in partnership with local churches as they engage in mission
Newsletter March 2022
Tim writes ... Keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry (2 Tim 4:5)
P2: Torbay
P4: Wyesham
P5: Office Update
This is the verse chosen for our motto card this year – written by Paul to Timothy. Paul knew he was dying and was seeking to ensure that Timothy had everything he needed to lead the church in Paul’s absence. We are living in times of enormous upheaval; we are firmly into the post-Christian culture, we are beginning to encounter persecution, we are seeing the death of some churches. But none of this should discourage us, depress or put us off: - quite the opposite! You were born for this time – it’s no accident that you are who you are, where you are, with your experience, with your background – God has called you to live faith, to proclaim faith and when you’ve done that to stand in faith. We are thriving here at TFM – as I write this, we have no office (see update on page 5)
and Georgina and I are living in a borrowed bedroom in Watford having sold our house – but it is so exciting to be following God, knowing that He will bring us to the place He wants us, that we will be able to serve Him there. We look back over the last year and marvel at all that God did through the missions, Walk the Way, the training weekends, working within every rule and regulation – extraordinary and
George Martin (left) hands over a bottle of sea water to Tim during Walk the Way
P8: Walk the Way A personal reflection www.throughfaithmissions.org
1
wonderful testimonies of deliverance, healing and salvation; amazing dedication and sacrifice of men and women prepared to volunteer on mission teams even if they had no clue if there would be food or accommodation. We look forward to this year, to the missions already being planned, to training days and weekends, to the all-new ‘Evangelists Walk’ mission (it’s a walk of faith like Walk the Way), to the provision of our new home and office … So much already happening and so much more that God is going to do! Many thanks for all your prayers, for all your support, for the financial gifts that keep us afloat - and please do come and join us – come to the training, join a mission team and more importantly, bring a friend!! God bless you Tim Hall
2021 Trustees and Staff Retreat Through Faith Missions has a board of Trustees who deal with all the legal and financial matters as well as the strategic overview. They meet every quarter and once a year they gather with the staff for a two-day retreat, a time for worship and prayer, for reflecting on all that God has done in and through TFM and looking to the challenges that lie ahead. This year more than any other was a time when we dwelt in the mystery of God – knowing He was leading in the matter of providing an office and centre, knowing that we are in a period of struggle and exile, but not knowing the next step. This retreat became a time, then, of intense prayer and of finding, in the midst of the uncertainty, the deep peace of God. Tim Hall CEO
2
www.throughfaithmissions.org
Torbay Mission This was a large Mission consisting of three different Centres and three teams working independently and together across the Bay. With a good 2 years’ planning across different denominations and three busy Training Weekends in Torbay we were excited to at last get to our destination. Across the board it was wonderful to see how, once again, our Living God had arranged the right people in the right teams for the right place. A general view saw much and fruitful door to door and a welcome opportunity to use some of our musically gifted team members on the sea front for some outreach among the walkers and visitors as well as locals. The following is a report written by one of the local Mission Organisers from St Matthias Church where my Team was based. Joanna Wilkinson writes; ‘In September 2021, St Matthias’ Church in Torquay hosted a TFM team for what turned out to be a great week of mission. The team arrived with energy and enthusiasm that uplifted the church community as a whole, including groups such as Messy Church and Men’s Breakfast. The team brought a message of love and hope to everyone they met when out and about in the local community, either doing door-to-door visits or being seated on the church piazza to engage with people passing by. One lady who was visited on the very first day of the mission, and who had long ceased attending church, was inspired to return and is now a regular worshipper. She also joined an Alpha course that started soon after the end of the mission. This ran successfully for 11 weeks, after which several of those who had attended chose to join one of St Matthias’ home groups. A highlight of the mission week at St Matthias’ was an evening with Dave Kelly, whose gentle manner yet powerful testimony had a strong impact. Following on from the mission, the church community has grown closer together and there has been healing of relationships. A small ‘action group’ (initially just three people) has been created for mission and outreach, with exciting ideas and proposals being shared. A main aim of this group is to foster a ‘missional culture’ within the church, using a variety of approaches. These will include teaching church members about the central importance of mission for a Christian, helping them to recognise
