MARCH 2019
ISSUE 21
K I NGFI S H E R FAMILY Reclaiming the ground Fifteen years ago, before we started church planting, before the Social Enterprise (Treasure Seekers) was even thought of, before our international focus was anything more than just an aspiration, God spoke some words into Kingfisher. They were words that would only really be relevant to us when we had moved into the arena that we are now in. It was something I shared at the start of a series of talks called “A Pioneering People”: Throughout its history, the church has consistently wandered away from focusing on its primary calling, and this has always led to disaster. And throughout its history, God has raised up people who have called the church back to its primary calling... people like Martin Luther,William Wilberforce, John Wesley and the like.The church works best – indeed, any organisation works best – when it knows exactly why it exists, what its point is, and where it’s going.
We have a pioneering heart at the centre of this church a heart that won’t stop beating before we have fulfilled our Godgiven mission!
disciples of Christ. In a single church setting... in a multiple church setting... and to the ends of the earth.We’re a pioneering people – a church with a pioneering heart, and here’s something I truly believe as I look to the future of this church. The next five years will be the most breath-taking we have ever experienced, including seeing people coming to Christ on an unprecedented level, church planting, expanding influence with other churches in this nation and abroad, specific ministries to help many who are struggling with addictions and so on and so on.We have a pioneering heart at the centre of this church – a heart that won’t stop beating before we have fulfilled our God-given mission!
Well, not just five years later, but fifteen years and counting, we can say with confidence that these have been breathtaking years of God fulfilling that vision that He placed before us. Multiple churches, in the UK and around the world. We must be about our Father’s Expanding influence, specific business, moving at the pace that ministries to help hundreds of He’s setting, doing the things Back then, all that the Lord people struggling with He’s calling us to do, making was wanting to move us into addictions and mental health sure we’re going in the direction was just an aspiration - a hope issues. What a faithful God He He’s called us to: Reaching lost that we were holding onto in is! people, seeing them transformed faith. We had a real sense of and becoming fully devoted the journey ahead of us, the ground that the Lord wanted us to claim. We were a people called by God, on the move towards the land that He was showing us. Here is what was prophetically said back then:
News from Kingfisher Church Starting the year off with a week of prayer At the start of the new year Kingfisher joined with a number of other local churches for four nights of united prayer for Gloucester. Starting at City Church, Seymour Road on Wednesday 2nd January, then at Kingfisher Tredworth on the Thursday, on to One Church, Robinswood, on Friday and then finishing at Kings School, hosted by Mariner’s and St Andrews on the Saturday night.
What might God be able to do with His church here in Gloucester as we step out in obedience and make the name of Jesus known? God is concerned for the people of our city too, His love is calling out and sending us to go, to reach beyond the walls of our buildings and share the faith we have. Let’s continue praying for that citywide response to God.
It was wonderful to worship God together, pray for each other and unite around the mission God has given us as believers to go. The theme over the week of prayer was a verse from Jonah 4:11, when God says to Jonah, “Should I not be concerned for this great city?” The city God was talking about was Nineveh, a city not dissimilar in population to Gloucester, and through the message He sent Jonah with, God was able to reach a people far from Him and save them!
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An update from Kingfisher Westgate We are just over one year old now. In our first year we have doubled in size and had the joy of seeing many people from Support at the Cavern, events in the Hub, Open Mic nights and the general public begin to come along. Several people have committed their lives to Christ and the children’s ministry has moved into a new facility called The Studio. This is a newly-
renovated room situated at ground floor level, which will enable disabled access to our children’s ministry. We have recently had our firt baptism and have just started our first Connect Group which meets every other Tuesday evening in The Lighthouse and we are so grateful for all that the Lord is doing amongst us!
News from Kingfisher Church Christmas at Kingfisher Tredworth Over the Christmas period last year we held numerous parties and celebrations, two Nativity performances and a Carol and Christingle service. Hundreds of people came to church over Christmas to celebrate with us and to hear about Gods’ gift of Jesus Christ on the very first Christmas.
Gloucester City Missions’ musical fundraiser On the 2nd February, Kingfisher Tredworth hosted an evening of live music with performances from the Jazz/R & B/Blues group, ‘Out of the Ashes’ and ‘The Beacon Gospel choir.’ The concert was a fund raising event, organised by Gloucester City Mission, and £600 was raised on the night! All proceeds will go towards the work of the mission and their winter shelter that is open every night for the homeless until 31st March.
