Letterbreen 11-13th March 2016
The leaders of Letterbreen Methodist Church invited a Lay Witness team to conduct a weekend mission in March 2016.
Nigel Woods and Helen Sweeney led the team. The other Team Members were:
Gillian Johnston,
Darrin Thompson,
Sam Gribben,
Andrew Topley
Ann Watson
Nigel Woods and Helen Sweeney led the team. The other Team Members were:
Gillian Johnston,
Darrin Thompson,
Sam Gribben,
Andrew Topley
Ann Watson
Weekend Reports and Photos
Kenny Humphreys from Letetrbreen writes.....
The time had nearly come. Something which had been talked about at our Church Council almost twelve months ago was about to happen. A team of seven Lay Witness members were coming among us for a whole weekend. This was something new for many of the Letterbreen congregation. What was going to take place at the various planned events? What would the Team members be like? Would everyone attend all of the events? These were some of the concerns people had prior to the Team arriving. The Friday and Saturday had meetings catering for both Men and Ladies and each had an evening of praise and testimony. On Sunday morning the Church was almost full and the theme was about faith and what God can do even with faith as small as a mustard seed. Again some of the team shared their testimony, It was an emotional service which was surrounded by the Holy Spirit. Many people recommitted their lives to Jesus and some took the first step in faith. God had answered the prayers of many who had been faithfully praying for this weekend in the months leading up to it. After the team had departed we had a time of praise and celebration on Sunday evening. Many people shared their thoughts about the weekend. Some said that they could sense the presence of the Holy Spirit during the times of praise and testimony. Others said that by talking and listening to the team they just left you wanting more of what they had . Others have suggested starting Faith house groups and there are plans for a praise band. The theme of our weekend was Fan the Flame and no one is in any doubt that God fanned his flame in Letterbreen that weekend through the witness of the team and we just pray that his work will continue to grow. |
Michael Crooks gives a personal reflection.
THE TEAM SELECTED BY GOD It is of no coincidence this team were brought together for Letterbreen. THE TEAM OF INDIVIDUALS The most striking point of the team was that although they had very different stories, skills and experiences, they ALL clearly knew, experienced and loved the Saviour. None of the team took themselves too seriously however they did take their purpose and mission with earnest intent. The skill sets of each individual were again very different. From Nigel’s musical to Andrew's life and power point skills complemented, blended together. On reflection this did give a stronger message as more than one or two believed in the purpose as we heard in this morning's children's story of the ties. THE TEAM OF A MEASURED MESSAGE The skills of each person allowed us to fan the flame and not pour petrol on the flame. There were many opportunities through discussions with each member of the team for quiet guidance. In many of these weekends that I have attended before the forceful nature of the conversations / emotions has poured petrol onto the embers of my faith. As you will understand when petrol is poured onto a flame it burns really brightly BUT only for a short while. Soon the substance is burned away and gone. However, for me, this weekend gently fanned the embers through thought provoking chats both during the coffee morning, the 'get-togethers' and services. At no time was the pressured 'call' forced, which in so many cases has turn me off and away. The different media of the 'gatherings' such as the 'breakfast' evening praise etc proved very effective. However the most important meeting / gathering was actually when the team had left and we reflected on the guidance that they had shown. These joint yet quiet reflections help to embed the change in me/us |
THE TEAM OF EFFECTIVE ministers ... WITHOUT THE CAPITAL M.
The experience of 'Andrew' was also a very effective medium. A young man with a very different past but a person who doesn't dwell in the past but lives in the now ... And preparing for the future. He made himself at home like a true friend yet was prepared to challenge my own opinions and views.....which as some will know all too well could cause friction ... However the proof is that today I took my first communion.
The experience of 'Andrew' was also a very effective medium. A young man with a very different past but a person who doesn't dwell in the past but lives in the now ... And preparing for the future. He made himself at home like a true friend yet was prepared to challenge my own opinions and views.....which as some will know all too well could cause friction ... However the proof is that today I took my first communion.
Darrin Thompson (Team Member) writes...
