Ignite Conference

Each year Kevin Peat, Regional Leader for Scotland and the North West,  hosts a conference for the North West Region at Cefn Lea holiday park in North Wales.  Aptly called 'Ignite"it serves to be a means of fellowship and inspiration to all those who attend.  Having spoken there in 2011 I had been invited again to speak at two of the sessions this year also.

There is always a great atmosphere at Ignite and the Elim Church in Chorley who led the worship are, in my opinion, one of the best Praise Bands in our Movement.

Persecuted church

It was over two years ago while at a Conference in South Africa that I was approached by an Iranian man in his early thirties who asked if I would travel to a country in the Middle East to give teaching and encouragement to young leaders who were undergoing persecution.

The concept at the time was that I would go to a relatively moderate Islamic country and that they would travel from the countries where persecution was more intense.

The arrangement was delayed for two reasons.  The so-called Arab Spring meant that the location needed to be changed but the second reason was far more serious.  On 26^th December 2010 my contact was himself arrested along with 40 other Christians and detained in one of Iran’s worst prisons in Teheran.

Separated from his wife and young children he is currently serving six years for converting from Islam and encouraging others to follow Christ.

A new location selected, Chris Jones and I travelled to meet a group of around 50 leaders all who had undergone persecution – some under torture. Those who had suffered imprisonment had been forced to leave their country with nothing but what they stood up in.  As they were not given passports their status was that of a refugee.  There is a huge price to pay for following Jesus around the world and the opportunity to meet and minister to them was one of the most humbling and impacting times of my 44 years in ministry.

Stockton

The reason for my visit, my first to the Elim church in Stockton, was on the occasion of their 40th anniversary.  The church is between ministers at the moment but there was an excellent attendance as several people from the Elim church in Darlington joined for the morning service.    Because of the occasion a number of people also attended from the local estate - some of which had never attended since they were children.  Four people responded to the gospel appeal at the end of the service.

Apostle Michael NTumy

One of my closest friends in recent years has been Apostle Michael Ntumy, former chairman of the Church of Pentecost.  Under his ten year tenure as the leader of our sister Movement he saw it grow from around 760,000 to over 1,600,000.  It now stands at over 2,000,000 world wide.

A few years ago he emerged from a serious spinal operation paralyzed from the neck down.  Since that time he has astounded surgeons, doctors and physicians with his progress which they have put down to his faith in God and the strength of his character.  He has also been wonderfully supported by his wife Martha (pictured standing between us).  I have visited him on two occasions in Germany where he currently resides but on this occasion I travelled to see him during a recent visit to London.  Also in the picture are dignitaries from the Church of Pentecost - including the UK Area Head (far right)  In my opinion Michael Ntumy is one of the most significant Christian Statesmen this century has produced.

MiT Conference

Each year around ninety 'Ministers in training' descend on the Elim International Centre for a three-day conference hosted by Nigel Tween and myself.  Main speakers, apart from the hosts, were Duncan Clark, Carl Johnston, Geoff Lee, Gordon Neale, Kevin Peat and Jonathan Skelton - reflecting a wide range of age and experience that contributed to what many felt was once of the most successful MiT conferences in a long time.

Crewkerne, Somerset

I have visited and spoken at hundreds of Elim churches across the UK but this was the first time I had been at Crewkerne.

The church is pastored by Steve Gray (pictured here with his wife Sian, sons Aaron and Joel and daughter Aoife)

Though Steve is from Ireland and Sian from Wales, their commitment to the area over several years has meant that they are very much part of the local community of which the church is an integral part


I enjoyed meeting the congregation and was blessed by the worship.  The added bonus was being able to spend time with this great family over  lunch at the conclusion of the service.

Leytonstone Men's Retreat

For the past few years around sixty men from the Leytonstone Elim Church conduct a retreat for men at the Elim International Centre in Malven.  For the past two years I have been invited to speak at the event.  There is always something great about guys getting together in this kind of context and the 2012 event was no exception.

South Chard

There are times when I get to visit excellent churches situated in very small communities.  My visit to South Chard, Somerset, was one such occasion.  It is led by Neil Reid (pictured here with his wife Jenny).  It was a delight to be with them.

There was a great sense of 'family' in this warm and relational congregation and after the morning service I was able to meet the wider leadership and their spouses over a curry.

