.
TEAM NEWS
Fancy a break in sunny North Wales?
If you’re wanting to get away for a short break, some friends of GP have kindly offered a special offer to our team to stay at their property in Criccieth at £15 per night. There are 4 bedrooms available, with accommodation for up to 20 people. Contact Brian Scully for more information: 07988121895.
Life-changing, great-tasting... award-winning?
We’re delighted to share the news that Half the Story has been shortlisted in the ‘One to Watch’ category at this year’s Social Enterprise UK awards. Thanks to all of the GP and Grace Enterprise team who’ve got us this far - we truly do believe that the impact of Half the Story is only just getting started!
Yet to join the GP Prayer Group? Scan the QR code: Prayer has always been an integral part of our culture at GP, and we’ve recently relaunched the Green Pastures Prayer Board on WhatsApp - this is a GP team-only place for prayer requests. We would love you to share what you’d like the team to be praying for; it can be anything that’s happening at Green Pastures or elsewhere.
Department Spotlight
Across our different Departments, we love to shine a light on some of our amazing team members across different departments, and today we meet Tessa WynneGriffith, from our fabulous Accounts team.
Hi Tessa, when did you join Green Pastures? I joined this great company in the end of April 2022
What’s your role within the team and what do you enjoy most about it? My main role is looking after Landlord vision, making sure all the tenants accounts run smoothly. Showing all payments, invoices so that the departments can see if there is anything to be followed up or not. Being available for any queries.
Share a fun or interesting fact about yourself that others may not know! I come from Johannesburg, South Africa and have been living in Welshpool, mid Wales since 2018. Have 2 children, 1 dog, 5 cats, 4 fish and O yes a husband.
What’s one project or accomplishment that you’re most proud of? Both my children becoming young adults. Being granted permanent stay in Britain and passing all the tests for citizenship (Especially the Life in the UK test).
If you had one wish about how people across GP interact with your department, what would it be? Just being respectful, friendly and understanding.
