From a church member

Over the last few months I’ve been prompted to write emails or letters of encouragement & love to family & friends.  Last week something happened to me that devastated me. I was deliberately hurt in an emotionally vulnerable place by someone close to me. Because it was unexpected, sudden & deliberate, I was instantly swamped by all my insecurities & hang-ups. Supposing what was said was true? When alone, I felt myself rapidly sinking into despair. So I spoke to myself & said I had to find something positive to do to counteract the hurt & replace my negative & soul-destroying thoughts. The only two positive things that came to mind was to write another encouraging letter to someone & to complete the next session of my current Bible study.

As I collected my writing materials, I broke down & cried...more


From Chris

Becoming a Christian was the most amazing but scary time of my life. When I answered the call from God, a call that I knew I couldn’t resist, a call that all of a sudden I knew I had been looking for my entire life, I was in no way in control.
At that moment as I walked to the front of my church my heart was filled with two things, a desire and willingness to put my trust in Jesus and to put everything in my past that I knew was holding me back, behind me.
To me, at the time of my calling the church was empty, except for me and the person preaching that day and who had asked those willing to let Jesus into their lives to go to the front of the church.
I didn’t want to go initially, I felt foolish...more


From Andy

Well done to all of you who persevered with the Purpose Driven Life book.  Even if you missed some chapters, I trust that there was something in there that God used to speak to you.  For myself, one of the chapters that really hit my was Ch 22, the paragraph reads –

“We must co-operate with the Holy Spirit’s work.  Throughout the bible we see an important truth illustrated over and over.  The Holy Spirit releases His power the moment you take a step of faith.  When Joshua was faced with an impassable barrier, the floodwaters of the Jordan River receded only after the leaders stepped into the rushing current in obedience and faith.  Obedience unlocks power.  God waits for you to act first.  Don’t wait to feel powerful or confident. Move ahead in your weakness, doing the right thing in spite of your fears and feelings.  This is how you co-operate with the Holy Spirit, and it is how your character develops.”  (Page 174)

This led me to read Joshua 3 for myself and I felt God speak to me.  You may notice that there are quite a few changes at the Vine presently – new groups, exciting plans for a new kids work, changes to the Hub, plans for another Alpha course in the autumn etc.  There certainly is plenty of momentum!  But change can bring its challenges, but it is only as we are prepared to step out and take risks that we will see God act.  Obedience unlocks power, and it’s truth power, and this truth has certainly unlocked new faith in my spirit.


From Judy

Going through the 40 days has helped me clarify a few things in my life.

I found the subject of Mission within the Church very helpful as I have always had a real vision for supporting families particularly in the area of Parenting Skills Groups.

Even though my recent move to the area was traumatic and I wasn’t happy about the reasons for coming I still felt that I was coming for a reason and that God had, and still has something for me to do and I felt my feelings for the Parenting Skills area has been confirmed.

Staying with Mission I have felt prompted to pray about a short term mission, perhaps with Mercy Ships or something similar.

The last 40 days has helped clarify some things but has also caused as much confusion but I am prayerfully working through things.


From a lady who completed the Alpha course

Before reading the book (Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren)…I was aware that God loves me and that I have a purpose.  However, I couldn’t figure out just what it was and how to find it.

During the course of the book I began to notice things changing in my life and used ‘The points to ponder’ and ‘Questions to ask yourself’ to help me focus.  Soon, I started to feel a sense of purpose entering my life and things that I could do to get to the place I had begun to feel God wanted me to be.  I’m still not sure of my exact purpose but with the help of the book…I now feel sure God is guiding me in the right direction again.