opportunities for mission in everyday life and to act on them, holding prayer walks in the local area, finding out about outreach initiatives by churches throughout Torbay and liaising with contacts in those churches. It is hoped that more people will join the group in the coming weeks and bring additional ideas to help turn the bold ambition for St Matthias’ to be a missional church into reality.’ With thanks to all at St Matthias Church and in particular to Joanna Wilkinson, Andrew Stilliard and John Beckett for their warm welcome and provision for the TFM team and for all their continued work in this wonderfully eclectic community of wealth and poverty. As with all missions the Lord is obviously at work, weaknesses are highlighted and it was an absolute privilege to witness how St Matthias leadership was able to recognise the areas and take the challenge while keeping their eyes fixed on Jesus. I ask that you pray for protection over St Matts and for new faces to continue coming forward from the congregation to serve in the different ministries the church offers. Georgina Hall
Torbay was an extraordinary mission – as this report from St Matthias shows! The Paignton team was working with both Living Waters and St Pauls, Christchurch doing an astonishing amount of door to door work, which had been prepared with an immense programme of prayer and prayer walking. Up the hill, the St Boniface team was working on an estate with an extremely varied programme, culminating in the opening of a peace garden as part of a community fun day. The three things I will remember are firstly the power of music and singing – time and again we saw how worship music and singing changed situations and brought people to Jesus; secondly the intensity of mission today – God is powerfully at work and as a result there are far more ‘meaningful encounters’ or ‘strong rebuttals’ and thirdly the enthusiasm and dedication of the small mission committee (Stephen, Geoff, Joanna, Geoff, Dan, Andrew) who brought this mission to fruition… and even now are planning the next! Tim Hall
www.throughfaithmissions.org
3
Wyesham Mission Report The last week in October saw TFM once again out on a small-town Mission in Wyesham just outside Monmouth. As ever the Lord gave us the right people in the right place and a team of ten women and men joined a small but dedicated team from Wyesham Christian Fellowship (WCF) with their Pastor Ian to blitz the town of just over 2200 with door to door, open air worship on the green and other events. It was lovely to get together with Rev Tim Starling, the local Anglican vicar, to reach out on the doors for a morning and then at a shared event tea party, some attended this as a result of door to door visiting! The following is a (slightly edited) report from Frank Mansell – a key organiser of this mission. “It's now just over 2 months since the TFM mission to Wyesham and beyond which blessed us as a fellowship and the wider community. How has it blessed? 1. Encouraged WCF to focus on mission There never will be a way of quantifying all that was achieved that week but everyone was encouraged in their walk with Jesus. Over the following days and weeks the church regrouped to say, "What's next?" 2. Alpha courses An in-person and an online course were started with some of the contacts from the mission as well as some folk from the fellowship. Both have been exciting to run with notable enthusiasm from participants. Lots of questions - thankfully the alpha videos are so well put together that they answer most of them! The online part tackles the 'Holy Spirit' weekend over 2 evenings next week - exciting or what? 3. Follow up All the expressions of interest from the door to door interviews were followed up by the Pastor with offers to visit again. Several began to attend the Sunday service but unfortunately
the right people in the right place
the Omicron variant has temporarily at least checked their visits. Again, each has had visits with offers of practical help. The streaming of the Sunday service has been maintained and a new IT system installed which, once teething problems are overcome, should make the process easier. 4. Christmas Outreach Quite a number joined us on the green and shared carols and hot chocolate. New friends were made and old acquaintances renewed. Among those at the film 'The Nativity' were a mum and daughter who had found it on Facebook! It was lovely to share the manger 'empty until Christmas day' and popcorn of course! 