‘Faithful one, all sufficient one, you are my rock in times of trouble’

People that know me will understand how much the above words have meant to me since coming to Reading a little over two years ago. Since starting my new adventure with FAITH the words have come to mean more to me than ever. More so of course, at this time of harvest and thanksgiving, as it is good to express our thanks to the Giver of Life. Our food stocks are burgeoning! It has truly been a bumper harvest (see inside)! Thank you, on behalf of the people we serve, to you all, for each and every tin, every packet, every item given.

In the last newsletter, I said that we where embarking on a period of change. Little did I know the extent of that change! When all around you is in a state of flux isn’t it just so good to know that our God is ‘the same yesterday today and for evermore’ and that as a result He can be our ‘rock in times of trouble’.

The world is changing at such a rapid pace today with the increasing age of technology, what was good yesterday, has now become too slow, outdated or old-fashioned today. This is the age of the temporary; demonstrated by one hit wonders – Pop-idol! But yesterday’s stars become today’s forgotten celebrities. The Church is expected to change as well, to fit into today’s society. When it does try to adapt to the ever changing climate, it becomes vulnerable and many people outside the church step forward to offer their advice and opinions. Sadly these are often people who have no idea or concept of the basic teaching of the Bible, and the basis of the gospel being that of grace and forgiveness, whilst seeking to follow the laws within. To many people outside of Christianity, to be still using and following the teachings and principles from a book, parts of which were believed to be written over four thousand years ago, must seem ludicrous. ‘Surely the teachings are no longer relevant in this modern hi-tech age.’

THANK GOD this is not the case! The Holy Bible continues to be the most popular book, outselling every other book. The Bible has been translated into more languages than another book. Why is this so? One reason may be because it has not changed and continues to preach the same message. The message of the Gospel. That of grace and forgiveness. The good news is that this is available to everyone old and young. All that we have to do is say yes! For many of us, me included, it is good that the Bible and the message of God is unchanging. What about the modern day phenomena written about in Proverbs 23 verses 29–35; which so many people struggle with today and which the doctors have yet to come up with a suitable cure with which to overcome it, other than complete abstention. It is important to note that King Solomon wrote these words around three thousand years ago.

One reason Christianity appeals to many people today is probably because the Gospel message has not changed. It offers the same message of acceptance and love that Jesus spoke about over two thousand years ago. It will remain the same for a further two thousand years, if Jesus has not returned before!

As I sit surrounded by harvest gifts and cards it is so good to remember ‘all God’s Good gifts from above!’ Once again this has been a challenging time. For those of you that are not aware Ian McMurray has now left FAITH. As with any such departure, his was sudden and untimely leaving a gaping hole in our work. The faithfulness with which he has served our ministry over the years has often gone unseen. He will be sorely missed, though he will still be involved with the homeless and needy of Reading, working with the Reading Street Services Team (formerly CAT). In addition, over the summer, apart from holidays, a number of our volunteers have been abroad serving God. This is a tribute to the work of FAITH over the years that we have been able to train and send out individuals in order that they might serve God in other countries.

It is a commendation to those who remained that we were able to continue the work largely unhindered. We did however stop the Sunday afternoon candle teabar outreach for an August break. The sandwich runs continued and we witnessed increasing numbers of individuals on the streets. With the warm summer evenings we started going out later and it was not uncommon for the teams to be returning to the boiler room at around 11pm (or later!!) Pray that the relationships built and strengthened and prayers prayed will be harvested in days and weeks to come.
In addition to the sandwich-runs, Friday evenings saw us taking the familiar trip to Whitley for summer youth outreach with the Teabar. No invites from other locations around Reading have meant that we have been able to focus on the existing work, from previous years, and build new relationships there. Please pray for J (seven yrs) that he will grow up to know Jesus as his Saviour and that he will be a good influence to his peers. Also for M (fourteen yrs) who is being bullied at school. We have a largely separate (and youthful!) team operating in Whitley compared to previous years, and we have been able to continue with the work longer than before. As a result, we have been blessed by the ongoing relationships built. Pray that the team will be united and will continue to be encouraged.

Quotes from some of the team:
‘ ..the kids are really great and just want someone to talk to and something to do and we provide that..’ Hannah 15yrs
‘ ..the kids love it..’ Jason 15yrs

No summer in Reading would be complete without the usual chaos and log jamming of the August bank holiday weekend. To those outside of Reading this is known as the Reading Festival. Common to previous years we parked the Teabar at the top of Greyfriars church carpark from Thursday evening as the revellers are arriving and then ran the Teabar until lunch time on the each of the days. This year we were thrilled to be offered the use of Greyfriars car park on Sunday in addition to usual Friday and Saturday previously done. As expected the festival-goers were a little sceptical of us at first – ‘FREE?’ but gradually warmed to us and by the Sunday morning we were very busy. Fortunately we had enough volunteers to keep the supplies topped up. The addition of the breakfast cereals and syrup proved a hit with many of the revellers (and staff!).

In the midst of all this and owing to the support of the staff who remained, Chris was still able to enjoy a period of relaxation and renewed vision on the Isle of Wight. Thanks to ALL those concerned!

During mid summer (seems so long ago!) we also enjoyed a visit to Southsea courtesy of Vera and all at Reading Family Aid, to whom we remain, as ever, very grateful.

During the coming months we have a number of new projects starting for which we would appreciate your prayers:
• We have been offered the use of the Greyfriars hall in Sackville Street as a drop-in on Thursday evenings and will be looking to start this in December.
• We have recently started a second Bible study/support group in Reading also entitled ‘The Answer’, this time in Whitley.
• Supporting the individuals we serve by offering to do their gardening and/or decorating. This is a joint project with Christian Community Action and will involve a number of larger organisations around the town.

