"Another year over, a new one just begun” or so says one of the many songs of Christmas. 2006 was an interesting year for me, and some life changing things happened for me.
The first half of 2006 was very much the same as the last half of 2005, travelling to Uni everyday from home, working in the breakfast club in the morning and the “Refresh” coffee shop in the afternoon, attending cell group on a Monday, helping at the youth group Slam on a Thursday, the children’s group Tag on a Wednesday, and attending Arun Community Church on a Sunday morning. I loved doing these groups and being apart of what was going on, and I give thanks to God and to the people who gave me the opportunity to do these things.
This all changed when I made one crucial decision, and that decision was simple:
It was time to move.
The Move:
I had been praying about whether it was right to move for a while, however I found more and more my heart wanted to be with the people I was spending my time with, and that was found in Uni. I got the opportunity to move in with 2 Christian guys, and 2 non-Christians who I knew from my course, and took them up on it. My biggest concern with moving was to do with the Ulcerative Colitis that I suffer from, because this affects a big area of my life, and I didn’t want to be a burden on those around me. Also, being a typical man, I didn’t want people to see me at my weakest, however I’ve learnt much on this subject since this time, and God has blessed me by promising my healing, and I truly believe that with all my heart, soul and mind.
So on July 1st, we moved in. The house wasn’t amazing, but it was fine for what we wanted at the time, and I haven’t looked back since.
I have found particularly with the two Christians I live with, Ali and Matt, that I have found new friendship and family, and rejoice in God bringing us into a house together. The house as a whole, has had people coming and going throughout the educational year so far, and what we really wanted was policy of walk in and be welcomed.
Church:
Obviously with moving, I had to reconsider where I was going to be attending church. My original idea was clear: travel back to Arun every week. However, this was not a practical suggestion, and I soon learnt God wanted me somewhere else. Through about 6 different signs, which I won’t go into specific, I felt God pointing me to a new frontiers church called “Grace Church”. I started visiting on and off before I moved, and from the first time I entered, I felt truly welcome and that this, at least for the foreseeable future, was home. It was a struggle visiting at first, because I was so busy doing things in Arun, that I found I was involved 4 out of 6 weeks in a row, so trying to visit Grace Church could be a struggle. However, as I gradually broke away from Arun, which was and is still absolutely fantastic, and I do miss sometimes, I found I was able to get more and more involved in Grace Church, and as of the date of moving, was able to attend every week and attempt to get to the midweek meetings as well. I got involved in the running the youth group on a Sunday and attended a membership course, allowing me to become a member the next week, and be able to be a leader and take along the young people to Newday, which was a fantastic experience and God obviously wanted me at, as this is where he confirmed my healing, (if you want more details of this, e-mail me) and was an eye opening experience to many things! I am also involved in the student work now at Grace Church, and have led worship there and am also getting involved with worship on a Sunday morning where possible and generally chucking myself in full heartedly, and loving it!
CU:
As of the beginning of September, I became the worship Secretary of the Christian Union. Along with 7 others, we became the new leadership of CU. We thought 7 leaders may be a bit too much, however, God has shown we needed each and every person, as we seem to be having numbers of up to 50, which, considering last year was a maximum on 20, is superb. Now don’t get me wrong, it is not about the numbers. 3 Christians of clean heart meeting together and praying all night and fasting is just as important as a big group worshiping together. What is exciting though is the sense that God is pushing us, and we are all excited about the new year and where God is taking us.
Job:
Obviously with moving I was not able to hold up my jobs back home anymore. This and the fact that the Breakfast Club had officially closed was another reason why I couldn’t. So instead I started looking here, and it took a while, and in the end I landed a job working in an Esso Garage in Tangmere. It’s not the most glamourous of jobs, and there are times where I despise it, however there are also times where I remember how this fits in well with all I’m doing, and is a testament of God’s goodness as I am able to move shifts around easily enough that when something comes up I can rearrange things. The only real struggle I had when I first joined was I ended up working Thursdays from 2pm till 10pm, meaning I would miss the evening meeting. So I have been praying to get out of this. I’d already asked for shift changes and had changed my timetable a lot, so didn’t want to do anymore unless I really had to, so was asking for an opportunity. That opportunity came in the way of Uni Lectures ironically, as we were told that one of our lectures was going to be moved to a Thursday afternoon, which meant I could not work on this date anymore. I immediately told work, and it now looks like I will be working Saturday 10 till 6pm which is a far nicer shift to work. God is good! I am thankful for his goodness in this situation!
