Street Training in the UK |
Dates for next missions in UK:
TBC |
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On the streets in Milton Keynes, England, 2022
Invited by an EEI participant, Ibrahim, who experienced some 'Red Box' style evangelism as part of an EEI weekend in September was keen to involve his home church (Life International Christian Fellowship) and share Christ on the streets. In November, a small team from K180 (Gareth, Rob and Matt) led some training in the morning, focussed on equipping the dozen or so people from the church who had given up their Saturday, for Gospel conversations on the streets. After a bite of lunch, we drove to Bletchley and had an hour on the streets. A couple of young people from the church shared testimony on the box, including Ibrahim, and many heard the Gospel, including a few who received prayer from team members. Ibrahim is keen to raise up a team from the church and to be regularly on the streets. We hope to support them again in the near future. |
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On mission in Blackpool, England, 2019
A K180 team made up of EEI evangelists and our KSchool students headed to arguably England’s most famous seaside resort, Blackpool. After our first visit in September 2018, we again were privileged to work alongside St John’s Church in the town centre in street outreach and some evangelism training. On Friday, we served at the Hive cafe in the centre which hosted an acoustic Gospel gig put on by Revelation Daze, Keith & Jenny. Gareth and Emma also sang a few songs and Lorna (from EEI) shared testimony. That evening, we went down to the promenade to proclaim the Gospel and invite passersby to the Sunday morning service and Sunday evening evangelistic concert. On Saturday, we led an evangelism training workshop in the morning, and although rainy weather meant that we had to change our plans, we were able to go out and prayer walk the centre in groups. After dinner, the skies cleared up and we had a blessed outreach in the shadow of the Blackpool Tower, with many stopping to listen to the preaching of the Gospel and being engaged in conversation. On Sunday morning some of the team shared testimony and Gareth preached the Gospel with about 6 people raising their hands to indicate their response to the Gospel appeal. We went out again to the streets in the afternoon where one man, named S*, stopped to hear the Gospel and spoke with several team members. He prayed a prayer of commitment, gave his life to the Lord, and was introduced to some of the church members at St John’s. In the evening, the team were part of the evangelistic concert, featuring Revelation Daze, at a local pub where the Gospel was shared through song, testimony and a short message. There was a great turnout at the pub, including some who had been invited on the streets. We give thanks to God for a fruitful and encouraging weekend labouring alongside the faithful team at St John’s. Team member Emma recalls a moment from the mission: |
Blackpool Team, 2019
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On Saturday, I was able to speak with a teenage girl struggling with depression and family issues. I got to share my testimony with her, and tell her about the joy that is found in Jesus! She heard the whole gospel, took some tracts, and prayed with me before she left. The next day, I saw her unexpectedly while walking down the street! We talked for a little bit, and I invited her to St. John’s one more time. It gives me so much hope to recognise God sovereignly bringing her to meet us at the outreach, and then to see her again! Even though we didn’t see her give her life to Christ that weekend, I believe that God is working in her heart! |
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On mission in Elgin, Scotland, 2018
In September, K180 brought a team back to the Highlands of Scotland after being invited back by Elgin Community Church. Pastor Manuel had asked us to focus the weekend on reaching out to young people. We were able to do some prayer walking in the city after our arrival on Friday and have a look around the church’s new building which has recently been renovated. Saturday began with an evangelism training morning on how to share the Gospel with young people. After lunch and a short street evangelism briefing, a large group of us from the morning’s session headed to the streets. Though there were not many people stopping to listen to the music and preaching, the team had many Gospel conversations as a result of the outreach. Everyone who came out, many for the first time, left encouraged. After the outreach, we climbed Lady Hill again, overlooking the city, for a time of worship and prayer. Saturday evening was planned to be an evangelistic youth event, though owing to different factors, it didn’t happen in the way we thought it would. We had a blessed time instead praying for the youth ministry team which was coming together. On Sunday, the team shared during the church’s morning service and then made our way down to Aberdeen to share at the Tamil Congregation’s afternoon service, during which four people indicated first time commitments to Christ. It was exciting to see how God is raising up a youth ministry team at Elgin Community Church to begin to reach out to the young people of Elgin. We were able to pray for those who felt called to this, encourage and get alongside them as the weekend went on. We thank God for what He’s doing in Elgin, and look forward with anticipation at the new work the Lord will do among the unsaved youth of the city. Please pray for open doors for the Gospel in Elgin, even in the schools. |
Team photo (L-R): Jenny, Scott, local believers Bernadette and Richard, Heather, Lenin, Gareth, and Pastor Manuel
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On mission at The Edinburgh Festival, 2018
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Dates for next visit to The Edinburgh Festival:
TBC |
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival takes over the Scottish Capital for pretty much the whole month of August every year. This summer, at the invitation of our friends at the Heralds Trust, based in Livingston, K180 brought a small team to labour alongside Robert Bell (leader of Heralds Trust) and some of his team in sharing the Gospel during the last week of the festival.
