Holiday Missions

By the time this issue of 'The Lighthouse' is in print, we will be approaching Autumn, the summer camps, holiday clubs and beach missions for hundreds of young people and children will have taken place and all the preparation, physical, spiritual and practical will be over for this year.

Hopefully, we have all been praying for the harvest of all these activities, but we do need to continue our prayer support for all aspects of the work, for the nurturing of all those who have made a commitment, for the ones that have maybe heard the message of Jesus for the very first time, for children who may have difficult home situations, for the ones who are perhaps deepening and strengthening their faith and looking towards becoming leaders themselves.  The choices for our continued prayer support for these young people are endless.

We must also keep up our encouragement and prayer for all those who plan, prepare and do the work before and during the camps, remembering always to give glory to God for the outcome of them.

As I write this report there is a paramount need for prayer for a solution to the war that is raging between Israel and Lebanon.  The television news shows us daily pictures of the devastation and atrocities being brought by the bombing and fighting, scenes which make our hearts ache for all those involved.

We must remember them all in our prayers, especially those who work with the Middle East Christian Outreach and all the other aid workers involved in trying to relieve the relentless suffering which always results from war, for the many thousands of refugees who have lost their families, homes and everything.  We must pray for a long term peaceful solution.

Our prayers can make a difference to the tremendous needs of millions who suffer worldwide from floods, famines, earthquakes and the cruelty of mankind to mankind, and in doing so we must remember to give heartfelt thanks that we are so very blessed here in the western world.

Tear Fund is a Christian based organisation which works in the world's poorest countries in Africa, Asia and Europe.  Their mission is to bring the gospel to those who are economically poor and powerless, to bring aid by providing grants for clean water supplies, sanitation, homes etc.  They provide experts to train people in health education, building skills, growing crops to help people create sustainable livelihoods.

Emergency relief is also provided in times of war, famine and natural disasters. They also provide support for Christians dealing with HIV/AIDS groups, street children and other 'at risk' children.

Tear Fund aid is all about aiding the poorest of the poor and seeing transformation in people's lives.  Their support comes mainly from evangelical churches, so we can do our part in prayer support, in our giving and by making purchases from the Tear Fund catalogue (which is available in the Church Lounge).

We have many demands on our time, finances and our prayer life, BUT we CAN do it!  Please let us all make a real concentrated effort to try and change situations by our own personal prayer times.

Barbara Ratcliffe

John Wesley In Colchester ­ (Part 1)

On Monday, October 16th 1758, John Wesley is just entering the City of Canterbury when his horse is struck violently on the leg by a sharp stone, causing the horse to fall and roll over him.  An honest barber coming out of his shop carried Wesley into his premises and gave him a glass of water, which instantly eased him.  Four days later he returns to London, having been absent for nearly eight months.  After resting another four days he makes his way to Maldon in Essex and on Friday, 27th October 1758:

'I rode on, through an extremely pleasant and fruitful country to Colchester.  I have seen very few such towns in England.  It lies on the ridge of a hill, with other hills on each side which run parallel with it at a small distance.   The two main streets, one running east and west, the other north and south, are quite straight, the whole length of the town, and full as broad as Cheapside.

I preached at four on St. John's Green at the side of a high old wall (a place that seemed to be made on purpose) to an extremely attentive audience, and again at eight in the morning of Saturday the 28th and at four in the afternoon.    In the hours between I took the opportunity of speaking to the members of the society.  In three months here are joined together a hundred and twenty persons.  A few of these know in whom they have believed, and many are sensible of their wants'.

The next day, Sunday the 29th, Wesley states at eight the congregation was very large and I believe God made His Work quick and powerful.  At four in the afternoon we had a Moorfields congregation.  Many of the baser sort stood at a distance, but they made no disturbance, knowing the magistrates are determined to suffer no riot in Colchester.  The next day Wesley rides off to Norwich.

On December 27th 1758 we find Wesley once again at Colchester, having reached there from Bury St Edmunds and recovering from sickness.  On Friday the 29th Wesley writes 'I found the society had decreased since Laurence Coughlan went away (an Irishman described as a very lively, zealous preacher, especially at Colchester) and yet they had had fall as good preachers.  But that is not sufficient.  By repeated experiments we learn that, though a man preach like an angel, he will neither collect, nor preserve a society which is collected, without visiting them from house to house.

