Surf the Wave – August 2009

It was truly amazing how God flung open all the doors of opportunity wide open for this event! There were over 60 of us all together and Dalesdown was full!

Surf the Wave was all that we could have imagined and more besides! ‘Going with the flow’ meant each meeting was different, with opportunities for the young people to respond to God where they were at. Discussion and interaction was encouraged, affirming the youth that they were valuable to God and us; they had a special part to play. The key verse -‘Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life’ Proverbs 4: 23 – shaped the teaching and responses, with God speaking into the hearts of those there. Jesus knows us individually so well; He was meeting the needs of people’s hearts in amazing ways.

Rome – October 2009

The 22 young people, ranging from 2 to 17 years, were delightful and so refreshing in attitude. We very much wanted to reflect that walking with Jesus was both possible and great fun! There was such a sense of expectation for Him to speak to them in each session through the worship, prayer stations, graffiti walls and ‘love heart’ sweets! The cardboard testimonies reflected beautifully what the children had absorbed of God’s love for them and how He so wants to speak to them.

In the final session the Footsteps Church all came together for a time of sharing what God had done. The young people were thrilled to be able to use the banners again for ‘Glory and Honour’ – lifting His name before singing to the grown ups about what God was saying to them. As the youth sang ‘You’re amazing’ eyes filled with tears; this time it was the adults turn to be affirmed!

Jon’s ‘pilgrimage’ to Wales – March 2010

What a trip! I am so thankful, not just for those amazing few days, visiting some of the sites of the Welsh revival with my mate Steve but also that the effect of that wonderful experience at Blaenannerch hasn’t left me. My life, my calling and ministry are confirmed – the word I’ve had shaved in the hair on the back of my head for over five years now confirms it too – everything boils down to: we are desperate for God (though often not desperate enough) and only a move of God can save us and our nation. Nothing else, only the Presence of God Himself can truly satisfy. I continue to live for …… R-E-V-I-V-A-L!!

And now to the next trip, or trips! It’s time! – to take some desperate, thirsty young people back to Wales and the well …. and let them drink!!

Ashburnham Place – May 2010

Our hearts leapt when we were invited to facilitate a prayer meeting with the Destiny Africa Children’s Choir from Uganda and some British children at Ashburnham Place. We were thrilled how it went! Even during the ice breaker of introductions there was connection: with us (Oh how we love Africa and Africans!) and between the young people.

The Lord just came … and used us mightily, it was amazing! There was such a sense of the presence and the ‘flow’ of the Holy Spirit over the whole time. We learnt later that the young people were blessed greatly by our time together on Tuesday and some who had been sick were now well again. In her small group Beccy asked an eight year old to pray for Susan who had been unwell with malaria and then had the joy of telling Faith that her prayers had been answered!!

Soul by the Sea beach event – June 2010

Tomorrow (Saturday, 26^th June 2010) an ambitious evangelistic event is taking place on Brighton seafront. An open-air, free, Christian music festival, organised and sponsored by the churches of Brighton and Hove, will run from noon until 8 p.m.

Jon, as the treasurer of the ‘BEA’ has been fully involved in the planning the event alongside various church leaders and others. We have experienced God’s hand on it, leading and guiding us and so we are really excited about the possibilities, both for tomorrow and for establishing this as an annual event in the city!

Surf the Wave – August 2010

Right now our attentions are fully focussed on planning our second StW event, again taking place at Dalesdown but this time running for a week. The Lord has continued to speak to us through the planning, so we are looking forward to it with great anticipation. This year we have widened the net considerably, inviting young people from eight churches across the city and we have a large group coming with our great friends at the local Kidz Klub.

We are once again seeking to do church in fresh ways and to give the young people new openings to discover the wonderful truth of the gospel. We continue to seek Him to heal and to build this young generation. We want to do ALL we can to enable them to step into their God-given destiny as ‘the revival generation’!

