Gather Festival North
15 Feb 2017
Gather Festival will be holding two days of worship and prayer in rural Northumberland from 4th - 5th August. The festival is the vision of two guys in their 20's who are part of a church in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Jonny Anderson and Jonny Tuck. The Lord has placed a holy dissatisfaction in their hearts where they've been longing to experience more of God's presence in their lives and experience a personal awakening. A key scripture for them has been Ephesians 5:14, 'Awake O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
From a place of personal conviction, they've given themselves to seek the Lord and felt a real burden to see the church awakened across the UK.
They've began hosting worship and prayer meetings once a month in Newcastle City Centre, drawing people from various churches. The festival is an outworking of these meetings; a place where people can consecrate time to come and encounter the Lord. The purpose of this festival is not to attract attendees with big name speakers/artists (not that we have anything against 'big names') - rather it's simply a gathering for people who are hungry to worship Jesus, meet Him in a place of consecrated prayer and be inspired and equipped by meeting others who are doing the same. As a result of the event, they hope to see people in the local church resourced to live lifestyles of worship and prayer on a daily basis.
The event will consist of elongated times of worship, interspersed with times of intercession and teaching. There'll be onsite refreshments, a children's work and a networking tent (for strangers to become friends and share dreams/visions of what the Lord has been saying in their context.) They'd love new kingdom relationships and ventures to spring forth from this event. You can also camp on site and enjoy worship that will be going on through the night.
They're keen to speak to anyone who feels able to offer their gifts to help make this event as fruitful as possible.
Jonny Anderson can be contacted on 07877116675 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For further details about their story/aims/location etc, please visit www.gatherfestival.co.uk
Tickets can be purchased from Eventbrite.
Catching the Bus
15 Feb 2017
Trypraying season: April and May
PRISONS.
Just today I saw the first draft of a new additon to the trypraying suite of materials - a booklet for use in prisons. It is excellent and will soon be available.
HOMES.
We are developing a leaflet that can be used in every home distribution which will encourage people to request a trypraying booklet to be sent to them. It will be a great help for churches wanting to contact every home in their area.
BUSES.
We have been working with a leading advertising agency to develop an advertising campaign. The skills and time of an advertisng executive have been donated to us. This is huge gift. However trypraying is not about advertising. It's about us sharing the message of Jesus with people. Nevertheless bus advertising creates awareness, speaks to people in the public space and generates personal interest.
CHURCHES.
Currently there are five places where churches are working together in multi-church trypraying projects in their town/city. Other places are considering this (you?) If you want that for your town or city do contact us to start the ball rolling. Most churches and groups of churches will use the April/May period for activities.
MONEY.
We need some generous donations in the next 2 - 3 weeks. We have obtained an amazing deal for bus adverts: T-shaped side panels at approximately £150 per week / £550 a month. If you wish to donate click the link here: Bus ads. (Alternatively cheques can be sent to trypraying, 3 Orchardhead Loan, Edinburgh, EH16 6HW.)
FORTY.
For a useful 40-day prayer guide order copies of Catching the Wave.
FINALLY.
This comment came about the trypraying app: "Five stars. Great little app. Used it for seven days. It helped me work out a problem in my life (no job). Prayer works!"
Nice.
Source: Trypraying
Thy Kingdom Come resources available
15 Feb 2017
From 25th May - 4th June, Christian communities and families around the world will be joining together to pray that their friends, family and neighbours come to know Jesus Christ.
Click here to take a look at the brand new range of resources for Thy Kingdom Come 2017, available to download. These include ideas to help you pray as an individual, with your family and as a church.
Father's Love Letter
15 Feb 2017
A vision to see every household in the UK receive a copy of the Father's Love Letter
The Father’s Love Letter is a collection of verses from Genesis to Revelation in the form of a letter, expressing the love of God as our Heavenly Father. At the very end of this newsletter we have transcribed a copy of this, for those of you who are unfamiliar with it.
Wendy Thomas, believes passionately in the power of this simple tract to transform lives. In 2005 in Southend-on-Sea, churches together delivered 75,000 to every home in the area, praying for every home as they delivered them. They were given an opportunity to respond and to become Christian. 300 people chose to become Christian!
Wendy believes God has spoken to her about trying to get this Father’s Love Letter delivered to every home in the UK , with churches and organisations working together.
In support of this vision, Neighbourhood Prayer Network has published 100,000 copies of this letter at a cost of 2p each plus postage (This is basically just the printing costs). To order 'The Fathers Love Letter' Click Here.
Would you consider giving these out to streets near you? Also please visit the facebook page for more information.
Source: Neighbourhood Prayer Network
Beyond the Letterbox
15 Feb 2017
Neighbourhood Prayer Network have produced a 40 page ‘Lent Guide’ which has reflections, 40 days of prayers, outreach suggestions and case studies is available in print and digital download formats. It's only £1 per copy. Click here to order. Church Packs of 15 are carriage free.
The Printed Version, a 40 Page, Full Colour Guide.
This Guide is divided into three sections. You can choose to use all of this resource or some of it, tailoring it to the needs of your local church or community.
1. Seven weekly readings and Reflections for the duration of Lent, which we suggest are done with at least one other person or a home group. We also provide questions and a ‘Neighbour challenge’ each week.’
2. A Forty day prayer guide, loosely related to the themes in part one.
3. For those of you who are want to do more than the 7 weekly, ‘Neighbour Challenges,’ we have added another 33 challenges for you to do, making up 40 daily challenges in total.
Romania: answered prayers
10 Feb 2017
Last week we prayed for a peaceful and satisfactory outcome when 200,000 people took to the streets over a government decree to free dozens of officials jailed for corruption. This week Romania's government scrapped the controversial decree. Now many politicians will no longer be shielded from prosecution for corruption. The decision came at an emergency meeting on the issue, following days of further street protests. One of those behind the move said it was to restore calm in Romania, but also strongly criticised the judiciary. Protesters have vowed to keep the pressure on the cabinet, with some demanding that the entire government should quit. One of them, Daniel, said, ‘I hope that this is a real repeal. We are going to keep an eye on them to make sure we are not being had’. The protests have been the country's largest since the fall of communism in 1989.
Pakistan: Christian freed on bail
10 Feb 2017
Last week, after more than three years in jail, a Christian facing the death penalty on charges of blasphemy was granted bail by the Supreme Court in Lahore. Adnan Prince had been imprisoned in Lahore’s district jail since November 2013 after he was accused by a work colleague of insulting Islam, the Qur’an and Islam’s prophet. The three-man bench ordered the release of Prince, with bail set at Rs 300,000 (around £2,300). According to Mr Prince’s lead counsel, the case against her client should have been decided within two years. This did not take place due to lawyers’ strikes and delaying tactics by the prosecution, she said. She also explained that legal formalities were not fulfilled; guidelines passed by the Supreme Court say that a police officer of at least the rank of superintendent should have conducted the investigation. She added that there were no direct eyewitnesses and that all forensic evidence failed to link the accused. Although earlier bail applications had been dismissed by both a district judge and the Lahore High Court, the Supreme Court granted Prince bail and ordered his release. Similar cases have been known to take as long as seven years to reach trial.
Friday Focus - reconciliation in families
10 Feb 2017
‘Parents, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.’ (Eph. 6:4) Earlier in this letter, Paul urges husbands and wives to love and respect each other, laying down their lives for each other. When this is our aim, we go a long way to providing the role model that our children need to be witnesses to the love of Christ, encouraging them rather than ‘exasperating’ them, and building the kingdom of God as a family.
(written by Father Simon Penhalagan, Sion Catholic Community for Evangelism)