Barking, Elim

It is always a joy for Marilyn and I to be with our friends John and Trish Waller who are the senior leaders of the Elim Church in Barking, Essex.

Immediately after arriving on Saturday afternoon I met with the Elders and pastors of the church for an informal two-hour leadership session

Sunday morning consisted of two identical morning services in order to accommodate the expanding congregation that has almost doubled in size since John and Trish came to the church. Also, since I was last there eighteen months ago, the adjacent building has been renovated and modernised - a great addition to their already excellent facilities.

Most churches have a moment in the morning service where the children go out to a parallel meeting of their own.  That morning I understand was a record as no less than 97 children filed out - phenomenal.  Thank you Barking for the warm welcome you gave us and your openness to the input we were privileged to bring.

Metropolitan Regions

David Campbell is the Regional leader of the two Metropolitan Regions and covers the largest number of churches and leaders in our Movement

Ealing Christian Centre pastored by senior ministers, Richard and Rajindark Buxton provided the excellent venue and generous hospitality to the large numbers of leaders who attended. 

Worship was led by Sam Blake

It is on days of this nature that I become increasingly aware of the great calibre of men and women who are leading the churches across our Movement.

Ellesmere Port Elim Church

As I revisit churches over the years, it is great to see the development and expansion that is evident since the last time that I was there.

 I was at Oasis (Elim in Ellesmere Port) just eighteen months ago and it was remarkable how many people that I spoke to after the meeting told me how they had joined the church during the past twelve months.

Peter Peters, originally from Nigeria, pastors this church that continues to grow numerically and as well as in faith and vision.

Claude and Sue Ellerington - retirement

 Marilyn and I attended the retirement meal for our close friends Claude and Susan Ellerington who have Pastored the Elim Church in Weston Super Mare for the past 19 years.

Both of their sons (Richard and Steve) are ordained Elim ministers.  Richard is planting a church in the south of France and Steve is the senior pastor of Bude in Cornwall.  Their daughter, Dawn (pictured here with her mother Susan) holds an Elim 'License to Minister' credential and his based in Holy Trinity (Elim) Weston.

Many tributes, from church Elders and members, were made to Claude and Sue who have seen the church triple in size during the years that they have been there.  They clearly will be greatly missed by this warm and friendly family church.

Feast of Esther

It was a privilege to speak at the opening night of the 'Feast of Esther' Conference attended by influential women from the black community who are leaders in church, academia and commerce.  It is hosted by Pastor Foluku Adeboye the wife of Rev A. Adeboye who is the pastor of the largest church in the world based in Lagos Nigeria and who was voted by Newsweek magazine as one of the fifty most influential men in the world. He is also the leader of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.  It was an exceptional evening and it was a joy for Marilyn and I  to be with these great women of God.

Isle of Man

It is thirty years since Elim first planted a church in the Isle of Man as a result of a series of special evangelistic services conducted by Paul Epton.  There are now three Elim Churches on the Island which has a population of around  85,000 people.

The reason for my visit was to celebrate this special anniversary.  The Saturday meeting was in Onchan and then on the Sunday all three churches (Onchan, Peel, Ramsey) came together in a hired venue.  During the service ten people indicated their decision to commit their lives to Christ.

One of my nieces and her husband (Amanda and Alex Brown) head up Scripture Union on the Isle of Man and it was a joy to attend their annual Conference on the Sunday afternoon.

I am grateful for the work that the three pastors Des Deehan, Jonny Harding and John Powell are doing for Elim on the Island.