Ministers Fellowship Europe

Ministers Fellowship International was  founded many years ago by Dick Iverson and thirteen years ago MF (Europe) was commenced under the leadership of Colin Cooper (pictured) - senior minister of the 800 strong Huddersfield Christian Fellowship who has brought dynamic leadership to the group.

Every year this group, dedicated to the encouragement and support of pastors and leaders,  holds a Conference in a different location throughout Europe.  The 2012 venue was in a top hotel in Athens, Greece.  I considered it an honour to be invited to speak on four occasions during the four days.  The Conference took time to especially honour its founder Dick Iverson who now is 82 years of age but who has lost nothing of his fatherly heart for leaders.

Elim Summit - Ireland

Northern Ireland was the venue for the last of six leadership summits that, over the past few months, have been held in Scotland, the North West, the Midlands, the South West and London.

It has been a pleasure to have travelled with such a great team that included Gary Gibbs, Darren Johnson, Chris Jones, Mark Pugh and Nigel Tween.

Over 200 ministers and lay leaders gathered in Hillsborough for the day subsequent to the invitation of Irish Superintendent, Edwin Michael.  The venue, the hospitality and the atmosphere made the final summit one of the best on the tour.

Newquay Christian Centre

The first time I preached at Newquay many years ago there were just 35 people present.  On the last occasion there were two morning services to accommodate the burgeoning congregation.

On this occasion there was one service but it was in the newly acquired premises - the third complex in the centre of the town and only a short walk from the seafront.

NCC is a great success story that is the product of excellent leadership from Mike Robins (pictured here  with his wife Shelagh) his team and a dedicated congregation.

Whether you speak to the Newquay surfer set that are part of the church, or the most senior people in age, the comments are the same - the pleasure of being a part of a church relevant to every age group.

Following the service the congregation gathered on the beach as six young people were baptised

The Bridge, Erskine, Scotland

The church in Erskine was originally pioneered by Derek and Anne Chittick. On their retirement their son Gavin (pictured here with his wife Louise) already an ordained Elim minister, moved from another part of Scotland to take over the leadership.

The congregation currently worship in a local community centre.  They did have a building fund but when they heard of the devastation in Haiti, emptied the bank account and gave it towards the rebuilding of broken communities.  How can God fail to bless a church with a heart like that?

Gavin and Louise are typical of a whole breed of young leaders within Elim whose character continually reinforces my belief in a great future for our Movement.

Hope Chapel

Sally Livingstone founded the rehabilitation centre for those wanting to be free from controlling addictions and is shortly to set up the fifth house for this purpose.  Hundreds of people have been helped since its inception.

Now Sally is has planted and pioneered a church in the Birmingham area and it was my pleasure to be the speaker at the opening celebration.

Livingstone House and Hope Chapel is a tribute to tenacity, dedication, spiritual principles and the highest standards of clinical excellence.

Ealing Christian Centre

My previous visit to Ealing Christian Centre had witnessed a church packed from floor to ceiling (ECC has a huge gallery).  Since then however this great church has moved to two Sunday services - 9am and 11:15am.  I preached on both occasions and the combined congregations would have been in excess of a thousand people.  

As soon as the second service concluded two more services would take place.  One in Polish and the other in Japanese.  Yet a further service would take place for the whole church in the evening.

One of the significant hallmarks of ECC is its emphasis on praying for Revival and, if ever there was a church in the UK that has 'earned the right to speak' on such a subject, it is this Elim church.  Richard and Rajinder Buxton (pictured) lead a great pastoral team and Richard is shortly to launch a book on revival which I believe should be recommended reading for every church in the country.

Alloa, Scotland

The church in Alloa has throughout its history been one of the smaller churches within Elim.  Subsequent to my recent visit, I feel that that could be about to change.  I have spoken at the church on a number of occasions over the years - mostly when I was the Regional leader for Scotland.  On this visit, I sensed immediately an attitude of expectancy and was aware of a clear culture-shift that often heralds a new season - apart from being essential to growth.

Paul and Isla Martin (pictured) came to Alloa to pastor the church from their native Glasgow two years ago and, working together with the people in their congregation, are injecting fresh vision into this small picturesque town.

Things like this never occur without some sacrifice and I came away impressed with two young people who are committed to serve God faithfully in their locality.

