The Bless Network

Go2bless Croatia 08

To sum up the Croatia Mission 2008 in a blog entry is more than difficult. Since returning to the UK and for many others who have returned to Holland, God is still speaking, still working, still intervening more than ever. 

It seems that this summer spent in Slavonski Brod has softened many hearts and teared away veils not only of the people in that town but also of the hearts of the team members.

Since I started offering my summers in 2006 to the small non-tourist town of Slavonski Brod, i have seen the Lord move in ways that are unimaginable, moreso was this year when many past planted seeds were continued to be watered. The first team spent their time on a local estate connecting with the local children and putting together a kids club each morning for a good 2 hours. As we arrived, so did the children - A few days prior to starting the kids club we went postering around town and flyering on the estate and as soon as the kids saw all us 'English/Dutch young people' the smiles lit up on their faces. They were so happy to see us that their faces shone in a way that was very heart warming. Many new children came and heard the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Each weekday night throughout the month of July we ran a 'Youth Space' which was held in the basement of the Baptist Church. Our aim was to allow young people to come and quite literally hang out with us and their friends - play ping pong, make jewelry, listen to music play games, eat food and generally have a good time. This was a special time for us as team because it gave us real insight into the life of a Croatian young person. Again, we made real friendships and for me it was one of the first times that I felt really connected with these young people. Many of us even managed to meet up with some young people outside of 'Youth Space' hours at cafes, on the riverbank, for football etc. Throughout the mission i felt God speaking about relationships and how that our God is someone who can speed up the rate in which we get to know people. The relationships we formed over the month were so strong because of the father heart of God. Amongst all this we had time as a team to pray, study and worship together. Around 5 each day we would meet for a bible study in a local cafe where we studied the book of Acts. A few of the many many things we learnt were that:

Trusting the Father, Receiving the Spirit and Telling the story of Jesus Christ- Big decisions bring large rewards in the  and liberation- Faith is based on my personal experience with Christ Jesus- God's timing is always perfec- but not always for us to know the times and places- We all hold a complete and full life through the grace of God

These are but a few topics discussed by the team and are only a fraction of the things learnt over the weeks. Towards the end of the first teams time in Croatia we spent more time sharing and praying for the town of Slavonski Brod. Our prayers would be that peoples eyes would be opened and hearts in tune with Gods song, that people would be responsive to the truth of Jesus Christ. We had a constant prayer against any spiritual

attacks and we prayed in the name of Jesus that the devil didn't have a foothold on anything that we did. We saw breakthrough in many areas of struggle and illness and saw a release of barriers that people had put up against God. It was great to praise on the riverbank (boarder of Bosnia and Croatia) our time as team was

always spent well there - it gave us time to reflect, draw nearer to God and we all felt a real closeness with one another. The American 'Pioneers' team joined us for 90% of the mission, they are a small team of 5 short term missionaries and 4 long term missionaries. We all benefitted from their presence, they are a real encouragement, even though, at first we were all strangers, mission does something to the individual and brings people much closer than sometimes lifelong friends are. It was a real gift from God.

When the first team left and the second began for Naja, Chrissie, Catherine, Amy and Myself it was a very quick turnaround, but we soon got into the swing of the second team which was much larger and generally at a much

faster pace, which needed quite a substantial amount of attention. The core week was concentrated into splitting the team to two, where one half was set to do a Basketball Camp with Joe Spinks (Amsterdam National Coach) and the second half were set to do another Kids Club at another local estate. We still had 'Youth Space'

each week night and 5 nights of the 14, the Nexus team from Nexus Music College in Coventry drew together professional contemporary concerts on the riverbank.