Texas:
In 2006 I got the chance to go out to Texas for 2 weeks. I had a fantastic time out there, and God really opened my eyes to several gifts I had and made me aware of my own abilities, and that in God there are no limitations. I have now been asked back for 2 months this year, and am praying into this, and how it would work, however I have been blessed with 2 offers for cheap tickets, which is a bonus! And am hopefully going to be doing a teaching scheme this year which the money will give me enough for Texas and some other essentials, so praise God!
The Sad news:
There was sadness in 2006 as well, as my Grandad, John Wright, past away. He had been a comical figure in my life, a man who sometimes would drive me crazy with his stories, and other times I'd find myself listening intently. He wasn't a Christian that we know of, but we believe he is with the Father now, and he shall be missed.
There was also a man called James Holden, who many will know as the lead singer of Sallyforth, who, at the age of 18, was killed tragically in a car crash. This has shaken up many of my friends, and I was left asking the question afterwards "its so unfair, why?".
I will never understand all that happens, but I know God is in it. Rest in peace, both of you.
New Year:
So now we are ini 2007, and I look and wonder what is in store for me. I believe more then ever, that this will be the Year I am healed, and I believe that will be supernaturally. I also look forward to attending evening meetings in Grace Church, and getting to know a broader horizon of people beyond the students and youth.
I have also realised more and more, that I am increasingly passionate about youth and childrens work. I find myself watching fictional programs on Tv, and where ever a child is involved, whether beaten or abused, or being forced to do something, or just living in poor conditions, more and more, my heart feels broken for them, and I find anger rising, even though it is only fictional.
Many of you will know I spent a year working as a youth worker, and now, more then ever, I’m starting to realise how important that year was in shaping me, and I can see how God has used that year, and I have many ideas that I gained from that, that I intend to put into practise in some way, and at some point will talk to the church leadership about all my crazy ideas.
I also feel my creative/dramatic side desiring more, and am hopefully going to be involved in some of the creative things we put on at Grace Church.
Am I maybe putting too much in to my life? Maybe? Is it worth it? Definitely. Anyone who knows me, knows that serving the Church has always been more important to me then my own studies. Yes, I will work at Uni, and I will work hard where need be, but that is not why I am in Chichester. God called me to the Uni and specifically to the CU to “Break and shake”, and that is exactly what I intend to do.
Happy New year, and Be Blessed.
Rich
The first half of 2006 was very much the same as the last half of 2005, travelling to Uni everyday from home, working in the breakfast club in the morning and the “Refresh” coffee shop in the afternoon, attending cell group on a Monday, helping at the youth group Slam on a Thursday, the children’s group Tag on a Wednesday, and attending Arun Community Church on a Sunday morning. I loved doing these groups and being apart of what was going on, and I give thanks to God and to the people who gave me the opportunity to do these things.
This all changed when I made one crucial decision, and that decision was simple:
It was time to move.
The Move:
I had been praying about whether it was right to move for a while, however I found more and more my heart wanted to be with the people I was spending my time with, and that was found in Uni. I got the opportunity to move in with 2 Christian guys, and 2 non-Christians who I knew from my course, and took them up on it. My biggest concern with moving was to do with the Ulcerative Colitis that I suffer from, because this affects a big area of my life, and I didn’t want to be a burden on those around me. Also, being a typical man, I didn’t want people to see me at my weakest, however I’ve learnt much on this subject since this time, and God has blessed me by promising my healing, and I truly believe that with all my heart, soul and mind.
So on July 1st, we moved in. The house wasn’t amazing, but it was fine for what we wanted at the time, and I haven’t looked back since.
I have found particularly with the two Christians I live with, Ali and Matt, that I have found new friendship and family, and rejoice in God bringing us into a house together. The house as a whole, has had people coming and going throughout the educational year so far, and what we really wanted was policy of walk in and be welcomed.
Church:
Obviously with moving, I had to reconsider where I was going to be attending church. My original idea was clear: travel back to Arun every week. However, this was not a practical suggestion, and I soon learnt God wanted me somewhere else. Through about 6 different signs, which I won’t go into specific, I felt God pointing me to a new frontiers church called “Grace Church”. I started visiting on and off before I moved, and from the first time I entered, I felt truly welcome and that this, at least for the foreseeable future, was home. It was a struggle visiting at first, because I was so busy doing things in Arun, that I found I was involved 4 out of 6 weeks in a row, so trying to visit Grace Church could be a struggle. However, as I gradually broke away from Arun, which was and is still absolutely fantastic, and I do miss sometimes, I found I was able to get more and more involved in Grace Church, and as of the date of moving, was able to attend every week and attempt to get to the midweek meetings as well. I got involved in the running the youth group on a Sunday and attended a membership course, allowing me to become a member the next week, and be able to be a leader and take along the young people to Newday, which was a fantastic experience and God obviously wanted me at, as this is where he confirmed my healing, (if you want more details of this, e-mail me) and was an eye opening experience to many things! I am also involved in the student work now at Grace Church, and have led worship there and am also getting involved with worship on a Sunday morning where possible and generally chucking myself in full heartedly, and loving it!