Elim, Burton on Trent

It is not unusual on my travels around Elim churches to encounter packed churches or multiple meetings on a Sunday morning.  What is unusual is to experience the same thing on a Sunday night

Robert and Julie Styles have been in Burton for twelve years and during that time have seen steady and consistent growth due, in my opinion, to the strong pastoral heart that both of them have, a fine eldership and a faithful congregation.

Apart from numerical growth, the church has been completely refurbished and additional space made possible via en enlarged ground floor and two balconies.  Regular readers of Direction may remember the item two years ago of the church opening a conference centre on the opposite side of the road.

 

Father's House, Lancaster

The reason for my visit to Father's House, Lancaster was to take part in their tenth anniversary celebrations.

The senior leader of the church is Clive Corfield, pictured here with his wife Karen.

Clive, who also has an international itinerant ministry, is a gifted leader and has  attracted a great group of leaders around him - several of whom are credentialed Elim ministers.

Father's House has recently acquired excellent new facilities in at the heart of the city and the church building was packed for the special services.

This is  Fellowship with a great heart and outward-focused vision.

Nuneaton

The Nuneaton Church is pastored by Mike and Suella Brown who were both recently ordained at the  Elim Bible Week in Telford.

On my previous visit three years ago, and just before they came to take over the leadership of the church, the church had experienced a number of difficulties.

On the Sunday I was there things were very different and it was clear that they were in a new season, a new atmosphere and the congregation almost twice the size.

Numerical growth is good and especially so when it is matched with growth in depth.

Elim, Barking

It was two years since I was with John and Trish Waller in Barking, London and a great deal has transpired in the life of the church since that time.

Some things have not changed - the great atmosphere, excellent worship team and the aspirations of a committed congregation.

What was different however is that, due to the numerical growth of the church, it has been necessary to hold two Sunday morning services to accommodate the continued expansion.

John and Trish have done, and continue to do, a great job as they work as a team to build a church that makes a difference in the community.

Bethel, Olbury

Bethel, Oldbury is in the West Midlands and is a long-established Pentecostal Church.

A little over a year ago the church made the decision to affiliate with Elim and subsequently Steve Kerry (pictured here with his wife Rachel and their son) became the pastor

Although Steve and Rachel have only been at Bethel a relatively short time the church has experienced significant growth.

The church was packed for the Baptismal Service at which I was the speaker and it was great to listen to the testimonies of four people whose lives had been powerfully transformed by a personal commitment to Jesus Christ.

Micklefield

There are two Elim churches in the High Wycombe area and Paul Turner (pictured here with his wife Yvonne and daughter Becky) pastors the church in the Micklefield.

There are very few churches in our Movement that I have never visited previously but this was my first time in Micklefield.

Although Paul and Yvonne have only been at the church for just over a year it is evident that they are very much 'at home' and feel part of this growing congregation. 

It is a church that is clearly open to the things of the Spirit and this warm and welcoming group of people has great potential for further expansion.

Romsey Christian Centre

Due to the number of churches in our Movement it is usually several years before I am able to make a return visit.  In the case of Romsey however, the last time I ministered there was 43 years ago when a student in Bible College aged 20.

David Walker (pictured here with his wife Jackie) is the current pastor of the church and it was very evident that, not only are they highly regarded by the congregation, but that they too have a heart for the people under their care - and also for the town in which they are ministering.

It was good, while I was there, to see the church in action and to learn of the vision and plans that they have for the years that lie ahead.

Princes Risborough

Although the church in Princes Risborough, Chilterns Christian Fellowship, has been in existence for several years it only under the ministry of Geoff and Jane Blease (pictured) that it has been able to secure its own premises.

I had the privilege of preaching at the opening the first-class complex that includes a sanctuary area, offices and several meeting rooms.  It has taken many months of negotiation with those in the locality to bring the dream into reality and the fact that this has now occurred is a great tribute to the leadership and tenacity of Geoff and the team around him.

There were two services during the day.  The first was the formal opening attended by the local MP, councillors and members of the business community.  The second was a Praise Party.  At both services were the members of the church who had been instrumental to bringing the church to this point, former ministers including the church's first pastor Ian Gardner and the Regional leader for the area David Campbell

Camborne

Over the past few years there has been remarkable growth and development within our churches in the Cornwall area.