Today I walked all over the famous castle, perhaps the most ancient building in England.  A considerable part of it is, without question, fourteen or fifteen hundred years old.  It was mostly built with Roman bricks, each of which is about two inches thick, seven broad and thirteen or fourteen long.  Seat of ancient Lugs British and Roman, once dreaded far and near.  But what are they now?  Is not a living dog better than a dead lion?  And what is it which they prided themselves, as do the present great ones of the earth?

   A little rule, a little sway.
   A sunbeam in a winter day,
   Is all the proud and mighty have
   Between the cradle and the grave'.

On Saturday, March 3rd 1759, we find John Wesley again in Colchester, having just recently had meetings with George Whitfield, Lady Huntingdon, Brother Charles and several other persons of quality.

We had a mild delightful day, and a pleasant ride to Colchester.  In the evening and on Sunday morning, the house contained the congregation tolerably well, but in the afternoon I was obliged to go out, and I suppose we had on St. John¹s Green five or six times as many as the room would contain.  Such is the advantage of field preaching.

Monday 5th.  On examining the society I found that out of the hundred and twenty six members I had left in October, we had lost only twelve, in the place of whom we have gained forty and many of these we left in sorrow and heaviness are now rejoicing in God their Saviour.  'And so he once more rides to Norwich.

On Tuesday, 20th March 1759, we find Wesley having a need to visit Colchester again very quickly.  I took horse between four and five in the morning.  The frost was extremely sharp for some hours, it was then a fair mild day.  About two in the afternoon it began to rain, but we reached Colchester before we were wet through.  The room was more than filled in the evening, so that many were obliged to go away.  Wednesday 21st I baptised seven adults, two of them by immersion, and in the evening (their own ministers having cast them out for going to hear the Methodists) I administered the Lord's Supper to them, and many others, whom their several teachers had repelled for the same reason.'

On Monday the 10th September 1759, we find Wesley calling in at Colchester whilst travelling from Norwich to London.  'We took horse at half hour after four.  Before eight it was as warm as it is usually at Midsummer and from ten we had the sun in our face all the way to Colchester, but we had the wind in our face too, or the heat would have been insupportable.  I was in a fever from the moment I came into the house, but it did not hinder me from preaching the Green' and afterwards meeting the society.  I then lay down as soon as possible but could not sleep a quarter of an hour till between two and three in the morning.  I do not know that I have lost a nights sleep before, sick or well, since I was six years old.  But it is all one.  God is able to give strength, either with sleep or without it.  I rose at my usual time and preached at five, without any faintness or drowsiness.'  Next day be proceeds to Dunmow.

The 22nd of December 1759 finds Wesley in Colchester once again and on the following day, 23rd December, he 'preached in the shell  of the new house.  It is twelve square and is the best building, of the size, for the voice that I know in England'.  Later occupied by the Castle Brewery in Maidenburgh Street.

After beginning a service at four o¹clock in the morning in Norwich, on the opening day of the year 1760, we find Wesley stopping again at Colchester on Saturday the 5th 'I preached in the evening at Colchester and on Sunday the 6th rode to Langham (seven miles from thence) in such a day as I have seldom known, the north-east wind was so exceedingly keen, and drove the sleet full in our face, but this did not discourage the people, who flocked from all quarters, and those who took such pains to come were not sent empty away'.

September 1761 again Colchester receives a visit from Wesley making his way from Yarmouth to London.  On Monday December 7th he takes a ride to Colchester and finds 'many of the brethren much alive to God'.

On February 21st 1762 again in Colchester he finds 'a quiet loving regular society', also calling in again  in March 1763 where there were 'no jars or contentions'.

Wesley is now absent from Colchester until October 25th 1763 and on arriving in Colchester from Bury St Edmunds he finds the company are not as they should be.  'I rode to Colchester and found a strange ferment in the society, occasioned by the impudence of ........... who had kindled a flame he could not quench and set every man's sword against his brother.  I found them all face to face, but to no purpose, they regarded neither Scripture nor reason.  But on Thursday evening at the meeting of the society, God was entreated for them.  The stony hearts were broken, anger, revenge, evil surmising, fled away.  The hearts of all were again united together and His banner over us was love'.  Wesley returns to London this time calling in at the little society at Braintree.

