For those still wondering...
Green Street Green is the name of the village in which the church is at the heart. Who knows how they arrived at that name however many hundreds of years ago, but at least that's where the church's name comes from.
6.06.2007
Tuesday Jam
On Tuesday nights here at GSGBC the doors open for young people from the community to come and hang out. There's no other agenda than to give the 13-16 year olds a place to be and to build relationships with the friendly faces in the church. So there I was last evening with 30-40 kids running in and out of the church, playing pool, ping-pong, eating candy and pizza.
I've been learning that one of the biggest concerns among people in Orpington/Green St Green is the "threat" of young people wandering the streets. There seems to be a genuine prejudice among adults against kids. Certainly there is some justification for their fears; several youth have been caught vandalizing, painting graffiti, and assaulting people. It's gotten to the point, however, in which any time an incident occurs, the immediate conclusion is that it must have been one of the local youth, regardless of evidence.
Having recognized the problem (in fact, some of them were vandalizing GSGBC), Penny and her youth workers began to reach out to these kids to build relationships and give them a friendly place to be. Apparently, it's really been working. The kids know that they have a genuine advocate in Penny and according to the youth workers I talked to last night, the kids are much better behaved than they were 12-18 months ago.
Several people have asked me if we have any problems like this in America. It seems to me that we do have the same root problem - parents who pay little to no attention to their children - but it doesn't manifest itself in the same ways. I haven't heard much of suburban youth vandalizing and attacking in the way it's been reported to me here. Of course, we also have police on duty 24 hours a day, which is not the case here.
At any rate, it's great to see a church in the heart of the community addressing a real need that the civil agencies are powerless to change. And it's really making a difference in the lives of the young people who know nothing of Christ as well. Some have begun coming to church services as a result. Many have begun asking questions about who God is and what the church as and what the Bible says about things. Praise God that he's moving. Indeed he has established a city on a hill and a light on a lampost in GSGBC.
I've been learning that one of the biggest concerns among people in Orpington/Green St Green is the "threat" of young people wandering the streets. There seems to be a genuine prejudice among adults against kids. Certainly there is some justification for their fears; several youth have been caught vandalizing, painting graffiti, and assaulting people. It's gotten to the point, however, in which any time an incident occurs, the immediate conclusion is that it must have been one of the local youth, regardless of evidence.
Having recognized the problem (in fact, some of them were vandalizing GSGBC), Penny and her youth workers began to reach out to these kids to build relationships and give them a friendly place to be. Apparently, it's really been working. The kids know that they have a genuine advocate in Penny and according to the youth workers I talked to last night, the kids are much better behaved than they were 12-18 months ago.
Several people have asked me if we have any problems like this in America. It seems to me that we do have the same root problem - parents who pay little to no attention to their children - but it doesn't manifest itself in the same ways. I haven't heard much of suburban youth vandalizing and attacking in the way it's been reported to me here. Of course, we also have police on duty 24 hours a day, which is not the case here.
At any rate, it's great to see a church in the heart of the community addressing a real need that the civil agencies are powerless to change. And it's really making a difference in the lives of the young people who know nothing of Christ as well. Some have begun coming to church services as a result. Many have begun asking questions about who God is and what the church as and what the Bible says about things. Praise God that he's moving. Indeed he has established a city on a hill and a light on a lampost in GSGBC.
6.04.2007
First Sunday
Yesterday was my first Sunday at GSGBC. The congregation is small but full of the Holy Spirit, a welcome sight. I introduced myself at both the morning service and the evening coffeehouse service.
A funny story to pass on:
In the morning service John Pressdee was preaching after I had introduced myself to the congregation. To illustrate the point that we needed to rest in God's promises, John began to sit down on one of the brand new American made chairs the church had just gotten. As he went to sit, however, he stopped himself and just sort of squatted over the chair, straining to hold his position. Just as we often question God's ability to support us, John questioned the chair: "I don't know if I can trust this chair. It's American, you know." I nearly yelled out at that point, saying "The Americans have saved your behind once before, John."
When I told this to John after the service, he burst out laughing and said I should have done it. It's nice to know that the congregation has a sense of humor.
A funny story to pass on:
In the morning service John Pressdee was preaching after I had introduced myself to the congregation. To illustrate the point that we needed to rest in God's promises, John began to sit down on one of the brand new American made chairs the church had just gotten. As he went to sit, however, he stopped himself and just sort of squatted over the chair, straining to hold his position. Just as we often question God's ability to support us, John questioned the chair: "I don't know if I can trust this chair. It's American, you know." I nearly yelled out at that point, saying "The Americans have saved your behind once before, John."
When I told this to John after the service, he burst out laughing and said I should have done it. It's nice to know that the congregation has a sense of humor.
