2025 ACJV update # 6
Hi everyone,
Something new seems to be happening in our churches: There seems to be fresh openness to Jesus emerging in this land. I was in a call on Thursday, and pastors in our diocese were reporting increased church attendance, new people walking into church, a fresh delight in prayer, and conversions to Jesus. One of the pastors said, "It's been hard slog for so long, but something seems to have changed." We are experiencing something new in our church as well. In our Sunday services, there is a deeper joy and a greater sense of the presence of God. We are seeing new faces, and a deeper experience of God. God's Spirit is surprising and gracious and is doing something new. Please pray with me that this shower of fresh rain from God on our dry land would become a sustained soaking downpour that leads to a great harvest.
Here's what's happening in the next few days and weeks:
Sunday May 4th: Some of you will remember the great fun when had when Ben and Frank visited last year. Ben is back with his Mum and Dad. They will be leading our Sunday services and also visiting as many of our seasonal employees as we can manage. Work permitting, the Goulter street team will be singing at a service. We will celebrate the Lord's supper (Holy Communion) at Seddon on Sunday.
Monday (Seddon Growth Group): Growth Group will be back in action on Monday May 5th. We're meeting at the Sinclair's. We will be getting familiar with the Hope Expored Course. Over the next few weeks we will be getting equipped to run Hope Explored with friends or families. Please come and check out how Hope Explored works and have a think about being involved in
Hope Explored (June): Hope Explored is a three week course investigating Hope.
There are few emotions more powerful than hope. Real hope is what the Christian faith claims to offer. A joyful expectation for the future, based on true events in the past, which changes everything about my present. Hope Explored is a three session series for anyone who is looking for a hope worth having. Whatever you do or don't believe, this is your invitation to explore, to discuss, to discover. This is Hope Explored.
If you want to attend Hope Explored, send me an email or a text, and we'll make sure you can sit down with some locals and Explore Hope.
God Bless,
John