In December 1764 Wesley seems to make his only visit of that year to Colchester and none at all in 1765, but on January 20th 1766 we find Wesley coming from Norwich and staying overnight at the Copdock White Elm an inn on the A.12.  The building of which still stands, but which is now a private house.  Next morning, Tuesday, he arrives in Colchester where 'I found the society here slowly recovering from the mischief done by offence and disputing together.  I had great liberty of speech, both morning and evening and God seemed strangely to apply His Word.  Surely they will at length learn to hear one another's burdens, then will the desert rejoice, and blossom as the rose?'

On February, Monday 16th 1767, Wesley rides to Colchester and 'found more life there than for several years.  Why should we despair of seeing good done in any place?  How soon can God turn the wilderness into a fruitful field?'

John Wesley's entry in his Journal for Tuesday, 20th October 1767, reads 'I went to Colchester and spent three days very agreeably, among a quiet and loving people.  All their little misunderstandings are now at an end.  Yet they had not the life which they had once, a loss of this kind is not easily recovered'.

Well over a year passes by before we find on Monday, 13th February 1769, 'I rode to Colchester and had the satisfaction of seeing such a congregation, both this evening and the following, as I never saw in that house before'.

On Monday, 29th October 1770, Colchester receives a brief visit and on Monday, 4th November 1771 Wesley travels to Colchester in the stage coach where he finds two agreeable travelling companions, where hearts were open to instruction.

A whole year goes past before we find Wesley in Colchester again, Tuesday, 3rd November 1772.  'I went to Colchester.  The congregation in the evening was little smaller than that at Norwich.  The next evening I took an exact account of the society, a little increased since last November, but most of them were hard beset with poverty.  So they were indeed even since I knew them, but they are now in greater want than ever, through scarcity of business.  Few of our societies are rich, but I know none in the kingdom so deplorably poor as this'.

November, seemingly a favourite month for Wesley's visits to Colchester, we find him spending a day or two with much satisfaction 'among a poor, loving, simple-hearted people'. (Tuesday, 9th November 1773).  Monday, 27th November 1775 finds Wesley once again preaching in Colchester.

We now seemingly have a lapse of four years before we find Wesley in Colchester again (The first week of November 1779).  In those four years Wesley has visited both Scotland and Ireland and literally hundreds of other places, still including Norwich but travelling by coach now he seems to have been by-passing Colchester.  He also opens the New Church in the City Road during this period.

(To be continued in the next issue)

Compiled and submitted by John Bland.

Tanzania / Uganda - News Update

Well doesn't time fly when you are having fun. Michelle has commenced her new career by qualifying in Dec  05 as a nurse. She then got a job in the community and  recently resigned this role to take up a nursing post at Colchester's homeless shelter (www.beaconhouseministries.org.uk).  A job that she feels really blessed to have. (Michelle asks me to mention if anyone wants to visit the shelter or has any clothing, bedding. toiletries, dressings etc please do not hesitate to contact her as the beacon House is always in need of such donated items!

Anyway down to business.  During January 2006 people were still giving us donations and this led to a grand sum of £2888.  Of this £2500 was sent to Love in Action and after discussions with those who donated during January it was agreed that £388 would be sent to Steve and Rhodina who have a charity called Children in Need Outreach Tanzania and are in the process of building their 3rd orphanage.

Back to Uganda.  A new bit of land behind the original school has been purchased and the first classroom that includes classroom, library, office and kitchen is almost complete. The good news is that a separate toilet has also been built.  I just hope it is a long way from the main block as I remember what Ugandan toilets are like!!!

As part of the fund raising our good friends Launi and Tim made a very generous donation of £1000.  At the time they asked for some of the money they donated to be used for something fun for the children.  Michelle and I directed them to the Love Uganda website and they chose the 1 day trip to a safari park.  This was a wonderful choice as even though the children live in a country with wonderful wildlife most of them have not seen any of the animals.  In fact I recall having a conversation with a teenager while looking at a book and pointing our certain animals and they could not believe they could be found in Uganda.  Anyway the trip took place on the 26th May 2006.  The children were taken to Lake Mburo National Park where they saw zebras, water buffalo, monkeys, water bucks, ostrich, wart hogs, hippos and lots more!!!  We hope to have the opportunity to show you our original video and the video of the children on their trip to Lake Mburo in the coming months.

Anyway that is all for now - more updates as and when the building work is complete.  

Thank you all again for your kind support.

Simon & Michelle