Numbered among these is the Elim is the Elim Church in Camborne, pastored by David and Liz Smyth (pictured).

It is some years since I was at the church and it very evident that Dave and Liz, together with the leaders around them, have brought a new freshness and vitality to the church.

The previous minister had successfully inaugurated a number of ways in which the church could interface with the community  - expressing care and commitment to those within society who were the most vulnerable.  This has not only be continued but enhanced by Dave and Liz and the church building exists as a vibrant hub for a number of midweek activities.  Yet another example of how very evident pastoral gifts are not just confined to the local congregation but exist as a benefit to the wider community.

Northampton Elim

The previous twelve months had not been the easiest in the Northampton church.  Apart from other things, a massive flood had damaged much of the facilities and created  huge challenges.

A year later, not only had the fabric of the building been restored but it was now exponentially in better shape than ever before.  I sensed that this was also paralleled in the spiritual life of the church as well.

In order to thank the church for the magnificent work that had been done in the past twelve months - a lavish celebratory meal was put on in appreciation of a number of key people who had a part in the restoration process.  Over ninety were in attendance.  Senior Pastor Jason Heron (pictured here with his wife Linda) compered the evening.

Other people from outside the local church were also present and who has been support to the church during that period including Regional Leader Gordon Neale and his wife Kay.

Marilyn and I were there as guests and, before I spoke at the close of the evening two of the best worship leaders in the UK took part in the celebration - Lara Martin (who is based at Elim Northampton) and Noel Robinson.

Cheltenham Elim

I have made a number of visits to the Cheltenham church in the thirty years since I was the pastor there.  It was great to find it at the strongest it has been during those years.

Three years ago Elim's Adminstrattive Centre, that was next door to the Elim Church, moved to Malvern and the offices were sold to the local church.

Between speaking at the two morning services Gareth Lewis, the current pastor (pictured here with his wife Janet) took me on the tour of our previous headquarters.  It was thrilling to see how the space had been utilised. 

The front of the premises is a charity shop that raises thousands of pounds annually for the work of International Missions.  Another part of the building is uses as a huge food bank for people in the community who are experiencing economic hardship (pictured with Gareth is Susan Sutton who runs the food bank).  Yet another part of the is used as a CAP centre (Christians Against Poverty)

The church has created the perfect balance of spiritual growth and community involvement.  I really appreciate all that Gareth and Janet are doing to make their dream a reality.

Widnes

Farnworth Christian Fellowship was pioneered by retired Elim minister, and former General Superintendent, Eldin Corsie who, with his wife Vivien continue to attend the church.

In recent years FCW has been excellently led by Rob Case (pictured here with his wife Margaret).  The church meets in an ideally located hotel and I very much enjoyed my first visit to this fine Elim Church.

Some of the most valuable leaders we have in our Movement are our bi-vocational pastors - people who work in a secular sphere, full or part time, in order that a church can be established.  Rob Case is such a leader and continues part time within the NHS as the church continues to grow and develop.

Ballyfermot, Dublin

When, several years ago, David and Sylvia Galvin (pictured) became Christians at Ballyfermot Elim Church they never could have imagined at that time that David would one day become the senior minister of the church.

But that is exactly what happened.  David worked closely with the previous minister, John Waller, as an Elder and then, when John and Trish Waller moved to Barking in London, David became the pastor of the church having earlier applied to become an Elim minister.  

The church has continued to grow over the years under his leadership.

Weston Super Mare

At the time of writing I have no Sundays available for ministry until well into 2014 so it was unusual that I was back in Weston after just a few months.

The reason was because when I was there  last June I only managed to get half way through the message and so, when a Sunday became available, I got the opportunity to finish the subject!

The senior minister Claude Ellerington has been one of my closest friends for over 40 years.  The associate minister is his son, Richard.  His younger son, Steve,is on the pastoral staff of the Elim church in Bristol.

Every time I visit the Weston church it seems that something has 'gone up  a notch' either numerically or spiritually.  As always, Marilyn and I enjoyed our time at this great church.

NW Regional Conference

Over ninety people attended the NW Regional Conference over two days at a top Blackpool hotel.  NLT member and Regional leader for the area Kevin Peat (pictured here with his wife Margaret) hosted the event and it was a delight for Marilyn and I to be present for the occasion.

