News Update
Last week some of the World Vision for Christ administrative staff were in Ireland. There was work to do, at the World Vision for Christ Centre, ‘catch up’ with friends and oversee the progress of our radio station. It was a worthwhile time. Here are a couple of photos taken during a night of ministry with the older generation.
Another major part of the outreach ministry of World Vision for Christ is open-air and street witness. We have continued this particular outreach for almost 40 years. That’s quite a record! We target the market places, and over the years we have seen many changes. Every Sunday morning we stand and witness in the international market ‘Petticoat Lane’. Here we have seen big changes, not just in the old buildings coming down and modern high rise offices built, but in the way people now shop and even the way tourists visit. Petticoat Lane, even 5 years ago, was a busy, bustling market. The tourists that visited the market, particularly in the summer, hailed from the four corners of the world. We would stock up on tracts that covered dozens of languages. However, over the years we have seen a big drop in visitors to Petticoat Lane, we have seen a drop in people that shop in markets, generally. Of course there are a number of reasons for this, lack of parking, prices, comfort etc etc.
What we have noticed, being a Gospel outreach group, is the gradual, yet steady ‘regulations’ that try to halt the spread of the Gospel. We have had our challenges and could easily have given in to the pressures and ‘throw in the towel’ so to speak. But it’s not just about us, it’s for any who may come after us who wish to pursue an open air ministry. An added concern is the Community Officers, something that is relatively new on our streets. You may have your own ideas and opinions on these men & women who walk our streets and frequent our market areas. What exactly their remit is – I don’t know, however in the newspapers this week we read a very disturbing report of two Christian workers being ‘threatened’ by one of these Community Officers in Birmingham. You can read the story in the Daily Mail, The Telegraph, and other daily newspapers. Our nation is in a very serious situation, even the tabloids are warning of meltdown in family life and as for the amount of young people murdered this year alone in knife crimes, tells us that there are serious problems in our community. So to challenge two men, who are willing to take the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ onto the streets is foolish beyond words. This Gospel heals the broken hearted, sets the captive free, enables people to love the enemies and makes good citizens. I trust the churches in Birmingham join together and make a united protest regarding this incident.
Please try to join us, if you can, at Paragon Chapel, in Hackney, East London. Dr Albert Chambers is continuing to preach on being separate from the world and looking at the Book of Ruth in a whole new light. Meetings are at 7.30pm on Saturdays & 6.30pm Sundays.
