The Bless Network

go2bless Croatia 09

Hi everyone!

 

Summer is rapidly approaching, and we are gearing up for our go2bless missions! 

This last week we have had to make some changes to the dates and the contents of the programmes. There will now be one team going to Croatia, rather than two, but both the trip to Croatia and the trip to France will be bit longer than initially planned. There are still places left on both teams, so send in your forms! However, don't wait too long, it's just a few months away!!

 

The new dates and programmes are as follows:

Croatia: July 5th-29th

Including several days at Bethanie for training, (this is a retreat centre in Northern France). During the mission you will have the opportunity to be involved in a Basketball camp, Kid's Club and Youth Space. Also we would love to host some concerts on the riverfront, so do let us know if you have any musical talents! Throughout the mission there is also time devoted to bible study and prayer & worship on a daily basis, and we will prayer walk the areas where we work in the city.

France: July 11th-26th

This mission too, starts with training at Bethanie. There after you would help run and take part in a 24/2 prayer room, do outreach in Lisieux and then for the last 4 days, help at Jour-J, a conference run by the local church. At the conference you'll be involved in childrens work, or possibly any of the many other practical things that need doing during such an event. Just as the team going to Croatia, you and your team will have some time doing bible study on a regular basis.

 

Hoping to hear from you soon! Forms can be found on the right hand column of this blog and should be sent to our office in Birmingham. If you have any questions e-mail Naja at naja@bless.org.uk.

 

PRAYERhouse 2009

 

This year we used the metaphor of ‘setting sail’ as a theme for PRAYERhouse. We wanted to invite people to ‘set sail’ into the unknown with God; learning by doing on their journey.

 

To echo this emphasis on journey we put together a range of themed rituals which were participatory and progressive in nature – they built up, changed and transformed throughout the weeks as different people engaged and invested.

 

Each ritual had three approaches; DO, READ, THINK

 

Wave Wall:

 

Do: Grab a paint brush and some pens and add your wave to the wave wall. Write scripture, reflections, promises and prayers in the flow of the waves.

 

Read: An ode to a surfer’s soul arch.

Follow link: An ode to a surfer's Soul Arch

 

Think: Look closely at the wave wall in front of you. Look at the colours and contrasts and textures and surfaces and juxtapositions. Notice how the paint has run and dripped and been worked and reworked. Make out the marks and characters and symbols and words. Reflect on its journey.

 

Reflect on your journey. How have you got to where you are now? How has the picture of your life been painted? Where is God in the picture?

 

Driftwood:

 

Do: Take some sandpaper and work away at the driftwood until you’ve created a smooth surface. Now take some oil and rub it into the grain of the wood.

 

Read: Jesus the carpenter story from Intimate with the Ultimate Gerard Kelly

Download Jesus the carpenter Story-1

 

Think: Are there rough, unworked areas of your life you need to bring before God the carpenter? Allow God to remove the splinters and rub healing oil into your life.

 

What is God teaching you at the moment? Close your eyes and allow God to take your hands and begin to show you something new.   

 

Dinghy:

 

Do: Sit it the dinghy and put on the headphones and press play. Listen to the waves crashing around you and imagine you’re at sea.

 

Read: Excerpt from John Ortberg’s ‘If you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out the boat’. Ortberg on Amazon

 

Think: All human beings give their lives to something. Between this day and your last you will give your life to something. The only question is; what will you give your life to? Will it be worthy?

 

Is it time to use your God-given talents in response to God?

 

As you get out of the dinghy think of Peter stepping out of the boat and walking towards Jesus on the water. Think about where and when you might step out in faith?

 

Pool:

 

Do: Create an origami boat by following the instructions. Set your boat afloat on the water and gently blow on your boat so that it sails.  

 

Read: Set Sail Prayers – Inspired by Safespace community in

Telford

. See www.safespace.me.uk for more details or Download Set Sail Prayers-3

 

Think: If you were a ship would you be stuck in port or sailing on the high seas? What are the deep God-given desires of your heart? Are you aware of Gods calling on your life? Where are the ‘unknowns’ God is calling you to set sail into with him? 

