Suffolk Cluster News - Summer 2014

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BURY ST. EDMUNDS

COLCHESTER

IPSWICH

NEWMARKETSTOWMARKET

CLUSTERNEWS

CLUSTERNEWS Summer 2014

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Two of our churches now have new members of their teams – which are both great answers to prayers:

WHO IS NEW IN THE CLUSTER?BURY ST. EDMUNDS

COLCHESTERIPSWICH

NEWMARKETSTOWMARKET

TOM AND SARAHTom (together with his wife Sarah and their twin daughters Cerys and Miriam) has joined the leadership team in Hope Church Ipswich – moving up from Southampton where Tom has been for the last 7 ½ years (although he is a Norfolk boy at heart!). When Maurice first asked him if he would move to Ipswich Tom’s answer was ‘no’ – but that Maurice always get his man! See more details about Tom’s journey at:http://scrivosaremoving.wordpress.com



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TREVOR AND JULIA At the end of May this year Trevor and Julia Haynes moved back to England with their family from the USA where they had been involved in church leadership – and church planting. Trevor has now joined the leadership team in Stowmarket and is going to be working 3 days a week for the church and a couple of days in outside employment.

At the moment Trevor and his family are looking around for a house to rent – and would greatly value your prayers for this and all the other practical arrangements that need to be finalised. John Putman gives more details later...



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CLUSTER PROPHECY 30.02.14BURY ST. EDMUNDS

COLCHESTERIPSWICH

NEWMARKETSTOWMARKET


These prophecies were brought at our last Cluster Celebration. It is important for us to expect that as we move into the Autumn and Winter terms, God’s powerful resources will be available to us as churches – as we preach the gospel and pray for the sick and encourage each other in our small groups. I believe that each of the churches will face these difficult challenges as mentioned – but this prophecy is reminding us of the truth that ‘The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John. 4:4)

“None of us have got it together, but together we’ve got it! None of us have got it, but together we’ve got it! The pace is increasing, the pace is increasing, the pace is increasing! Unfurl the sails, unfurl the sails, catch the wind. The wind in your sails will take you where I want you to be. Do you not know that there is always more damage to vessels in the harbour than those who have set sail. Now is the time to catch the wind of my Spirit. The wind is blowing, seize the moment. Do you not hear it? Do you not sense it? Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord”

John Putman , Stowmarket

“I have placed into your hands a currency that the world does not understand. As you look at these coins in your hands you can see it represents a currency that is common between all of the churches in this cluster.

This is a resource from heaven that I am placing in your hands that will meet the needs of the challenges that you will face in the future as both individual churches and as a cluster. This currency that I am giving you is tremendously powerful and of a kind that the world does not understand. It is a currency that is able to bring healing to the sick, wholeness to those who are broken hearted and in trouble. Even situations that would appear hopeless to the world can be turned around using this heavenly currency that I am placing into your hands today.

This resource is also a common currency that can be shared between all 5 of the churches in your cluster. It is indeed a currency of resource that the world does not understand, but will be a powerful resource that I am placing into your hands today to enable you to meet the challenges that you face in the months ahead.”

Nick Bolton, Bury St. Edmunds

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“We’ve been living in Newmarket for 3 months and as a family have settled into our new house and new town really well. Rather than commuting from Bury, Joe now has a short walk to work, walking and praying through one of the estates which God has put on our hearts.

Recently a work colleague asked Joe to pray about a situation where a miracle was needed, and God answered!

Joe also has a heart for the many people involved in the horse racing industry/stables and is beginning to see God open doors through friendships with men and women of peace there.

Kathryn and Bethan are enjoying making friends at the different toddler groups in town and God has

Stories from churches in the cluster: P5-9

really blessed us with good friends already in such a short space of time.

God seems to be drawing people to us and there have been opportunities to pray with one of the mums where she said afterwards she felt different and really happy! We believe God is already working in people’s lives and is showing us who to talk to.

As a town Newmarket is renowned for Horse Racing but we feel God’s heart for this town to be known for His great name.”

Kathryn Crane

WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND THE CLUSTER?

DRAWING IN HEARTSNEWMARKET

BURY ST. EDMUNDSCOLCHESTER

IPSWICHNEWMARKET

STOWMARKET

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BUBBLING UPAt Hope Church we’re enjoying a good season of advance on a number of fronts. We’ve had more growth recently which has led to small-group multiplication and we were thrilled to baptise seven people in the first week of July and welcome a dozen or so people into membership the following week.

We’re also excited about the ways in which God has been speaking to the wider churches in the town about a move of His power coming to Ipswich and spreading

across the country as a whole. Whilst there’s no time to go into the remarkable set of developments and prophetic words here, our faith has been raised to believe that God is about something big here (whatever it may look like). We’re resolved not to hype this up but to simply make sure we offer people an opportunity to respond to the gospel each week at our Sunday gatherings and to pray for healing - we’ll let God do what He wants to do.

