40 Years of World Vision for Christ
Dr Albert Chambers moved to mainland Britain from Northern Ireland at the end of the 60’s. God called him to London. God took him a step at a time and as the months went on the vision started to evolve.
In the summer of 1969, with a small group of people, who also were taking their ‘first steps’ the first open-air of the new found World Vision for Christ, took place in Worthing, Sussex. From those summer months, until 31st December 1969 World Vision for Christ planned a strategy!
The Newham recorder, writing about our small group, in the 1970’s, said we were a ‘small group of revolutionaries ….’ and that is what we were, hidden away in a tiny flat in the East End of London. Low profile… big impact!
Here is a decade by decade account of what was started within that period and how things continue to date. Please bear in mind, that not many organisations were attempting to do what we started in those ‘early years’. You will note that we did not restrict ourselves to one particular outreach, we covered many areas.
1970-1980 The Planting Years
- 1st major tract distribution started in East London
- 1st Children’s ‘Special’ started in Essex Road School, E12
- Opens Airs continue in market places in UK
- Petticoat Lane Open-Air started
- Started to print our own materials and made the service available to other churches.
- Overseas Missions
- Ministry into Ireland with crusades and monthly trips back.
- Started the Film Ministry
- Started filming crusades & meetings on 8mm film.
- Recording all meetings, first on reel-to-reel then on cassette.
- Started tent ministry, first with hired tents, then purchased our own. Tents throughout London, Birmingham, Bristol.
- Meetings in Westminster Central Hall.
- Church Crusades.
- Start of the annual distribution of ‘Poppy Tract’
- Israel Tours started.
- Put the message ‘The Impossible thing …’ onto gramophone record.
- During this decade we met Rev Jim Patterson, who was to become a very close friend and minister in the Gospel.
- A young man, who had just made his decision for the Lord, made our acquaintance, that was Evangelist David McKivett!
1980-1990 The Developing Years
- Became a registered charity with constitution & aims of the charity
- Radio Ministry into the USA.
- Radio Ministry into East, West & Central Africa
- Purchased 53 seater coaches
- Weekly visits in our 53 seater coaches to Birmingham to strengthen the hands of those recently converted during the Birmingham Tent Crusades.
- Purchase of the Birmingham Church
- Bible Conferences started
- Updated 8mm filming to video filming
- Overseas missions & tent crusades continued.
- Petticoat Lane & Market Open Airs contined. Children’s Ministry continued.
- Bookstores opened in: Ridley, Brixton & Manor Park
- Weekly Church meetings, in London, continued for those recently converted in London tent crusades, using rented buildings.
- Trafalgar Square Open-Airs
1990-2000 The Consolidating Years
- Purchase of Paragon Chapel
- Paragon Christian Academy started
- Purchase of 243 Glyn Road for senior
- PCA students
- Purchase of Centre in Ireland
- Purchase of Radio Star
- Published ‘Foundations of Faith’
Continuing from previous decades:
- Children’s ministry
- Petticoat Lane Open Air
- Open-Airs in market places
- Tent Crusades
- Ministry into Ireland
- Radio Ministry into Africa & Ireland
- Overseas Missions
- Printing
- Tract Distribution
- Annual Poppy Tract distribution
- Bible Conferences
- Bible Stores
- Videos & Audio recordings
- Church Programme
2000-2010 Continuing & Expecting
- Purchase of Emanuel Hall, Stratford
- Updating of audio/video system
- Started Friday street outreach in Stratford shopping area.
- Paragon Chapel refurbished and re-wired.
Continuing from previous decades:
- Children’s Ministry
- Petticoat Lane Open Air
- Open-Airs in market places
- Tent Crusades
- Ministry into Ireland
- Radio Ministry into Africa & Ireland
- Overseas Missions
- Printing
- Tract Distribution
- Annual Poppy Tracts distribution
- Bible Conferences
- Bible Stores
- Video/Audio recordings
- Church Programmes
- Paragon Christian Academy
- Upkeep of Radio Star
What do we want for the coming years? …
Our immediate plans are to continue pursuing the vision God gave to His servant, and his ‘band of dedicated revolutionaries’, all those years ago.
For 2010 we want to develop a Social Care Programme for the older members in our Assembly.
We also need to nurture the youngsters who are attending church week by week, that they will have a ‘passion for Christ and His Kingdom work’. World Vision for Christ values your prayers, your presence and your financial support. Part of our constitution written with the help of a Godly solicitor all those years ago says:
To promote the Christian faith by any or all of the following means:
Conducting Christian crusades.
Publication & distribution or circulation of religious books, literature or pamphlets.
Establishment & maintenance of centres for young people in need of Christian guidance
Christian guidance by telephone
Production & distribution of Christian films
Conducting of childrens meetings, to bring together children from all walks of life, colour and creed and to teach the principles of the Christian faith.
Support of missionaries & evangelism
Purchase or lease or mortgaging of property
