It’s exciting to be taking our Sunday services to the TSB Hub for the next six weeks.  What’s more exciting though is that God is moving among us in MANY areas.  He is busy stretching and growing us for His Kingdom work!

Over the past few weeks we’ve seen people come to faith; we’ve made connections with a number of new people searching for truth; we’ve started up an Alpha course “out of the blue” with plenty of interest; we’ve seen increased interest in Local and Global mission through our new “Taste of…” events; we’ve made the bold move to worship in a different location; we’ve started “Café Church” -  a new kind of Church gathering that we’d love to see continue regularly...and more!

How do we respond when we see good things happening?  Well, we can sit back and say, “wow, that’s cool” and just let it pass us by; we can get upset that there is change, start moaning about what is happening, and glorify what “used to be”; or we can embrace what God is doing right here and now, and join Him in it.

I think that embracing what God is doing is really the only choice for a faith community like us—after all, we call ourselves “followers of Jesus”!  It’s essential that we partner with Him and follow His leading. 

So, how do we do that? It is important that we all get involved, at least in a small way, in something that stretches us beyond our comfort zone. It is important that we identify, and start working in, the unique gifts and ministry that God has given us individually.  It is important that we are able to help one another out, and encourage each other on the journey.

What will be next for us as a Church?  What happens after the trial at the Hub?  How about the Furlong, is that it? We don’t know for sure, but wouldn’t it be awesome if we saw a move of God here in Hawera that is greater than anything we have ever seen before? Wouldn’t it be amazing to be part of something big that God is doing right here and now!

Make sure you’re ready, because God is on the move!

This past week I have been talking to everyone who cares to listen, about being on the move.  As a Church we are physically moving our Sunday services (on a 6-week trial basis) down to the  TSB Hub.  This is a significant step, however it’s only a small glimpse into the moving and shaking that God is doing right now among us.

There really are a lot of things moving at this time.  Over the past few weeks I have seen movement: in attitudes; in willingness to participate; in accepting Christian living; in opportunities; in friendships and relationships.

The truth is that God is moving in this place and the challenge for us is how we respond to it.  Are we going to go with what God is doing? Or are we going to stick our feet in the mud and hinder the Kingdom work that He is busy with in, around and through us?

We need to be prayerful!  Friends—we need to pray!

This weeks prayer and self denial focus is on prayer, and it’s significance for us and the world.  As we pray, we partner with God as He moves.  As we pray, we come alongside others who need to see God move in their lives.  As we pray, we see the resources of heaven poured out into the hearts and lives of the people God is at work in.  As we pray God deals with us too.

Movement is a funny thing...sometimes it gets you to a destination, other times it just feels like it causes nausiation!  But the kind of move of God that we desire to see, “5% Kingdom impact by 2020”, is a wonderful target for our progress as a community of faith.  Yes, there will be gut wrenching times, but God is here and he is on the move. 

Will we join Him?