Friday, April 26, 2013

Kennet Christian Centre

My time at  Kennet Christian Centre was another 'first visit' and it did not take me long to realise that this excellent church in Newbury was one of Elim's 'best kept secrets'.  

Though I arrived early the church was already filling up and by the start of the service stewards were struggling to find seats for the people who were continuing to arrive.  This was not because I was there - it is like that every week.

Ian Gardiner (pictured here with his wife Marion) has led the church for over twenty years and it is very evident that the incredible atmosphere that makes this church so attractive is largely down to their influence over the years.


Monday, April 15, 2013

Treorchy, South Wales

It is always a pleasure to speak at Elim churches but especially when it is my first visit to them. 

So, when preaching at the Elim Church in Treorchy, in the Rhondda Valley it was great be with Jeff Evans (pictured here with his wife Sue) who has pastored the church there for the past twenty three years.

It was to be expected that any church in South Wales would be a welcoming environment what I was not anticipating was the exceptionally gifted way in which Sue led the worship.    I would also want to honour leaders such as Jeff who have invested so much of their life, often sacrificially, into local church over such an extended period of time.

Friday, April 12, 2013

AoG Leaders

There has always been a close affinity with our Sister fellowship, the Assemblies of God.  Both our Movements were formed almost a century ago and our doctrines and beliefs are identical.  The only thing that differentiates us is our form of church government.  The two previous Superintendents of AoG have been close personal friends as is the current National Leader, John Partington

It was a pleasure and a privilege to speak to their National Leadership Team, Regional Leaders and Regional Teams at their excellent venue in Coventry.  Both our Fellowships are looking at every opportunity in which we can work closer together in the days that lie ahead.