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Deadline for submissions for the next copy of the Lighthouse Magazine is Sunday 8th August 2010

So last issue I spoke about being relevant in Fellowship and this issue was meant to be about being relevant in our outreaching. However my blackberry mobile phone buzzed (buzz, buzz) on Monday 12th April 2010 at 18:35  and with technology these days being so advanced an email came through to me from Sharon and Ray, part of it said;

Everyone knows you as Catherine's boyfriend, but a lot of people do not know what you do, how you started coming to Church and how things are for you now.

So I put hold on writing about being relevant in our outreaching and begun to think about what I do, how I started coming to Church and thinking about how my life has changed now. So let’s start.

I had just begun working my second year as a Holiday entertainer, three weeks into my new contract I thought I’d deserved a well earned weekend break back home as it was my brother’s 20th birthday. So I packed my bags and got the train back to Colchester. The sun was shining down, the sky looked like a blue slush puppy and life was good, complete (or that’s what I thought).

I arrived back to Colchester and saw family and friends on the Friday evening. The Saturday evening brought about the celebrations of my brother’s 20th birthday and we all dressed up as our favourite movie stars. I decided on dressing up as Maverick from Top Gun, with full jumpsuit and aviator glasses. On that evening I met a girl called Catherine Elizabeth Scott and I liked her a lot, she was very different to a lot of other girls, and the following week I was to find out why. I really wanted to get to know Catherine more so I asked Catherine if it would be okay to stay in contact so we could get to know each other better, but who was I kidding. I was going back to the holiday resort the next day and I’d be living there for the rest of the year nearly 150 miles away, there was no way we could be Boyfriend and Girlfriend. But something was telling me that there was a possibility this would work out good. I asked Catherine for her digits (telephone number) and played it cool by saying I’d text her in a few weeks to tell her how I was. 20 minutes later I sent her a text telling her I really liked her.

I began my journey back to the holiday resort and the sky was grey and the rain was pouring down, very different to my last journey on a train. Half way back I discovered from a phone call from somebody at the holiday resort that my accommodation that I’d just moved into had been flooded due to waves towering over the sea wall and soaking everything in its way. All my personal belongings got covered in salty sea water mixed with sewage from the overflowing drains. I had no wellington boots when I eventually got to the resort as I’d just come from sunny Colchester, so changed my flip flops for bin bag liners to use as wellington boots so that I’d be able to wade through the water to get to my bedroom to begin sorting out my saturated clothing and other personal belongings. The holiday resort had to close due to the damage, which left me with no job. I had to go back to Colchester, but this wasn’t such a bad thing, I begun to see Catherine more and more that week, and entered a building which was not familiar to me, especially at 10:45am on a Sunday morning.

I was going to Church on Sunday mornings and actually enjoying it, actually noticeably becoming a different person, I felt like I was being cleansed. I stopped swearing immediately when I started Church and wanted to get involved in Church activities like soup run and Subzero.

A few months into going to Stanway Evangelical Church I got infectious mononucleosis, which is a viral infection that's caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. Okay many of you may be thinking right now  “Wow Dale sounds very clever from what he just wrote”

Sadly I just copied and pasted that off Wikipedia. But In my words I had the worst sore throat I’d ever had which later I found out to be Glandular Fever, I was tired all the time and achy! And I had an 8 mile race a week later which I really wanted to complete for Marie Curie Cancer Care – what was I going to do. I went to the doctors and asked if he thought it was safe to run. Doc said no and that I’d be in bed for the next three weeks at least. I was devastated, I really wanted to run that race.

At my lowest point when my Glandular Fever was at its worst, and I was feeling sad that I couldn’t run the race for Marie Curie I said to Jesus,

‘Come into my life, I do, I do, I do believe in you’

That Sunday morning on the race day I ran 8 miles for Marie Curie Cancer Care. The Glandular fever had left my body, I was healed. I don’t think the Doctor saw that one coming!

Since then I’ve continued helping the team on Monday nights run Subzero, and love every 1st Tuesday of the month taking up our turn to serve food and drink to people in Colchester who are in need of a little extra help.

I’m learning every day more and more about the faith and growing slowly but gradually into somebody that Jesus would give thumbs up to.  Recently I’ve been concentrating on developing  myself as a Christian DJ where I play beautiful, chilled, eclectic and soulful sounds from Christian and secular artists. My vision is to join up the musical dots between Christian and Secular music. And it’s amazing how much secular music the Lord has sent my way, most of it has been true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. So I do ask you to pray that the Lord will allow me when I DJ to reach out to those who haven’t yet experienced the love and presence of the Lord in a relevant way, and help out those who have came to know the Lord already with sparks of excitement in seeing lives changed. Keep up-to-date with my Christian DJ going on’s atwww.twitter.com/daleohconnollyI finish this article with some lyrics from a Secular song by Juan McClean – Happy House

“You Brought Home To This Happy House, You’re The Reason For The Width Of My Smile, You Still Held Me Near When I Was Far Away, Waiting For Our Sunny Day”

Dale Connelly

Sizewell Hall

Church Weekend

12th - 14th November 2010

Speaker

Alistair Patterson

Application form /

Further details

Eric & Judy Blowes

Dale’s Testimony

Money, Possessions & Eternity

This book by Randy Alcorn is without a doubt one of the most extensive expositions of biblical standards for our use of money. Randy writes in a simple, yet authoritative style, constantly backing up his views with scripture and often uses stories to explain his point. He deals with issues such as tithing, inheritance and even gives suggestions as to how parents can teach their children to use money in a way that is God honouring. It will leave you with a clear understanding of what God expects and helps us to grow into the good stewards he wants us to be.                 

Taming the Tiger

Taming the Tiger tells the amazing true story of Tony Anthony, a Kung Fu world champion caught in a downward spiral, only to be freed by the Grace of God. The book is an awe-inspiring tale of how God can change a man from a killer into a soul winner. Tony’s story is a story that will encourage and challenge Christians and Non-Christians alike.

There is a children’s version available called Cry of the tiger, this is the same story minus the scary parts!

Click to download a full PDF copy of the

Lighthouse

Now 7 months into my gap year with CYO my schedule is getting busier and busier. It’s a good job that I love what I do! I’ve been given so many opportunities already, and they just keep coming.

At the moment, my time is mainly spread across two projects. The first is that I am now a Colchester Sixth Form College Chaplain, and although that may sound impressive, it’s definitely been the most scary and challenging experience that I have faced so far. Having just left the college last year made it quite a daunting task to go back, and to take my new role with me. However, don’t worry - although being the chaplain has thrown me out of my comfort zone, I am learning so much and being constantly encouraged while working there.  God is really showing me how He can use me in situations that I would never have dreamed of attempting!

Another existing venture that I am involved in is “Beloved”. This is a five week after-school course run by myself and my colleague Amy. We meet up with a group of 12 girls and look into issues such as self-esteem, self-image and body confidence. The sessions are fun and girly but also a chance to be open and honest about the struggles and pressures that we face as girls.

I would like to again thank the church and individuals who support and pray for me - your love and encouragement is such a blessing. Please pray for CYO and our work with schools; colleges and youth workers - your prayers are incredibly valuable.

Rachel @ CYO

Book Reviews