CU:
As of the beginning of September, I became the worship Secretary of the Christian Union. Along with 7 others, we became the new leadership of CU. We thought 7 leaders may be a bit too much, however, God has shown we needed each and every person, as we seem to be having numbers of up to 50, which, considering last year was a maximum on 20, is superb. Now don’t get me wrong, it is not about the numbers. 3 Christians of clean heart meeting together and praying all night and fasting is just as important as a big group worshiping together. What is exciting though is the sense that God is pushing us, and we are all excited about the new year and where God is taking us.
Job:
Obviously with moving I was not able to hold up my jobs back home anymore. This and the fact that the Breakfast Club had officially closed was another reason why I couldn’t. So instead I started looking here, and it took a while, and in the end I landed a job working in an Esso Garage in Tangmere. It’s not the most glamourous of jobs, and there are times where I despise it, however there are also times where I remember how this fits in well with all I’m doing, and is a testament of God’s goodness as I am able to move shifts around easily enough that when something comes up I can rearrange things. The only real struggle I had when I first joined was I ended up working Thursdays from 2pm till 10pm, meaning I would miss the evening meeting. So I have been praying to get out of this. I’d already asked for shift changes and had changed my timetable a lot, so didn’t want to do anymore unless I really had to, so was asking for an opportunity. That opportunity came in the way of Uni Lectures ironically, as we were told that one of our lectures was going to be moved to a Thursday afternoon, which meant I could not work on this date anymore. I immediately told work, and it now looks like I will be working Saturday 10 till 6pm which is a far nicer shift to work. God is good! I am thankful for his goodness in this situation!
Texas:
In 2006 I got the chance to go out to Texas for 2 weeks. I had a fantastic time out there, and God really opened my eyes to several gifts I had and made me aware of my own abilities, and that in God there are no limitations. I have now been asked back for 2 months this year, and am praying into this, and how it would work, however I have been blessed with 2 offers for cheap tickets, which is a bonus! And am hopefully going to be doing a teaching scheme this year which the money will give me enough for Texas and some other essentials, so praise God!
The Sad news:
There was sadness in 2006 as well, as my Grandad, John Wright, past away. He had been a comical figure in my life, a man who sometimes would drive me crazy with his stories, and other times I'd find myself listening intently. He wasn't a Christian that we know of, but we believe he is with the Father now, and he shall be missed.
There was also a man called James Holden, who many will know as the lead singer of Sallyforth, who, at the age of 18, was killed tragically in a car crash. This has shaken up many of my friends, and I was left asking the question afterwards "its so unfair, why?".
I will never understand all that happens, but I know God is in it. Rest in peace, both of you.
New Year:
So now we are ini 2007, and I look and wonder what is in store for me. I believe more then ever, that this will be the Year I am healed, and I believe that will be supernaturally. I also look forward to attending evening meetings in Grace Church, and getting to know a broader horizon of people beyond the students and youth.
I have also realised more and more, that I am increasingly passionate about youth and childrens work. I find myself watching fictional programs on Tv, and where ever a child is involved, whether beaten or abused, or being forced to do something, or just living in poor conditions, more and more, my heart feels broken for them, and I find anger rising, even though it is only fictional.
Many of you will know I spent a year working as a youth worker, and now, more then ever, I’m starting to realise how important that year was in shaping me, and I can see how God has used that year, and I have many ideas that I gained from that, that I intend to put into practise in some way, and at some point will talk to the church leadership about all my crazy ideas.
I also feel my creative/dramatic side desiring more, and am hopefully going to be involved in some of the creative things we put on at Grace Church.
Am I maybe putting too much in to my life? Maybe? Is it worth it? Definitely. Anyone who knows me, knows that serving the Church has always been more important to me then my own studies. Yes, I will work at Uni, and I will work hard where need be, but that is not why I am in Chichester. God called me to the Uni and specifically to the CU to “Break and shake”, and that is exactly what I intend to do.
Happy New year, and Be Blessed.
Rich
|
0 Responses
Post a Comment
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
