Soup and Roll is a community outreach event held every Thursday at Guisborough Methodist Church. Here locals come to enjoy a nice lunch with soups, sandwiches and cakes. Our team helped prepare food, serve the tables and sit and talk with many who attended.

One local whom I have enjoyed getting to know the past years is a lady named Claire. She has many stories about growing up in Britain during World War II. Her father was killed during the war, shortly afterward her mother passed away, and she had to go live with her uncle. She talks about her family never losing faith during all of the hard times during and after the war. I asked her if her faith was shaken, and she said “no”! She tells people she knows that God is at work in her life because all of the answered prayers over the years. I don’t think I’ve met anyone that truly lives out Hebrews 11:1 with such conviction given her circumstances.

Thursday afternoon we held a beach side service at Saltburn By The Sea.  Several of the local kids and youth came, and we celebrated with song, devotion and communion on the shore of the North Sea.

We began Friday by attending Morning Prayer at St. Nicholas. This is the local Church of England parish church, and was officiated by the Rev. Luke Tillett, my host during our stay on Guisborough.

Later we hiked up Roseberry Topping (a small mountain to us delta people) and held a prayer service and communion overlooking all of the Tees Valley. Mike Taylor of UK-USA ministries talked specifically on Ezekiel 37:1-14, his calling to ministry in the area, and prayer for a similar kind of revival in North Yorkshire. It is quite a humbling experience to have the view of the valley for miles and be in fervent prayer for all of the wonderful people of which only ten percent even acknowledge the existence of God.

We wrapped up our time in Guisborough with the Friday afternoon football cage in Westgate Park, and Friday youth night at the Methodist Church.

I give thanks for all the friends we have made over the past three years!  Many thanks to our host families, to Shona Joselin and Jenni Tyrie who work for Guisborough Bridge Association, and to Dai Bickham for driving the GCF bus for our team! You guys are truly the hands and feet of Christ.  I also want to say special thanks to some of the Guisborough youth who I’ve gotten to know over the past three years. They served as my “guards” as I walked the streets, and made sure I got back home safely late in the evenings. Jack Dodsworth, Aaron Booth, Aaron Spruell, Jacob Pitts and Thom Dodsworth, you guys are great! I thank God for you, and pray blessings over you and your families.

Saturday morning we left for London, and closed out our trip Sunday evening with a Service of Holy Communion at St. Paul’s Cathedral. It was a special service since it was Pentecost Sunday, and we were reminded how empowered we are with the Holy Spirit to go spread The Gospel.

I thank God for this years team, our safe travels, and our friends in England. I ask that you join each of us in continued prayer for our friends in North Yorkshire!

Peace

It’s been a full two days here in North Yorkshire since my last post. On Tuesday, June 3, our team began by serving at Sunnyfield House for coffee morning and food stop. Here people from the community come and enjoy tea and biscuits, and a time of fellowship. If they are in need of any food items, then they are provided with those as well.

After a quick lunch at the church we were off to Galley Hill School to lead years 5 & 6 in afternoon class. This time the team performed three parable skits, and then split into two groups rotating with each class.

Later in the day we went to an after school club at Sleights Court on the other side of Guisborough. Here we entertained around twenty five underprivileged children with a skit, games, crafts and a dance competition.

In the evening we joined the community at Costa on high street for Cafe Church. This has been a great way to go outside the walls of the church and bring The Gospel into the community. Costa is like our Starbucks only bigger, and they welcome people once a month for a time of worship and message. Nate Russell played guitar and sang with another gap year worker while Nate Gentry provided percussion on the bongo drums. After we introduced our team, Nate Russell gave his powerful testimony demonstrating to the people of Guisborough the many ways God has walked with him through life.

On Wednesday, June 4, all of the guys went to the Kemplah assisted living home and served the elderly of the community, while the girls worked on decorations for the upcoming Methodist church Summer Holiday (VBS). Our guys loved getting to know the senior adults and participated in chair exercises, dominoes and, of course, tea and biscuits. They set tables, served lunch, and were the hands and feet of Christ to some very special people.