We’re starting to hear of other churches in Ipswich doing the same and have had a small trickle of healing testimonies coming through. We eagerly anticipate all that God will do in the future!

Tom Scrivens


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TOWN & TRANSITION


IPSWICHNEWMARKET

STOWMARKET

In the last few weeks we have had the privilege of hosting The Watoto Children’s choir from Uganda over a 3 day period in May. Their presence attracted a great deal of attention in the town. The Salvation Army kindly made their building available for two evening concerts which were filled to capacity. Many lives were touched by the powerful testimonies of these children.

As a church we are in a period of transition. In the middle of May Trevor and Julia Haynes and their 3 children, Nicholas (11 yrs), Ella (8yrs) and Annaliese (4yrs) arrived from USA, where they have been engaged in pastoral ministry. Trevor will assume leadership of the Stowmarket church in September. In the meantime John and Trevor are working together to ensure that the changeover will be as seamless as possible.

John stresses that he is not retiring but simply stepping back from day to day responsibility for the Stowmarket church!

Please pray for the Haynes family during this time of readjustment to life in the UK after 16 yrs in the USA. They have to find a house to rent, employment (Trevor will be employed by the church for 3 days a week), and schools for the children. At the time of writing Trevor and Julia are on the verge of completing the formalities for the rent of a house! John Putman


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Since January this year we have had the privilege of baptising 5 people and we are expecting that to increase as the year goes on. We were delighted to have a week end with Marshall Schaitel back in April, and he brought a word to us as a church speaking about the ‘spin’ of the church increasing in the near future – and about the result being that we would see a doubling of the church as a result.

The word about doubling was confirmed by a dream that a lady in the church had the night before Marshall shared the word, where she said...


FAITH TO DOUBLE UP“In the dream I walked into the back of our church (though not meeting in Kegs I knew it was our church). It was full and as I walked through, I could see people worshipping and turning to greet me, some I knew and many I didn’t. There was an atmosphere of expectation and prayer and a strong sense that new people were being prayed for and ministered to by the ‘old faces’ – but not ones who are currently active in ministering on a Sunday morning. Everyone was involved

I saw a couple of people that I was really surprised to see in church – who came in after me and walked right down to the front before turning to me and saying ‘ of course I am here – what did you expect?’

I woke feeling full of hope and anticipation and sure that this was a dream from God – but very unsure what do with it. So I think it confirms Marshall’s word about increase soon.” Nicky Lambert

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Norman Blows

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Colchester is inextricably bound up in the birth and identity of the British nation,” so writes Professor Keith Branigan of University Sheffield. Indeed, the history of Colchester is extraordinary. Under the Norman walls of Colchester Castle can be seen the vaults and foundations of a Roman temple, dedicated to Emperor Claudius and built just 20 years after Jesus walked the earth. It’s certainly not outrageous to speculate that first-hand witnesses of the events surrounding the life and death and resurrection of Jesus, and the exploits of his Apostles in the years after he ascended, could quite possibly have also walked the streets of ancient Colchester.

And in the grounds of Essex Police headquarters on Southway can be seen Butt Road Roman Chapel, which is said to be the oldest Christian church building in England. Dating from 320 AD, this was built just 7 years after Emperor Constantine decreed in 313 AD that Christianity could be legally practiced across the Roman Empire.

FAITH TO DOUBLE UP

GOSPEL LAND


IPSWICHNEWMARKET

STOWMARKET

Today, Colchester is a thriving and bustling town of some 100,000 inhabitants, one of the fastest growing towns in Britain, with a military garrison, a burgeoning university, an ambitious cultural and arts centre, a strategic location close to London and Stansted, and an unmatched local history. The gospel of Jesus Christ has been proclaimed and demonstrated for as long as the gospel has been preached in Britain, with generation upon generation of faithful Christian witness to the people of Colchester and beyond.

The writer to the Hebrews says: “Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So, we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us.” In Colchester, we feel the weight of history as we seek to take the gospel of truth to this generation and the next. Please pray for us as we work to reposition the church for a fresh season of growth.

Maurice Nightingale

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It was an absolute delight to attend the leadership conference in Norwich this year. Everyone that I have spoken to has said how much they enjoyed it and how they have come away inspired. Here is an example of someone who attended the conference:

“After attending the Leadership Conference last week in Norwich my walk &, relationship with God has changed & moved on to a new amazing level,From the very first session with Mike Bett’s Call to build a “Church for a Broken World” I felt the inspiration & presence of God’s leading throughout all the week.

The change I refer to is best clarified as so; I became a Christian in Feb. 2012 having had no Christian influence or experience during the previous 67 years of my life By God’s Blessing I was one of those people who experienced both Being Saved & Baptized in The Holy Spirit almost at the same time - I refer to this as stage 1 of my journey.

Stage 2 was some months later after going through the Foundation Course & reading ‘Gods Lavish Grace’ I began to enjoy a new freedom & excitement in my walk with God.


