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" Blessed are you, O Israel!
Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD?"
Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD?"
Deuteronomy 33:29 (NIV)
PERSONAL TESTIMONY
At 35 to the outside world I had a full and exciting life. I had a reasonable job, a loving partner, family and lots of friends. Materially I had experienced owning a sports car, designer clothes and had travelled to many countries, yet inside I felt empty.
During years of searching to fill this void I had visited spiritualists, clairvoyants and considered many faiths. Each seemed to give me something for a short while and I even believed many were real at the time. Sooner or later however the emptiness returned and I was once again left searching.
As a child I had attended Sunday School and had been taken to church at Christmas and Easter. I viewed Christianity, as a religion, which gave good moral values, yet was slightly ritualistic and based on rules and regulations. I had certainly never attended a church and heard anyone speak of having a personal relationship with the Lord,
In 2003 however in continuing my search I decided to explore Christianity once more and began attending my local C of E Church with Simon, who was later to become both a Christian and my husband!
At this time I was working alongside Mandy, my friend. Together, she and I had seemingly walked a similar spiritual quest for many years. So in 2003 we began our journey together to explore Christianity. We spent many hours debating all the typical questions creation versus evolution? Why do bad things happen? You get the picture! And as we haphazardly explored expecting nothing, there began an excitement between us as and a slow realisation that something was happening in our lives.
At this time Mandy began attending Stanway Evangelical Church with her husband, a saved Christian called Nigel. Simon was working on Sundays in London and since I did not feel comfortable attending our local church alone, I began visiting Stanway also.
As soon as I entered the Chapel I felt warmth , but more importantly for the first time I heard a message of Christ hanging on a cross and doing it personally for me. I left with more questions than I had arrived with. During the next weeks I wrestled with not needing the Lord and a sense that I wasn't going to give in without concrete evidence. As I continued to attend Stanway Chapel the Lord dealt with these feelings one by one. Each time we gave worship or the word was preached it was as if He was speaking to me personally, piercing through yet another layer of my defences.
On the morning I gave my life to the Lord I was listening to praise and worship on the God channel, preparing for work. The music was actually in the background, rather than for spiritual enlightenment. When the Lord stopped me in my tracks, as I listened to the worship I found my hands raised to the Lord (something I had never done before and had always been highly sceptical of when I had seen people in church doing it). Yet it was impossible at that moment for me to not. Tears rolled down my face, I experienced the pain and realisation that the Lord died personally for me and how unworthy that made me feel. At the same time an overwhelming sense of joy and peace entered my soul, one that I had never experienced before. The next moment I was on the floor asking forgiveness and the Lord into my life. In that instance I knew I would never be alone again and that the emptiness had gone.
From that day forward my life has been transformed. Being a Christian isn't always an easy path for me. Daily I battle my own selfish, fleshly will against the will of the spirit. Yet it's a battle that I participate in, with the solid faith that each small victory brings me closer to the Lord and despite the moments in every day that in word or deed I fail him. The Lord remains constant in his love for me and guides me forward.
In finding the Lord I am complete, I face each day with a joy that despite anything life throws at me He remains constant. I am never alone and have finally walked from the darkness into light.
Michelle Wilkinson
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD 2004
The benefit to a child of the gift of a shoebox can never be underestimated. Countless volunteers came together throughout the Region to bring such joy and satisfaction to children in Eastern Europe and Mozambique. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this massive voluntary effort.
This year for the first time we were operating as the Eastern Region of the Charity's new structure for the United Kingdom. As a Region we brought together approximately 120,000 shoeboxes and of those 87,090 were dispatched from the main warehouse in Chelmsford. A changing situation brought in more satellites and packing stations and this definitely helped to increase the total number of people that were able to process these large numbers.
Miraculously again Royal London Insurance helped us by the provision of a new warehouse in Chelmsford and the Ford Motor Company were able to provide
two new transit vehicles for collections. The generosity of these two Companies was invaluable. We would also like to thank the many other Companies that helped.
Every year we are amazed at the enthusiasm and commitment of all of our friends who come into the warehouse. A special thanks to all of you for coming so regularly with all the bags of fillers and enormous numbers of knitted items that contributed to making each box so special for a child.
Mozambique was added to our list this year and our first load went out there. The team who were distributing these said how grateful the children were for the quality of the gifts. It is such a blessing each year to work with so many people from different backgrounds to show the love of Christ in action and convey the true meaning of Christmas.
In the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus invited us to reach out to others in need and this Project is certainly one way of showing His love. On behalf of all those 87,090 children who you helped and brought such joy into their lives, many, many thanks.
Sheila Heaton & Colin Ridgewell, Joint Regional Managers
THE VALUE OF TIME
Take time to THINK... it is the source of power
Take time to PLAY... it is the secret of perpetual youth
Take time to READ... it is the fountain of wisdom
Take time to PRAY... it is the greatest power on earth
Take time to LOVE and BE LOVED... it is a God given privilege
Take time to BE FRIENDLY... it is the road to happiness
Take time to LAUGH... it is the music of the soul
Take time to GIVE... it is too short a day to be selfish
Take time to WORK... it is the price of success.
Jesus himself used to talk about valuing time. One of his most poignant stories was about a Farmer whose sole interest was creating wealth for himself, and showed a real lack of concern for others. (Luke 12:16-21). And yet his time was cut short in the most dramatic way that his selfish plans and ambitions were left unfulfilled. If only he had taken time for others as well as himself.
In our modern day if we can Take Time.... for others and not just ourselves, as described above, then apathy, selfishness and indifference and other sins might vanish overnight.
Time is just too valuable to waste. It¹s a gift to be used wisely and shared generously.
