Daniel writes ...

Hope

“praising God and having favour with the people and the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved”

encouragement and blessing. Together we leaving The Rectory. We are moving on visited about 20 of the teams and every- and there will be readjustments but we where, without exception, the teams were are grateful for the privilege we have had heartened and in some cases, particularly of living here for the past 31 years. We

Shortly before we went on Walk National excited by what was happening. One team have been packing and sorting for

Forest, we as a team had been studying leader wrote to me yesterday and said months. Gillie has ventured into the

'Hope' from Colossians 1 (see prayer card) 'there was an air of friendliness that world of Car Boot Sales and even had a

and Roger Murphy whilst at Burton-on-seemed to greet us everywhere'. I think (as Garage Sale while I was away! I'm sure

Trent said that it was the very thing that many of the teams reported) that we were that those of you who have moved, and

seemed to permeate this mission all serving good, honest folk who were open especially 'down-sized', will sympathise

round. There is no doubt about it. There to the Gospel. As a matter of fact, at both with the journey we are on.

was an excitement in the air, evident in Thanksgiving Services, teams brought locals

the Holy Spirit issuing in the missioners, We will be moving, in the next month or who had been converted in the week to

including myself, a very deep sense of two, into a bungalow being provided for give testimony. So many people gathered at

gratitude to God. There can be no us by a Christian Trust. Once again the stthe thanksgiving in Coalville for the 1 week question that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is Lord has provided and we are enormously

that we had to put chairs down the aisles. I the answer to the thirst for life that grateful. We will only be about 40 mins

heard of men and women bringing the mankind desperately seeks. away and so near enough for many of our

Gospel in all the usual places, pubs, fixed points to remain familiar.

So my dears, thank you for your prayers, schools, homes, open air, market places etc. your support and your sacrifice. These I even heard of a walker being invited to Whilst I hope to go away less, so that Gillie missions are indigenous and biblical. They address a 200+ audience after a ballet! So and I can spend more time together, I will breathe new life into the churches and are overall it was a case of still be leading TFM into the future. We admired by the outsider. It is an effective have acquired new premises for the way to evangelise, releasing the many offices in the village which means the staff locals who come out with us and (Acts 2:47). This will have the same journey and we are hopefully, will join us at Walk St. David Newsletter is a full report of the Walk and I grateful for that. An arrangement has next year. am sure you will find it a blessing. been made with the Diocese, who own __________________________________ the building, that if we spend some ­ ­­

money refurbishing, then we may have its Gillie and I have decided to try and throw I can't remember when I enjoyed a Walk

use rent free for ten years.together a 'Thanksgiving Day' before Mission so much. This mission covered 3

counties: Staffordshire, Leicestershire and Before I finish, may I ask you two things: Derbyshire and we could have carried on 1. Would you please consider coming for another couple of weeks. These days I with us for a week out of the 3-week travel around taking 'one-off' engagements mission next year to Wales? This is to be such as a Night of Colour or a Men's a large mission and we will need Breakfast, rather than staying with one hundreds of Team Members. Also please team. I suppose in all missions, there are a consider participating on one of the few disappointments and there were some other smaller missions.for us. Generally speaking, the audiences

2. Use the coming Christmas season to were smaller than usual, but the sense of

encourage the world once again. What a appreciation of us being there was

lacing of hope for a darkened world! “Joy highlighted over and over again. In fact, I

of Heaven to earth come down.” What a felt that we were making such progress into

privilege is ours to know Christ and what the communities that if we had stayed

a task to reach this world for Him! longer and had been less on the move, we could have had something of a major God bless you and keep you. breakthrough. Thank you again and again.

My two companions, David Hunt and Keith Massey, are my right-hand men. They take the strain off all the driving, help with the Daniel lifting and carrying and are a great

newsNOVEMBER 2009

Daniel and Gillie recently celebrating their Ruby wedding anniversary

2010 a bumper year for missions!