24 three-course dinners were cooked and delivered on Christmas Day and a Toy Appeal (working with the Principality Building Society and Monmouth Boys school) where 200 presents were wrapped and delivered to local children in need. Would any of this have happened without the TFM mission? Maybe some of it but certainly raising the WCF profile and bringing inspiration to individuals within the fellowship made a big difference. WCF are looking to plan further regular tabernacle events on the green, children's films/activities and anything within the community that we can support. The Fellowship see prayer as central to all this and it is the constant that has been central from the beginning of our 'mission' venture.” This was a superb mission with so many personal God Encounters, lively conversations with people out walking their dogs, and on the doors. The WCF members have such a heart for mission and prayer, I am sure that all the team would agree that these beautiful children of the Living God were a blessing to us as we sought to serve the Lord alongside them. We look forward to a return to Wyesham! Georgina and Tim Hall
4
www.throughfaithmissions.org
Office Update – Hot News! After much searching of hearts as well as several actual premises, we are moving into new offices. We have been offered the use of 2 (small) rooms at the Sawston Free Church. There are a few issues still to resolve such as there currently isn’t any broadband connection but at least the building now has an actual cable to it after a few failed installation appointments! However, by the time you read this we will have moved in and we will be delighted to receive any passing visitors. Tao and I will be pleased to be moving out of our homes and getting rid of a lot of TFM ‘stuff’! Note that the contact details of both postal address and phone number will not change. They remain; 18 Tannery Road Sawston CB22 3UW 07434 661697.
New Website and Prayer Mail format In a bid to update the way we communicate with you, we have recently updated the format of our weekly Prayer mail, using data directly from our new contact database which we installed at the end of last year. There have been a few teething issues but hopefully it will improve how we pass on news and prayer requests to you. If you don’t currently receive the weekly email but would like to, then do let us know. Similarly, our website is being updated to focus more on news and updates. It might not be ready just yet but will be soon. Consequently, we will be withdrawing from Facebook and not posting anything in the future. David Baslington
Training Applications and Serving on a Mission Our training events are open to anyone, not just those wishing to be part of a mission team. To be eligible to serve on a mission, you have to attend training and renew your application at least once every 3 years, regardless of how many times you have served before. This ensures that everyone is up-to-date and we have all your relevant details correct.
Mission and Training Diary 11 - 13 Mar 14 - 22 May 11 June 9 - 17 July 20 Aug - 4 Sept
Rushden Training Weekend (Dan) Basingstoke Mission TFM Annual Conference (venue TBC) Mission, St Peters, Rushden, Northamptonshire Evangelistic Walk Mission (Peddars Way)
If you want to be involved in any of these events then contact us.
Coffee Mornings and Prayer Warriors This last year has seen the birth of TFM Coffee Mornings on Zoom and the Prayer Warriors. I mention both in the same paragraph because both have drawn people who perhaps have not felt able to come out on Mission but who want to have the close involvement that being on a team carries. At a recent coffee morning, we only had a few join us but the beauty was that we ranged from Orkney to Jersey. It has been remarkable to share some of your highs and lows of church life. Not everyone is getting out with TFM but it seems everyone is doing mission in their own neighbourhoods. We have heard of Gospels being given out, prayer walks, street work and door to door all carried out by faithful supporters across the UK wanting to share Jesus at this time of great need for a Saviour. And every month we have been able to share all that TFM is doing. These Coffee Mornings have been a real blessing. It may be that as we all attempt a return to normal life there is not the same need for the Zoom gatherings but for now, we are continuing to use this opportunity to meet with our TFM family far and wide. The Prayer Warriors, set up to pray for individual teams during Walk the Way, have been an absolute blessing to all. The notion of working daily with the team on the ground has paid dividends! Of course it has always been a privilege for us at TFM to have such a faithful crew of pray-ers amongst our supporters and the Prayer Warriors cannot replace that. To be away on mission and know that every day a team will have contact with the team leader and be praying, listening to the Holy Spirit for prayer-prompting is so encouraging. As a result, the Prayer Warriors are (for now) continuing to play an active part in our regular missions. We take this opportunity to thank all who pray for us and the Prayer Warriors for all the time and energy you put into the invaluable spiritual back-up that you have given and are giving. We thank God for you all! Georgina Hall www.throughfaithmissions.org
5
