Christmas Update 2010

Well, it's February already but I thought it would be great to share about the Christmas Outreach... to give a rough idea of each day, the programme runs something like this:

1:00 - Team of staff & volunteers gather for briefing, worship & prayer

2:00 - Final preparations

3:00 - Doors open - drinks & snacks served

(a street team goes out looking for any local rough sleepers to invite)

3.30 - Main meal served

(catering each day provided by either the ECCP or a local church)

4:15 - Entertainment programme - music, drama, testimonies, a message

4:45 - Dessert served

5:00 - Prayer ministry

5:45 - Clothing Store & Food Distribution

6:30 - Doors close - clean-up & debriefing time

7:30 - Team leaves


This year was slightly different in that Samy and Susan (ECCP Directors) took the time to have Christmas as a family together rather than involving in ministry. Although a hard decision to make they felt led by the Lord and as a team we knew it was the right thing. So we had a few less ECCP staff than normal, with some other team members also away. However we were joined by two DTS Teams plus local church groups and several volunteers including two families. Here's an 'end of outreach' shot of those who were left standing at the close of Boxing Day!...


A highlight this Christmas was when part of the entertainment programme planned for one of the days fell through. Bertin had prepared a message about how we get stuck in life in different ways, and how Jesus can bring freedom and help us to move forward. Since we had extra time to fill we weighed up the idea of offering a more public time of ministry, inviting people forward to receive prayer at the front. Normally they would come to a side area afterwards for prayer, so doing it this way felt a little risky! As Bertin came to the end he asked people to come forward if they wanted Jesus to help them in whatever 'being-stuck' situation they were facing. Five or six bravely stood up and a few of us we able to gather round and pray with them. Amongst them we prayed for freedom from alcohol addiction for a young guy from Lithuania, comfort for sorrow over the death of a husband, and one man gave his life to Jesus. God loves to show up! Please keep praying for His love and power to change lives in this community.