We are now settled into our new offices. We are grateful to PACT for the opportunity to share the portacabin with them but sadly this was not to be a long-term solution for either of us. The building is now boarded up while the council deliberate over its future. We are very thankful to Lifeline for allowing us to share their office in London Street

Chris

Winter Emergency Accommodation

Many people have asked us if we plan to repeat the Stepping Stone project (night shelter) that we operated last year. We are aware that many people come to Reading because of its size and proximity to London expecting to get accommodation. Sadly, from our sandwich runs we are patently aware that there is still a population in the town who remain homeless. So we are aware of the need and have the vision. Unfortunately at the time of writing we have no money and no property! Our previous location, at Chatham Street would seem to be closer to its demolition date (!) and has been totally secured against entry. In addition, this year there will be no short-term grants available from Crisis. We have an awesome God however and our future is in His hands! Watch this space!!

Do you feel that God is saying anything to you about the Stepping Stone project this year? To pray or to support in another way? Maybe even to get personally involved!? Please contact us if you do.

‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus who is the author and perfector of our faith’ Hebrews 12v2

Time for God?

With the departure of Ian we have a part-time paid vacancy for someone to work alongside Chris. If you are interested please call the office for an informal chat. Though a number of people have responded to our appeal for volunteers in the last newsletter we still need more individuals with time to give. The following are the main positions: (These involve regular voluntary positions either day time or evening for one hour or more)
• befriending individuals in their own accommodation
• on the soup run in the evenings
• evening soup kitchen/drop-ins – particularly Friday evenings
• on the Candle Teabar on Sunday afternoons
• on the Candle Tea bar in Whitley on Friday evenings
• boxing food parcels
• in the office doing admin
• helping someone decorate their home

We are particularly looking for people who are wanting to take some time out, maybe from work or university, maybe on secondment or a gap year and wanting to devote some time on a voluntary basis? If you are interested or know someone who might be please contact Chris in the office.

Girl Friday

Our volunteers are our most important asset. Karen is one of them…
Entering data on the computer, stuffing envelopes, visiting ‘Bookers’, date checking food, going to the Post Office, checking the accounts, answering the phone, making and taking out food parcels, visiting the county court, working at the ‘Stepping Stone’ shelter, driving the van… and all this in 20 months as a volunteer!

Four years ago I picked up a leaflet about FAITH from the tea-bar, which was in the Forbury Gardens. I visited the Teabar at the ‘Rocks’ on a Sunday afternoon and decided this sort of work wasn’t for me… but God had other ideas! I was persuaded out of my comfort zone very slowly but surely. I started to help at FAITH doing a bit of admin then other opportunities arose and I found myself stepping in – sometimes out of necessity (and out of my comfort zone!)It has been thrilling and rewarding to work for FAITH and see how God can use even reluctant volunteers. If you’d like to check out what we do at FAITH then give us a call… and remember…

‘ God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise...and the weak things of the world to shame the strong.’ 1 Corinthians 1v27–28.

Karen

Equipping to serve…

At the time of writing our training programme has started but it is still not too late to join for the remainder. The sessions will be held on Saturday mornings from 10am - 12pm at Tyndale Baptist Church (corner Cressingham Road & Shinfield Road). There will be a donation of around £5/person/session to cover overheads. The sessions are as follows:
Working with difficult/violent people 8th November
(please call the office to confirm this session is actually running)
Addiction part 1 22nd November
Addiction part 2 29th November

‘ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the Faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.’ Colossians 2v6–7

‘Every time you venture out in the life of faith, you will find something in your common sense circumstances that flatly contradicts your faith. Common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense; they stand in the relation of the natural and the spiritual. Can you trust Jesus Christ where your common sense cannot trust Him? Can you venture heroically on Jesus Christ’s statements when the facts of your common sense life shout ‘it’s a lie’? On the mount it is easy to say - ‘oh yes, I believe God can do it’; but you have to come down into the demon-possessed valley and meet with facts that laugh ironically at the whole of your mount-of-transfiguration belief. Every time my programme of belief is clear to my own mind, I come across something that contradicts it. Let me say I believe God will supply all my need, and then let me run dry, with no outlook, and see whether I will go through the trial of faith, or whether I will sink back to something lower. Faith must be tested, because it can be turned into a personal possession only through conflict. What is your faith up against just now? The test will either prove that your faith is right, or it will kill it. “Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me.” The final thing is confidence in Jesus. Believe steadfastly on Him and all you come up against will develop your faith. There is continual testing in the life of faith, and the last great test is death. May God keep us in fighting trim! Faith is unutterable trust in God, which never dreams that He will not stand by us.’
from My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers

And finally…

Some closing thoughts from some children at one of the schools we visited in Pangbourne:
‘ I think that it is so good that you give the less fortunate people food, presents and drinks. I hope that you manage to get a shelter in time for Christmas.’ Emily
‘ I have learned a lot about how we help our community of people and how loving and caring for others can be exactly what people need if they are lonely or living on the streets.’ Felicity

‘I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.’ Philemon v6

For your prayers

Thank God....

• For our new offices in London Street
• For the bumper harvest and the individuals, churches and schools who gave
• For the relationships built up in Whitley on Friday evenings
• For the new volunteers joining
• That our drop-in The Answer has at last started in Whitley
• For Jesus!!

Remember to pray for:

• The trustees as they look to the future
• Chris in his role without Ian
• Ian in his new job
• Our new van
• The provision of the Stepping Stone project and all this involves
• The need for new staffing, particularly paid, to work with Chris