Surf the Wave 2010 dates:

Friday, 20^th – Sunday 22^nd August – all invited, including children 8–11year olds

Friday, 20^th – Thursday, 26^th August – for 12-18 year olds

Thank you so much for all your prayers; we are constantly reminded that we couldn’t begin to do what we do without them (1 Corinthians 12: 12 – “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts”).

With our love and blessings-

Jon and Beccy xx

Blessed Be Your Name

In the land that is plentiful

Where Your streams of abundance flow

Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name

When I’m found in the desert place

Though I walk through the wilderness

Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out

I’ll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name…..

© 2002 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music

Prayer Needs for Turning the Tide

Hi Everyone,

We think it is high-time we sent out some prayer needs, not least because we find ourselves once again in a place of some significant challenges as well as exciting opportunities. The Matt Redman song reproduced above has been ministering to us powerfully recently.

So, please find our prayer requests below.

Thank you so much for all your support and especially in prayer. We sense that we have never needed your prayers more than at this time!!

Jon and Beccy xx

For those of you who use Facebook, TTT has a Facebook group; just search Groups for ‘Turning the Tide’.

Specific Prayer Points for Turning the Tide                         April 2010

†         For the long-awaited REVIVAL in our land! Oh how we need a move of God!

†         We give thanks for Jon’s amazing trip to Wales recently and for the encouragement this brought concerning revival. We are seeking the Lord over this and praying that He will continue speaking, bringing revelation and strategy to His people;

†         Jon and his friend Steve feel convicted about taking some young people back to Wales, to visit some of the key sites of the Welsh revival, possibly as an annual ‘pilgrimage’;

†         At this key time, we are facing a real and increasingly urgent challenge with our finances but we are continuing to seek and to trust the Lord, who we know will supply all our needs;

†         Our friends Jerome and Machelle are currently in Australia for six weeks, with their whole family. We have agreed to take over the running of their Kidz Club after school on Friday afternoons, starting this Friday (30^th). Jon also has significant responsibilities as one of their Trustees at a time of particular challenge for their ministry;

†         We are pushing ahead with the planning of our Surf the Wave event at Dalesdown in August. It’s all going well and we are excited about it! Please would you pray for us and specifically for the bookings to come in (the first deadline is the end of this month);

†         Jon is playing a significant role in the planning of the Soul by the Sea event on Brighton beach on 26^th June (see www.soulbythesea.org). Hopefully you may have heard about it. It is a very exciting project (of the BEA) and we are all thrilled with how the Lord is leading us. Please pray for Jon with his responsibilities and for the success of the event;

†         For a children’s prayer event we have been invited to help lead on 25^th May at Ashburnham. The African Children’s Destiny Choir are staying there for a few days and the plan is to bring some local children alongside them to seek the Lord together for the nations! We have a planning meeting for this on 13^th May;

†         For the future of THE ROAR and the meeting planned for 5^th May;

†         For Chris and Jess, both away at University; Chris is currently facing his ‘finals’ (17^th May to 1^st June) and Jess her end of second year exams;

†         For space and time and the setting of good priorities in the busyness and the stresses of all we are doing and seeking to do. We know we are called to pray and to walk closely with our Lord, and specifically to encourage and enable young people to do so. 

I have been really struck and challenged since the New Year by these verses from James:

 ²⁵But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.

 ^26-27Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

James 1 (The Message)

The other day I was in a school and I was really taken aback by a response to something I had suggested, that this resource was ‘really religious’. At first I tried to defend my suggestion but I quickly sensed retreat was the best option! It got me thinking though: people out there don’t want religion. And yet at the same time so many are searching for some form, any form it seems, of spirituality.

A friend sent me something truly amazing recently! It was a photocopy from the newsletter of the Eastbourne Prayer Centre and it was reporting on a survey that has recently been carried out on young people worldwide:

The majority of teenagers and young adults in most parts of the world are religious, according to a massive 21-country study conducted by the German think-tank Bertelsmann Stiftung (BS). More than four out of five young adults (85 percent) are religious, and almost half (44 percent) are deeply religious. Only 13 percent say they are not interested in God or faith in general. “The perception that young people are less religious than their parents and grandparents is typically Western European and does not correspond to the reality worldwide,” organizers of the study commented. Dr. Martin Rieger, project leader of BS’s Religion Monitor concluded: “The assumption that religious belief is dwindling continuously from generation to generation is clearly refuted by our worldwide surveys – even in many industrialized nations.”