Basingstoke: a multicultural town ‘I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ...’ (Phil 1 v3-5) I write this article having just returned from my second TFM mission based at Wessex Christian Fellowship in Basingstoke pastored by my friend Ebow Essel. This time we networked across five independent churches with five Asian and African pastors. Mainstream churches were invited but they were not able to join this time, maybe next time? Does anyone recall the first Basingstoke mission week we did in September 2020 slotted inbetween lockdowns one and two? We got back on the Sunday 20th and on Tuesday 22nd restrictions were imposed that would have stopped the mission, a strange and distant memory now. Why Basingstoke? Rewind to the early days of my arrival at TFM in 2019 and a staff meeting where I raised the possibility of TFM working with new church and Pentecostal streams. It was observed that this has rarely happened because they often have their own mission activities and TFM’s timings aren’t conducive for their discipleship years and internships. I felt sad about this but within twenty minutes the office (remember Coton?) phone rang. Tim answered and before I could say ‘Assemblies of God’ he handed it over, ‘there you go Dan.’ Ebow, a Ghanaian pastor from Basingstoke, introduced himself and we never looked back. I have lost track of how many times I have visited his church Wessex Christian Fellowship (AOG) in Basingstoke for mission prep and preaching. I have enjoyed many late-night discussions with Ebow; a deep thinker whose main passion is to establish a missional church. Small wonder we get on famously!
God is attracted to hunger Some will remember Walk Wessex in 2003 which one of our 2021 mission churches participated in (Pastor Philip Keeble and Melrose Church). Why do TFM keep going back to Basingstoke, it’s not a huge metropolis, neither is it the northern wilderness of Scotland where no one else but TFM would go? The nub of it is we are magnetised by the spiritual hunger of the Christians there. God is no respecter of persons or towns, He goes, and He sends where He is most wanted. Before Pastor Ebow committed to the mission in 2020 I visited his church with Jeremy Borton (TFM trustee). As we prayed together God gave a spiritual picture: The UK was a vast forest of tinder dry and dying trees. There was no green or life anywhere. It was a picture of barrenness which I understood to represent our nation’s spiritual state, not about lockdown; for which it could potentially have been symbolic. God looked down from heaven with fire in His hands, searching for where to throw it down first. The forest would catch on fire immediately, it was so parched. God was asking, ‘Who wants this fire, I will send it first where it is most desired?’ Suffice to say, Ebow courageously replied ‘YES Lord, send the fire here.’ He took a step of faith in a time of great uncertainty. The rest as they say is history, the fire is falling and the missional momentum is spreading there! Basingstoke holds good memories for me; however, some local people have a hang up. It is considered a poor cousin to the up and coming Reading or historic Winchester. There is a prevailing low self-esteem rather like Nazareth in ancient Israel ‘Can anything good
6
www.throughfaithmissions.org
come out of Basingstoke?’ God’s answer is a resounding ‘yes!’ Our mission activity and prayer-walking was aimed at breaking down these unhealthy attitudes both in the church and the community at large. The following prophetic promise seems appropriate: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah (Basingstoke), though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come (great things) for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5 v2)
‘passionate prayer’ God honours faithfulness We were impressed with the passionate prayer in the five churches. One church has a daily prayer meeting at 6am. It’s hard to articulate but we recognised the advantage of evangelising in an area that has been faithfully covered in prayer over time. This is markedly different to spiritually hard, unyielding ground which has not been ploughed up in prayer. Nature abhors a vacuum and so other spiritualities move in. God honours the faithful prayers of the Basingstoke churches. Working cross culturally Working across cultures is powerful spiritually. God blesses unity as we join with Christians who give themselves to prayer and fasting to seek the Kingdom of God. I found our African and Asian brothers to be unpolluted by western secular humanism and relativism, and thus wonderfully fresh and free in God. When it comes to organisation and timekeeping, we have different methodology. Did we English seem obsessed with timekeeping? Were we task-oriented at the expense of other aspects of mission? I had twelve highly motivated evangelists who rolled their sleeves up to work hard, I couldn’t tell them that we won’t be starting until after lunch. I learnt a lot about myself as I tried to balance the needs of the team, my own desire to ‘achieve something’ and the unhurried relationship-centric approach of my brothers from different cultures.