I spoke at the three sessions to a group of leaders and spouses who it was a total joy to be with and the interaction between the teaching sessions were every bit as important as the seminars themselves.

Kevin and Margaret have created an environment in their Regions that is conducive to good fellowship and strong relationships and, for our part, it was an opportunity to meet both long-term friends in ministry as well as being introduced to leaders of churches that have recently joined our Movement.

Penzance, Cornwall

The pioneering of a new church requires a huge amount of vision, commitment and sacrifice, so when Dan and Jo Rubens (pictured here with their daughters) left the leadership team at Derby Elim to commence a new church in Cornwall it was an exciting prospect.

However, when the Derby church also released  two further families to join them - people who were willing to uproot their homes and resign their jobs to commence a new church, this was an demonstration not just of commitment but also of sacrifice.

The current venue is the modern and minimalist Penzance art gallery - a central and, currently, ideal location.

It was a joy to speak to the members of a church that was only months old but which had visibly grown in that short period.

If you plan to holiday in Cornwall during a Sunday in the summer - consider this church as one of your 'ports of call'

Brecon, South Wales

The opening of the new church building in Brecon is a huge tribute to the vision and faithfulness of the senior minister, Malcolm Jones, the local leadership and the church membership.

The celebration, at which the local MP attended, packed the new premises.  The photo shows a proportion of the congregation who were present for my official 'cutting of the tape' prior to the ceremony commencing.

Five members of Elim's National Leadership Team were present including the Regional Leader for the area, Chris Cartwright.  The speaker was NLT member Gordon Neale.  Brecon had been his first church when he entered the ministry over 40 years ago

Summit - on the road

Over the past twelve years there have been a number of Vision and Summit leadership conferences that have been held.  This year however the Summit conference went on the road travelling to venues such as Bristol, London (pictured), Scotland, Chorley and Coventry.  

The theme was 'Discipleship and Outreach' and the speakers were Gary Gibbs, Chris Jones, Mark Pugh, Nigel Tween and myself.  

The delegates had the opportunity, not just receive input, but to discuss the issues around the group tables as well as sharing their insights in a plenary setting.  The new-style summit ensured not only greater participation among those who attended but also a greater number of our churches around the country being involved.

Elim - Paisley

Its always a delight to be back in Scotland given that fourteen years of our ministry was in that country both as pastor and as Regional Leader.

My earliest memories of Paisely was of a congregation of around seventy people.  Today it is three tims that size with two morning services to accomodate the continued growth.

Wherever I travel on a Sunday there are two things that I value.  The first is visiting and ministering at one of our churches and the the other is spending time with the pastor and his family. 

This was especially true with regard to my time with Tom and Jennifer Paton and their family each of whom are fully involved in the local church.  Few things give more thrilling than seeing young adults, that you have known since they were first born, who are totally committed to serving God.

Back row left to right, Callum, Tom, Euan, Neil.  Front row Jennifer, Hannah, Kathryn (Callum's wife).

Festival of Life

Over thirty thousand people attended the 'Festival of Life' at the Excel Centre in London for an all-night celebration that lasted from 8pm to 5am.

It was held under the auspices of the 'Redeemed Christian Church of God'.  The other speaker  was Rev. Enoch Adeboye - the minister of the world's largest church in Lagos, Nigeria which has a membership of one million.  The walls of the church compound are three miles long. 

Stevanage

When senior accountant Kojo Wood, pictured here with his wife Caroline, entered his profession he would never have imagined that a few years later he would become an ordained Pentecostal minister. Yet, not only was that to happen, but he would also be involved in one of the most successful church plants in the Metropolitan Region.

It was veteran minister John Sainsbury that first recognised the call upon this emerging leader and created the initiative for the commencement of the Stevanage Elim church.  In the past three years under his leadership the congregation has tripled from 50 to 150 and the only limitation on further expansion is the size of the rented community centre at which the church meets.

During his ministry in Stevanage he has not received any salary choosing to support himself from his professional position.  While ministering at the church I learned one of the primary factors in this success story - his ability to build a high caliber team of leaders around him.  I was very much aware of witnessing a church on a journey towards a destiny yet to be realised.

Glasgow Elim

It is always a joy for Marilyn and I  to return to Scotland for any form of ministry as fifteen years of  my ministry has been spent there as either pastor in Kilsyth or as Regional leader.