 

Deckchairs:   

 

Do: Sit in a deckchair. Get comfy. Lose yourself in the images on the screen. 

 

Read: Charlie Brown visits Lucy the psychiatrist Download Charlie Brown visits Lucy the psychiatrist-1

 

Think: Imagine being at the back of the ship; where have you been? God says; I am who I am – I am your God. I have seen all your history and I have heard all your prayers. Now I am coming to transform you. Remember who you are by remembering whose you are! [Exodus 3]

 

Imagine being at the front of the ship; where are you headed? God says; I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. [Jeremiah 29]  

 

Imagine not being able to unfold your deckchair; what is stopping you? God says; Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. [Matthew 11]

 

Coracle:

 

Do: Take some ribbon or wool and add your own layer of weaving

 

Read: Story of St Brendan – Extract from Navigatio Pocket Liturgies Follow Link: Navigatio PL on PROOST

 

Think: Weaving is hard work on your own, but adding to something is all about threading your own creativity through something that’s already there, making a richer more diverse pattern and getting involved first hand, interacting.

 

When you row a boat on your own it’s hard going to get moving even slowly!

When you row in a team the boat takes off with speed and eventually rises out of the water and when you’re totally in time you glide out of the water skimming the surface with almost effortless ease!

 

Think about how God made us for one another, to interact with others, to enjoy each other’s company and to make each other’s lives glide like an eight man canoe…

 

Can God use others to reach you?

Does God use you to reach others? 

Do you let God speak into your life like this??

 

Acts 2:45-47 Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

 

 

 

mission dates

Don't miss the go2bless summer missions this year.....

Croatia 1: June 28^th - July 17^th

Croatia 2: July 12^th  - August 1st

France: July 15^th    - July 26^th

find the application forms on the right hand side of this blog. go2bless others and find out how much it blesses you!

Bless new year retreat.

We spent new year with more than 40 of our community, enjoying each others company, partying, and renewing our hearts and minds as we looked at the past, present and future of all that God has and is doing within Bless.

We met in Brussels and enjoyed good food and wine, it was so wonderful to just have some time to relax together but also share our faith together. Always so great to be able to spend time at the very begining of the new year to think about the whole person, physical, spiritual and emotional health and to encourage and pray for each other in these areas.! Enjoy the pics!

Year2Bless Perpignan

ARe you considering a year out to improve your language and serve in a mission situation? Here is an update from Ceri and Sophie (both university under graduates studying languages) two of our year2blessers, who took a faith decision to come to France. If you are looking for an opportunity to get on the mission scene year2bless could be right up your street!

Dave and Amy

[Sophie says]

I (heart) Perp...

Two and a bit months in to my 9 month Year2Bless adventure and I'm feeling great. God has been so good. My 'Franglais' is pretty much perfect and I now can't even begin to imagine having just a sandwich for lunch.

Highlights I have included:

-Being involved in the 'Camp des Jeunes' at CCR, seeing over 50 young French people and 20 young English people worshipping the Lord , learning more about the Lord and generally having lots of fun together.

-Helping to organise and lead a bible study group for the students of  Perpignan University. We are currently meeting in a Quick (the French version of McDonalds) as we have not managed to find a room on the campus but we are trusting in the Lord that he will provide.

-Becoming a part of River Church (the International English speaking church run by Dave and Amy). It's really exciting to see how this small community is growing in Christ.

Please continue to pray:

- For the student Bible Group. Please ask God to provide a room at the university so we can start meeting and praying on campus.

- Sunday 21st December, the Childrens Christmas service at CCR, I will be presenting a Christingle in FRENCH in front of the church congregation. Ask the Lord to give me courage, wisdom and the gift of language. Please also pray for all those who will be there who are not regular Church attendees. Please pray that the gospel clearly proclaimed and that God will speak to them individually.