Isn’t it amazing, less than 10% of young people in our nation still go to church but so many still demonstrate an inbuilt awareness of God and a desire to pray!! It may not be as high as 85% but certainly our experience has always been that there is a hunger amongst many, many young people. Given the opportunity and encouragement to explore spirituality, we would say that more than half would respond positively and often it’s the neediest who are quickest to respond.

And isn’t it also interesting that as our society moves away from God, and consequently, tragically from blessing towards cursing our youth, many still desire to know more about God.  But is it surprising? I would say no. As even young children are deprived of love, affection and security, they instinctively reach out further to find those necessities. It’s the way they’ve been created; it’s the way we’re all ‘wired’.

Praise God that He is always there, making Himself available and providing what we need the most. May we all ‘pass muster’ before God, as we ‘reach out to the homeless and the loveless in their plight’. And may we be very clear about what we have to offer. Not what many would assume – dusty old religion, a set of impossible to keep rules and regulations and boredom! – but what Jesus actually came to give us: a brand new life, life in all its fullness and all the fulfillment that anyone could handle!

We wish you a “Happy New Year!” and we hope 2009 has been a good year for you…

One of the special things about this holiday season is that it gives the opportunity to catch up with family and friends. If we can’t see you or speak to you in person, at least we can send you our love and blessings by card and letter.

Our latest news:

Jon and Beccy – we have enjoyed a good year, having adjusted to both Chris and Jess being at Uni. Our work with Turning the Tide has been so encouraging (please see the other posts on our website for more details).

It is now nearly two years since we left St. Luke’s and we are still loving the path that God has chosen for us, away from formal church. We continue to look to Him for our future in every respect.

Chris – having completed a highly successful year on placement with RBS in Luxembourg, he was pleased to return to Newcastle for his fourth and final year at Uni. At this stage it is hard work but he is enjoying it.

Jess – now in her second year at York, she is loving sharing a house with five friends. She lives life to the full: her course, church, Christian Union and an active social life. Jess’ heart for worship was recognised recently when she was asked to serve as the music co-ordinator for the Christian Union.

Some highlights from our 2009:

Choosing to go as a family to see ‘The Lion King’ in the West End followed by the real thing in ‘Howletts Zoo’, near Canterbury, in place of a holiday. Both experiences were outstanding and most memorable!!   

In August, a wonderfully blessed weekend of ministry with all four of us leading a youth event – Surf the Wave – at Dalesdown. Over sixty – young people and families – were encouraged to reconnect with God and to hear Him for themselves.

The launch of a new prayer movement for the UK, focussed on the youth – ‘The Roar’. In March Jon and Beccy were involved in leading forty or so – families and youth – in our first event, held at the Ashburnham prayer centre in East Sussex.

A very special ministry trip for Jon and Beccy in April, to Ohio. Jon was invited to speak at a youth prayer retreat for 200 12–18 year olds. We wanted to give the youth an opportunity to lead and to speak for their generation; we were delighted as many took the opportunity to share from the front as God led them. For a brief, online taste of the retreat, see www.youtube.com and search “Beulah Beach Prayer Retreat 2009”.

In October Jon and Beccy blessed by a special week in Rome with our dear friends, the Sumptions. We were invited to minister to the youth on their church’s retreat weekend, in particular encouraging them to hear God speaking to them.

In February Jon celebrating his ‘half-century’ in style, with family and friends at the Sussex County Cricket ground.

Chris taking advantage of his central European location to visit the Nürburgring in July for his maiden Formula 1 experience before celebrating the end of his Year Abroad with a holiday in New York with Cesca.

Jess finding a house in York with a piano! Leading worship at CU. Joining the ‘Zamar’ Gospel Choir in York and being asked to sing a solo during their Summer Concert.