Basingstoke is, or has become, a multicultural town. It was lovely to witness the strengths of team members employed strategically to those we witnessed to. One TFMer who is strong on apologetics was deep in debate with a Muslim. Another who speaks with authority on creationism shared at length with an atheist. A TFMer broke into Romanian as the lady who opened the door didn’t speak English and he recognised her accent. All these interactions are inroads towards salvation. The future We have already been invited back, so if we go, is there anything I would do differently? As relationships develop and trust grows there is more opportunity for directness, the pastors are planning to meet regularly to pray together. TFMers could be plugged into more ministry slots within the local church diary. I really enjoyed inputting Melrose Churches’ Friday club. With more planning there would similarly be openings across the other churches. I would encourage the team to be less target focussed and even more relationally open and relaxed, to enjoy and learn from cross cultural work as much as possible, especially where prayer is concerned. It would be fascinating to draw in other mainstream churches and see how well they could work together too, watch this space! And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you (Basingstoke), will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Phil 1 v6 NLT) Daniel Holland
www.throughfaithmissions.org
7
Contact Us? Please tick a box below and complete your address details. I wish to become a Supporter Please note my address change or email address below (need old address also) Please remove my name from the mailing list Please send me the weekly email Prayer news (need email address please) I enclose a gift to support TFM’s ministry (Cheques to Through Faith Missions Ltd or go to www.throughfaithmissions.org/giving for online giving options). I want to gift aid my donation I would like to remember TFM in my will. Please send details.
Walk The Way - a personal reflection It was a 'normal' Sunday morning in April when I saw a promotional video about an event called 'Walk the Way'. The moment I watched it I knew this was for me. Then in June I visited Wales and unwittingly stumbled across the 'Via Beata'. I learnt that this was the route being used for 'Walk the Way' and so, being aware that the first teams were starting soon, I thought it apt to walk from the most Westerly point of the route (St David's Head) to St David's to 'prepare the way' with prayer. On my return home to Suffolk, I then felt compelled to travel to the most Easterly point (Lowestoft). I will never forget climbing over the sea defence wall and seeing four men dressed in blue 'Through Faith Missions' uniforms right there at the foot of the steps just starting their journey! It felt like a clear 'God incidence' and confirmed to me that it was time to go for it... Seven weeks later, there I was in Hay-on-Wye with nothing but my backpack, enough cash to allow £6 per day, and no phone (for the first time in seventeen years). I felt free! I must fess up that my main worry was the dynamics of a bunch of blokes who had never met spending seven days together but I can't put into words the unity I experienced that week. We were a true band of brothers and it reminded me of Jesus' command to his disciples: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) This 'love' looked like carrying one another's burdens both practically and emotionally together; forming a spontaneous 'boy band' (one passer by actually asked where we would be 'performing' next!) singing out loud our faith and hope in Jesus together; roaming across the countryside together; encouraging local church leaders together; sharing light moments together; sharing deep moments together.
Name: Address:
The week changed my life. I had a new confidence inside to share my faith, even if in small ways. Perhaps you are reading this and are thinking 'yeah ok, that's great for you but [fill in the blank]'. I feel you! I know that voice myself and now I wonder how much I have missed out on over the years. For me this feels like the start of something exciting and I don't want to miss out anymore. So will you join me out there on the mission, sharing our faith, sharing this adventure, together?
Postcode: Tel: Email: By supplying the information above you are authorising Through Faith Missions to hold the data supplied and contact you. You can change these preferences at any time by contacting us at the address below.
THROUGH FAITH MISSIONS 18 Tannery Road Sawston CAMBRIDGE CB22 3UW Tel: 07434 661697 Email: admin@throughfaithmissions.org Visit: www.throughfaithmissions.org Charity Registration No. 801113 Company registration No. 2350178
Jack Quinn Jack Quinn (on the right) with Michael Foulkes