But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses……… Acts 1: 8 (NIV)

As we look back at 2011 we can see through the good times and the struggles that God was causing us to be more dependent on Him. Like the disciples at the beginning of the book of Acts we can be in a place where we feel weak, confused and not sure of the future. However Jesus is saying He is there in His resurrection power to show us that He is real and has a Kingdom purpose for us. This is going to be fulfilled through His power.

As we (elders, core leaders and others) have prayed and sought the Lord over the Christmas period some of the words have indicated breakthrough, revival and a tsunami of God’s power and love washing over us in this New Year. There were still challenges for the disciples after the resurrection and Pentecost but they had a new strength to combat them. Let’s be filled with the Spirit as we enter this New Year so that we can walk in breakthrough through everything we face in life. If God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8: 31)? We are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us (Romans 8: 37).

We thank God for all that He will do this year. Praise God for Christian and Kara as they continue their equipping journey in South Africa; for Jason and Joelle as they continue to touch the lives of those in Normandy; for Kennedy & Sylvia as they plant their new cell congregation in Norwood; for all the creative outreaches that will take place through the newly reformed cells this year; for Women of Worth and High Climbers for the men; for our Refreshment Days as we spend time drawing close to God; for our outreaches to the community – Parenting, Jubilee lunch, Marriage weekend, ministry to the homeless, etc. Also for the missions that will take place into Kenya through Brian and Margaret and Roger this year. And for everything else that has not been mentioned. God is a good God and as He filled the disciples, so He will fill you with the power of His Holy Spirit for breakthrough this year. Happy New Year!

Alex

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes....Romans 1: 16

During the month of August we saw the riots in the streets of London and other major cities in the UK. My reaction was both anger and sadness. How could our country have come to this? At first it was thought to be just young teens but after thousands of arrests it is clear that it was people from every background and age group.

Our Response as a society

Our response needs to be similar to God’s. In his fatherhood he brings both wrath/justice and grace/mercy. It is right that there is punishment but it is more than a justice situation, it also needs a social change. Every member of society touching the lives of each other including young people with grace and truth. Fathering a future generation so that they understand they are loved through the example of discipline and nurture. What some might call ‘tough-love’.

Our Response as a church

As Jesus’ church we can show his love for those who are isolated and caught up in anger, rejection and sin. For example, as we demonstrate the good news of the Kingdom through our care of young people down our street or in our neighbourhood it will give them a sense that we care and that therefore our God must care. We can meet the social need. Yet it is not just a justice and social issue, it is also a moral and spiritual issue. The only true way change will come is by a change of heart.

The gospel is the answer

Whatever background or generation the good news of Jesus can deliver people from within through the mercy and power of God. We need to bring that message to the world because in it is deliverance (that’s literally what salvation means). Through faith in Jesus, God’s righteous nature is also revealed in us (Romans 1: 17). We are changed from the inside out.

As we live as a Kingdom family we will reach generations.

Other News about August

• We thank God for the mission to Kenya this August. Brian, Margaret and Anne caught up with our friends and contacts. They also conducted a ‘People Helpers Course’ and there was a very positive response to this basic counselling training.

• Pray for Roger who is in Kisumu, Kenya at the moment building the new orphanage. Natasha Greene is visiting him with a friend at the moment.

• We thank God for Jason & Joelle and family. The Afriyie’s went to see them this summer. They are encouraged and have been ministering to people in their home and have a vision to bring transformation to the area around them. They also want to use their home as a hospitality base for those visiting Normandy.

• Thank God for the Birmingham mission where the young people were encouraged in their faith. As a result of the mission Rachel has run a youth event which raised £57 for charity and saw three make a commitment to Christ and many more ministered to.

• Christian and Kara are continuing to be challenged and encouraged in South Africa on their year of equipping. They have just been on poverty week where they have had to live as the homeless and survive on very little for a week. Keep praying for them as God equips them for His purposes.

We are well into 2011 now. And as usual life is busy. There are challenges of family life, finances and health. We have to contend with things every day.

One of the wonderful things about Jesus is that as the Son of God he taught us how to be sons of God (men & women). As he was growing he lived his life in submission and respect to his earthly parents but all the time grew in his relationship and understanding of his heavenly Father (Luke 2: 41 – 52). He spent regular time with his Father in prayer (Luke 6: 12). He said I only do and say that which I see the Father doing and saying (John 12: 49). He also told us that God is a father to us and has room in his heart for us (John 14: 2); that the only way to the Father is through the Son (John 14: 6), who died to take away our sin. As we trust in the Father and Jesus today (John 14: 1), our hearts will be filled with his love and peace. We will not be orphans or feel alone but will know we are loved by our heavenly Father who is there for us and in us by his Holy Spirit (John 14: 16-18).

Family News

Let’s pray for Kudzie and Heather who have moved outside of London to a new home in Derbyshire near Heather’s parents. Let’s thank God for the South Africa mission for what He did in the youth & student team over the Easter break. The Lord developed servanthood in the team as they served in cleaning the disabled school’s classrooms and helped weed out roots in a piece of land to prepare it for a playground for the foster home. Many grew in their closeness to Jesus (2 of the team committed their lives to Jesus and one made a recommitment). Some wonderful life transforming relationships were developed in the Townships and the Victory Church in Jeffries Bay and Derbenville Family Church in Cape Town. It was good to see Christian and Kara who are doing well on their year of training. They also send their greetings.

Being Family Together

Finally having the Father’s heart is also about realising that we are family together. Brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s keep honouring one another as we do the work of the Kingdom, both in LNC and across the world whether Afrikaans or Xhosa Christians in South Africa or Christians from other churches in London and the UK. God is building a kingdom family that reaches generations and this can only happen as we have a loving submissive respect for God and each other.

What a year 2010 has been. God has done so many

 things – Las & Lila have been married, baby's have

been born, baptisms have happened, people have

committed their lives to Jesus. Marriage seminars have

taken place, there have been men and women's

mentoring and the cells have been active in serving

the community through the Besom project among other

things, as well as strengthening and caring for each

other. There have also been Kenya missions,

Birmingham youth missions and youth outreach

evenings. There have been parenting courses and

marriage weekends away. There has been Coffee

shop revive and the parent and toddlers group.

Jason & Joelle have planted into Normandy and

Christian & Kara are about to get equipped in

South Africa.

All these things are a part of walking in our inheritance, which has been our theme in 2010. It takes courage and obedience to God to walk in the things he has asked us to do. It also takes a relationship with God - being willing to spend time with Him. Let's never forget that immediately after the 10 commandments (Deut 5: 6 - 22) comes the command to love the Lord our God with all our heart (Deut 6: 4 - 6). We can only do God's will when we love him and we can only love him when we know he loves us (1 John 4: 19). This is eternal life to know the only true God and Jesus Christ who He has sent (John 17: 3). It's about relationship. We know this eternal life is the key blessing of our New Covenant inheritance. But along with that comes Kingdom family, a kingdom purpose – bringing heaven to earth and eventually a new heaven and earth with the reward of an eternity with Jesus. So as we enjoy Christmas with friends and family and then begin 2011, let's take time to seek God and hear His voice telling us He loves us, that we're worth it (He must think that as he died for us) and He has a purpose for our lives.

Then as we enter 2011 we will enter with that sense of being people in the purpose of God and we will be ready to move into the mission, discipleship and power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus served the mission of His Father out of relationship with His Father and was therefore able to disciple others out of deep love and in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we move forward let’s remember that God does not want us to walk alone - we do all this as a team and kingdom family - reaching generations.