IPSWICHNEWMARKET

STOWMARKET

REPORT:The Leadership ConferenceJune 2014


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During last week’s conference I had the following experiences.

1 My 1st choice seminar was with Angela Kemm, and through this God revealed to me what is meant by “Being Prophetic”. Up until then I was not aware that I shared this gift.

2 All through the week I felt so charged with emotion through the closeness of God & I felt a tangible feeling of change within me that I could not work out.

3 During Saturdays session, when Richard Taylor called for us to reach out in Prayer, God instantly put a Prayer on my heart and just as Instantly I knew it would be answered & I felt God say - “Now remember this feeling of Unquestioning Faith ”

TALKS NOW ONLINE!

Available at:www.relationalmission.com

On returning home I have taken time to reflect on the change God has effected in me during the week, He has confirmed in me that I no longer need to seek affirmation, as I had been doing, that I am on the right path & I am to walk confident as a Christian in the service to Gods Kingdom.

Gods Revelations through this week have made me feel so much more mature & peaceful in my journey with Him.

Pete Thorpe, Bury St. Edmunds


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At the end of March this year I was delighted to be able to spend a few days visiting our friends Valdis and Gita in Jēkabpils, Latvia and to minister to several groups of believers in Jēkabpils and nearby communities. Of particular note was a trip to the small town of Viesite where we met with a small group of women who have been meeting to pray together for a number of years, and who shared their experiences of open opposition from followers of the occult. It was good to be able to pray with them and consider what longer term support the church can provide. For the last couple of years God has been putting the Russian speaking city of Daugavpils on my heart and I was able to spend a day there visiting friends and developing contacts as

well as spending time with a Home Group in the Roma community based in the nearby town of Ilūkste. My friend Dzintra has been faithfully ministering to this community for more than ten years. On this particular trip I saw that there is a real hunger for the life giving power of the Holy Spirit, like a parched land in need of water, and I hope that some of these friends will be able to join us at the POG Baltic event in Latvia at the start of August. Please continue to pray for the churches and believers in Latvia, that they might experience the relationship with a loving heavenly Father that we so often take for granted.

Neal Wreford, Bury St. Edmunds


IPSWICHNEWMARKET

STOWMARKET

CLUSTER AND BEYOND


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BALTICS POG TOURRIGA, LATVIAwww.facebook.com/events/1402130010067493/

GERMANY POG TOURWEIL AM RHEIN, SOUTH GERMANY

5TH-7TH

AUG

10TH-12TH

OCT

12TH-14TH

SEPT


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BBQ FOOD FROM 4PMCHILDREN WELCOME

FOR THOSE IN LEADERSHIP WITH SMALL GROUPS / WORSHIP TEAMS/ TRUSTEES; ELDERSHIP TEAMS ETC. IF YOU CAME LAST YEAR – THIS YEAR BRING A FRIEND – AND A SIDE DISH OR A PUDDING!

AT THE BLOWS’ HOUSE: 6 HORNINGS PARK, HORRINGER, BURY ST. EDMUNDS, IP29 5AL

TEAM MATTERSGOFF HOPE SPEAKING ON‘BUILDING A TEAM.’

10AM - 12.30PM AT HOPE CHURCH IPSWICH, THE ORWELL CENTRE, IP3 8JH


IPSWICHNEWMARKET

STOWMARKET CLUSTER EVENTS

SAT30TH

AUG

SAT14TH

SEPT


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CLUSTER CELEBRATIONSUNDAY EVENING7.00 PM FOR TEA AND COFFEE7.15PM START.MIKE BETTS SPEAKING.A “DON’T MISS IT” EVENT!

KING EDWARDS VI SCHOOL, BURY ST. EDMUNDSGROVE ROAD ENTRANCE.

(POST CODE FOR YOUR SAT NAV: IP 33 3BJ. WILL TAKE YOU TO THE ROAD – SCHOOL AT THE FAR END.)

CLUSTER HALF NIGHTS OF PRAYERDETAILS TO FOLLOW

CLUSTER WEEKEND AWAYVARIOUS OPTIONS ARE PRESENTLY BEING CONSIDERED. FURTHER DETAILS TO FOLLOW

HEAVEN TOUCHES EASTCHECK THE RELATIONAL MISSION WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION

CLUSTER EVENTS

COMING SOON

2014-15


SUN26TH

OCT

16


IPSWICHNEWMARKET

STOWMARKET

TO SUBMIT STORIES AND EVENTS FOR NEXT EDITION OF CLUSTER NEWS PLEASE EMAIL [email protected]

5TH-7TH AUG

SAT 30TH AUG

12TH-14TH SEP

SAT 14TH SEP

10TH-12TH OCT

SUN 26TH OCT

DATES TO REMEMBER

POG in Latvia p13

BBQ in Bury p14

NEW in Helsinki p13

TEAM MATTERS in Ipswich p14

POG in South Germany p13

CLUSTER CELEBRATION in Bury p15

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Suffolk Cluster News - Summer 2014

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