Taken from Sproughton & Burstall Community News
At 35 to the outside world I had a full and exciting life. I had a reasonable job, a loving partner, family and lots of friends. Materially I had experienced owning a sports car, designer clothes and had travelled to many countries, yet inside I felt empty.
During years of searching to fill this void I had visited spiritualists, clairvoyants and considered many faiths. Each seemed to give me something for a short while and I even believed many were real at the time. Sooner or later however the emptiness returned and I was once again left searching.
As a child I had attended Sunday School and had been taken to church at Christmas and Easter. I viewed Christianity, as a religion, which gave good moral values, yet was slightly ritualistic and based on rules and regulations. I had certainly never attended a church and heard anyone speak of having a personal relationship with the Lord,
In 2003 however in continuing my search I decided to explore Christianity once more and began attending my local C of E Church with Simon, who was later to become both a Christian and my husband!
At this time I was working alongside Mandy, my friend. Together, she and I had seemingly walked a similar spiritual quest for many years. So in 2003 we began our journey together to explore Christianity. We spent many hours debating all the typical questions creation versus evolution? Why do bad things happen? You get the picture! And as we haphazardly explored expecting nothing, there began an excitement between us as and a slow realisation that something was happening in our lives.
At this time Mandy began attending Stanway Evangelical Church with her husband, a saved Christian called Nigel. Simon was working on Sundays in London and since I did not feel comfortable attending our local church alone, I began visiting Stanway also.
As soon as I entered the Chapel I felt warmth , but more importantly for the first time I heard a message of Christ hanging on a cross and doing it personally for me. I left with more questions than I had arrived with. During the next weeks I wrestled with not needing the Lord and a sense that I wasn't going to give in without concrete evidence. As I continued to attend Stanway Chapel the Lord dealt with these feelings one by one. Each time we gave worship or the word was preached it was as if He was speaking to me personally, piercing through yet another layer of my defences.
On the morning I gave my life to the Lord I was listening to praise and worship on the God channel, preparing for work. The music was actually in the background, rather than for spiritual enlightenment. When the Lord stopped me in my tracks, as I listened to the worship I found my hands raised to the Lord (something I had never done before and had always been highly sceptical of when I had seen people in church doing it). Yet it was impossible at that moment for me to not. Tears rolled down my face, I experienced the pain and realisation that the Lord died personally for me and how unworthy that made me feel. At the same time an overwhelming sense of joy and peace entered my soul, one that I had never experienced before. The next moment I was on the floor asking forgiveness and the Lord into my life. In that instance I knew I would never be alone again and that the emptiness had gone.
From that day forward my life has been transformed. Being a Christian isn't always an easy path for me. Daily I battle my own selfish, fleshly will against the will of the spirit. Yet it's a battle that I participate in, with the solid faith that each small victory brings me closer to the Lord and despite the moments in every day that in word or deed I fail him. The Lord remains constant in his love for me and guides me forward.
In finding the Lord I am complete, I face each day with a joy that despite anything life throws at me He remains constant. I am never alone and have finally walked from the darkness into light.
Michelle Wilkinson
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD 2004
The benefit to a child of the gift of a shoebox can never be underestimated. Countless volunteers came together throughout the Region to bring such joy and satisfaction to children in Eastern Europe and Mozambique. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this massive voluntary effort.
This year for the first time we were operating as the Eastern Region of the Charity's new structure for the United Kingdom. As a Region we brought together approximately 120,000 shoeboxes and of those 87,090 were dispatched from the main warehouse in Chelmsford. A changing situation brought in more satellites and packing stations and this definitely helped to increase the total number of people that were able to process these large numbers.
Miraculously again Royal London Insurance helped us by the provision of a new warehouse in Chelmsford and the Ford Motor Company were able to provide
two new transit vehicles for collections. The generosity of these two Companies was invaluable. We would also like to thank the many other Companies that helped.
Every year we are amazed at the enthusiasm and commitment of all of our friends who come into the warehouse. A special thanks to all of you for coming so regularly with all the bags of fillers and enormous numbers of knitted items that contributed to making each box so special for a child.
Mozambique was added to our list this year and our first load went out there. The team who were distributing these said how grateful the children were for the quality of the gifts. It is such a blessing each year to work with so many people from different backgrounds to show the love of Christ in action and convey the true meaning of Christmas.
In the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus invited us to reach out to others in need and this Project is certainly one way of showing His love. On behalf of all those 87,090 children who you helped and brought such joy into their lives, many, many thanks.
Sheila Heaton & Colin Ridgewell, Joint Regional Managers
THE VALUE OF TIME
Take time to THINK... it is the source of power
Take time to PLAY... it is the secret of perpetual youth
Take time to READ... it is the fountain of wisdom
Take time to PRAY... it is the greatest power on earth
Take time to LOVE and BE LOVED... it is a God given privilege
Take time to BE FRIENDLY... it is the road to happiness
Take time to LAUGH... it is the music of the soul
Take time to GIVE... it is too short a day to be selfish
Take time to WORK... it is the price of success.
Jesus himself used to talk about valuing time. One of his most poignant stories was about a Farmer whose sole interest was creating wealth for himself, and showed a real lack of concern for others. (Luke 12:16-21). And yet his time was cut short in the most dramatic way that his selfish plans and ambitions were left unfulfilled. If only he had taken time for others as well as himself.
In our modern day if we can Take Time.... for others and not just ourselves, as described above, then apathy, selfishness and indifference and other sins might vanish overnight.
Time is just too valuable to waste. It¹s a gift to be used wisely and shared generously.
Taken from Sproughton & Burstall Community News
