From Niagara to Leicester

United Kingdom | OM Lifehope

It was a privilege to welcome the team of eight people from Niagara Christian Community of Schools to Leicester for a Global Challenge event, working with the Rivers of Life Fellowship.  The team consisted of two staff members from the school and six teens.  Helping from OM Lifehope was Sabrina from Switzerland. 
The main focus of the week was working with children in the community by running a three day after school club and a youth event.  Here is a summary of the highlights and activities for the week:

• The team took part in the Sunday services sharing testimonies, music and a drama all of which were received by the church.
• The team really enjoyed Asian hospitality and had a number of authentic Indian meals together.
• The team lead a thirty minute assembly in a Christian school with a focus on Canada.  They did some singing and drama for the children.
• Approximately 600 leaflets were given out door to door inviting children to the kid's club.
• Over the three days a total of 30 children came and really enjoyed the crafts, games and presentations that the team did.
• We had the opportunity to visit the William Carey Museum (Carey was founder of Modern day missions and was a pastor of a church in Leicester before pioneering missionary work in India).
• We got our hands dirty collecting 8 full bags of rubbish from the grounds around the church.  The church members really appreciated it.
• Although the attendance at the Friday evening youth had a low turnout, those that came were blessed.
• We were able to visit the national Space Centre on Leicester through the generosity of the church.

-    Brent Greiner (Outreach Co-ordinator from OM Lifehope)

Read what the team members said of their mission experience:

• "I learned how important my testimony can be in sharing the Gospel with people" - Sabrina
• "It was good to spend quality time with the teens in a different context (as I teach most of them at school back in Canada).  They were pretty cool kids!" - Andrew
• "I was encouraged to see how God used this team that was made up of so many different personalities and backgrounds." - Stacey
• "This week I felt I was able to use my spiritual gifts quite well in the various parts of the program". - Tony
• "I was challenged to look at the way I approach doing 'church' especially in understanding the importance of evaluating and adapting much of our Western Church Culture in order to be more international." - Mike
• "I felt so warmly accepted and welcomed by the people in the church (especially the children).  As I took the first step to go and talk to them, they really showed an interest in me as a person which was great!" - Samantha
• "This week I learned I am a lot braver than I thought.  I can be a strong woman of God because I have a Strong God living in me!" - Melissa
• "One thing I learned this week is how God takes pleasure in using weak and broken people to share his love with people who have rejected Him." – Erin

Stories of how Lives were changed:

"This was my first missions trip and really enjoyed working with the children at the kid's club.  I am glad I came!" - Stacey
“During one of the kid's clubs, I was asked to share the Gospel message.  Two boys were amazed when I told them that Jesus rose from the dead and they began to ask me all kinds of questions.  I loved telling them about Jesus (something I had never realized I liked doing).  Now I know that telling people about Christ is the greatest joy for me."
- Erin

“My time in Leicester was great, especially the fact that I was able to meet other Tamil speaking people.  I am hoping to return to Leicester later in the summer to visit them.  It was also great to re-connect with family members whom
I have not seen for more than 10 years." - Calvin

“During the time after our craft activity on Thursday, I had a talk with an 11 year old girl from the church.  She shared with me how another child at school had asked her about her best friend.  Even though she felt awkward, she replied honestly and said "Jesus".  Wow!  Her willingness to testify that Jesus was her best friend really spoke to me.  I was encouraged but also challenged to be more courageous in sharing about my relationship with Jesus with my friends." - Melissa

"The one event that really struck me was seeing and hearing the children respond to the name of Jesus.  I don't think I have ever heard children of that age so intrigued about Jesus - "He's alive!?  You can talk to him!?  You can hear him speak!?" 
I hope and pray that the words that we spoke will produce much fruit in these young lives." - Mike

"My experience with God is important when it comes to sharing the Gospel with others.  People are very touched by hearing true stories of people's personal encounters with God." - Sabrina

“It was so amazing to see how the children experienced God through our children's program.  It was great to see the children singing the songs and repeating back the memory verses that they had learned.  This week has been an incredible experience for me." - Tony

“This week I was blown away by the hospitality and love that I received from the people in the church who didn't know us. Seeing people care for us, bake for us, cook for us, talk to us, pray for us, open their homes to us and simply love us was an awesome experience!" – Melissa

Credit: OM Lifehope
© 2010 OM Lifehope