We set up a daily ‘Street Cafe’ next to the Wellington Statue on Princes Street in the city centre, where we offered passersby a free hot drink (tea, coffee or hot chocolate) and asked them where they were at on their ‘spiritual journey’. Though there was some indifference, we found that almost everyone was willing to talk about spiritual things. Dozens of John’s Gospels were given out and many people received prayer. On the final afternoon, a Scottish man named S* approached the table. Despite his challenge of being homeless, a team member was able to share with him about the forgiveness and eternal peace found through faith in Jesus Christ. When asked if there was anything stopping him from saying ‘yes’ to Jesus, S* replied that there wasn’t and that he wanted to pray a prayer of commitment to the Lord there on the street. We were able to introduce him to Rob who, in turn, pointed him in the direction of some local city centre evangelical churches, some of which he was already familiar with. He left the Street Cafe table with his own copy of John’s Gospel.
We also brought a collapsible ‘red step/stool’ with us that deputised well in the absence of a red box for an outreach on Princes Street on one of the evenings.
The team were also able to receive teaching from the Heralds Trust team through mornings at their ‘Gospel Academy’, being refreshed in the area of Apologetics with Ian Leitch. It was a great week with the Heralds Trust team, with such a great opportunity to share the Gospel during the Festival. We are planning to bring a team up to Edinburgh again next summer.
We set up a daily ‘Street Cafe’ next to the Wellington Statue on Princes Street in the city centre, where we offered passersby a free hot drink (tea, coffee or hot chocolate) and asked them where they were at on their ‘spiritual journey’. Though there was some indifference, we found that almost everyone was willing to talk about spiritual things. Dozens of John’s Gospels were given out and many people received prayer. On the final afternoon, a Scottish man named S* approached the table. Despite his challenge of being homeless, a team member was able to share with him about the forgiveness and eternal peace found through faith in Jesus Christ. When asked if there was anything stopping him from saying ‘yes’ to Jesus, S* replied that there wasn’t and that he wanted to pray a prayer of commitment to the Lord there on the street. We were able to introduce him to Rob who, in turn, pointed him in the direction of some local city centre evangelical churches, some of which he was already familiar with. He left the Street Cafe table with his own copy of John’s Gospel.
We also brought a collapsible ‘red step/stool’ with us that deputised well in the absence of a red box for an outreach on Princes Street on one of the evenings.
The team were also able to receive teaching from the Heralds Trust team through mornings at their ‘Gospel Academy’, being refreshed in the area of Apologetics with Ian Leitch. It was a great week with the Heralds Trust team, with such a great opportunity to share the Gospel during the Festival. We are planning to bring a team up to Edinburgh again next summer.
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“[It was] the first time I have ever fully given my testimony on a red-box in the street… The team were supportive and a delight to work with.” (Barry, team member and OAC Associate Evangelist) |
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On mission in Stockport, 2018
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Dates for next visit to Stockport:
TBC |
In September, we reconnected with our friend, and fellow evangelist, Martin Korchinsky and the church God led him to plant in the estate of Brinnington, Stockport for a weekend of training, encouragement and street preaching.
We spent some time getting to know the church over pizza and prayer on Friday evening to hear what Jesus had already been up to in their lives and their community. Saturday morning was dedicated to testimony and illustrated message workshops with the team, and followed up by some practice on the streets. God quickly used us to draw a few people into conversation. Our teammates from the church were quick to engage the people of their town and step out faithfully to share their testimonies and messages.
On Sunday morning, we were allowed the opportunity to share a word of encouragement with the Brinnington Community Church and enjoy some sweet time of worship and prayer together. Afterwards, we hit the streets for a little bit longer before the shops closed.
Please pray for Martin, Angie, and the church as they faithfully continue to shine the light and hope of Jesus in Stockport!
We spent some time getting to know the church over pizza and prayer on Friday evening to hear what Jesus had already been up to in their lives and their community. Saturday morning was dedicated to testimony and illustrated message workshops with the team, and followed up by some practice on the streets. God quickly used us to draw a few people into conversation. Our teammates from the church were quick to engage the people of their town and step out faithfully to share their testimonies and messages.
On Sunday morning, we were allowed the opportunity to share a word of encouragement with the Brinnington Community Church and enjoy some sweet time of worship and prayer together. Afterwards, we hit the streets for a little bit longer before the shops closed.
Please pray for Martin, Angie, and the church as they faithfully continue to shine the light and hope of Jesus in Stockport!
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