Charlie and Aimee (our nieces / cousins) remain our delightful focus on Tuesdays. Aimee has come to the conclusion that Uni is the place to be. Her best quote of 2009: “I’m off to Unibersity! I have my suitcase and my handbag. I’m off to Unibersity!”

Thank you for your time in reading this and for all your love and support through another year (by the way, in June next year Jon will celebrate 20 years in ministry).

Wishing you a very Happy New Year with every blessing throughout 2010.

Sending much love from us all–

Jon, Beccy, Chris and Jess xxxx

Your faithfulness endures always

Where mountains fall and reason fails

And You calm the raging seas

And you calm the storms in me, again

All I know is I find rest in You

My heart will praise throughout the night

Where singing seems a sacrifice

Your grace is all I need

Your grace is all I need

© 2004 Mia Fieldes / Hillsong Publishing

Greetings, after a long silence! We apologise that you haven’t received one of these updates for quite a while. At the same time we are excited about writing this now!

We could write with an update on our recent ministry, including for example the ‘Surf the Wave’ weekend at Dalesdown and our trip to Rome last month to work for the ‘Footsteps’ church there. Indeed we will do that very soon. But today we have another priority!

Whisper it softly but the season we have been going through seems to be changing at long last. After over four years for Jon and nearly as long for Beccy, struggling with low energy and other health issues, it feels like we are coming out of a long tunnel! This is not only in terms of feeling better and having energy but also that, in various ways, the Lord is revealing more of His purpose in it.

Recently we have joined a small group locally who are working out together their dreams and visions for the city of Brighton and Hove. This has prompted us to consider our own dreams and visions and as we have done this we have seen the hand of God more and more, as well as the way our individual dreams overlap so beautifully.

Beccy’s dream is to see thousands of children together, lost in worship; Jon’s is for a whole new prayer movement to rise up from amongst the youth. In both cases we see not just the Christian youth but many others, coming to a wonderful, new, radical, life-changing, and nation-changing faith in our Lord Jesus.

As we have thought and prayed about these things together, we have seen how these things will lead to the revival we have prayed for, and lived for, for so long. Friends, we can see the hand of God upon our nation and beyond!

He has led us to this point. More and more our ministry to young people is focussed on enabling them to connect with God themselves, whether it be through worship, through prayer or simply by listening for His voice.

We continue to listen to Him as well and one key area that He seems to be speaking into at the moment is THE ROAR, the brand-new prayer movement we have been involved in establishing here in the UK. He has been talking to us about how this should develop and also to the whole team about how we can come together in it.

As we close by sharing our prayer needs below, please would you first give God thanks, praise and worship for all He is doing today – thank you.

Specific Prayer Points

†         For the long-awaited REVIVAL in our land!

†         For God to continue speaking, bringing revelation and strategy to His people;

†         For the two of us as we walk with Him, work out His purposes day by day and seek to follow His leading, especially amongst the youth;

†         For God’s anointing on our diaries and all our decision-making over commitments;

†         For the group here locally, pursuing God together for their dreams and visions;

†         For the small team (Chrissie, Maria, John, Beccy and Jon) seeking God over THE ROAR, that we would corporately know His leading, guiding AND BLESSING! as He reveals more of His plans for our youth and our nation;

†         For our God’s presence to be evident, especially in our home and family;

†         For Chris and Jess, away at University.

Resources

We close with a couple of ‘YouTube’ links for those who have access to the internet:

The first is the song we quoted at the beginning of this:

Rest in you – Hillsong – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr4_anyLMnY

And this is another, very different song that has been inspiring us lately:

Wake up – Leeland – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gecA4D8e8ek

Thank you so much for your support and especially for your prayers. We hope that, as you’ve read the above, you’ve sensed the excitement we have felt as He has continued to place His vision, for us and others, in our hearts.

We love and appreciate all of you and we continue to pray for you. We love to hear from you; please do keep us in touch with how you are.

Thank you for partnering with us in the Gospel; may you encounter and enjoy God’s richest blessings!

Jon and Beccy xx