In 2010, alongside smaller missions, we need a significant number of team members for the following missions:

9-16 May Mid-Churnet, Staffs 2-3 teams15-23 May Bicester villages I 2 teams in 2 centres5-13 June Stratford, E London 3 teams5-13 June Aylsham, Norfolk 2-3 teams11-20 June Hook Norton, Oxon 2 teams18 Sep - 10 Oct Walk Saint David Potentially a large Walk mission20-28 Nov Bicester villages II 3 teams in 3 centres

Will you join us? Please note: training weekends in 2010 can prepare people for any of these missions, not just for Walk Saint David.

A new home for TFM

As we write, the details are yet to be finalised but we are expecting to move offices by Christmas. Not far though - just across the road! So still in Coton. A real answer to prayer as it ticks all the boxes for a local premises (staff access) and, although we have to fund a refurbishment of about £30k from the "office appeal", we will get the premises rent free for 10 years! We acknowledge God's wonderful provision.

Contact details of address, phone and email will remain as they are for now. Any changes will be communicated in the next Newsletter.

Training in Evangelism

Are you ready for more in-depth training in evangelism? Since 2002, TFM has been running the SCE course to provide a means to train people from all denominations and from all over the UK. We are now producing a steady stream of graduates. The course provides relevant theology units from St John's Nottingham to help you to communicate the gospel more fully. Alongside this, TFM provides a strong practical element, including residential weekends where you can get to know fellow students. The induction weekend is 30 Jan - 1 Feb 2010. To find out more: contact John or Sue Hibberd (01954 200285 or john.hibberd3@ntlworld.com).

John Lillyman writes ...

We are back! Again a marvellous time was had by our Team and so many instances of God's gracious care for us. Two musicians added a wonderful element of enthusiastic worship to our time away.

I am seeing God use these Walks to reach men's hearts. It is really incredible what God is doing. We sensed God's reckless extravagant love towards us and the lost. We return with joy.Thanks for your encouragement.

“For we Walk by Faith not by sight.” 2 Cor 5:7.

News from over the pond

A call to Uganda

A Team is hoping to go to Uganda again in 2010 (9 Feb and returning on 3 or 4 March), but we need another 4 or 5 team members. If God is calling you to this mission then please get in touch with Thomas Fawcett tel. 01524 241222 or call the TFM office.

Walk National Forest and the Launde Prayer -

A prayer for all christians to carry in their heart and to encourage them to spread the word of the love of Jesus for all who turn to him. Printed in the parish magazines of St Mary's Church Anstey and All Saints Church, Thurcaston during WNF.

Written by a former Warden of Launde Abbey about forty or so years ago

Father,Here may the faithful find salvationand the careless be awakened; Here may the doubting find faithand the anxious be encouraged; Here may the tempted find help and the sorrowful comfort;Here may the weary find rest and the strong be renewed; Here may the aged find consolationand the young be inspired;Amen

From an acorn, a mighty oak…. The Walk vision has spread to the States

“My journey is just beginning and it is my intention to speak God’s Word amongst these friends (miners) – I want to shout the LORD’s praises to any one who will listen.” (convert of Walk National Forest, a member of the dirty 30 group of striking miners of the 1984-85 strikes)

“Having been involved in Walk National Forest right from the start, it was an amazing experience to be at the launch and thanksgiving services and to see what God, in His goodness, had brought about; hundreds of people involved in reaching out to the people of this area with hundreds responding to Christ.” Jane Hodgman, Task Force member

ALK W

N TA ST EIO RN OAL F

Jonathan writes ...

'Get out more'

The scene was typical enough on a TFM mission ... two of us on Walk National Forest doing door-to-door work, question five just completed by a very pleasant, retired lady about to go off jogging.

“The local churches here are putting on some great events this week”, my partner said to her. “Have you heard?”

“Oh yes, our neighbour is a church member and she's invited me to some of them.”

“So do you think you might be going?”

“Well, it all sounds very interesting, but the fact is I'm not religious, and I don't want to intrude.”

In five words she had perfectly illustrated the reason for going “outside the camp” - in the words of Hebrews 13:13. There are thousands and maybe millions who see church as being like a club for the religiously-minded, as the local jogging club is for those who run. 'I don't want to intrude', they say. Why not? 'I'm not religious'.

It's the same attitude you and I might have about going into a betting shop: everyone else there knows what to do, they all know each other, I'd feel out of place, and besides, they're probably just after my money …

Getting out to where people are, that of course has been the inspiration behind TFM's missions over the years. It was happening again last month across the National Forest in all sorts of ways.