The first few days was really more about us getting settled in toroutine and finding our place in this large band of people, we spent time praying together, worshipping, ministering to one another, we also went to Bosnia and generally kicked about the town, meeting people, letting our faces being seen by locals. Because of its

smallness most locals in Slavonski Brod know who the 'Bless' team are now - They can spot us a mile off with our straightened hair, branded attire, musical instruments and bibles in hand (this is a good thing i must add) Within the first days of the Camps starting quite a lot went upside down and our own plans were lost. For one thing the rain slowed down the basketball camp and effected the Kids Club much worse. In Croatia, no sun = no kids. As soon as the rain starts numbers decrease massively and although many kids still turned up to the outdoor

basketball camp we ended up stopping. The electrics broke in the girls house, Dawn Spinks badly injured her neck and Mark Greaves broke his metatarsal - everyone felt a little down. So as the rain came we

seeked to go inside to Pray. Our prayer time was spent indoors for the next 2 days - this gave us time to properly minister to one another and get things right with God, it didn't take us long to figure out that we had been heavily planning our own agenda when we should be focussing on Gods Agenda! The rains cleared up, Marks foot 

was completely healed, the electric was fixed and Dawn's neck got better. Spiritually the team were all in the correct mindset and again for many the healing process had begun in their hearts.

Many of the Kids we met at Basketball ended up at the 'Youth Space' more because of Joe Spinks than anyone else - but this gave us real opportunity to share Gods love for them and we shone with the Spirit and i saw many young people being touched by the spirit of God.

Drawing to a close - the concerts were massive and towards the last few there were over 200 people watching, passing by and dancing to the music Nexus played. I felt a real closeness to the young people and their hearts were open to hearing all we had to say through testimonies and through passing conversation.

I feel that God will continue to soften peoples hearts of that town and even though many of us will not be back again for another year i believe that Slavonski Brod will be very close in our prayers over this next year. So for those of you that have been on team to Croatia - invite your friends. And for those of you reading this thinking

about what you will do come summer 2009 - come to Slavonski Brod with whatever you have and water some seeds.

In brief that sums up the Croatia Mission 2008.

Thanks for the read,

Chez

xxx

Go2bless France

Some feedback from the go2bless team that went to France on mission this summer...

I absolutely loved the week especially working with the team, they were ace! God really spoke to me through the week especially about mission (i fully loved the bible study we did on the boat back), i'm really up for going out to Germany now. I felt like i received so much throughout the week and felt really refreshed even though i was outrageously tired!    Mark

I had such an amazing time in France, as part of the Bless team. It really was the best team ever and I loved being a part of it. And being able to lead worship in French too was incredible! I loved it, loved it, loved it!!!!!! In fact, I really quite miss being there.     Sarah

Bike2bless

Bike2Bless 2008 was a huge success, a huge amount of fun and raised a huge

amount of money for Bless' work in Croatia this summer. 11 people, 10.5

bikes and 200km of French countryside. It was a circular route starting and

ending in Caen and taking in as many hills as possible, not easy for a man

who had done two days of training, all on the flat of the Dutch Dykes. The

plan, like all good invasions of France by a group of English, Dutch and

German, was to follow a carefully calculated route that would allow us

regular breaks at an assortment of French café's and be in a hotel in time

for a good French supper and local vin d'table. We would move as a

streamline, seamless mass of cyclists, eleven people moving as one, a sight

of cycling beauty in the French countryside, like a flock of Starlings

dancing through the air or a shoal of fish darting through the sea. We were

many but we would act as one and take France by storm. Children would stand

in villages and wave Union Jack flags as we sped on our way, mothers would

come out and throw sunflower petals at us, Farmers would give us bottles

of beer to quench our aching thirst. It was to be a beautiful thing. There

was however two schools of thought amongst the troops as to how this

carefully calculated route should be executed:  Thought Process A, which we

shall call the Thomas Gwilliam (one of our esteemed Trustees) approach and

Thought Process B, known herein as the David Beasley (our esteemed Bless

Manger?? )approach. The Thomas Gwilliam approach is to look at the route

over breakfast, memorise it completely and then forget it absolutely. The

approach works on two basic principles: routes are there merely as a guide

(and largely to be avoided); obstacles do not exist. Hedgerows, marshland,

estuaries, sand, the sea and three lane motorways are not objects to divert

around but hurdles to overcome. It is the Right-To-Room approach of the

cycling world. God made the World, he did not make Cycle Paths and B Roads.