News from Kingfisher Treasure Seekers Treasure Seekers themed Discos continue Treasure Seekers discos finished the year in style with a week of Christmas discos which included a visit from santa himself! The themed discos have been so popular, with lots of people dressing up and getting involved, and there are many more planned this year. We’ve already had Abba,Valentines and Legends of the Decades themes, with Michael Jackson, Disney and the Spice Girls coming up over the next few months.
News from Kingfisher Treasure Seekers Treasure Seekers Staff Vision Day On 13th February Treasure Seekers held their first ever staff Vision Day, where many of our 33 staff members came together to celebrate what we’ve achieved in the last year, to look forward to what it to come and to remind ourselves of Treasure Seekers
values. The day was a great success and we even managed to get a staff team photo! “Healthy things grow and our values are what makes us healthy” - Jan Burn, a director at Treasure Seekers.
Open Mic Night is back! The Cavern saw the relaunch of the popular Open Mic Night on February 4th this year. Our Open Mic Nights are an opportunity to come along, sing, play or just enjoy the music on offer from some of Gloucestershire’s best upcoming musicians. It takes place every Monday night from 6pm-10pm - no need to pre-register, just come along!
Treasure Seekers Police cadets Treasure Seekers have partnered with Gloucestershire Police to recruit a number of cadets from the learning disabilities community. The first Treasure Seekers cadets to go through the program were recruited in December last year and they were very excited to start this journey with the police. Four of those cadets are pictured below at the TSPA Christmas show where they were on duty alongside other cadets who are now their colleagues. They’re receiving the same training that all cadets receive and will be on duty out and about in the community.
News from the Kingfisher Family An update from the Philippines
The Mission House in Rio Chico is now beautifully furnished and has already had it’s first visitors.
When the children who attend Bulak school came to pick up their DEP sponsored supplies in December they got to watch TV (powered by a generator) while they ate their meal. The children at Sibug school were given a cuddly toy each when they picked up their supplies.
The houses for the families of those studying at Sibug school at the bottom of the mountains have finally been completed and the families have all moved in.
News from the Kingfisher Family Resources - books by James Burn My Child If God were to speak to you, what might He say? Do you fear that He would point to your faults and failings, to the unfulfilled commitments, to the compromise and speak to you of His disappointment in you? What would a loving Heavenly Father say to you, His child? How would He lovingly encourage His children to grow to experience their best life? My Child reveals forty things that the Father longs to say to each one of us; forty encouragements to grow into the people He knows we can be. Now in printed book form at a cost of £5
The God of Promise There are literally thousands of promises made in the Bible; promises people make to each other, promises people make to God, and most importantly of all, promises that God makes to us. Every single promise that He makes is backed up by a particular guarantee: the honour of His name (Psalm 138:2) Kingfisher International Family stands as testimony to the truth that, when God makes a promise, He keeps it. The amazing growth and development of this Family of churches and ministries that stretches around the world is based on the outworking of a series of promises made to us by God. Coming to understand those promises and, more importantly, the promises He has made in your life is an adventure that leads to some life-changing discoveries. Are you on that adventure with the God of Promise yet?
High Impact Christians What does the world expect of Christians today? Very little would probably be the honest answer. The church is marginalised, largely disregarded by policy-makers and the public alike, with Christianity seen at best as a life-style choice, one among many. When it comes to Christianity, society’s expectations are often low. This book challenges us to expect more - to set our sights on becoming High Impact Christians, just as were the believers in the Early church - those ordinary people who were impacted by an extraordinary encounter with Jesus Christ and who, as a result, turned the world upside-down. With opportunities for group discussion, this book highlights seen strategic ways of becoming a High Impact Christian in a low expectation world.
Visit the Resources page at www.kingfisher.org.uk for more details
GET INVOLVED WITH THE NEWSLETTER! In order for this newsletter to grow and develop, we need your help! If you go to any Kingfisher event and have taken a great photo, then please post it on our Facebook page or email it to Kirsty at kirstydalley@kingfisher.org.uk. The copy deadline for the next issue (due out in June 2019) is 16th May. If you would like to get involved in the production of the next newsletter then email us with your particular area of interest. Hope you enjoy hearing all that is happening across the Kingfisher Family!
Kingfisher Church Moor Street Tredworth Gloucester GL1 4NJ www.kingfisher.org.uk info@kingfisher.org.uk +441452 304339 Š Kingfisher Church, 2013