Autumn 2008 Newsletter

It’s been a busy few months since returning in June from the Leadership Development Course I attended in Scotland. God definitely went beyond my expectations throughout the time away, beginning with some miraculous financial provision. I felt He had told me He would provide the full amount I needed to pay before the course began – various donations came in during the last few days, but I travelled on the Saturday still not having the total figure. Amazingly on Sunday morning, with the LDC due to officially start that evening, my London housemate contacted to say a cheque had just been delivered for me - it covered the remaining amount needed! This was an affirmation that God was looking after things and I was definitely in the right place!

It was inspiring to see how the LDC staff worked together in running the course, modelling the skills they were teaching. There was plenty of time to receive prayer ministry and process applying things personally as well as within our ministry locations. God particularly challenged me through the creative worship and intercession that we experienced - this is an area we need to grow in at the ECCP and I felt He was asking me to take on responsibility for it. The time we spend together as a team worshipping, listening to the Lord and interceding as He leads has a direct impact on our ministry – it means we continually check that our focus and attitudes are in the right place and it gives us fresh vision for those we reach out to.

Through the LDC I have been given a treasure chest of tools that I can dip into and spend more time developing as God leads. So thank you to everyone who invested in enabling me to attend this course! Since coming back I have battled to find enough space to keep processing what I learnt, but I have also taken many positive steps forward. My role at the ECCP, though always flexible has shifted slightly. We have stopped the Family Ministry for various reasons including a lack of workers to make it viable and a need for more specialised training. So the key areas that I am currently involved with are:

· The ECCP leadership team
· Intercession, worship & prayer ministry
· Pastoral care – staff, students & volunteers
· Administration (including one-to-one support for our visitors)
· Running the Women’s Drop-In
· Home visits with a long-term contact
· Counselling
· Hosting outreach teams
· Planning special events e.g. Christmas & Easter outreach
· Linking with YWAM teams in London & England

The summer has been action-packed, including a YWAM England Strategy conference, the graduation of last years’ Community Counselling School (CCS) students, hosting a visiting mission team of 14 – 16 year olds, and the recent start of the new CCS, alongside all the usual outreach activities. I also managed to fit in a trip to Telford to see family and sort through various boxes of childhood memories, plus a week’s holiday with one of my sisters!

We currently have a major issue for prayer regarding the premises that the ECCP functions from. Our project has been based at St Jude’s since the 1980s, however the building is being taken over by a local church who plan in a few month’s time to refurbish it and create a Theology Training Centre. Unfortunately this means our future here is uncertain. We hope to be given some office space in the new building plans but they are reluctant to let us run any of our activities – this would leave our main ministries homeless! Ideally we need the whole project – admin, training and outreach – to be able to function from one location. We desperately need to see God’s hand move in this situation. We know His heart for our visitors is infinitely bigger than ours and we are trusting that He will make a way!

So we are asking the Lord for a home for the ECCP. Even where we are now there is need for better kitchen facilities and larger office space to accommodate the team, the work and our visitors. We have been praying too for more full-time long-term staff at the project, but we also need somewhere to put them!

As always, thank-you so much for standing with me in your prayers, support and care.

Love and blessings,

Rebecca