Prayer Letter
October 2000
Praying for Crisis Centre Ministries,
its work, staff and
clients
in the context of Bristol's inner city
areas.
THE MISSING PEACE
This is generally the point at which we meet with clients and
they meet with us (a non-threatening point of initial contact).
It is a strong statement of our presence here - a Christian
organisation in the inner city; a group of ordinary people
carrying a powerful Gospel message. There are times when it
seems there is a battle simply to keep the shop open - and that
has been the case for quite a few months. Because of lack
of volunteers we have needed to reduce our opening times.
That situation is now changing as a number of new volunteers have
started working with us. Please pray that the Missing
Peace will be able to open on a regular basis and
consistently. Only in this way are we able to be a
realistic resource to our clients.
With Shirley Marshall leaving us at the end of September, we are presently recruiting for a Project Leader for The Missing Peace. We presently have in place Dik Allen, who is taking on a level of responsibility until we are able to appoint a Project Leader. Please pray for Dik, and also regarding the appointment of a Project Leader.
Please also pray that we will be in a position to be involved regularly in sending teams out from The Missing Peace to meet with people on the streets.
THE LITE COURSE
('Lifeskills Initial Training for Employment')
The course was born out of a God given vision and the teaching material is based on Christian principles. Because we work in partnership with other training organisations, we are not free to evangelise.
Training is in lifeskills and confidence building, geared specifically for people in our client group with the aim of helping them towards work or further education. The majority of those on the present course have been addicted to drugs and are presently on methadone programmes, or similar, in an attempt to change their lifestyles.
Please pray for the course generally, Andy Luxford who is the Project Leader, the four young men on it at present, the residential week of outdoor activities 16 to 20 October, the opportunity for the potential in these people to be identified and realised - perhaps for the first time, relationship to be built which will facilitate change and growth.
BRIDGEHEAD CHURCH
This month sees the start of something new. CCM has a small home group (not called a cell simply because our clients are more familiar with prison than with church!) and this group is hosting monthly meetings (12.10.00; 16.11.00 and 14.12.00) at The Missing Peace. These meetings will be open to any of our clients who would like to come, and groups from BCF, City Road Baptist and Ebenezer have been invited to take part. The long term aim is to be able to run a weekly Christian meeting at The Missing Peace; this is one step towards that.
Quite a number of our clients are talking about God, and a few have specifically asked me when there would be 'church' at The Missing Peace again.
Please pray that clients will come to these three meetings; for God to be present by his Holy Spirit; for people to meet with God in a way which is significant for them (we want people to come to know Jesus); for there to be no disturbance or trouble; for those churches taking part to gain a greater understanding of our clients and how 'church' can be for them (the aim of Bridgehead Church is to help build a 'bridge' between street and formal church).
CLIENTS
For reasons of confidentiality, we are not able to name specific clients. However, we would very much like you to pray:
- for those who are responding to God and still struggling with their life-controlling problem;
- for those who are controlled by their situation and problem and at present are trying to hold their lives together in the only way they know - often through addiction - and who are not presently looking for change;
- for those who want to break free from addiction, that appropriate resources may be available;
- for the families of those who are addicted, that they may find the support and encouragement they need;
- for those who are homeless and destitute - that there may be a realistic, appropriate way forward, that the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ may be clearly demonstrated, that compassion may be accompanied by wisdom;
- for those who come in daily, demanding that we meet their needs; and
- for those at risk of committing criminal offence or hurting themselves in other ways.
In all our contact with clients, may we fulfil the calling of God on this ministry - to be used by God as he breaks into people’s lives and situations.
Trudie Lane
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