After lunch we were off to Galley Hill school for a repeat of the previous day’s agenda with Years 3 & 4. Year 4 students were particularly attentive, and had many critical thinkers. We were bombarded by this class with many different, difficult theological questions. One student was Muslim and asked a couple of questions. Some were bold in telling us their beliefs. Another boy said he could never support religion because of science and the way religious people fight all the time. One girl believes in reincarnation. Another girl said that her mother told her we would die and come back as an animal. Many questions and many opinions showed us how far apart we all are in our thought processes. Everyone was very respectful, with the experience leaving an indelible impression on our youth.

After school a drop in for games was held back at the Methodist church. Then, after dinner Amy, Cody, gap year worker Lindsey and myself went to the town of Loftus to work with some local kids, while the rest of the group stayed at the Methodist church and led the Iron Men and Girls Wednesday night groups.

Loftus is an experience I have enjoyed during my time here. We have made so many connections over the last three years, and the kids look forward to “the Americans” coming. Loftus is an area that has suffered economically over the years with an extremely high governmental assistance population. Dai and Cath Bickham have been instrumental in developing this once a week fun evening for the kids. It gives them a chance to relax, have fun and learn something about God’s Word.

After games, snacks and a trivia match between the UK kids and USA, we returned to Guisborough. I closed the evening attending a house group meeting at the home of Dave and June Mattches.

As I reflect on the last couple of days, I am reminded of how difficult it is to share your faith in a world with so many beliefs. At home in the South, we take our Christian walk so much for granted because so many people believe like we do. Over here we are reminded that many do not share our views, and are continually moving further away from God’s truth. Everyone is on a journey, searching for meaning in their life. We believe that in Christ you fine that meaning, The Way. Some will find it. Many will not. That’s why the great commission should stir all of us into action. Too many lives are hanging in the balance. Go make!

Peace

Monday, June 2

We began the day traveling to the town of Skelton speaking to Year 6 students at Skelton Primary School. British schools differ from American schools in that Years 1-6 are considered Primary. Years 7-11 are listed as Secondary schools. Years 12 and 13 are called College, and after that University. Year 1 is the same as our Kindergarten, so we were talking to the equivalent of our 5th grade students.

Our team performed a skit based on the Parable of the House Built Upon the Sand/Rock. Then we split into two groups and had discussion with each section of the class. Half of the team led discussion on American culture while the other half led talks on the parable. I participated in the Bible discussion with Nate Gentry, Amy and Kade, while Nate R., Sarah P, Shelby, Will and Cody wowed them with American pop culture.

As had been the case in the past, very few kids knew anything about the Bible. I was encouraged by the second group we were involved in. There were four kids that knew something about Jesus, and could tell you why we celebrate Christmas and Easter, but the rest were clueless. All of the kids were attentive, and we led them through not only the meaning of the skit parable, but talked about the Gospel as well.

During their lunch period we hung out with them on the playground. As usual, they love to be around our youth, and everyone had five or six British kids surrounding them asking all kinds of questions.

We served the afternoon back in Guisborough at Westgate Park with the football (soccer) cage and Spikeball being the two main attractions. During this time kids walk through the park after school, and stop by for a quick two on two game and to hang out with our youth. It’s a great way to connect with them on a personal level.

The day ended with our Getwell guys and several local guys congregating at one of the host homes and playing the game of Risk. Sarah P, Amy and I participated in a house group which was studying Acts 2. We had a fantastic time of discussion and prayer in which we were reminded of Christ great love and sacrifice for us.

And as I reflect on the day, I see so many of the kids faces we came in contact with. They are so amazing, with so many gifts and talents. But 99% of them have no clue as to our human condition. They understand right and wrong, but haven’t grasped the concept of our sinful state. And since they don’t understand sin, they don’t even begin to understand the need for a savior. That’s why we are here. I pray that through us they begin to come to that understanding. I pray for them, and I ask you to do the same.

Peace