Elim in Glasgow has had a succession of fine pastors in the past. James and Beryl Glass (pictured here with their family Alice, Nial and Johnny) have been at the church for the past two years and Kevin Peat, Regional Leader for Scotland, tells  me that it is currently at its strongest place numerically, in the church's long history.


My experience of Scotland is the generous heartedness and openness of its people and this is very much a characteristic of the membership of this Glasgow church


The pastoral leadership of the church has the added advantage of having Carl and Danielle Johnston on the team and they, together with the local Elders, provide an effective leadership focus for the Fellowship.


I met many friends I remember from my previous visits but I also encountered a crowd of people who have joined the church within just the last few months.


Saturday morning was spent with around thirty of the departmental leaders in the church and I concluded my time there by speaking at the Sunday morning service on the following day.

Regional Day

Over one hundred leaders and spouses gathered from the "Wales and southwest midlands" and "Southern Regions" at a residential two-day conference at the Webbington Hotel in Loxton, Somerset.

The event was hosted by Chris Cartwright the Regional Leader for the area.  Input on the first day had been given by Simon Foster (Bristol) and Mike Robins (Newquay) and it was obvious that by the time I arrived to do three sessions of the second day, that everyone there had already had an enriching and beneficial time.

Although Chris Cartwright is relatively new to the role, it was very evident that he and his wife Annie have been universally and enthusiastically welcomed by the churches represented and there was a great sense of excitement about the days ahead.  The message that I brought over the day was on a subject that is of very great importance to me and it was a joy to share it with men and women who are clearly open to receive everything that God has for them.  As I said on my Facebook page at the time, the potential and calibre of the leaders in these Elim regions is exceptional.

Newport, Isle of Wight

Tony and Sally Murphy (pictured here with their daughter Jodie and son James) are the kind of people who, through tenacity and commitment, create a culture in which church growthtakes place

Twelve years ago Tony, a teacher, took over a church that was around a third the size it is today and during that period worked as a bi-vocational pastor.  Now Tony and Sally have taken a 'step of faith' to go full-time at 'Church on the roundabout' one of the two Elim churches on the island.

The first impression you get when entering the church building is the sense of inclusivism - a wide spectrum of the community worshiping and relating together in a relaxed family atmosphere in which singles are as much 'at home' as anyone else.

Nor is this a church where young people exist on the margins.  The worship leader is fifteen and her band are almost all around the same age.  I really enjoyed my time at Newport and look forward to the next time I am with them.

LivingLife Church, Shirley

Livinglife church is a brand new church in Shirley near Solihull, West Midlands.

It was my pleasure to be the first visiting speaker since the church had been planted eight weeks earlier.

LivingLife is ably led by James and Lindsey Booth (pictured here with their daughters Holly and Abbie).  James is a visionary leader and his wife Lindsey an exceptional worship leader.

The service, held in a local school, was well attended with several Elim churches in the area represented.  I have every confidence that this new church will growth both in size and depth in the days that lie ahead..

Regents Theological College

One of the great advantages of the new location of the Elim International Centre being in Malvern is that Regents Theological College is on the same site.

It was great therefore to be the speaker at the first Students Devotions that incorporated the new 'first years' together the second and third year students and it is evident that this year's intake looks as good in quality as it does in size.

Church of Pentecost

No Denomination is closer to us than the Church of Pentecost - based in Ghana and with over 1.4 million members world wide.

The meeting that I attended in London was the ceremony which handed over leadership from Apostle Martin Seth Appiah the outgoing head of CoP (UK) and the inauguration of the new incumbent Apostle Newton Ofosyhene Nyarko.

The service that lasted for over four and a half hours incorporated many sincere tributes to Apostle Appiah for his work over the five years in which the Church has grown both numerically and spiritually.

The co-officiating minister with myself was Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi-Addo the International Missions Director who had travelled from Ghana for the proceedings.

The enthusiastic congregation prayed much for their new leader and his family as they took up their role in leading the Church of Pentecost in the UK.  On behalf of Elim I brought the good wishes of our people and expressed solidarity and support for all that CoP were doing in this country and led in prayer for God's blessing on them in the future.