6.02.2007
Biggin Hill
Just so you know, I did my first ministry related activity two nights ago. The church is trying to start a young adults group, which Penny and I will be leading. Thursday night we got together at the Pressdee's house with the young people to have dinner and discuss what the group will look like to start with. We'll be working through a basics of Christianity course that John and Yvonne wrote several years ago. It's similar to Alpha. They all seem like fairly normal teens.
Today I went to Biggin Hill, the last British airfield before London. This was where the Battle of Britain was won. They were staging an airshow today that featured many WW2 aircraft from Britain and America as well as many of Britain's current fighters. The most amazing part of the show was the appearance of the Red Arrows, the RAF's version of the Blue Angels. Hopefully, I'll have pictures up soon.
Cheers!
Today I went to Biggin Hill, the last British airfield before London. This was where the Battle of Britain was won. They were staging an airshow today that featured many WW2 aircraft from Britain and America as well as many of Britain's current fighters. The most amazing part of the show was the appearance of the Red Arrows, the RAF's version of the Blue Angels. Hopefully, I'll have pictures up soon.
Cheers!
5.31.2007
Day 1: Still Tired from the Move...
I've made it here safely now. It's been a bit of an adventure, but I'm doing well. Here are the highlights.
Flying standby proved to be worthwhile as the flight was so empty I was placed in business class, which proved to be advantageous because...
By the time our plane was third in line for take off and ready to go, a passenger had an anxiety attack and we had to return to the gate and refuel. Three hours later, we took off. But that turned out to be a blessing because...
By leaving at 9:00 instead of 6:00, it was easier to fall asleep on the plane after dinner. By the time we arrived at 9:00 am local time, I had slept 3 or 4 hours.
I met Penny, the youth pastor, and John and Yvonne, the pastors, and several others from the church. Everyone seems quite nice.
I met my host family: Maynard and Joan and their grown kids Anna and Jon. Another daughter - Jude - lives up the road. They have been very kind and welcoming, so it's been a joy to be here so far.
Thanks for your prayers, everyone. Perhaps I'll take my camera out soon and take some photos to share.
Flying standby proved to be worthwhile as the flight was so empty I was placed in business class, which proved to be advantageous because...
By the time our plane was third in line for take off and ready to go, a passenger had an anxiety attack and we had to return to the gate and refuel. Three hours later, we took off. But that turned out to be a blessing because...
By leaving at 9:00 instead of 6:00, it was easier to fall asleep on the plane after dinner. By the time we arrived at 9:00 am local time, I had slept 3 or 4 hours.
I met Penny, the youth pastor, and John and Yvonne, the pastors, and several others from the church. Everyone seems quite nice.
I met my host family: Maynard and Joan and their grown kids Anna and Jon. Another daughter - Jude - lives up the road. They have been very kind and welcoming, so it's been a joy to be here so far.
Thanks for your prayers, everyone. Perhaps I'll take my camera out soon and take some photos to share.
5.28.2007
Initial Prayer Requests
OK, so I leave for England tomorrow evening. I'm both excited and nervous. I wanted to quickly jot down some prayer requests before I leave.
1. I'm flying standby, and although things look good right now for me getting on the flight, please pray that I do get a seat and get off safely.
2. Pray that I arrive safely and meet up with youth pastor Penny, who's picking me up from the airport.
3. Pray that my initial meetings with people at the church and with my host family would be a blessing to all of us. Pray that fast connections and firm friendships be made quickly.
Thanks everyone. Cheers!
1. I'm flying standby, and although things look good right now for me getting on the flight, please pray that I do get a seat and get off safely.
2. Pray that I arrive safely and meet up with youth pastor Penny, who's picking me up from the airport.
3. Pray that my initial meetings with people at the church and with my host family would be a blessing to all of us. Pray that fast connections and firm friendships be made quickly.
Thanks everyone. Cheers!
5.11.2007
Thanks to Everyone
The way I figure, this will be the best way to keep people informed of my activities while I'm in England this summer, that is, if I remember to post regularly. Hopefully, I will remember to do that.
To start off, I need to post a hearty "thank you" to everyone who has helped to support me on this trip. Without your financial and prayer support, there is no way I could possibly get to England. So thank you all so very much. I am exceptionally thankful.
For those who might be interested, I'll be available through email and by post. My address is posted below. I hope to hear from you.
Mike McKinniss
c/o Maynard and Joan Newman
45 North Drive
Orpington, Kent
BR6 9PG
To start off, I need to post a hearty "thank you" to everyone who has helped to support me on this trip. Without your financial and prayer support, there is no way I could possibly get to England. So thank you all so very much. I am exceptionally thankful.
For those who might be interested, I'll be available through email and by post. My address is posted below. I hope to hear from you.
Mike McKinniss
c/o Maynard and Joan Newman
45 North Drive
Orpington, Kent
BR6 9PG
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)