Lifehope Lifeline Autumn 2008

OM Lifehope

From September 2007 to August 2008 we have partnered with a number of British churches to share Christ among local communities. We had over 250 people involved in a dozen outreaches during this time. The individual participants and the local church members have worked well together, proclaiming the Gospel to hundreds of people. These ‘Global Challenge Outreaches’ provide quality training in evangelism, preparing participants for future mission service.

Where have we been?

Alum Rock, Birmingham
Sparkhill, Birmingham
Ladywood, Birmingham
Cradley / Lye    
West Bromwich
Inverness
Cardiff  
Southampton    
Warwick

*As a team, it is our privilege to partner with local churches all over the country and proclaim the Good News together. In order to coordinate these missions effectively, we are dependent on reliable vehicles to transport people and equipment to various locations. We are looking to God for £12,000 to purchase two quality mini-buses that will enable us to continue providing safe and reliable transportation for people and equipment.

In this article we talk about:
Stories from the outreaches around the UK
From the Director’s Desk - Steve Critchlow
Testimony from Melanie - her summer experiences
Sponsorship Opportunity - Cicel and Elena

Transforming Lives and Communities

Bob Light, the local co-ordinator for the ‘Daisy Dip Week’ (in one of Southampton’s most socially deprived areas) has welcomed assistance from OM Lifehope over the past four years. He recently commented on how the teams’ presence has significantly impacted the spiritual climate of the community.

Because of the teams, a number of people have come to Christ and are now attending the local church that Bob leads. Even now, some OM team members are in regular contact with residents they have met. 

Besides being a blessing to the people of ‘Flower’s Estate’, the love and servant attitude that the team members have demonstrated has also encouraged local Christians. 

OM Lifehope will be returning to Southampton for a fifth time in the summer of 2009, to continue building relationships and bringing life and hope to this needy community.

Southampton - Prayer Tent - There was a constant flow of people entering the prayer tent that OM Lifehope team members set-up. Some wanted to talk about God while others requested prayer for specific areas such as healing. Many people testified to seeing their prayers answered and, over the week, seven people made a commitment to follow Christ. One was a young lady who had recently left home and was very lonely. She kept coming back to visit the prayer tent, then gave her life to the Lord and at the end of the week was baptised! Another person to find faith was a postman who was well known in the community. It was also a joy to see a couple come to Christ together at the prayer tent. God was obviously at work in these people’s lives.

Alum Rock - Memphis Group - “On the first day of the Holiday Club, 40 children came. On the second day there were 55 children. A few minutes before the start of the club on Friday (Islam’s Holy Day) the number of children was quite low, so I prayed that more would come.  Just as I finished, a car pulled-up which was full of Muslim children. Praise God! I was touched to hear many of the youngsters remember my name. I was even more excited to hear these children recite Bible verses and sing Christian choruses. I hope and pray that the seeds sown in their hearts will blossom and grow in the weeks and months to come.” - David

Cradley & Lye - “My most memorable experience was the conversation with a lady we met while going from door to door who listened to my testimony. She was not a Christian, but she was close and I believe that one day soon she will receive Christ as her personal saviour.” - Katie

Inverness - “My team went to about nine classes in the same school.  The Spirit was clearly working among the students.  The children began asking hard questions and we gave the best answers we could and some of them came to the youth event we organised that Friday evening.  After I shared my testimony, several of the children came to me wanting to talk about my experiences.  I think my story had hugely impacted one of the youngsters in particular.  We will keep in touch.” - Travis

Cardiff - “It was my privilege to talk to a woman who was very interested in knowing more about God. She was in a rush but gave me her phone number and asked me to call her back. Later that evening I called her and our discussion about the Lord continued. Over the phone I was able to lead the women into a new relationship with Christ. I was honoured and humbled by this opportunity. Thank you so much for opening up this week of mission to amateurs such as myself. I will take all this back home, excited to see how God is going to use these new skills in my life.” - Janette

“I am member of a local church in Cardiff and had never done any street evangelism before. I was quite nervous. Almost immediately I got into a conversation with a Muslim man from Iraq. I shared my testimony with him. Then he said something remarkable. He said ‘I have been waiting more than ten years for someone to tell me about Christ.’ Wow! Praise the Lord that I was there to share with this man. I have his phone number and will be following him up over the next few weeks.” - Neil

“I was talking to a young man from Russia and I had opportunity to share the Gospel with him. During our conversation I mentioned the Bible verse Romans 6:23 (‘For the wages of sin is death…’). At that precise moment, a Christian who was not part of the outreach suddenly appeared and gave us each a piece of paper with the same words written on the inside. This divine encounter with God shocked the man. He left me saying that he would think about what I had said. The next day, I met him again and the first thing he told me was that he had given his life to the Lord that previous evening and it was because of the paper he had received. Hallelujah!! Praise the Lord for that stranger who gave out that piece of paper with Romans 6:23 at the perfect time.” - Glenn

These are just a few of the stories of how lives are being changed through what the Lord is doing. We want to work alongside God in all we do and give Him the glory!