Ashbourne

The opening of the new church building in the town of Asbourne was a big community event incorporating a Barbecue and Bouncy Castle at which many local people from the Waterside area attended.  As I cut the tape, I was accompanied by the local mayor and the MP for the area.  The opening service was attended by local Elim ministers and and those from churches of other Denominations in the town

The service was convened by the pastor of the church Ben Brown who, together with his leadership team,  had overseen the whole building process.  The former minister, now retired, Alec Prail spoke of the time when he had the vision for a new place and paid tribute to Ben Brown for seeing the vision through.  Before I brought the message, Regional Leader Gordon Neale spoke of the huge part the Asbourne membership had played to bring the concept to fruition.  Everyone was thankful to God that, in recessionary times, such a facility could be built.

Vazon - Centenary celebrations

There are three Elim churches on the small island of Guernsey the oldest one of which is Vazon - currently pastored by Steve Mudge (pictured here with his wife Angela).

The first Pentecostal Church was commenced in 1911 by Welshman, Robert Davies - in a packing shed.  In 1920 the church applied to be part of Elim and in 1926 George Jeffreys held a Crusade there attended by 900 people

The centenary celebrations began with a meal at a local four-star hotel at which around 200 people attended. On the Sunday both  services were packed to capacity.  It was 'standing room only' in the evening when other churches joined Vazon for these special meetings.

Several former ministers of the Vazon church travelled to the Island for the celebrations.  

Today Vazon is a great church with a fine leadership and whose services have a good blend of traditional and contemporary music.  All three Elim churches work together as a coherent team on a island that measures only nine miles between its furthest points.

Hayes - Elim Church

It was good to be with the friends at the Elim Church in Hayes.  For the past six years it has been pastored by Ra Smith pictured here with his wife Helen and church Elder Steve Blake and his wife Jane

Ray had been ministering recently on the work of the Holy Spirit and asked if, at the end of my message on the Sunday morning, I would especially pray for those who wished to receive their baptism.  It is always awesome to witness people baptised in the Holy Spirit and come  through into an experience with God for which they had been praying for so long.

WellSpring - Peterbough

Forty years ago the late Alexander Tee planted the first Elim church in Peterbrough.  Today there are three of our churches in the town.

My visit was planned to coincided with the weekend celebrations at at which a number of former ministers were present including John Cave who was the first pastor  and Gordon Neale who is now the Regional leader for the area.

Wellspring is a great church and currently pastored by David Ashton pictured here with his wife Susannah and daughter Rebekah.

River Camp

I



Rivercamp, held near Evesham and in its tenth year, attracted over two thousand people for the six day event. Its growth and success is is due to the excellent leadership of David Campbell and his team.

One of the highlights for me, apart from listening to my fellow speakers, was the final day when the children and youth workers reported on the spiritual impact that had been made across all age spectrums. Rivercamp is, without doubt, one of Elim's most significant summer camps.

Ignite Camp

The Ignite camp was held in the beautiful Welsh countryside at Cefn Lea near Newtown.

It is held under the auspices of Elim's Northwest Region led by Regional leader Kevin Peat, pictured here with his wife Margaret. Tribute was paid to Steve Yates, pastor of Elim Bootle, for the work that he had done to see that this holiday conference ran smoothly.

Other speakers included Simon Foster, Paul Hallam and Kevin Peat.

I never fail to enjoy being with a group of people who are open to all that God has for them and who are authentic and transparent in the way that they express their Christian lives.

Funeral of Matthew Weaver

Matt Weaver was only 29 years of age when he was taken home to be with the Lord. Over 500 people packed the church service that celebrated his life and 1300 messages of condolence were received.

Matt leaves behind his wife Sarah and two small boys. He is the son of Phil and Helen Weaver, and brother to Nathan who are the leaders of Newsprings church - one of two Elim congregations in Loughborough.

Most funeral services are moving but this one was exceptional in the degree that it expressed joy and celebration on a man who was massively committed to God, his family and the local church. One of those who gave tribute commented on the fact that the way the family responded to events around the passing of Matt following a routine operation - was a powerful expression of the existence of God in the lives of those family and friends who loved him.

Rev. Archie Biddle

It was a delight to spend a few hours recently with Archie Biddle who is now well into his 90's and has been a Elim minister for over fifty years. Though now in a residential care home, in his earlier years he pastored some of our key churches and served as Elim's President in the days when that annual office was in place. He was also a member of the National Leadership Team - then known as the Executive Council.