This was a weekend that will not be forgotten in a hurry! From the 11th to 13th March a group of 7 people led a lay witness team to Letterbreen Methodist Church with the theme for the weekend being ‘fan the flame of your faith.’ This was my first experience of being on a lay witness team (and as a third year student at Edgehill probably my last chance) and it did not disappoint. After gathering together as a team on Friday evening at 5pm to pray and give the weekend over to God we began by sharing a meal with the folks in Letterbreen and then moved into the church we shared in worship together. Gillian and I shared our stories that evening. The amazing thing at this starting point of the weekend was the questionnaire results which showed a massive number of people who were looking for more of God!
Saturday morning was an early start for the team where we gathered together to chat through what the day would look like. The men were treated to a wonderful fry during the men’s breakfast and Andrew shared his story where you could’ve heard a pin drop while he spoke. The team then broke off into two’s and headed off to various houses in the area for coffee mornings where a meditation was shared and people were invited to respond if they felt comfortable doing so. This was a powerful time together, where you could see that God was at work in people’s hearts.
After a relaxed afternoon off we were back on Saturday evening for a meal in the church hall with the twenties to forties and the team had the wonderful opportunity to share in food and fellowship. Once more we moved into the church for worship, where in this time Sam and Helen shared their stories.
As we gathered together as a team on Sunday morning to have a praise and prayer time there was a strong sense that God was going to do something great this morning. We gathered with the congregation of Letterbreen for morning worship where Ann shared her story; as did Nigel who also shared God’s word. The congregation were invited to respond by coming up to the front and picking up a small bag of mustard seeds as a way of saying they wanted more of God. Streams of people came forward to do so and many also knelt before God at the communion rail for prayer; it was one of those moments that as you stood back and observed it you think to yourself ‘how amazing is our God!’
This was an incredibly special weekend and as a team we were so thankful to see how God was moving in the hearts of the people of Letterbreen. They asked for more of God, and they certainly got what they asked for.
We are so thankful to the people of Letterbreen Methodist Church, for their warm welcome, hospitality and willingness to allow God to work throughout the weekend.
Also on behalf of the rest of the team we owe a massive thankful you to Nigel and Helen for leading us so incredibly over the weekend.
This was a weekend that will not be forgotten in a hurry! From the 11th to 13th March a group of 7 people led a lay witness team to Letterbreen Methodist Church with the theme for the weekend being ‘fan the flame of your faith.’ This was my first experience of being on a lay witness team (and as a third year student at Edgehill probably my last chance) and it did not disappoint. After gathering together as a team on Friday evening at 5pm to pray and give the weekend over to God we began by sharing a meal with the folks in Letterbreen and then moved into the church we shared in worship together. Gillian and I shared our stories that evening. The amazing thing at this starting point of the weekend was the questionnaire results which showed a massive number of people who were looking for more of God!
Saturday morning was an early start for the team where we gathered together to chat through what the day would look like. The men were treated to a wonderful fry during the men’s breakfast and Andrew shared his story where you could’ve heard a pin drop while he spoke. The team then broke off into two’s and headed off to various houses in the area for coffee mornings where a meditation was shared and people were invited to respond if they felt comfortable doing so. This was a powerful time together, where you could see that God was at work in people’s hearts.
After a relaxed afternoon off we were back on Saturday evening for a meal in the church hall with the twenties to forties and the team had the wonderful opportunity to share in food and fellowship. Once more we moved into the church for worship, where in this time Sam and Helen shared their stories.
As we gathered together as a team on Sunday morning to have a praise and prayer time there was a strong sense that God was going to do something great this morning. We gathered with the congregation of Letterbreen for morning worship where Ann shared her story; as did Nigel who also shared God’s word. The congregation were invited to respond by coming up to the front and picking up a small bag of mustard seeds as a way of saying they wanted more of God. Streams of people came forward to do so and many also knelt before God at the communion rail for prayer; it was one of those moments that as you stood back and observed it you think to yourself ‘how amazing is our God!’
This was an incredibly special weekend and as a team we were so thankful to see how God was moving in the hearts of the people of Letterbreen. They asked for more of God, and they certainly got what they asked for.
We are so thankful to the people of Letterbreen Methodist Church, for their warm welcome, hospitality and willingness to allow God to work throughout the weekend.
Also on behalf of the rest of the team we owe a massive thankful you to Nigel and Helen for leading us so incredibly over the weekend.