CCF Youth trip to Tacoma

Last summer we took seven young people from ChristChurch to Tacoma, Washington State, U.S.A. for the Jesus Ministry Conference. I had the privilege of going as 'the female youth leader'!

The whole youth group fundraised together for the trip, with the aim being that it was an investment for all the young people - those who went would bring back what they learnt - sharing with and leading the group to walk through everything too.

It was an amazing time of teaching, outreach, prayer ministry and being inspired to live radically for the Lord - a lifestyle of repentance, walking out of strongholds and sin patterns that hold us back from living as the person God created us to be and in all He has for us...

We were really blessed in being given a great big house to stay in by one of the church families, complete with awesome view across the water, swimming pool, hot tub and lots of grounds for footie etc. We needed to hire two cars to transport everyone, but when we arrived to pick them up, one had been upgraded to an SUV, which unfortunately I had to drive ;)

It was never clear to me before, the deal with why some people get excited about driving certain kinds of car... I now understand fully!

Newsletter - Spring 2007

Happy New Year everyone! Last September marked 5 years in my work with YWAM. Looking back over the time I am grateful for the many opportunities and experiences that I have had and God’s faithful provision for me throughout it all. This summer of 2007 I will come to the end of a two-year commitment that I made to the ECCP, when I joined the leadership team. I am seeking God right now as to where He wants me as I reach this decision point. If I am to continue at the ECCP, I am praying that He will show me His vision and role for me in building on the work that has already been done here; if it is time for me to move on, either within YWAM or into something totally new, I pray that He will clearly open the door! So I will keep you posted and would also really appreciate your prayer support in this…

The atmosphere here at the ECCP has been decidedly different over the past few months! We have not run a Community Counselling School this year, which has meant a more spacious and quiet office (whether this is a plus depends on your personality type!). A positive point has been the chance to work on building a solid team with those of us who have been here as long-term staff. However, it has also meant a shortage of hands since the CCS students normally join us during the week as part of their placement.

Our Christmas Outreach (22nd - 26th December) was great. One of my roles is to organise the decorations, which I love as it’s an opportunity to be creative – something I enjoy but don’t always have the time to invest in! As we prayed for the outreach this year, God gave us a picture of it being like the party that the Father threw for his prodigal son. We are aware of the spiritual battle over the lives of many of the people who come and the importance of interceding for them during the outreach. We also made prayer ministry available for any visitors who requested it.

One thing we have been learning about is asking the Lord to give us pictures and words of encouragement about how He has created the person we are praying for– His design for them, their character and giftings. This is always an exciting way to pray! One guy who was prayed for broke down in tears when some of how God sees him was shared with him. What an amazing chance to speak words of life to people who have hardly received any affirmation or truth about their value and individuality!

The Family Support Work is still developing, but I am working alone in this since the two students who were on the team last year left in the summer. I have been supporting two families on a long-term basis and, from time to time, involved in one-off projects with other families, for example decorating or doing a clear-out in a home. One of the cases, which has been challenging from the outset, has become increasingly difficult in the last two or three months and I would appreciate your prayers for this family.

Counselling for me quietened down over the summer due to being overstretched with different things at the Project. However I am hoping to involve in the new Family Therapy Counselling that has been developed by one of our experienced counsellors. He is using a method which involves a reflection team in addition to the main counsellor. Though I have not had the chance to experience this yet, apparently it opens many fresh and dynamic perspectives to the counselling situation.

At ChristChurch Fulham life continues to be busy and exciting! The youth work is growing under the oversight of Andrew our youth pastor. We now have four different areas of ministry: LIFE for ages 13 to 18; OXYGEN for ages 10 to 12; SANCTUARY which is our outreach work with youth on a local estate; and a mentoring programme to provide some deeper one-to-one support. I am a mentor to one of the teenagers and on Friday evenings I run Oxygen along with two other leaders. It’s been encouraging to see the young people growing together as a group, owning their faith, asking honest questions and enthusiastically bringing their unsaved friends! The other area of church life with which I am involved is being part of a prayer ministry team. It is a huge privilege to be able to stand alongside people and see God working to bring restoration in their lives.

On a personal note, teaching in church recently has been focused on the Pharisees as the group most often rebuked by Jesus; frequently as Christians we can end up walking in these ways ourselves wherever we move into religious structures and methods and our hearts are not engaged. This is a danger for me, so it is a challenge to guard my heart against slipping into religion in whatever form - and to keep looking to God for His vision, plans, and voice in everything I am doing.

I am inspired by a book that I have just read called ‘Intercessor: Rees Howells’. It is incredible to hear what this man was led to intercede for and how God moved powerfully through his prayers. His absolute obedience to what God asked of Him is personally very challenging.

The website for the Earls Court Community Project has just been updated (please see the link to the left). This gives a great overview of the ministries of the Project and also has plenty of photos. On this blog I will continue to post these slightly edited versions of my newsletter, along with other updates, thoughts and pictures. Right now it is still in the early stages and I am learning about all the technicalities!

I am blessed to have such a great group of friends and supporters who stand alongside me in so many ways – through your prayers, conversations, emails, encouragements, and gifts. THANK YOU!

Love and blessings,

Rebecca

Christmas Party

An aerial shot of the Christmas Outreach in 2004 - running from the 22nd to 26th December each year, this is open to anyone who would like to come and join - we invite them to a party - a place where they can feel welcomed and part of a Christmas celebration - we have great food, music, entertainment, friendship, clothing, gifts, prayer and sharing the message of God's awesome love for each person there... God's provision is always amazing, with people from local churches both donating and coming to join us during the time. Many of the visitors would otherwise have no-one to share Christmas with, and for some they would be spending it on the streets.

Very serious discussions in the ECCP office!

Ok, continuing the tour of where I spend many hours of my week, this is the meeting/lecture room... it's a little bit claustrophobic - low ceiling, not much air transferance, underground... kind of cosy, hey! Recently we have been fitting in nearly twenty people - definitely tight. Of course we would love for the Lord to provide us with a BIG, light, airy room with lots of windows and space for more freedom and creativity in our worship times - we believe it is coming!

Home of ECCP

So... this is St Jude's Church in Earls Court where the ECCP runs from - we are able to rent some rooms in the crypt for our offices, counselling rooms, lecture room etc and then we use the church kitchen facilities to run our Coffee Bar drop-ins. If you ever feel like dropping by, everyone is welcome!

ECCP Art Workshop

Some of the work being done in our art section during the Coffee Bar on a Wednesday afternoon. For Christmas, many of our visitors worked together to create a painting of the Annunciation (when Angel Gabriel visited Mary) - it looked amazing and we displayed it on the wall in the front of the church during our outreach... hidden talents!

My wonderful family...

They have to be part of the introduction to me!