what can you do?

I'm increasingly aware that there is so much to do or that could be done - but it all honesty the task is to great for one or for a small number of people - they will just get worn out very quickly. I firmly believe in teamwork and that each one has their part to play...Yet there seems to be a void between what is believed and what is practiced. We all say it, yet why is there so many holes when it comes to service? Service/ministry doesn't necessarily have to be "in church" - have we become to self orientated?

What you can do:

• Examine your heart are you serving yourself? If so repent (means to turn around and stop doing it!) and ask God to grant you the opportunities to serve others (by the way they are there you just have to look)
• Ask God if there is an area of service or ministry that He would have you be involved in (if so chat it through with one of the leadership who will help)
• Are you just plain lazy? If so repent and have a mind to work for the kingdom of God and His glory

I'd love to hear your stories of how you are involved in the service in ways that we may not know about. email at office@westbromchurch.org

praying for others

Many of you know that we people who are scattered across the globe who have in some way been connected to us here are WBCC.

Would be good to remember them in prayer

• Pray for Sandy and Liz who for many years where ministering here in West Brom. Last year they moved to Kilsyth in Scotland pray that God would bless them as the continue to serve the Lord.
• Pray for Hayley
• Pray for Amy as she studies at the Bible College of Wales
• Pray for Pauline as she comes to the end of her time in Holland
• Pray for Myles in Canada who has had a bit of a tough time lately with work and health issues
• Daisy and family

loving the town

I have been sharing with the other leaders a verse from Jeremiah 29. It is not the much quoted verse 11. Found a few verses before it is this lovely verse of scripture that I guess often gets over looked as many will always plump for the promise of "for i know the plans..."

The verse is this...Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper

How many of us could say that we live to seek the welfare or peace of the town? If we are in Christ we are exiles in the land. The Apostle Peter calls us aliens or foreigners in this world. We don't belong here! BUT we are here and until such at time as Jesus returns for his Bride -that is the church - we are to live in this world but we are no longer of it! We are to seek after this town's welfare and peace, work for the good of the town so that the LORD may be glorified through us and transformation may come.

I cannot help but think we must love this town. God loves this town and more importantly the people of the town. We must show this love in word and action, always praying for the town and it government officials.

West Bromwich has had bad press and people have believed it, I believe that this is a great place to live - why because it has the best of everything? Clearly not! I believe this because Jesus gave Himself for the people of this town, and if ever there was a place that need to know the hope of the kingdom of God it is West Bromwich. That is why this is a great place to live. Imagine we could be instrumental in the Regeneration of West Bromwich if only we begin to love this town the way Jesus does.

Pray...

• That as a church we would increasing love this town
• That the Spirit of God would lead us in decisions that we make and projects that would benefit the town
• That the churches would know an increased unity
• For the town and the issues that you know are affecting it - unemployment, alcohol abuse, drug abuse
• Pray for you local schools and its teachers

y.com

This is the name of the youth ministry at WBCC for 11-18 year olds. y.com stands for youth community. What we are trying to create is a community of young people who are passionate about living for Jesus and introducing friends to Him. Now with all new venture there comes challenges and this is going to be a long process so we would value your prayers in this.

Pray for...

• The young people as they seek to navigate through the maze of a changing world
• That they would know a developing relationship with Jesus
• They would be bold and courageous when opportunities arise to share their faith
• For an increase in people willing to work with these amazing young people
• Pray that we will see young people brought into relationship with Jesus - who is their only hope even if they do not realise it yet
• Plus anything else that may come to mind regarding young people who often get a bad press

Keeping you informed

Posted on here will be things that we as the leadership of WBCC would like you to join us in prayer about. We understand that life is busy and that it is not always possible for you to join in the corporate time of prayer during the week.

The idea of this prayer blog is that you will be able to keep up to date with issues that we are currently working through and would value your support in. The best thing for you to do is keep an eye on the blog and see what appears. Unless we pray and plan and then pray some more the best laid plans will go to waste!