The David Beasley approach is look at the route over breakfast, memorise it

completely and then check it thoroughly at every junction, every stop and

then occasionally whilst cycling. The results of the two schools of thought

- a crazy mix of gentle road cycling, getting thoroughly lost, stopping in

places we weren't meant to stop, cycling through estuaries we weren't

supposed to cycle through, running over small children we weren't suppose to

run over and drinking too much beer (as a mechanism to cope). It was however

a complete blast. The most fun you can have on two wheels. If we could have

done six days we would have done; if we could have continued to Paris, we

would have done; are we doing it again next year - certainly. There is

something that happens when a group of men wear spandex and padded shorts -

something that binds you together, a bond. We may not have cycled as one

homogenous unit, there may have been a kilometre or two between the front of

the pack and the back of the pack; we may have arrived at the hotels at

different times, but we were one and we're already getting ready for next

year.

Ben Wickham

Book NOW for a Go2Bless summer mission place.

Places are going fast and booking is closing soon!
If God has spoken to you about going on mission, now is the time to do
something about it!
Don't miss out on what God wants to do with, and through you, He has more in store for you than you could ask or imagine!
Will you offer him some time this summer to serve on Go2Bless mission programme? To give your time, recources, and energy?

Ephesians 3:19-21
—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be
glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
for ever and ever! Amen.

Bike2Bless 19-22 June (Mens event) spaces
Go2Bless Croatia team1....1-15 July spaces
Go2Bless Croatia team2....15-30 July only one or two spaces available

Go2Bless France 19-27 July spaces

THE FRENCH MISSION is an inspiring French conference, led by a team from a
French Baptist Church. Christians from all over France come together
to pray, learn and worship together for 5 days, its refreshing, inspiring and so exciting to see the new things that God is doing in the French church, They are in great need of volunteers to help with kids work,
music, stewarding and other servant like roles. Bless would love to
support this church team with this event, it would be great to send a
team of willing volunteers, of all ages, to help support this great kingdom building work, called Jour J, so please do get in touch with us if you are interested and available, we would love to hear from you a.s.a.p now!

Booking forms and more info on the right hand side of this blog.

bike2bless

Three days of cycling in the Normandy countryside, visiting Caen, Lisieux and the village of Camembert. A great chance to take time out, get fit and raise money for the work of The Bless Network. Funds will be used to facilitate the work of Bless with children and young people in Slavonski Brod, Croatia. Come and prove that 200 Kilometers on a bike won't kill you, and at the same time make a difference to young European lives.

See all the details under Bless Fact Sheets on the right hand side of this blog, click on bike2bless email [email protected] for a registration form

Read this inspiring new prayer/poem below for inspiration and check out the summer missions info following!

GPS: Mission by Sat Nav

Lord God, be my latitude and longitude.
As I journey on this breathtaking adventure,
Let my vista be shaped by Your Horizon.

Holy Spirit, integrate your ‘Tom tom’
To the centre of my life’s orientation.
Be that clear helpful voice guiding and
Recalculating my route when I get it wrong.
Take me on the most direct road to where
I can make the difference.

Studying your road map to grace has
Made me realise that I wasn’t born for me.

I want to be subordinate to your co-ordinates,
Synchronise my fashion with your compassion.
Horizontal is vertical when others see you in me.
Vertical is horizontal when I see you in others.

As I take on your likeness, soften my heart,
And my compass will point away from selfishness
And indifference. Help me to make time for people
I am not naturally attracted to, those who others
Can’t be bothered with.

Lord Jesus, as I slow down and take account of
Who my neighbour is, show me where to
Authenticate your goodness.

Give me perseverance today to keep to your
Bearing, to be the Good News, because

You are God enough for me
You are God enough in me
You are God enough through me

'Jour J'

This summer Bless has the chance again to help a vibrant and growing young baptist Church in Lisieux, run by Pastor Francis Dognon. They are helping to host a conference called Jour J. www.jour-j-normandie.fr (if you put this link into google it will take you to the conference web site.) It's an opportunity for christians to come together from all over France, and celebrate their unity in Christ and to pray for their nation. The conference is about reconciliation and renewal, many different denominations are involved, Catholics, Reformed, Baptists, New Church, all worshipping and praying together. Our [Go2Bless] teams give an opportunity to serve this conference. There are many different needs such as childrens work, stewarding/setting out chairs, prayer teams and catering. So why not consider joining a [Go2Bless] team this year and come and serve France at Jour J! If you are interested fill in a [Go2Bless] application form, on the right hand side of this blog, and email it to [email protected]. The dates are 19th July through to the 27th and the price is £200, or 270€, inclusive. When you serve on a Bless mission you learn so much about yourself and get a good dose of spiritual renewel through your experience, as well as meeting some wonderful people! As we say in Bless, 'live to serve others'.

