Summer Update

“In ALL thy ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct thy paths!” THANK YOU GOD for the work of Fresh Expressions and the guidance You continue to provide.

This has been a great Summer in the work of Fresh Expressions and God has really opened some doors for an even more impactful 2016! A strong, prayerful foundation has been laid in Southport and we are beginning to watch seeds grow!

Franky’s Pizza at St Francis, on the Kew estate has had a relaunch this summer and now opens the first and third Friday of the month from 4-6pm.

Even with the promotion we received on BBC Radio Merseyside’s Daybreak, we weren’t getting people in the doors. Opening 4-6 will now help us to reach out to young families on the Kew Estate and invite them to join us for an early Friday night meal together. Two weeks ago, Franky’s Pizza leaflets were hand-delivered to 340 homes on the Kew Estate and a number of conversations took place with great interest for Franky’s. As a result of one of the conversations, a lady joined us with her granddaughter who is in year 6 at Kew Woods and they had a wonderful time; they’re joining us again this Friday and bringing along friends! The vision for Franky’s is to create sustainable relationships on The Kew Estate that will develop into living relationships with Jesus Christ. I recognise the belonging before belief mentality and that’s exactly what we hope to achieve at Franky’s Pizza. A bit of fun, a bit of food, a lot of conversation and a lot more God!

The Living Room has had a great summer, too! We have been praying for an expansion of our volunteer team and last week, our newest member of the team, Elizabeth, joined us for her third observational session and will now be serving with us twice a month. Hoping to grow this ministry ecumenically, Elizabeth joins us from St Patrick’s on Marshside Road and heard about The Living Room when I spoke at a joint churches’ prayer meeting a couple of months ago. We are still seeing a steady attendance and the last few weeks, I’ve been having progressive conversations with one of our guests who is now seeking baptism!

About 10 days ago, we celebrated our second annual SonFest, held outdoors at Town Hall Gardens! It was a tremendous event that no doubt saw more seeds planted throughout Southport. Alongside five live bands who performed a blend of Christian music throughout the day, Messy Ministries was on-hand with edible crafts and teaching for the kids. More than 100 children participated in the crafts, each hearing the Good News of the gospel through a sheep cupcake and a string cheese shepherd!

We had a number of community tables set up presenting information to the public, from Christians Against Poverty to the Southport Bible Society Action Group. I received 200 New Testaments donated by the Christian Book Shop and Derrick Chamberlain distributed more than 50 at SonFest. Bernard Wallbank, representing CAP, considered it a very worthwhile event, as nine contact details were collected.

I'm already in the planning stages of SonFest 2016, 3rd September, as I'm very excited about future-proofing SonFest. I'm delighted to have secured partnerships and relationships during the last two years with businesses and individuals who are deeply committed to the ministry and growth of SonFest. Thanks to our main sponsor, Fill The Gap, I have already secured Phillipa Hanna as our headline act next year! Fill The Gap shares the vision for reaching hearts through music and are committed to stand behind me each year and grow this work. I'm so very thankful for the missional network that's been created; it is beginning to pay dividends and I'm keen to further explore collaborative ways forward inter-denominationally for 2016 and beyond!

I'm looking forward with great anticipation, as I've just begun talks at the new Costa Coffee that is due to open this month on the corner of Chapel St and Eastbank St. In December, we'll be launching Reflection Lounge Southport, a social opportunity for Christians and non-Christians set up to revive our community by bringing people together to witness the love of God in action. This comes from our friends at Reflection Lounge in Manchester.

It is set to be an incredible year and as always, your prayers are needed!  

Franky's Pizza on BBC Radio Merseyside's Daybreak!

Thanks to our work in Southport being featured on the national Fresh Expressions website, I received a call earlier this week from Helen Jones, host of BBC Radio Merseyside's Sunday morning show, Daybreak. Helen was excited about both The Living Room and Franky's Pizza ministries and asked if she could interview me for a segment on Franky's, to be broadcast this Sunday morning for Daybreak. Enthusiastically, I agreed and met Helen in Southport yesterday. Along with the co-project leader, Stewart McTaggart, we took Helen to the home of Franky's Pizza, St. Francis of Assisi. As we prepped our fresh ingredients and fired up the pizza oven, we talked about our work and the purpose behind Franky's Pizza. The interview will be broadcast this Sunday morning at 8:20am and will be available online for 30 days following the broadcast.

Today at Franky's Pizza, a lady in her 60s came to us after seeing the Franky's poster on display at Ainsdale Methodist Church. Alone and with no other plans, she decided to give it a try, as she lives close to the Kew Estate. Although it was just one guest we served today, it was a real encouragement. Val was with us volunteering and we had a lovely time chatting to "Roz" and getting to know her. She suffers badly with arthritis in both her hands and she didn't believe she could make the pizza, but after some encouragement, she made two - and made them very well! Franky's Pizza gave one woman encouragement today and she left feeling so welcomed and proud of what she'd made. She experienced the hospitality of Jesus Christ today. Although I was full of cold and not looking forward to Franky's Pizza today, I left on cloud nine! This is why we do what we do...

I ask for continued prayer for both The Living Room and Franky's in prayer. I never stop ceasing to be amazed at what God is teaching me through my job and I'm continuously grateful. 

From little acorns, mighty oaks grow. 

Growing God's Kingdom in Southport one day at a time. 

Baking Bread and Being Church

Today I experienced something so remarkable and moving that I am struggling to articulate my emotions; that is rare for me! 