Merci

Sophie

[Ceri says]

 

I’d been looking forward to Year2bless for so long, but I don’t think that I’d really thought about what it would be like before I came. Having been on a few Go2bless summer missions, I suppose I was expecting something a bit like that but longer...! For the first couple of weeks it did feel a bit like a holiday, but then suddenly you get to a point where it sort of stops being easy and fun, and this took me by surprise! But God is so faithful and always gives me the strength to carry on – I’m learning this more and more each day. The truth is, while this year has already been so much harder than I’d imagined, it has been so much better than I’d imagined as well – better than I ever thought possible. I’ve been here about two months now, and I can see how much I’ve grown, and I truly believe we are being a blessing to the church and people here. It feels so good to be giving something back to the God who has given me so much, and we gain so much ourselves when we give. if you’re thinking of becoming a Year2blesser – don’t hesitate, God’s got great stuff in store for you if you come.

 

Ceri

Feedback from a go2blesser!

I wasn’t really sure of my expectations before I went out there – it was sort of a last min decision to go!  From previous experiences I had a rough idea of how things would most likely pan out, but I can say that it more than exceeded my expectations.  I think one of the biggest things I noticed and valued was the longevity of the mission.  We were only there for two weeks, but I know that it was part of something bigger. It was a real blessing to be able to build on the work of teams in the past, and add something to those that will follow in the future.  As well as knowing that there are people (both Croatian and internationals) there full time that we could encourage by what we did, as they were such an encouragement to us.

It was an honor and joy to join internationally with different teams with an amazing sense of unity in the body of Christ as a whole across the nations working to see his Kingdom come.

heart2bless  Croatia  29 Nov until 6 Dec 

come and join us for outreach, craft and prayer find out how God wants to bless you.

Look on the right hand side of this blog for a heart2bless application form and contact caroline@bless.org.uk for more details.

Go2bless Croatia 08

To sum up the Croatia Mission 2008 in a blog entry is more than difficult. Since returning to the UK and for many others who have returned to Holland, God is still speaking, still working, still intervening more than ever. 

It seems that this summer spent in Slavonski Brod has softened many hearts and teared away veils not only of the people in that town but also of the hearts of the team members.

Since I started offering my summers in 2006 to the small non-tourist town of Slavonski Brod, i have seen the Lord move in ways that are unimaginable, moreso was this year when many past planted seeds were continued to be watered. The first team spent their time on a local estate connecting with the local children and putting together a kids club each morning for a good 2 hours. As we arrived, so did the children - A few days prior to starting the kids club we went postering around town and flyering on the estate and as soon as the kids saw all us 'English/Dutch young people' the smiles lit up on their faces. They were so happy to see us that their faces shone in a way that was very heart warming. Many new children came and heard the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Each weekday night throughout the month of July we ran a 'Youth Space' which was held in the basement of the Baptist Church. Our aim was to allow young people to come and quite literally hang out with us and their friends - play ping pong, make jewelry, listen to music play games, eat food and generally have a good time. This was a special time for us as team because it gave us real insight into the life of a Croatian young person. Again, we made real friendships and for me it was one of the first times that I felt really connected with these young people. Many of us even managed to meet up with some young people outside of 'Youth Space' hours at cafes, on the riverbank, for football etc. Throughout the mission i felt God speaking about relationships and how that our God is someone who can speed up the rate in which we get to know people. The relationships we formed over the month were so strong because of the father heart of God. Amongst all this we had time as a team to pray, study and worship together. Around 5 each day we would meet for a bible study in a local cafe where we studied the book of Acts. A few of the many many things we learnt were that:

Trusting the Father, Receiving the Spirit and Telling the story of Jesus Christ- Big decisions bring large rewards in the  and liberation- Faith is based on my personal experience with Christ Jesus- God's timing is always perfec- but not always for us to know the times and places- We all hold a complete and full life through the grace of God

