Lifehope - Europe Special Report

United Kingdom | OM Lifehope

• We had 38 Children registered for the Children's holiday Club - with an average daily attendance of 23. (It is worth noting that at least 20 of these children we have not had any previous contact with)
• Leaflets handed out - previously and during the week: approx 500
• Children who asked God to forgive them, give them good memories, be their special friend, or who opened the 'door' of their lives to Him... 11
• One child asked God specifically for a Spiderman outfit because he likes to fly!
• More telling was a letter to God from a 4 year old who said, "This is just for bad guys.”
• We had approximately 80 adults and children attend the Community Fun Day. (at some point during the day)
• Approx 40 youths and young adults attended the Youth Event -  200 leaflets handed out.

When God has other plans

"We were due to send another mission team to Tanzania this summer, but every key area was blocked. We realised that God was saying an obvious "no" to our plans and in early May we postponed our intended mission. Then out of the blue I received a telephone call from OM LifeHope asking if we could use a Summer Mission team this August. When dates and more importantly nationalities were discussed, my response was simple, "God you have got my attention!"

We had desired to run a Children's Holiday Club and have some extremely skilled childrens leaders, but being a small Church we didn't have the workers necessary to make it happen. Similarly we wanted to repeat a very successful community fun day - but the lack of workers became a block for the purposes of God.

We had tried multiple ways of Youth Evangelistic events during the previous four years, none of which were a resounding success. However, we optimistically believed that we were running out of ideas and approaches that did not work and would soon find God's!

The OM Team were as we expected, having had many over the years. Dedicated, fun, hard-working, willing to have a go, try anything, step out of their comfort zones and passionate about Jesus. They were the miraculous answer from God concerning oursituation. Because of these beautiful miracles from God, we were able to run an immensely fruitful children's holiday club, the impacting community fun day and an evangelistic youth event that was incredibly fruitful."  Gary Taverner

Here are some stories:

On Thursday we talked in the kids group about praying and a little girl said she didn't really pray.  The next day, after having written the letters to God we prayed together.  We asked who wanted to pray and this girl was the first girl who said immediately 'I want to pray!'  It was just awesome to see how God had worked in her heart through us!  (Stefanie Lenz - Germany)

In the youth programme I talked to someone who does not belong to the church but had joined the children's programme when he was a child.  I could see that this had had an impact on him and I had the opportunity to lead him a little bit closer to the Lord. (Roger Gotz – Switzerland)

In the prayer time with the children on Friday, one girl asked me about Jesus.  She said she understood that Jesus is God's son but she doesn't understand that he is God.  I had a very good talk with her. (Erika Mahler – Germany)

Almost everything was new for me so it was not always easy to take the next step – like talking to people in the streets, doing the balloon models, sharing one shower and bathroom, jumping like crazy, shouting, talking in front of non-christians about something personal (testimony).  But in all of that, God helped me through and cheered me up.  They all prayed for us too.  I am thankful to have done this in England.  It was a great time.  It was great to see the kids change in the week, to see a bit of the impact we made on the kids/youth.  God changed a lot of lives in this week. (Christin Klem – Germany)

There was a concert in the church and they asked me to share my testimony and sing two songs.  I cried a lot before the concert started and they prayed for me and said I could let it be.  But when the devil attacks so much, then I think it's God's way for me, and then I'll go for it. (Benjamin Gotz – Switzerland)

My relationship with God was renewed - to come back and just rely on God, to be in His presence and to let Him be in control. (Christin Klem – Germany)

I learnt to trust God more, especially in the case of my language problems.  I am now more ready so that God may use me to talk about him in another language and other countries. (Roger Gotz – Switzerland)

I learnt some things that I can use in my outreaches with the Turkish children and teenagers in Germany. (Erika Mahler – Germany)

This outreach strengthened my relationship with God.  My trust in him was, and is, growing more and more.  In the prayer night I really could feel God and my heart, which had been like a stone for some weeks, just broke free!  It is just awesome. (Stefanie Lenz – Germany)
One thing I really enjoyed was the kids club, seeing the joy of the kids, the fun they had, to see that they really got the message and seeing them writing 'I love you Jesus,' this was great! (Rebecca Eilebrecht – Germany)

Another highlight was being a clown during the Family Fun Day – making the kids smile, having fun with them and just giving them a good time.  It was so great to see the 12 year old kids coming, to see them joining in, singing songs and just enjoying their time.  It was great to bring a smile to people as a clown and to support the programme.  It was encouraging to see the church really working together with us. (Rebecca Eilebrecht – Germany)

Credit: OM Lifehope
© 2009 OM Lifehope