I took the train into Liverpool and visited a place called Somewhere Else, the Methodist Church in Liverpool's City Centre. Somewhere Else, affectionately known as "The Bread Church," is a response to the belief that there is a life-giving message in the gospel story. They gather as a faith community around the making and sharing of bread. Since 1999, Somewhere Else has sought to meet people where they are, offering quiet space and attention to what is important in their lives. They strive to provide more inclusive and safer space and have found a way that can connect with people's experience, enabling them to face challenges and to continue life's journey refreshed. This is not your ordinary church, but moreover a fresh expression of church right in the heart of Liverpool. Together the community bakes bread, prays and shares a meal. It is so simple, yet so meaningful! You are encouraged to bake two loaves; one for yourself and one to share with someone as you feel led.  

I arrived at 10:30 and was joined by about 25 individuals, of all physical and mental abilities, in a completely inclusive environment. Everyone was welcomed and everyone was happy to be there today. The morning began with weighing out flour and taking our individual places around the huge farmhouse table. The ingredients for the dough were all there waiting for us and a handful of volunteers were eager to guide us. My helper, Cindy, was fabulous! She led me through every step and encouraged me along the way. For a few moments I felt like I was a part of The Great British Bakeoff!  I was surrounded by laughter and joy, and an overall sense of belonging by every single person present. We were all there together, kneading dough and creating bread, but it was so much more than that. There was a massive sense of accomplishment amongst everyone present, watching the flour and simple ingredients turn into a delightful, fragrant loaf of bread!

The Cloud Room, adorned with affirmations from the community

After preparing the bread for the oven, we were invited into the Cloud Room with Rev. Ian for a time of reflection and prayer, along with a short scripture reading to lead us. As we began to open our hearts and listen to each others' honest prayers, the tears rolled down my face. One young girl present was worried about me because she saw me crying and didn't understand they were happy tears, so I quickly thanked her for caring and we shared a genuine hug. 
We left the cloud room and broke bread together and enjoyed conversations around the huge table. Conversations that would never have taken place anywhere but there. We were all brought together for such a time as this. 

Cindy and me with my freshly baked granary loaves

Somewhere Else is a "come as you are" place and there was no other place that could've filled me with so much joy today. I can't wait to return with Howard, Liv and Sarah one day, so they can experience God's love today, just as I have experienced. If you are curious or inclined, please visit their website and check out their times. I promise an experience you will never, ever forget. 

Directions provided

I've been spending a lot of time lately in prayer, asking God to show me which way to begin. I trust He will guide my path, as His word is "A lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path," Psalm 119:105, but I at least need Him to set me on the right course.
The homeless often come up when I spend time seeking and listening to God. I have to be brutally honest here...I'm uncomfortable around homeless people. I'm not afraid of them and I certainly don't look down on them, but I never know what to say. I know - a genuine smile and a heartfelt moment of eye contact is best and probably enough, but I always struggle with words. God knows my heart and knows I feel awkward, so I do believe THAT is exactly where He wants me. I think if we are comfortable, then we don't seek God. However, when you're approaching that place, person, or situation that makes you so nervous you want to squeeze your tummy because it is doing cartwheels, then that is when we need God the most; that is when He shows up in great joy.
Last month, an amazing initiative, born from a vision, was launched in Southport. Southport 24/7 Prayer has united hundreds of Southport residents in prayer and across multiple denominations. From the 40+ days of this prayerful journey, three key groups have repeatedly been on the hearts of so many praying: the homeless, our young adults, and those with special needs. Knowing this, it is my hope to engage with and serve each of these groups, one step at a time. Before you can share the Good News with someone, you must be the Good News to someone.
Thank you Father God, for placing my feet upon solid ground. I commend this journey to You and pray You will accompany me and guide me on every step. Lead me and use me, as I remain humbly Yours.

Let the journey commence

In May of this year, I accepted the job of a lifetime. Working quite literally for The Lord. It can't get much better than that, can it? Well, it certainly could be a lot easier! My official job title is, "Missing Generations Worker," but after much prayer, discussion with other members of my team and to be culturally relevant, we've begun to say, "Fresh Expressions Worker." I like that term much better. I don't think it sounds too positive to label someone part of the missing generation, even where there is no malicious intent. 

A multitude of Christian denominations and organisations recognised and acknowledged that our culture is changing and the traditional church is no longer a one-size-fits-all approach to a relationship with God. Thus, Fresh Expressions was born.

The Fresh Expressions organisation exists to encourage and support the fresh               expressions movement, working with Christians from a variety of denominations and traditions. The initiative has resulted in hundreds of new congregations being formed alongside more traditional churches. It was started in 2004 by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York with the Methodist Council, but now involves an unparalleled range of partners.


I am employed by the Southport Methodist Circuit to establish fresh expressions of church in Southport. By definition, A fresh expression is a form of church for our changing culture, established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church. 




Sounds simple enough. It isn't. I come from a work history of strategic thinking and planning and when it comes to Kingdom-minded thinking, all that goes out the window. My work habit must now be discernment  (being able to decide between truth and error, right and wrong) through prayer and through listening to God, listening to the needs of those in my community, and waiting for opportunities from the Holy Spirit. There are no boxes to tick off a to-do list as the day progresses, so it makes it challenging for a list-maker and list-follower like myself. I have a lot of quiet time and reflective time, but praying to hear from God is difficult when He doesn't use a megaphone (or a mobile phone, for that matter) to speak to you! 

So, months into my role, I am now hoping to document as I go and share this journey of faith with anyone and everyone who cares to listen. I can't promise it will be exciting, but it will be truthful and it will be led by God.