2016 has been a great year.
Some hard stuff and some amazing stuff for us both as a church and for me personally. At the start of this year I was really wondering whether this was what I was meant to be doing, whereas now I feel more inspired and excited than ever!
The trustees – Con, Josh Crandon, Alan Cooper, Matt Cope, Dave Foskett, Suzy Stafford-Curtiss, Dave Panaech – have all been amazing. The leadership team – Helen and Sam, Jo and Con – have all been awesome.
We have taken on Bags of Mercy, which Astrid now heads up for us. Providing basics and help to women (mainly) and children in emergency shelters. This is an exciting opportunity to touch a number of lives and something that has been on people’s hearts for years.
CAP has been amazing this year, with a number of clients becoming debt-free and a number coming to know Jesus. Nick has worked very hard and he, Sarah and the kids are off on a sabbatical to be refreshed and re-envisioned.
Church@Coffee#1 has been one of the highlights, with people coming to know Jesus and a whole different congregation of people finding a home in our family through it.
Rock has been very exciting with the Rockers moving on in Jesus noticeably. I have had the privilege, twice now, of gate-crashing and doing some ministry training with them. It has been amazing to see the way that God has been touching them powerfully in these times. On the second occasion, I unleashed the amazing Lydia on them and she prophesied over them with amazing accuracy that seriously impacted them. It has been great to have James as a youth worker and this has made such a difference to the yoof.
Kids ministry has been great, great, wicked, wicked, skill, skill. Big shout to Steph and the team. From struggling to work out how we could function as a church with 50% without everyone being run into the ground, we have come through to the point where it is all covered and we can genuinely celebrate this amazing gift of the kids of SVC! As we an all see, thus is a gift that keeps on giving!
Chill n Chat has been a joy to be part of and we are seeing many regulars, most of whom have found value and acceptance and a safe place there. Thank you Ann, Hannah, Sarah & Chris, James and Rajni.
Con started Venturesome this year, helping people to set up and run new projects and ideas, and it is already bearing fruit, with people like Jackie and Kizzy stepping out and starting things.
Sunday Services have undergone a major change with earlier starts and shorter meetings, but it has been relatively easy and it just feels as though it has always been like this now!
Thank you all. You are our family and it is a joy to serve and be among you. I love this church. I love it that you are all so real. I love it that I see such authentic faith in you. I love it that you do not pretend and we are all trying to work this out together.
There are too many of you to mention to say thank to, because you have all been so key in all that has happened. I look forward to next year working with and for you.
Have a great Christmas and New Year and try to get some rest.
God Bless
Matt, Gina, Reuben, Sam, Nathaniel and George
One Comment
Here here matt