These are but a few topics discussed by the team and are only a fraction of the things learnt over the weeks. Towards the end of the first teams time in Croatia we spent more time sharing and praying for the town of Slavonski Brod. Our prayers would be that peoples eyes would be opened and hearts in tune with Gods song, that people would be responsive to the truth of Jesus Christ. We had a constant prayer against any spiritual

attacks and we prayed in the name of Jesus that the devil didn't have a foothold on anything that we did. We saw breakthrough in many areas of struggle and illness and saw a release of barriers that people had put up against God. It was great to praise on the riverbank (boarder of Bosnia and Croatia) our time as team was

always spent well there - it gave us time to reflect, draw nearer to God and we all felt a real closeness with one another. The American 'Pioneers' team joined us for 90% of the mission, they are a small team of 5 short term missionaries and 4 long term missionaries. We all benefitted from their presence, they are a real encouragement, even though, at first we were all strangers, mission does something to the individual and brings people much closer than sometimes lifelong friends are. It was a real gift from God.

When the first team left and the second began for Naja, Chrissie, Catherine, Amy and Myself it was a very quick turnaround, but we soon got into the swing of the second team which was much larger and generally at a much

faster pace, which needed quite a substantial amount of attention. The core week was concentrated into splitting the team to two, where one half was set to do a Basketball Camp with Joe Spinks (Amsterdam National Coach) and the second half were set to do another Kids Club at another local estate. We still had 'Youth Space'

each week night and 5 nights of the 14, the Nexus team from Nexus Music College in Coventry drew together professional contemporary concerts on the riverbank.

The first few days was really more about us getting settled in toroutine and finding our place in this large band of people, we spent time praying together, worshipping, ministering to one another, we also went to Bosnia and generally kicked about the town, meeting people, letting our faces being seen by locals. Because of its

smallness most locals in Slavonski Brod know who the 'Bless' team are now - They can spot us a mile off with our straightened hair, branded attire, musical instruments and bibles in hand (this is a good thing i must add) Within the first days of the Camps starting quite a lot went upside down and our own plans were lost. For one thing the rain slowed down the basketball camp and effected the Kids Club much worse. In Croatia, no sun = no kids. As soon as the rain starts numbers decrease massively and although many kids still turned up to the outdoor

basketball camp we ended up stopping. The electrics broke in the girls house, Dawn Spinks badly injured her neck and Mark Greaves broke his metatarsal - everyone felt a little down. So as the rain came we

seeked to go inside to Pray. Our prayer time was spent indoors for the next 2 days - this gave us time to properly minister to one another and get things right with God, it didn't take us long to figure out that we had been heavily planning our own agenda when we should be focussing on Gods Agenda! The rains cleared up, Marks foot 

was completely healed, the electric was fixed and Dawn's neck got better. Spiritually the team were all in the correct mindset and again for many the healing process had begun in their hearts.

Many of the Kids we met at Basketball ended up at the 'Youth Space' more because of Joe Spinks than anyone else - but this gave us real opportunity to share Gods love for them and we shone with the Spirit and i saw many young people being touched by the spirit of God.

Drawing to a close - the concerts were massive and towards the last few there were over 200 people watching, passing by and dancing to the music Nexus played. I felt a real closeness to the young people and their hearts were open to hearing all we had to say through testimonies and through passing conversation.

I feel that God will continue to soften peoples hearts of that town and even though many of us will not be back again for another year i believe that Slavonski Brod will be very close in our prayers over this next year. So for those of you that have been on team to Croatia - invite your friends. And for those of you reading this thinking

about what you will do come summer 2009 - come to Slavonski Brod with whatever you have and water some seeds.

In brief that sums up the Croatia Mission 2008.

Thanks for the read,

Chez

xxx

Go2bless France

Some feedback from the go2bless team that went to France on mission this summer...