One of them was in Coalville town centre where a former card shop in the pedestrian precinct had been transformed into a prayer cafe. Thanks to persistent negotiating and much prayer by a few local church members, and the support of the local M.P. David Taylor, permission had finally been granted for the premises to be used for week one of

Walk National Forest. Tea, coffee, cold drinks and cake were served to a steady flow of customers every day for six hours. Nobody coming in felt they were intruding.

Many asked for prayer, 8 people in the cafe committed their lives to Christ, countless beliefs' surveys were completed, relationships were reconciled, conversations about Jesus flowed easily. It was all rather wonderful. Certainly a whole lot easier than some of the door-to- door work going on locally where every house seemed to have a dobermann or a rotweiler barking at callers like us to back off.

Here, as elsewhere across the mission area, churches were working together and praying together for a project God was blessing. Maybe the blessing was in proportion to the amount of heartache and hassles experienced beforehand. As one of those working in the cafe said, “We've learnt here that whilst it's good to praise God in the highest, it's even better to praise him in the High Street. That's what this place is all about. We've got to do this again.”

Every team member on Walk National Forest returned with their own stories of what God was doing during the fortnight. Some of them were heard at the two Thanksgiving Services, in

‘I don’t want to intrude’, they say. Why not? ‘I’m not religious’.

a ‘Back out into the community’ life-style

John writes ...

Walk National Forest: Taking Risks

A vicar said, “It's a risk inviting your team to the parish, you know … but it's a risk worth taking.” It's helpful to be reminded of the perspective of a receiving church. Team members, unaware of the history of the place and the community, can quite innocently challenge all sorts of things and even “rattle some cages”. Sometimes the issues raised will be chewed over after the mission, hopefully leading people on in their faith in Christ. Once again, we have seen that part of our mission is to the church, bringing encouragement, challenge and a sense of new life.

Coalville and Burton. But the most significant of those were doubtless from the four who had received Christ during the previous week. I suspect that beforehand none of them would have called themselves religious, none of them would have thought they'd be in church that Sunday, let alone being up front to give thanks to God before a sea of red and green shirts. They certainly weren't intruding. It was powerful stuff, in fact, and a reminder that God is at work in lives and in communities 'outside the camp'. There's nothing better than joining in with what He is doing, just as He did 2,000 years ago with the lost, the last, the loneliest and the least, as Christ extended his welcome to all. No-one's intruding in the family of God.

The final day of the mission was designated countrywide as 'Back to church Sunday' amongst Anglicans. That's been a wonderful idea, used by many churches and by God as an impetus to mission and a means to invite friends. But whilst church initiatives like this will reach some, there are possibly millions for whom it's an irrelevance. Because if you've never been, you can't go back. To reach them, perhaps we need a special 'Back out into the community Sunday' for Christians. No, rephrase that - not just a Sunday, a 'Back out into the community' life-style ... Sounds like Walk National Forest to me.

Hi 5! Points for prayer

Walk National Forest

House and Offices

Walk Saint David

Other Missions

Evangelism

Praise God for the witness during Walk National ForestFor all those who made a commitment that they may continue and come to an ongoing living faithThat the collaboration between Churches will continue

Praise God for a house and new offices for TFM Pray for Daniel and Gillie as they make their readjustments and pray for a smooth transition when the office changes premises

Praise God for the vision of Church Leaders in Wales to want to engage in Mission P

Praise God for all the other missions that TFM have been asked to leadPraise God for all the willing volunteers who give of their time to make these missions possible

May God amaze us at what He can do when we are faithful to the Gospel! Pray for courage for men and women to step up to the task. Ask for wisdom that we may connect with the people of this generation for the glory of God!

lease pray for the planning and preparation

1

2

3

4

5"I didn't want it to stop even though we were all exhausted. Serving God is the most exciting thing I know."

"Walk National Forest woke up our church and has fired them up to carry on reaching the village. We're talking about an annual mission of some sort."