Inside:

Testimony . . .

Melanie - Switzerland    

Just one year ago I gave my life to Jesus. My school requested that I do a language placement and so I searched the internet and found that OM offers a suitable short-term opportunity.  The timing fitted the school’s schedule, so I signed-up to come to the UK!

The first two weeks I joined the ELCO programme (English Language and Community Outreach). Each morning we learned English and in the afternoons we went door to door asking people questions and getting into conversations about Jesus!  It was a new experience and I learned that I had to trust Him more.  In the end it is He and not I who changes lives.  I also discovered that the world cannot be saved in two weeks but step by step. We just have to trust.

I spent the third week in Southampton with OM’s TiM (Teens in Mission). This was a great week!  The whole time I was interacting with children, playing games and talking to them.  Just doing face painting can make children smile and make their world a little bit brighter.  The local people in this area were touched by our desire to serve the youth.  God taught me that He really can heal people and He listens to our prayers!

At the end of the week we were involved in a baptism ceremony. Since becoming a Christian, I knew that I should do this one day.  Seeing all the people go into the water, I had the feeling that it was my time to do it.  I asked God and I knew that it was the right moment to testify that I am now His child. This experience was very positive and helped me understand God more and I know I will grow in Him even more.

Back page:

Cicel & Elena Benjamin

Born in: Pakistan / Wales
Married: 2005
Cicel: Asian Ministry Team Leader
Elena: Part time teacher and ministry helper

Personal history: After four years of exciting ministry experience with OM Pakistan, Cicel left his home country in 2002 to work among Muslims in the UK. In 2004 he met Elena who was involved with Arab Christians in Cardiff. She was leading a Sunday school there, mostly of refugee children, and regularly helping run a book table of Christian literature in the city centre. 

Work roles: Cicel and Elena are leading Lifehope’s outreach to Asians. They both have a tremendous vision for Alum Rock, one of the largest Muslim communities in Birmingham, where they lead a long-term ministry called the ‘Noor Project’. This initiative focuses on reaching people of all ages.

Cicel also shares weekly on a live Sky TV programme for Asian Christians and Muslims.  This has generated considerable interest and contacts.

Elena works part-time to help meet the family’s financial support target, but will soon leave her job with the birth of their first child.  She will then be a full-time mother but continuing her ministry commitments. 

Expecting: A baby in February!

By supporting them: You would increase their ability to continue this vital ministry to Muslims in the UK. 

Any gifts would be gratefully received.

From the Director’s Desk

At OM Lifehope, one of our core vision statements is to ‘Partner with the church in its Mission.’  This year it has been a real privilege to see God answer prayer as we have served alongside fellowships in Inverness, Cardiff, Southampton and elsewhere.  In this Lifeline you can read of some of the amazing stories of how people have encountered Christ in a real way during these programmes.

Underlying these outreaches and all we do is prayer.  I am personally a strong believer in 24/7 intercession and when my wife and I lived in Cyprus we saw God move powerfully way following a time of extended prayer.  Recently I have re-read ‘Mountain Rain’, the biography of James Fraser which clearly portrays the connection between prayer and seeing God’s hand in moving people towards salvation.

At OM Lifehope we like to set aside two days of special prayer every six months (next days 8-9th Oct). This is in addition to our regular Thursday prayer evenings and Prayer Emphasis days on the second Thursday of each month.  You are very welcome to join us or pray with us at these times and we can also send you a monthly prayer diary.  It always gives us great joy to see God answer prayer.

Response text:

I would like to receive the Lifehope Lifeline on a regular basis

I enclose a gift towards the purchase of a van

I enclose a gift towards the ministry of Cicel & Elena Benjamin

I enclose a gift towards the ministry of OM Lifehope

I would like more information about becoming a financial and/or prayer partner

(we will send a free copy of the book ‘George Verwer Collection’ to those who become partners)

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