Summer Missions

Go2Bless Croatia Team 1 July 1-15 Team 2 July 16-30

This summer in Croatia mission has never been quite so exciting.
The summer of 2007 saw a real hunger for Gods word and a thirst to be part of all the Bless teams did for this town! Many more children came to the kids clubs and even more to the concerts, than we had ever seen before.
Contact was made with Children's parents who also wanted to know why we came to Slavonski Brod far away from the sea and any other tourist attraction!
The openness of people young and old to listen and take in God's word was jaw dropping, if you were brave enough to go for it, God would use you in an amazing way, trusting you with people souls and giving you a purpose you never thought you'd have!
Don't miss out on what God is doing in Slavonski Brod this year, book now on a Go2Bless team and see what God shows you about your life!

The River Sava separates Croatia from Bosnia the border is in town. How can something so peaceful have seen so much war?

Team 1 2007 looking and praying over the town of Slavonski Brod.

"It has shown me on a deeper level, more of God's heart for every people group and individual. It has given me greater confidence in my ability to talk to people".

Mark said "It has helped me to learn more about the importance of prayer and taught me more about how to pray. I've learned a lot about trusting in God for my support and letting Him fight my battles. It has also encouraged me to be readier to share the gospel and to be bolder in that!"

Lee says " I feel like I'm coming back to England with a greater relationship with God and a better sense of discipline. It's been very challenging at times but I'm going back changed!"

To book a place on mission this summer use the Go2Bless application form on the right hand side column of this blog, send your form really soon to the Bless Office!
Price for two weeks on mission in Croatia £440

A Prayer of Faith-Mission

Zeitgeist = The taste, outlook, and spirit characteristic of a period or generation

Lord God, be my defining zeitgeist. I’m desperate to discover and re-discover the abilities in me that come from you. Let the life-dreams You have given me become a tangible, actionable reality as I do the greater things that You said I would do when I live-You-out.

Lord, where my faith has lacked soul: revive my trust, and where my faith has no pulse: adrenalise my confidence. You are the energy of my hope, energy that is converted into kinetic motion enabling me to share Your love.

Lord Jesus, help me to be reckless in my faith for You, because faith dignified is faith restricted. I’m resolved to lose control over my personal affairs and allow You to manage my estate. I’m ready to risk my life on an unseen reality, the realm of Your Kingdom. As I walk forward, led by Your Holy Spirit I want to live for the eternal, that which the human eye can’t see or value.

As I listen to your words and put them into practice shield me from the enemies of belief. Keep me from being consumed by temporary, unimportant goals. My house, my Internet connection, and my holiday are not my god. As self-reliance tries to systematically dismantle faith, help me to remain dependent on you, for that is where my vulnerability finds its home. Thank you that I receive what I ask for in prayer, because I believe my faith finds its origin and completion in your all-sufficiency.

Though certain facts appear to dictate my present circumstances – in faith and in truth I will not embrace or live out my life according to that information. On the contrary, Jesus, when I remain focused on you I perceive the real facts not negative voices or material evidence hinged on human senses. Your words, Your healing, Your provision and Your deliverance aren’t reliant on what I taste, touch, see, hear or smell.

Help my everyday to be founded on Your truth and eternal reality, My God, show me how greater You are than my circumstances. I will neither be deterred by events in my past or trapped by a future predicted– my faith will not be bullied.

Lord, thank You that my mission is Your Mission; even if faith is like a safe with a time-delay lock, my faith will increase as I give myself in service to You. My life-faith isn’t in a neat compartment but all of who I am and finds substance when I live for others. And this is my response to You, my God, since You have faith in me to complete your work.