"I strongly recommend any Church to book Daniel for a Night of Colour - his winsome style, engaging personality and clear gospel presentation (along with his fantastic paintings) make this formula a sure-fire evangelistic winner." Revd. Jon Barrett,

Vicar of St Luke's, Thurnby.

Across Lincs Walk Mission: 3 - 14 June 2009

Both teams had an excellent mission, finishing on Sunday when Ian Silk preached evangelistically at Cathedral Evensong. Highlights:

q Caistor. Lots of opportunities in secondary schools for apologetics

q Some great events - Beer & Hymns, Curry Night, Quiz Aid, etc

q Seeing churches really encouraged by the visits and wanting to do it again!

q Brookenby's Hot Potato event took a very unexpected direction, led by the Spirit (ending with prayer ministry) and resulted in practical new initiatives.

q The needy St Giles Estate - engagement with hurting people on the doors and the enthusiastic response of children to the God Pod bus outreach.

q People came to faith nearly every day, even 2 people in a visit of 1½ hours to the village of New Toft. Loads of other significant contacts too.

A walking team caught the imagination and the shirts provoked questions. This has proven that we can do effective mission even when we move on more rapidly than is our usual practice; just needs careful preparation.

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Walk Saint David -Taith Dewi Sant18 Sept - 6 Oct 2010

Will you come?

Date for your diary Next years' Prayer Partners' Conference 20 March 2010

Roger writes ...

As I reflect back on Walk National Forest, I am reminded and amazed once again at how our God works 'outside the box' and so often despite us! Some of the things which happen just cannot be planned. As the chorus says 'Go in my name and because you believe others will know that I live'. I would like to share some of the recent highlights from the missions as follows:q Reports from the spring and summer missions tell of

people going on with the Lord, and you may well remember the lads (one was a Chelsea fan!) and their mum who came to faith in Crawley. They have now brought ten of their friends and on-going groups have been formed.

q Over 80 responses in Ashby on WNF, some from well outside the church and others realising who Jesus is for the first time.

q On the doors a lady sensed a warming and presence of God as she gave her life to Christ.

q The men's curry night was packed, with a good response to the Gospel.

q On the streets I met a group of teenage girls just hanging around and got to know them. They had no contact with church but turned up at the ladies' pamper night where two of them responded. Other ladies responded too and it was a good night.

q Paul Woodman, the escapologist, joined us for the latter part of the week in Ashby and was a real blessing to the schools and young people. We did some outreach at the Statutes, a town-wide fair, where they closed off the main street. It was packed with people and one of the stall holders complained to the organisers about our sharing of the Gospel. We already had permission to be there and the organisers backed us and told us to carry on as they sorted out the complainant.

q Many of the older folks in the sheltered houses responded to Christ.

q The healing service was special, with team members and locals praying with many people for over an hour after the service ended.

q Many signed up for Alpha courses.

q There were around 40 adult and 20 child responses across Burton during the week.

q At one church a special relationship was formed between the team and congregation which resulted in many people coming to faith on the doors, in the streets and even a taxi driver in his cab! It was a mini outreach of revival and a match made in heaven.

q At one service, I preached for folk to commit themselves to Christ, but also others to stand for Christ and go out with the team. There was a good response from adults and a group of teenagers who responded and were used greatly during the week.

q At the thanksgiving service the team interviewed two men who had come to faith during the week.

q There were quite a number of men who responded to Christ, and I had the privilege of leading four to faith on the streets outside the shopping centre, including a Moslem man.

q One other man I met on the street was a recovering alcoholic and we kept bumping into each other in the town so I invited him to a service and he responded to the Lord.

q The real heroes of the Walk missions are the team members who give so much - my thanks to each and every one.

I am looking forward to a busy schedule of missions and it is great to have Peter Adams alongside me as we plan for a mission in Stratford, E London in June 2010. Next year looks particularly challenging but God is good.

We are really looking forward to my daughter Carol, Andy and our grandsons Thomas and Matthew visiting us in December from New Zealand. It will be the first time for a number of years that the family will be all together for Christmas.

My son Chris and Abbi continue to seek the Lord's guidance as to their future ministry, as Chris enters the final year of his youth and community degree.

Finally, my thanks to all who pray for us, the ministry and missions, as remarkable things do not happen without prayer.

God bless you all.