I absolutely loved the week especially working with the team, they were ace! God really spoke to me through the week especially about mission (i fully loved the bible study we did on the boat back), i'm really up for going out to Germany now. I felt like i received so much throughout the week and felt really refreshed even though i was outrageously tired!    Mark

I had such an amazing time in France, as part of the Bless team. It really was the best team ever and I loved being a part of it. And being able to lead worship in French too was incredible! I loved it, loved it, loved it!!!!!! In fact, I really quite miss being there.     Sarah

Bike2bless

Bike2Bless 2008 was a huge success, a huge amount of fun and raised a huge

amount of money for Bless' work in Croatia this summer. 11 people, 10.5

bikes and 200km of French countryside. It was a circular route starting and

ending in Caen and taking in as many hills as possible, not easy for a man

who had done two days of training, all on the flat of the Dutch Dykes. The

plan, like all good invasions of France by a group of English, Dutch and

German, was to follow a carefully calculated route that would allow us

regular breaks at an assortment of French café's and be in a hotel in time

for a good French supper and local vin d'table. We would move as a

streamline, seamless mass of cyclists, eleven people moving as one, a sight

of cycling beauty in the French countryside, like a flock of Starlings

dancing through the air or a shoal of fish darting through the sea. We were

many but we would act as one and take France by storm. Children would stand

in villages and wave Union Jack flags as we sped on our way, mothers would

come out and throw sunflower petals at us, Farmers would give us bottles

of beer to quench our aching thirst. It was to be a beautiful thing. There

was however two schools of thought amongst the troops as to how this

carefully calculated route should be executed:  Thought Process A, which we

shall call the Thomas Gwilliam (one of our esteemed Trustees) approach and

Thought Process B, known herein as the David Beasley (our esteemed Bless

Manger?? )approach. The Thomas Gwilliam approach is to look at the route

over breakfast, memorise it completely and then forget it absolutely. The

approach works on two basic principles: routes are there merely as a guide

(and largely to be avoided); obstacles do not exist. Hedgerows, marshland,

estuaries, sand, the sea and three lane motorways are not objects to divert

around but hurdles to overcome. It is the Right-To-Room approach of the

cycling world. God made the World, he did not make Cycle Paths and B Roads.

The David Beasley approach is look at the route over breakfast, memorise it

completely and then check it thoroughly at every junction, every stop and

then occasionally whilst cycling. The results of the two schools of thought

- a crazy mix of gentle road cycling, getting thoroughly lost, stopping in

places we weren't meant to stop, cycling through estuaries we weren't

supposed to cycle through, running over small children we weren't suppose to

run over and drinking too much beer (as a mechanism to cope). It was however

a complete blast. The most fun you can have on two wheels. If we could have

done six days we would have done; if we could have continued to Paris, we

would have done; are we doing it again next year - certainly. There is

something that happens when a group of men wear spandex and padded shorts -

something that binds you together, a bond. We may not have cycled as one

homogenous unit, there may have been a kilometre or two between the front of

the pack and the back of the pack; we may have arrived at the hotels at

different times, but we were one and we're already getting ready for next

year.

Ben Wickham

Book NOW for a Go2Bless summer mission place.

Places are going fast and booking is closing soon!
If God has spoken to you about going on mission, now is the time to do
something about it!
Don't miss out on what God wants to do with, and through you, He has more in store for you than you could ask or imagine!
Will you offer him some time this summer to serve on Go2Bless mission programme? To give your time, recources, and energy?

Ephesians 3:19-21
—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be
glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
for ever and ever! Amen.

Bike2Bless 19-22 June (Mens event) spaces
Go2Bless Croatia team1....1-15 July spaces
Go2Bless Croatia team2....15-30 July only one or two spaces available

Go2Bless France 19-27 July spaces

THE FRENCH MISSION is an inspiring French conference, led by a team from a
French Baptist Church. Christians from all over France come together
to pray, learn and worship together for 5 days, its refreshing, inspiring and so exciting to see the new things that God is doing in the French church, They are in great need of volunteers to help with kids work,
music, stewarding and other servant like roles. Bless would love to
support this church team with this event, it would be great to send a
team of willing volunteers, of all ages, to help support this great kingdom building work, called Jour J, so please do get in touch with us if you are interested and available, we would love to hear from you a.s.a.p now!

Booking forms and more info on the right hand side of this blog.