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This attached picture on this blog introduces some new friends I made this summer. They are all handicapped and have been placed into a remote outcast village in India. One has a leg missing, another has stumps for fingers after suffering from leprosy, one has a withered arm and the other 2 are blind. It was both humbling and a privilege to have visited then in their homes which are little more than rundown sheds for us in first world countries.

The team I travelled with took medical aid and practical hands on nursing to these poorest of people. The whole village of 72 dwellings were offered spiritual help through prayer and a gospel message of hope in Jesus, and physical help through a food that we supplied as well as blankets for warmth as the colder weather approaches. Sounds like the gospel to me!

They sang a song during a time of worship which when translated for me had the lyric “without Jesus we are poor”. Makes you think doesn’t it. Please pray for them and the great work that the Church of Pentecost is doing in India.

Impact England took place from 18th-26th June with a team of 8 coming from Texas on mission to St. Peter’s, Broadstairs. The team was led by Carl and Carly Osborn who did a great job in organising, directing and encouraging not just the missions team but also those who were involved from our local churches.

Kay was a steady rock and prayer warrior who led some worship and participated in School assemblies.
Scott helped mentor another on the team and served with great effort and humility.
Liza stepped out of her comfort zone continually a grew much in the process.
Brandon came out of his shell and blessed many with his humour and violin playing.
Heather sacrificed by being away from her young family and served with great joy and enthusiasm.
Leanna served diligently and blessed us with her humorous personality.
The team was also joined by Missions Pastor Steve Samamiego who spoke at an inter-church service and also did a radio interview.

Locally Elim Oasis Church worked with 4 other local churches – St. Peter’s Anglican, the Baptist Church, Beaconsfield Fellowship Church and Karios Church Thanet – to host, feed and work alongside the team from Texas. This was a first in local church history! Also this is the first time since potentially AD 600 when St. Augustine came on a mission to England and became the first Archbishop of Canterbury; that a mission team had come to spread the good news of Jesus home by home to the village of St. Peter’s.

Local schools were impacted with the gospel through school assemblies. Around 700 bags of blessings were given away. Much worship and prayer took place. We gave away around 200 meals to the community at our In/Out BBQ and we also hosted a play with actors from Searchlight Theatre Company and Regents Theological College. Many fruitful conversations were had in the community and bridges were built.

All glory to Jesus as he begins to ignite the churches to work together to continue what has been started!

It has been both humbling and a real blessing to see the efforts and servant heartedness of the people of Elim Oasis Church in putting on a great community celebration of the Queen’s 90th Birthday. We saw around 150 people visit us that day and many bridges were built with people in the local area. It was a great team effort and enjoyed by everyone who came.

Last week it was our pleasure to host a YWAM team of 5 at Elim Oasis Church. Having links within YWAM in other nations I new that they would be servant hearted and dedicated lovers of Jesus and passionate about sharing him with others. This team made up of Lucy, Jonathan and Rachel, Kalenn and Leila certainly did not disappoint. In fact they were an outstanding team who we got to know and love very quickly. They helped in so many areas around church both practically and spiritually. They ran some of our services and were an example in reaching out in simple and gentle ways. We look forward to seeing more from YWAM in the future.

On May 15th Pentecost Sunday we helped to make local church history in the village of St. Peter’s. Three churches, Elim Oasis Church, The Baptist Church and Beaconsfield Christian Fellowship all closed their doors for the main Sunday morning service, so that these churches could meet together as one in unity at the Parish Anglican Church. All four churches were involved in the service and unity was felt amongst us – it is certainly good when brother’s and sister’s live together in unity!
June see’s us continue making local church history in St. Peter’s. It may well be as far back as St. Augustine himself around 600 AD that a mission team last came to the village of St. Peter’s. Impact England mission week (June 18th-26th) brings together a team from Texas in the USA to work alongside the same four local churches — how very exciting! We have been preparing our hearts through prayer and by abiding in God, and this lifestyle is essential as we begin rolling our sleeves up for this missions week.

We have an exciting month of May and I want to encourage you all to partake in as much as you are able. With a mission minded June ahead it is so very important that we prepare ourselves now. That means abiding in God (John 15:1-8) which is the first and greatest commandment (Matt 22:37-38) and also preparing ourselves spiritually; being sober and alert as Peter puts it (1 Peter 1:13; 4:7; 5:8). Let’s spend the month of May focusing on abiding in him. As we spend time with our heavenly Father, with Jesus our Lord and with the Holy Spirit this wonderful Godhead does remarkable things within us – this is how he equips and transforms us. Let’s make ourselves ready!

Live Music Gig @ CCCU Dwell 🙂 Grab your Free ticket from Reception. First 50 people get a free drink.
Acoustic style of music, Sara and Tim will sing own material as well as chart music and some contemporary Christian music. Hope you can make it