He was a great pastor and an excellent preacher - speaking on two occasions at Elim's Easter celebrations in London's Royal Albert Hall.

It was very evident that he is held in the highest regard in his Torquay home. The staff refer to him as the 'father of the house'.

I try whenever I am able to visit those who have served our Movement for so many years - not just for their sake but for my own - to remind myself that, were it not for their input and sacrifice, Elim would not be what it is today.

Infuse

Infuse is one of several family camps that Elim hold around the country during the summer. Most people who attend Infuse come from churches around the Midlands and the South West. This year the venue was the Three Counties Showground in Malvern - a fabulous venue and just a few miles away from our International Offices.

For the first time in the history of Infuse the number of young people attending exceeded the number of adults. In a camp of this nature a huge amount of work in done by volunteers - those very special people in our Movement who give freely of their vacation to work in the kitchens and arrange stewarding etc.

Other speakers at the adult venue included Stuart Blount, Colin Dye, Simon Foster, Jason Heron Gordon Neale, Mark Pugh and Mark Ryan.

Merthyr Tydfil

The church building in Merthyr was built one hundred years ago and the centenary celebrations were held to commemorate that fact. Over the four nights of special services the speakers included Chris Cartwright, Geoff Feasey, Denis Phillips and myself.

The church was packed on the evening that I was there and visitors came from as far as St.Mellons, Swindon, Mountain Ash and Dowlais.

During the meeting pastor Jason Tugwell, pictured with his wife Lynn, paid tribute to all the ministers who had led the church from its earliest days. It was very evident that Jason and Lynn are as committed to their congregation as their people are to them.

MiT Conference

The Elim 'Ministers in Training Conference" is among my favourite three days of the calendar and the time when around a hundred of our leaders who are working towards ordination come to Malvern to hear speakers who we believe will sharpen and hone their leadership and ministry gift.

This year the speakers were Carol Alexander, Simon Foster, James Galloway, Maldwyn Jones, Mark Stibbe, Nigel Tween, Sarah Wittleston and myself.

There can be no better venue than the Elim International Centre situated on 32 acres of the Malvern Hills and the the content of input was equal to the mid-summer surroundings

I do not need a prophecy to tell me about the bright future of our Movement - the quality of the young, and sometimes not-so-young, leaders that are emerging says it all.

Weston-super-mare

Just great to be in Weston-super-mare with our good friends Claude and Sue Ellerington - seems amazing that it is 43 years since we first met when we were in Bible College.

Weston in a great church and, apart from Claude, is also ably led by Richard and Regi Ellerington. Richard is associate pastor as well as being on the Movement's Serious4God core team.

This vibrant family church is planting out into the wider area around Weston.

Breathe City Church

Breathe City Church is an exciting and innovative congregation in Stoke on Trent pastored by James Galloway who has seen the congregation expand from 60 people to 600 people within just four years.

The purpose of my visit was to speak with the sixty leaders who form the basis of this remarkable church. As with every dramatic rise in growth, culture change has to take place and Breathe has transitioned to a church that has attracted a wide age range but which has a high percentage of people in their twenties and thirties. There is a dynamic and infectious enthusiasm that is married to a strong commitment to vision and values. I very much enjoyed my time at BCC and the opportunity to engage with the phenomenal calibre of their new and emerging leadership.

Street pastors

One of the things I enjoy so much about the my role as General Superintendent is the opportunity to forge new relationships and make new friends in the wider Church.

When Les Isaacs, CEO of Ascension Trust and Street Pastors, came to spend time in our International Offices in Malvern it was a opportunity to hear more about one of the most exciting developments taking place in the UK

Street pastors is an interdenominational church response to the problem of urban society which has trained over 7000 volunteers since its commencement in 2003.

Look out for a major feature in a future edition of Direction

Normandy, France

My recent weekend in France was spent with leaders from Normandy throughout the Saturday at the church venue pictured. Sunday morning was spent at the Elim church in Yvetot pastored by Gilles Lesieur (pictured with his wife, Mirelle) who arranged my itinerary.

Sunday afternoon was spent at a combined meeting of two local Pentecostal churches.

In my experience whenever Pentecostal leaders meet, in whatever part of the world that may be, there is an immediate affinity. I very much enjoyed being with my colleagues in France and renewing fellowship with the President of Elim France and his wife - David and Christine Thabot.