Thursday 27 May 2010

What's Happening on Friday Nights

The Town Centre team visits each Friday night, starting at 10pm and finishing around midnight. The conversations we have at that time are "awesome". Drinkers and others find it hard to understand why we'd be interested in them or their safety'.


Where?

"Outside the station in Woking town centre

When?
Friday nights 10pm -12 midnight.

What?
Outside Light is hitting the streets with the Gospel of our Precious Lord Jesus Christ.

Who?
Mid March of 2010 a new team was formed.
 
What an encouragement it has been to join together with like-minded people spreading the good news of Jesus late at night.


Why?
We are taking the gospel to where the people are - and on a Friday night they are in Woking around the bars and the clubs.


How?
UNITY, BOLDNESS, GOD'S POWER is the key.

It's simple, all you need is a table, sweets, bottles of water, tea in a flask, gospel booklets and a team with a willingness to listen, talk and pray. AND GOD with us. Immanuel.

Results
So far in two weeks we have talked and been friendly to loads of people, given out lots of tea and sweets, shared our faith, prayed with people, returned a potted tree to its owner and listened to a rendition of the best guitarists in the sixties and seventies performed by Dave on air guitar after he took a break from his night out to educate us in the art of guitar playing. We've also met up (as a direct result) with some who are homeless, showing them they're treasured and as much loved by our precious Jesus as we are.

It's a buzz to be out there, most of the time friendly and extremely fulfilling. This is where the church of Jesus should be, on the streets, outside the building, getting involved.

This is where true fellowship and growth happen.

We are going forward together.  WATCH THIS SPACE.

Want to see action? Want to see Jesus at work - really at work - not just words from the Bible but the Bible coming to life? Come along and be a part of it. Email me at philhazelden@hotmail.co.uk - we'd love to welcome you along.

Phil

Outside Light Meets With Some Who Are Homeless

On Tuesday three of us ventured out into Woking to find two homeless guys.

Myself, Malcolm and new Outside Light team member my wife Judi, it's great to see her wearing an Outside Light Jacket.


The initial contact came via the Friday night town centre outreach where we met G, a homeless guy since 2003.


The contact has been a strong one with G bringing along friends on a Friday to meet the team and have hot drinks etc.


We have talked with these guys, prayed with them, accepted them, they've accepted us and a good bond is beginning to develop.


There are many needs here, some of them food, athletes foot powder, waterproof bags, hot drinks all of which we need to provide with genuine care.


Friday is not enough, how can we not do more when we know the need these guys have and they are literally 10 mins walk away?


So this week for the first time an Outside Light team (and first time for me) ventured into Woking bearing gifts of food and treats pre-arranged with one of G's friends.


We met up and sat on a bench talking for an hour, read a bit from the bible at their request and shared out the food and stuff.


We came away with a small list of other essentials to bring next time and a sense that caring for others is rewarding in so many ways.


This has been a most exciting evening and we hope that it's a small beginning to something much larger.


God Bless.