CCM Blog

Fear and worry are a big part of my life, it’s doesn’t feel great to say that but they are involved in so many areas of my daily life.

Relationships with Other People

-         Worrying about what they think of you.

-         When you forget about a need that someone has.

-         Even in normal conversation.

Relationship with God

-         Feel like your belief in him isn’t strong enough.

-         Stepping out in faith.

-         Spending enough time with him.

The Future

-         Not knowing which paths to follow.

-         Family / Relationships / Career

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Beliefs effect your perception of the world and what’s going on around you.

So once we believe and follow Jesus are we then in God’s will?

Does that mean whatever happens, happens…and it is God’s will?

The Nooma DVD series by Rob Bell has spoken to me a lot. There’s one called ‘Lump’ and at the end he says ‘Stop hiding under the covers, let God pull the covers back and embrace him.There is nothing you could ever do to make God love you less.’

The covers for me at this time are fear and worry.

But James, one of my favourite books in the Bible advises us in chapter 1 verses 2-3 to “Consider it pure joy my brothers when you face trials of many kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”

We had a speaker come in to Connect in the Café yesterday and he really got me thinking.

He spoke about how we can recognise a Christian, that it’s not just being a nice person but displaying the fruits of the spirit. And my initial reaction is to go ‘oh no, not me, I don’t display any of these character traits.’ But as I’m growing and feel like the Holy Spirit is transforming me from within I do notice changes.

There are times when I feel like I can fall down the trap of trying to develop these fruits on my own, instead of letting God do it for me. This sums it all up for me…

“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.” (John 15:2-4 NIV)

We then went on to talk about love being the greatest way, and used 1 Corinthians 13 : 4-7, but replaced the word ‘love’ with ‘Jesus’, and then with our own names. It really gives you an idea of how far short we fall. I don’t know how many times I have come across the important ‘love your neighbour as you love yourself’, and how many times I have not put that into practice.

The final thing that was said is that it will take our whole lives to become like Jesus, that’s a pretty awesome thought….

Over the past month I’ve had a lot of experience in different things at the mission with a variety of people.

Connect in the Café and the Eldercare lunches have been going well. Enjoying the food, the chats and the relaxed environment!

I’ve been introduced to four guys from The Prince’s Trust who go to Grace Academy and we all helped each other with some gardening work, which tired us all out!

Grace Academy after-school clubs are on a Monday and Wednesday. There’s one called ‘Refuel’ and another called ‘Quest’. In Refuel we’ve been playing games and activities with the pupils within years 7 to sixth form (although its mainly the younger ones) which I’ve enjoyed but it can be quite challenging with some of them! Quest is a series of DVD’s that allow us to have discussions in groups about Christianity. It’s sort of a step before Alpha for the younger ones.

The Harvest Festival food has come in recently which was a huge task to try and sort out! But to see all the work and effort we’ve put into it has been great.

I’ve also helped the guys in the office with their work, sending the Giving Tree Appeal letters to the churches in Coventry and other things. I love the friendly team that is here at the mission, the support that is there from each one of them and the passion that they have for God.

I’m looking forward to what’s ahead on the run up to Christmas, and we’ve already started by putting the Christmas tree up! The Giving Tree Appeal is where toys for different age ranges are sent from churches in Coventry to us, and we distribute them to children around Wood End. I can’t wait to see how that’s going to go. My confidence is growing so I’m going to be taking a more active role in the things I’m doing, such as giving my testimony one week in Connect in the Café and leading parts of the last few after school clubs at Grace Academy.

My life has changed so much over the past year. About a year ago I went to an alpha course at St. James in Styvechale, which then led me to join the church and also the Firestarters youth group. I have met some amazing people who have helped me in my faith and shown me God’s love.

Recently I have returned from a two-week mission trip to Uganda with some of the Firestarters and our two youth leaders. God really impacted our lives on this mission and hopefully the lives of the people out there through us. I learnt more about trusting God and relying on him when working with the local Sunday School, in the Church at the village of Etori, and also time with the group. Our relationships were strengthened and we worked as a family. I’m so glad that I had the chance to share my experiences with these guys. The mission was what I needed to take a step further in faith, and I have also now reaffirmed my baptismal vows to keep growing with God and commit myself to him.

I have started working with Coventry City Mission as part of my gap year, and although it is only my second day God has been working around me, and not just here. I feel God impacting my life and the lives of others, within my family and friends, and hopefully throughout this time he will continue to impact the lives of people around the local community here in Wood End. During this time here at CCM I want to discover more about my future and God’s plans for me. (Jeremiah 29:11). I have wanted to go down the route of teaching for a while but I am beginning to feel more uncertain about it, so I would like this to become clear.

I’m so thankful to the people here in the team, and also the support I have from people at church, my family, friends, and others who have been praying for me on the start of this gap year.

As I am sure you are aware this week see the celebration of 40 years since man first stepped foot on the surface of the moon. 40 years since the infamous phrase “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” and yet still people are spending more time talking about conspiracy theories than enjoying the wonder.

I am encouraged and yet sad to see that some things never change.

For 2000 years people have spent more time trying to refute the claims of Jesus Christ than standing back and recognising the amazing reality of His story.

Was He the Son of God?

Does he heal the sick and raise the dead?

Did he choose to die in our place on the cross?

Did he rise from the dead?

There are constantly explanations of what could have happened, theories of the truth behind the story. If only people put as much energy into looking at the Truth as these theories there lives would be much more fulfilled.

So did it really happen? I believe so; I believe Jesus was born to Mary; He was the Son of God, He came to reconnect us with God and chose to died on the cross for each one of us, to take away our sin and remove the blockage between us and God. I believe he rose from death and is now with His and our Father in Heaven.

How do I know? Because I am in relationship with Him, and know his love, forgiveness and compassion and receive the Holy Spirit each day.

One of my favourite films is the space epic Apollo 13. My favourite scene is where the character played by Tom Hanks first sees the earth from space. How anyone can look at that scene and not believe in a creator God.

So, do you believe it happened?

Each week I seem to get to Thursday and wonder where the week has gone so I thought I would look back and see where it all went.

It was an early start on Saturday as I had been invited to speak at St John’s Westwood Men’s breakfast where I spoke to around 30 men about being passionate men of God. We had a great time looking at several men from the Bible who after God’s intervention and inspiration became passionate about their life and their faith.

On Sunday I was to attend my church’s AGM. Our minister came up with the great idea of doing an A-Z of our church with reports, videos and presentations from all areas of the church community.

Monday was a day of excitment. Michelle joined the team as Kitchen Manager (Please pray for her) and my wife and I went for a scan to confirm that we will be having our second child in the autumn (Please pray for my wife, Ondy, as she gets use to be pregnant again!)

Tuesday brought inspiration from Steve Burch from St James, Tile Hill who lead CCM devotions sharing a little with us from Jacob’s dream of angels ascending and descending from heavan and how God had reminded Jacob of earlier trusths and promises.

Wednesday saw many meetings and lots of sorting of toys ready for a sale on Thursday. We also had a true insight into God’s timing when a question/prayer was answered literally seconds after it was asked. Praise God!

And today our Trustees met in our upper room and the toy sale happened in the lounge.

Add that to two sessions for the shop and cafe, baby basics, crossline, textline, skylight, and all the work Lisa does holding us all together and I now can see where the week went.

The most exciting thing of all is to look back and see how God was with us every step of the way. Please pray that we may always have God at the heart of our work and that through His inspiration and love we may bring others to know Him more.

Bring on next week!

Oh! I forgot I mended the dishwasher as well!

Darren